(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — One week after a scathing report by the Illinois Auditor General (IAG) that outlined major failures at Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), department director Marc Smith has announced he will step down.
Smith announced his resignation as leader during a virtual town hall meeting for DCFS staff.
Governor J.B. Pritkzer appointed Smith in 2019, and in the years since he has been at the center of controversy. He's been held in contempt of court at least a dozen times for the improper placement of a child in the agency's care.
The recent IAG report highlighted 33 major failures by the department over the past two years. Among them: DCFS failed to report abuse, neglect and, in the most serious cases, the death of a child within 24 hours to local authorities.
Investigators also found that DCFS workers 20% of the time. In some cases, they waited five to 43 days. In 96% of DCFS cases, the report showed that the department failed to notify a child’s school and left districts in the dark for as long as 908 days.
Smith said his last day as DCFS director will be Dec. 31, 2023.
Not even one week ago, State Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock), the top Republican on the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee, called for a localization of DCFS services. He said the job of child welfare belongs with the people who know the local children best.
In a news conference following the IAG report, Reick said the problems were too deep and too wide-ranging to be blamed on a single director, and that it's Pritzker who must take the problems seriously and guide the state toward a solution.
The governor will name the new DCFS director.
Of Smith's yet-to-be-named successor, Reick said:
“I don't think anybody who is [unwilling] to take some bold moves, with regard to reforming the agency and turning it into something that it is now not, will have any better success at it.”
Reick added the governor's track record is unimpressive.
In announcing Smith's resignation, the governor's office announced two other departures from the directors' ranks: Theresa Eagleson at Healthcare and Family Services and Paula Basta at the Department on Aging.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram