The "Worst Time" for Child Protective Services
Several recent news reports show things across the country
If you want to know how bad things are for Child Protective Services across the country, just take a look at some recent headlines.
In Tennessee, a judge called conditions in the Tennessee Department of Child Services (DCS) “worse than it’s ever been.” DCS is the equivalent to CPS in Tennessee.
Our investigation discovered children are spending more time in DCS office buildings as the Department struggles to find permanent placements — like foster homes for them.
Davidson County Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway has a standing order requiring DCS to notify her anytime a child spends the night in an office building.
She told NewsChannel 5 Investigates it is happening more than ever before.
"We are probably at the worst it has been," Judge Calloway said. "We have to acknowledge we have a problem. We are in a crisis."
The judge spoke to us before we discovered the report of the sexual assault.
In Chicago, a former caseworker called the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)- also the equivalent of CPS- “in the worst shape” in thirty-one years.
As both kids and workers are dying at an alarming rate, there is now a fresh call for change at the top of the state's child welfare agency.
"This is the worst we have ever seen DCFS," Lane said. "In 31 years, this is worst I've ever seen it."
Lane was a DCFS caseworker, case reviewer, and union president before retiring in 2020. She said those walking to the doors of troubled homes can't keep up with a surge in cases.
Last March, DCFS had 8.8 percent of jobs left vacant. It jumped to 21 percent this March.
Why can't the state welfare agency keep staff?
"People are constantly scared to death that something is going to happen, and then their name is going to be slandered all over because a child died," Lane said.
Five kids on DCFS radar have died in the last four months.
DCFS in Illinois has been receiving a great deal of headlines, particularly after its head was held in contempt of court for various malfeasance.
A Cook County judge ordered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith held in contempt of court for a seventh time Thursday for failing to place a child appropriately.
The order was issued by Juvenile Court Judge and former county Public Guardian Patrick Murphy.
Current Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert noted that this was the seventh time Smith has been held in contempt in the past 10 weeks. In this case, the subject of the order is a 16-year-old boy who has spent more than 375 days – almost the whole time he has been in DCFS custody – in a shelter that does not have the resources to support his needs given his intellectual and cognitive disabilities, the Public Guardian's office said.
Meanwhile, in Texas, a federal judge told CPS there “you don’t know where the children are.” The federal judge is involved in a decade old lawsuit borne out of previous malfeasance by CPS in that state.
More than a decade into an ongoing lawsuit surrounding the state's troubled foster care system, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack was angry when she asked the state if they have a system to keep track of where foster children are and the head of the agency said they don't.
When Jack asked Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jaime Masters for an update on the system, Masters said IT is still working on it."Oh, for God's sake. I just don't understand this incompetence ... You don't know where the children are," Jack said. "Now we know today, 11 years into this lawsuit, that no one knows where these children are placed. I'm just - I'm speechless. You are the parent. I don't want to hear that IT is still working on it."
Several minutes later, Masters received an update that IT would go live with the system in July.
"Sorry I acted so angry," Jack said. "It's actually because I am angry."
Many people say things are worse than ever. I disagree. I think these issues are receiving more attention and the corruption is finally being covered and documented.