Retired caseworker says Illinois DCFS is in worst shape she's seen in 31 years
For years, we have been investigating problems inside the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. We have now heard from someone who has been on the inside.
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For years, we have been investigating problems inside the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. We have now heard from someone who has been on the inside.
We're getting a fresh look at an old problem. A shortage of staffers to care for the state's most vulnerable.
The mismanagement of children in state care has led to the executive in charge of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services being held in contempt of court eight times since the start of the year.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith has now been slapped with an eighth contempt of court order for failing to place a teen in the department's care appropriately.
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.
We have been exposing the issue for years – kids locked in psychiatric hospitals for longer than medically necessary while in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
In an unprecedented action, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was hit Thursday with two more contempt of court orders.
They were supposed to be protected by the Department of Children and Family Services, but instead, two children from downstate Illinois have died in the last month.
A judge on Thursday afternoon ordered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for the fourth time in two months.
He heads the department mandated to care for the state's most vulnerable children, and on Friday, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was on the legislative hot seat.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as of Thursday had still yet to place a teen who has been locked in a psychiatric hospital for four months beyond when he was ready for release.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court again on Thursday for violating the rights of a teenage boy.
A family expressed grief and anger Tuesday after an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services caseworker was stabbed to death downstate.
Damari Perry was just 6 years old, and prosecutors said he was punished – forced to take an ice-cold shower by his mother – before his death last week. As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, it turns out that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had been in touch with Damari's family before.
llinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Westchester) called for hearings and an investigation after state Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith was held in contempt of court for violating the rights of children.
In a stunning move, a Cook County Juvenile Court judge issued two contempt of court orders against Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith for violating the rights of two children left languishing in facilities for months. Now accountability - in a stunning move, a juvenile court judge issued two contempt of court orders against Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith for violating the rights of two children left languishing in facilities for months. DCFS could soon be fined as much as $2,000 a day until those children are properly placed.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services caseworker Deidre Silas was stabbed to death Tuesday afternoon while conducting a home visit in downstate Sangamon County.
Hundreds of children who can't go home to their families have instead been left in psych wards for months.
It is nightmare fuel for parents - your child coming home from school with mystery bruises and being unable to explain what happened. A Belmont Heights mom said she lived that nightmare, and the fight that followed to get her out of that school made things worse. So she called CBS 2's Marie Saavedra and got quick results.
The Better Government Association wanted to know if YouthCare - managed by for-profit Meridian Health - is working, but the state declined their request for information, so the BGA is going to court.
Police finally arrested the girl's abusers and finally Springfield took notice of how she was the one locked up long after she was cleared to leave
On orders from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, transportation vendors regularly shackled foster children -- hands, feet, and a body length chain connecting all four limbs.
Activists turned out Wednesday in front of the Grand Motel in the South Side's Washington Heights neighborhood, in support of a little girl who was sexually assaulted there last October.
Children trapped in psychiatric hospitals longer than they need to be and others simply falling through cracks are some of the critical problems the CBS 2 Investigators have been exposing for years at the Department of Children and Family Services.
Police and child protective services are scrambling to explain why multiple men who sexually abused a 10-year-old girl remain free, even though the suspects are known.
A cooler and windy day is ahead in Chicago with the first snow of the season approaching.
As the officers approached the parked white Lexus, police said several men got out and started running.
Meyer had five rebounds for the Blue Demons (5-0). Troy D'Amico scored 14 points.
Miami Ohio (7-4, 6-1 Mid-American Conference) has won six games in a row.
The Wildcats' Jalen Leach made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining and Justin Mullins sealed it with another free throw with 2 seconds left.
Anthony Finch has filed suit against the village and Mayor Derrick Burgess for wrongful termination. Now, four trustees want to bring Finch back to the village—but this time working as an auditor.
Judicial regulators have filed a complaint against a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who spread election conspiracy theories and was hired by Republicans to lead an investigation into President-elect Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election, accusing him of violating multiple rules of conduct.
"Some of the steps and measures that are being taken, these are some individuals that are having tantrums right now. It's time to grow up. The people of Chicago don't have time for that," Johnson said.
President-elect Donald Trump's six-year New York criminal odyssey might need to continue for at least another four, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The leaked materials include the sworn deposition of the minor with whom former Rep. Matt Gaetz allegedly had sex.
So far, despite several requests, the woman has not been able to get a hold of her medical records to send to her new doctors.
Those in the industry who spoke to CBS News Chicago said their margins are already so slim that an increased liquor tax could drive business owners to close their doors.
