Illinois Senate To Probe DCFS Failures

DEERFIELD, IL — The death of 1-year-old Joliet girl Sema'j Crosby sharpened the public focus on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A caseworker from the state agency visited the home where Crosby was found dead for an abuse investigation the same day she was reported missing

In response, state lawmakers have been asking more pointed questions about the how the department has been run under Gov. Bruce Rauner's chief of the agency, George Sheldon. Sheldon is reportedly considering resigning and taking a new job in Florida, while DCFS has been accused of failing in its duty to protect children.

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On Monday, State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) announced a series of hearings to be held during the summer "in response to continued high-profile failures" at DCFS (initials a Joliet pastor suggested should stand for "Discounted Family Safety.")

“Recent reports of another child abuse investigation that ended in tragedy highlight that there is something terribly wrong going on in an agency whose sole mission is to protect kids,” Morrison said. “These hearings are not meant to place blame on any one person. But it is imperative we work to find out where this agency is failing. If we don’t look, we will never see.”

Related: Sema'j was found dead under a couch 33 hours after a DCFS worker left her home.

As chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, Morrison said she has been working on ways to turn around DCFS since she was elected.

Morrison, who represents the 29th District along Chicago's North Shore, has attempted to increase the role of the court system, address abuses at residential treatment centers and decrease temporary placements, according to her office.

“We owe it to all of the children who rely on the DCFS to keep them safe and are too often failed by the system,” Morrison said.

Watch Sen. Morrison's announcement below:

Top photo | Illinois Department of Children and Family Services | Courtesy Sen. Julie Morrison