Letters to the editor 2/8/24

click to enlarge

PHOTO BY WILLIAM FURRY

On Feb. 5, Dr. Wayne “Doc” Temple, renowned Lincoln scholar and Illinois historian, celebrated his 100th birthday at a special noon-hour reception at the Springfield Masonic Center. Temple, the author of more than 30 books and monographs about Lincoln and his Civil War-era associates, worked as the Chief Deputy Director of the Illinois State Archives from 1964 to 2016, and prior to that at the Illinois State Museum. Temple served in European Theater during WWII and was on General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s staff. Temple studied history at University of Illinois under the tutelage of James G. Randall and taught at Lincoln Memorial University where he edited the Lincoln Herald newsletter for 15 years. His book, Abraham Lincoln: from Skeptic to Prophet, is considered one of the top 100 Lincoln biographies of all time and the best book about Limcoln’s religious beliefs. Temple and his late wife, Sunderine, co-wrote Illinois’s Fifth State Capitol, a history of the Old State Capitol, the definitive work on the Statehouse during Lincoln’s time in Springfield.

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to [email protected].

—-

REASON FOR HOPE

Thank you to George Pawlaczyk for his excellent, painstakingly researched article about children who were killed by their parents despite extensive involvement by DCFS, often over many years ("When DCFS makes mistakes, children die," Jan. 25). The article correctly points out that untenable investigator caseloads that exceed national norms and a federal court order, along with dysfunction within the agency, combined with basic investigative errors and lapses in judgment, can result in serious injury and death for young children.

Investigative dysfunction is just one of a myriad of problems at DCFS that harm children. Last month, DCFS released its annual report on children who languish in wholly inappropriate and harmful placements for extended periods because DCFS has nowhere to place them. This includes children forced to live in locked psychiatric hospitals, hospital emergency rooms, jails, and faraway and difficult-to-monitor out-of-state placements. Last year, this happened to an astounding 1,009 children. That's an increase of nearly 50% from just two years earlier, when DCFS did this to 690 children. And the report does not include the dozens of children whom DCFS forces to sleep on the hard, cold floors of offices instead of in a warm, comfortable bed in an appropriate placement able to meet the child's needs.

These are not just numbers or statistics. They are real children, already traumatized children, who are suffering. They are our children.

But there is reason for hope. As of Feb. 1, DCFS has a new director, Heidi Mueller, who replaces Marc Smith. Mueller has an excellent reputation as a reform-minded manager. In addition, for the first time in more than a decade, DCFS has continuity of leadership. Smith, who served for four-and-a-half years, was DCFS's 15th director or acting director in 12 years. Moreover, DCFS's budget has nearly doubled over the past five years and is now more than $2 billion. Lack of resources is no longer an excuse for stalled reform.

Hopefully Mueller will be able to translate this continuity of leadership and influx of resources into actual improved outcomes for children. Our children deserve as much.

Charles P. Golbert
Cook County Public Guardian

—-

CHALLENGING PROFESSION

I cringe whenever anybody that I work with tells me that DCFS is involved in their lives. I've lived in this town all my life and heard the horror stories. I think some part of the tragedies is that the DCFS caseworkers have more than their fair share of a caseload. Most people don't want to see and hear the things that they do. Social services is a difficult community to work in.

Julie Bartlett Benson
Helping the Homeless in Springfield

—-

CHANGE THE LAWS

I'm a foster parent, and our caseworkers are good. I used to think it was always DCFS' fault, but it's not. It is the Illinois law, the judges and sometimes state's attorneys. The laws have to change – start pushing your local politicians to make change, because the minimal standards are ridiculous.

I'm not saying it's always someone else's fault, I'm just saying as a foster parent my eyes are wide open now. Change must happen with the laws first. More foster parents are needed, and good ones.

Melissa Calloway
Via Facebookcom/illinoistimes

—-

STARTS AT THE TOP

I completely agree there is too much bureaucracy involved, plus a complete lack of services for children and families and additional support.

DCFS cannot put kids into care for more than a day or so without the approval of the state's attorney and a judge. DCFS definitely needs changes, but laying the blame on the investigators is very short-sighted. Their caseloads are huge and not manageable.

There are solutions, but the powers that be need to come together to make those changes. Start by spending some time in the field offices with the investigators and caseworkers. Go on calls and see what it is really like.

Shelly Lewis Conner
Via Facebookcom/illinoistimes

—-

PRIORITIZE CHILDREN

Take a day to sit in the courtroom with a DCFS worker and truly find out what really happens. This story is one-sided. Report on how every county handles these cases. Parents' rights, children's rights, foster parents' rights and the law have created an unbalanced and unfair path for the No. 1 priority, which is the child. Prayers for all involved in these sad cases.

Tammy Squires
Via Facebookcom/illinoistimes