joint Illinois House-Senate committee had the first of what could be many hearings Tuesday, sparked by a newspaper’s series that investigated conditions at 50 youth facilities overseen by the Department of Children and Family Services. One of those is Rock River Academy in Rockford.The Chicago Tribune report “found hundreds of cases of physical and sexual abuse and thousands of runaway incidents among residents from 2011 through 2013,” the paper said Tuesday about its series.Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, said by phone from Chicago during a break in the committee meeting, that the problems at DCFS are widespread and systemic.“This agency has had no continuity from the top down. It has had seven directors in three years,” said Stadelman. Acting director Bobbie Gregg is resigning Jan. 19. Incoming governor Bruce Rauner will name a new director.“The hearing got started at 10 a.m.,” said Stadelman at 3 p.m. “The committee is to serve as a fact-finding panel to gather information and look at legislation that will address our concerns.”Stadelman said DCFS has had problems “going on for 20, 30, 40 years, and according to the Tribune things are not getting better. The issues are very complex. Workers at the residential centers tend to make minimum wage and they’re dealing with very troubled and difficult kids.”One glaring problem that came out during the hearing, said Stadelman, “was the lack of data. DCFS is a major agency but they don’t have a handle on major problems like who has run away, who’s missing, how many have been arrested. If you’re going to address a problem, you need data, and DCFS doesn’t have the data. It’s unacceptable.”
Read the entire article by clicking on the following: Sen. Steve Stadelman: DCFS problems widespread, systemic - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL
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