Officials with Illinois’ child welfare agency stated Friday they’re reviewing instances related to the state’s youngest children in which caseworkers observed insufficient proof of abuse or overlooked after the thrashing demise of a 5-yr-vintage boy with a long history of contact with the company.
The Department of Children and Family Services erred utilizing overlooking a physician’s file wherein Andrew “AJ” Freund pronounced being hit with a belt, and the officials told a legislative panel. AJ’s body, wrapped in plastic, turned into discovered Wednesday in a shallow grave in suburban Chicago.
AJ is the third baby under the corporation’s watch to die in view that February. Newly appointed appearing director Marc D. Smith informed the House Appropriations-Human Services Committee that “we are enforcing changes as we cross” but must keep away from knee-jerk reactions.
“We want to make certain that the data that are the front-line team of workers are receiving help them reflect consideration on each selection that they make while identifying a way to manipulate the wishes of our households,” he said.
AJ’s dad and mom, JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr. were charged with homicide and other crimes. Prosecutors allege they pressured the boy to face in a cold bath while they beat him. Family interaction with DCFS dates to 2012, earlier than the start of AJ and a more youthful brother when Cunningham was a foster parent for DCFS. Trouble observed AJ from the beginning; he turned into born with opiates in his machine.
A caseworker finally visited the house in December, but bruising on AJ was attributed to the own family dog. In January, the case was closed no matter a word in his report that indicated a “physician turned into involved because Andrew stated, ‘Maybe a person hit me with a belt. Maybe Mommy didn’t suggest to harm me.’”
“That piece became ignored,” Anne Gold, DCFS associate deputy for child safety, recounted beneath wondering. An infant abuse professional has to were consulted, among other installed steps, she stated.
The caseworker and manager chargeable for AJ’s case were transferred to administrative obligation and not using work on family cases whilst the evaluate maintains, Smith stated. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker enlisted research center Chapin Hall on the University of Chicago to issue a report by next month on what Pritzker referred to as “actionable hints” for the organization.
Gold did now not specify a time body for reviewing all “unfounded” allegations of abuse and forget related to kids 3 and more youthful. Rep. Anna Moeller, a Democrat from Elgin, said it should involve older kids, too, especially because AJ was 5.
“This mother has a record of opioid abuse. This infant is in danger already. I don’t recognize how DCFS can permit that state of affairs to stay the equal while your caseworkers recognize that history,” Moeller stated. “I might strongly encourage that the department to observe that method and make enormous modifications, as it’s evident that DCFS has to have completed a lot more to make sure that this baby becomes safe.”
Smith referred to he has requested 126 brought positions in the finances 12 months that starts July 1. Gold said a regular DCFS group of workers member has a workload of 12 to 15 instances. She did not recognize how that compares nationally, and correct comparisons are elusive.
