Will County Gazette

State Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) recently pointed out that Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith was questioned by the Legislative Audit Commission about several deaths of children under the watch of the DCFS, and Smith's contempt-of-court citations.

"Since December 2021, nine children have died under DCFS' watch. Meanwhile, DCFS Director Marc Smith has been held in contempt of court 12 times for failing to place children in state care appropriately," Batinick wrote in an Aug. 1 Facebook post. "On Tuesday, Director Smith and DCFS staff appeared before the bipartisan Legislative Audit Commission to answer for troubling missteps outlined in recent State audits of the agency. Director Smith and Governor Pritzker bear responsibility for the failures at DCFS to properly care for, place, and protect children in state custody. House Republicans have demanded accountability and action for months, as the failures at DCFS have continued to get worse."

Lawmakers grilled DCFS Director Smith over the deaths and other issues that have plagued the child welfare department recently, CBS News reported. DCFS is responsible for around 20,000 children and operates with an annual budget of $1.5 billion. Nine children who were supposed to be on DCFS's watch have died since December, and Smith has been issued 12 contempt of court citations since the beginning of 2022. 

Audits also uncovered other problems, according to CBS News. Of the children who have been victims of abuse or neglect related to substance abuse, 48% did not have their cases sent to state's attorneys for review. Out of all the children in DCFS's care, 88% are missing dental exams, 18% are missing physical exams, 14% have missed vision screenings, and 56% have missed hearing screenings. Meanwhile, Smith asserted that Gov. Pritzker continues to express confidence in his leadership.

Most of the contempt citations are related to DCFS' failure to properly place children in its care, sometimes for months, CBS News reported

After Smith's eighth contempt citation in March, CBS asked Pritzker how many more times Smith will be issued contempt citations before action is taken.

"You're ignoring all of the progress that's been made at DCFS, and so is the decision to hold the department in contempt," the governor told the news agency. "The head of Department of Children and family Services, and I, and the judge are frustrated with the challenges that we face for our most vulnerable children."

Pritzker appointed Smith to the position of acting director of the DCFS in April 2019. The Illinois Senate confirmed Smith as director in June 2021.