(WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Governor J.B. Pritzker defended Wednesday his administration's handling of wards of the state after the head of DCFS was found in contempt again last week.
Three years after taking office, Pritzker said his administration is still trying to address budget issues from his predecessor, Bruce Rauner.
“When I came into office, DCFS had been defunded. Republicans had voted with the prior governor and against funding the agency properly. They continue to do so,” the governor said.
The governor blamed these cuts for delays the Department of Children and Family Services has in placing children, delays that led a Cook County judge to find Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for the ninth time this year.
“500 beds were let go under the prior governor, 500 residential beds. You can’t snap your fingers and put those back, it takes years to build back residential beds,” Pritkzer said.
Governor Pritzker said the department has eventually found beds for the children in those cases. The most recent contempt case was over a 15-year-old boy who was being held in a psychiatric facility two and a half months longer after medically necessary.
The governor blamed these cuts for delays the Department of Children and Family Services has in placing children, delays that led a Cook County judge to find Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for the ninth time this year.
“500 beds were let go under the prior governor, 500 residential beds. You can’t snap your fingers and put those back, it takes years to build back residential beds,” Pritkzer said.
Governor Pritzker said the department has eventually found beds for the children in those cases. The most recent contempt case was over a 15-year-old boy who was being held in a psychiatric facility two and a half months longer after medically necessary.
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