North Cook News

Illinois State Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) has called for an overhaul of the state agency responsible for protecting children in state care after its director was issued his 11th contempt citation in 2022. 

According to Capitol News Illinois, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith was once again held in contempt of court for failing to place a child appropriately on May 19, bringing the total this year to just shy of a dozen citations. 

"Each contempt charge racked up by Director Marc Smith represents a real child that has been failed by DCFS," Stephens wrote in a May 20 Facebook post. 

The latest citation surrounds an 11-year-old girl who's been in state care for six years. During that time the girl has been shuffled between an abusive foster home, emergency foster homes, psychiatric hospitals, and shelters, Capitol News reported. Last month, the girl indicated she was suicidal. She was taken to the emergency room where she stayed hospitalized for two days, despite a court order ruling she be moved into a psychiatric hospital.

"The dysfunction has to end, DCFS needs to be overhauled immediately to protect our state's most vulnerable children," Stephens added in the post. 

Smith's 10th citation, which was issued earlier this month, involved another young girl who was living between shelters and psychiatric hospitals instead of being placed, according to CBS Chicago. Statements made in court claimed the girl, who was sexually abused at a young age, struggled as a result of DCFS' failure to find the proper placement for her.

A 15-year-old boy was the reason behind Smith's 9th citation. CBS Chicago reported he was held in a psychiatric facility for months longer than was deemed necessary. 

CBS Chicago asked Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) how many more contempt citations it would take before action was taken following Smith's 8th citation.

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

According to CBS Chicago, Since contempt citations are civil, it's unlikely Smith will ever face jail time, but the agency could face hefty fines at the taxpayers' expense.

Smith's biography on the DCFS website noted he was confirmed as director in June 2021 after being appointed to the acting director position in April 2019.