Rauner names new director of Illinois child welfare agency

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Bruce Rauner has appointed a new director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Beverly "BJ" Walker will take over the agency responsible for child protection and wards of the state on Monday. She served in a similar role as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources from 2004 to 2011.

Previously Walker was director of community operations for the Illinois Department of Human Services and the assistant to the governor for human services reform under former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar.

Walker replaces George Sheldon, who resigned in May in the face of an ethics probe and as the agency was in the midst of a controversy over a child death.

Walker will be paid about $150,000 per year.