DCFS woes seem to never change
Another child dies tragically while under the care of DCFS, and another director, eight directors in five years, resigns in the midst of controversy.
This sad story has been repeated way too often these past 30-plus years. There is always more than enough blame to go around, starting with over worked frontline workers and ending with the director. Investigations initiate, individuals resign or are fired, and in some cases criminal charges are filed. A new director will take charge, new staff will be hired, and things will continue on … until the next tragedy.
Why? In my opinion, it is how DCFS measures "success." Everything is statistics and dollars driven. How many open investigations? How many cases are opened and closed? How many children are in foster care? How many are in expensive residential care? How many children are returned home? How many are adopted?
About 20 years ago DCFS privatized the majority of its foster care caseload to various private child welfare agencies. The concept of "Performance Based Contracting" was introduced that rewarded high performing agencies (measured by successful "Permanency Outcomes") with financial incentives. Poor performing agencies were to be penalized.
I believe contact with a child welfare agency should be viewed in much the same way as contact with prison. It shows there is already a systemic societal failure. There needs to be much more emphasis on education and resources for families that are struggling prior to any contact with DCFS. But of course this requires the political will and financial resources to make this commitment. So, for a state that has failed to pass a budget three years in a row, the resolve to make this investment clearly does not exist.
The alternative? I guess nine directors in five years, and likely more of the same.
Greg Newlin
Naperville