Robin McElroy said she loves everything about her Morgan Park home—except for the panic-inducing surprises she has been getting in the mail about her supposedly unpaid taxes.
Scammers often get financial information and personal details, or lure in veterans with videos that claim they can win lots of money,
It's the season of giving, but if you're not careful with finances, you could be getting a hefty bill at the end of the holiday season.
The FDA sent a warning letter flagging "significant violations" of manufacturing regulations for Tom's of Maine toothpaste.
The 65-year-old actor and stand-up comedian, best known for portraying Joey Gladstone on "Full House," said he first noticed symptoms in October.
An attorney representing a conservative prosecutor struggled Monday to convince Wisconsin's liberal-leaning Supreme Court to reactivate the state's 175-year-old abortion ban.
The "Dawson's Creek" alum shared the news on Sunday and said that despite the diagnosis, there is "reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good."
Three patients at the University of Chicago Medicine are in the trial for the treatment.
Owner Ricky Burns made a big dream come true in the tiny space on Western Avenue in West Ridge.
Those in the industry who spoke to CBS News Chicago said their margins are already so slim that an increased liquor tax could drive business owners to close their doors.
The nonprofit Far South Community Development Corporation is working to create everlasting change—and has a vision specifically for the commercial corridor at 115th and Halsted streets.
Wonder Group, a New York-based food ordering company that touts "fast fine" dining, is set to be Grubhub's new owner.
Foxtrot will be pouring free drip coffee between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. at the Fulton Market location to celebrate the reopening.
Speaking to American Theatre in 2018, Vire said he arrived in Chicago as a "lapsed actor," and fell into theatre criticism "through the back door."
With the release of part one of her new memoir, Cher talks about her relationship - on stage and off - with Sonny Bono, and why their TV partnership survived beyond their marriage.
"America demanded it and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars," Conan O'Brien said.
The IBA also gave out the Silver Dome Awards at its luncheon Wednesday.
The 65-year-old actor and stand-up comedian, best known for portraying Joey Gladstone on "Full House," said he first noticed symptoms in October.
Carminho is a world-renowned voice of fado and is performing in Chicago. Here’s a sneak peek.
William Zientek, 46, stands charged with first-degree murder in the shooting that killed Dr. Olga Duchon. He is due for a detention hearing on Wednesday at the 3rd District Cook County Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.
Payne, 31, died on October 16 when he fell from a balcony of the Casa Sur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires.
Meteorologist Laura Bannon is tracking scattered snow showers approaching the Chicago area.
Just before 2:15 a.m., police said officers on patrol spotted a car that matched the description of a vehicle wanted in an earlier incident involving an armed suspect. The car was parked in the 4600 block of North Knox Street.
As the officers approached the parked white Lexus, police said several men got out and started running.
By mid-morning Thursday, a band of snowfall is expected to rotate around a low-pressure system in Wisconsin into our area.
Police said the suspected attacker escaped, but was later found dead nearby.
Numerous fire crews rushed to the scene and lined State Street alongside the high-rise.
A cooler and windy day is ahead in Chicago with the first snow of the season approaching.
So far, despite several requests, the woman has not been able to get a hold of her medical records to send to her new doctors.
The police department has spent $22.6 million in overtime this year for officers working special events — only about $2 million of which has been reimbursed to the city.
Indiana is ranked among the states with the weakest gun safety laws, in part because it does not have a law that requires safely storing firearms.
"How is this possible that so many things could have gone wrong and allowed for this to happen?" Candice Gatlin said.
City law requires festival producers to reimburse the city for police overtime worked at their events, but records requests show the city is not retroactively charging for it.
Meyer had five rebounds for the Blue Demons (5-0). Troy D'Amico scored 14 points.
Miami Ohio (7-4, 6-1 Mid-American Conference) has won six games in a row.
The Wildcats' Jalen Leach made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining and Justin Mullins sealed it with another free throw with 2 seconds left.
Des Watson shot 3 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range.
Connor Bedard set up each of Jason Dickinson's two goals, and Arvid Soderblom made 21 stops.
William Zientek, 46, stands charged with first-degree murder in the shooting that killed Dr. Olga Duchon.
Police said the suspected attacker escaped, but was later found dead nearby.
The police department has spent $22.6 million in overtime this year for officers working special events — only about $2 million of which has been reimbursed to the city.
A 64-year-old woman from Chicago's western suburbs is facing hate crime charges and accused of assaulting a Palestinian-American couple in a video that went viral.
Martinez, 26, was shot and killed during a traffic stop near 80th and Ingleside on Nov. 4. CBS News Chicago will cover the procession and the services from outside the chapel.
