NW Illinois News

State Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) wants public hearings held after the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court.

McCombie said that legislators have repeatedly heard stories about children in DCFS custody who were left in a psychiatric hospital beyond their needed stays because the agency didn't have placement lined up for them.

"DCFS is failing our state's most vulnerable children and we need transparency and public hearings about why," McCombie said during a Jan. 13 press conference. "These two children are not certainly the only ones failed by DCFS and the state of Illinois."

McCombie pointed to the Cook County Public Guardian's Office which discovered 350 children in DCFS custody spent an average of 55 days in psychiatric facilities over the last year because the agency didn't have anywhere else to send them.

"I understand that when Director Smith took over in 2019 there were 500 residential and group home beds previously eliminated. The director stated that over the last couple of years they have worked to increase those numbers and to rebuild to the supply of beds needed," McCombie said. "How many have been replaced? What measures have been taken?"

McCombie said she wants those questions answered publicly, along with other questions lawmakers have about the safety of agency employees following the recent murder of Deidra Silas and Pam Knight a few years earlier. 

"Director Smith previously acknowledged DCFS's dysfunction and wanted to take ownership for those problems, not passing the blame, not passing the buck to the previous leadership, but he has had three years. Challenging years, yes, but the director needs to address the issue and that is why we need those public hearings," McCombie said. 

According to CBS Chicago, this is the third time in recent history that Smith has had a contempt of court order issued against him.

A judge noted several court orders about children in DCFS care were ignored by the agency, CBS Chicago reported.

The same article highlighted one case where the agency failed to take a child into protective custody for several years despite repeated complaints of sexual abuse.