West Cook News

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) finds recent reports about the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services "infuriating."

"What is going on with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is infuriating," Bailey said. "There have been 177 kids who have had to sleep on office floors because of the incompetence of the J.B. Pritzker Administration. His failings are hurting kids and it has to stop. It is time for J.B. Pritzker to be held accountable for the house of horrors - AKA the Department of Children and Family Services – he is running. The insanity in this Department is getting out of hand. It is beyond time for DCFS Director Marc Smith to go. The fact that he is still there is all of the evidence we need that J.B .Pritzker does not deserve a second term."

A young girl with autism spectrum disorder was among the 177 kids in DCFS's care who CBS News Chicago reported had slept in offices between January and May. The 5-year-old girl  had to stay and sleep in the agency's office for six nights prior to a judge ordering the department to place her in a clinically appropriate setting.

"This is a child who is in DCFS's care due to concerns about abuse and neglect; and what does DCFS say to the little girl? Here. Here's an office. Go sleep on the floor of this office,” Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert said.

DCFS has recently come under scrutiny after a number of high-profile child deaths. In an examination, Auditor General Frank Mautino's office  observed that DCFS “was unable to provide 192 of the 195 (98%) required Home Safety Checklists.”

Before being reunited with their family, a child must pass safety assessments to ensure that the home will have no environmental barriers or safety risks. 

Pritzker has continued to back Smith despite his being held in contempt of court 12 times.

Bailey said Smith is "incapable of leading this department and children and families are suffering as a result."