HR0418 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services ("DCFS" or "Department") is responsible for providing child protective services and programs to abused, neglected, and dependent children and their families; and

WHEREAS, The shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer on October 20, 2014 shed light on the inefficiencies that plague the DCFS foster care program as media reports revealed the instability and abuse Laquan McDonald experienced throughout his youth as he moved through the foster care system; and

WHEREAS, Last month's suspicious death of 16 month-old Semaj Crosby, whose body was found in her family's Joliet home a day and a half after DCFS case workers visited the home to investigate an allegation of child neglect, has elicited sharp criticism on how DCFS investigates reports of child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has an interest in ensuring that all reports of child abuse and neglect are thoroughly investigated and that the children of this State have access to adequate and efficient protective services and programs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Auditor General is directed in accordance with Section 3-2 of the Illinois State Auditing Act to conduct a performance audit on the Department of Children and Family Services to review and assess the Department's protocols for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the audit include a review of each abuse and neglect investigation conducted by the Department of Children and Family Services within the past 5 years, including, but not limited to, a review of:

(1) the status of each abuse and neglect investigation;

(2) the final determination or findings made by the Department for each abuse and neglect investigation;

(3) the time frame within which the Department completed or closed each abuse and neglect investigation;

(4) recommendations made by the Department to each family who was the subject of an abuse or neglect investigation, including any services provided by the Department to the child or family; and

(5) demographic information on each abuse and neglect investigation, including the age, race, and gender of each child who was the subject of the abuse or neglect investigation, and the zip code and county where the abuse or neglect was alleged to have occurred; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, upon completion of the audit, the Auditor General compile a detailed report that lists, by county, the information collected and examined under the audit, including a full summary on the number of lawsuits or other legal actions filed against the Department within the past 5 years that concern an abuse or neglect investigation and the number of lawsuits the Department settled within the past 5 years that concern an abuse or neglect investigation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Children and Family Services cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General in the conduct of this audit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is not allowed or authorized to release or disclose in his report any information that is prohibited from public disclosure under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or under any other State or federal law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as soon as possible and submit his report, including his findings and recommendations, upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Auditor General and the Department of Children and Family Services.