(The Center Square) – As the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services cuts a ribbon on a new facility, the agency continues to fend off lawsuits and cover-up allegations.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker was on hand Tuesday to unveil a new temporary youth housing program at Maryville’s St. Catherine of Siena in Chicago.
“I am deeply proud that support from DCFS could bring this project to life with a $1 million capital investment as well as a rate guaranteeing payment to support standard care, specialty positions, and resources for nursing, case management, transportation, and food,” said Pritzker. “This is just one of many investments we’re making as part of a comprehensive effort to increase capacity in youth care.”
DCFS will invest $4 million per year to pay for the cost of room and board, specialized nursing care, case management services and transportation.
DCFS has been under fire recently after allegations of sexual and physical abuse surfaced at Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center in Chicago. In July, at least two employees at the facility had been arrested and charged with abusing kids in their care.
DCFS began investigating the allegations in August of last year, but did not stop sending children to the facility until this past May.
Illinois Senate Republicans have called for an independent audit of the facility and how staff members with criminal records were hired.
“We have found that the security company is still being paid by the state even though the facility is closed, so I think it just merits more accountability and investigation,” said state Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy.
Tracy and Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, filed a resolution calling for an independent audit by the Illinois Auditor General, because they say DCFS and Pritzker’s administration have not done enough to explain how Aunt Martha’s was allowed to continue caring for children in the system.
