Should DCFS Director Marc Smith Resign?
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) is calling for the resignation of Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith (above).
After he was found in contempt of court for the ninth time last week, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) Monday called for the resignation of Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Marc Smith.
Smith was held in contempt in the latest case Thursday for failing to find housing for children that complies with court orders.
Durkin issued a statement Monday.
“Unfortunately, contempt of court orders against DCFS have become business as usual for the Pritzker administration,” Durkin said. “Governor Pritzker clearly isn’t bothered by a ninth contempt of court charge against DCFS Director Marc Smith and has done nothing about it. That is simply unacceptable. The Governor has had three and a half years to get this agency under control, he owns this ongoing tragedy. Since the Governor has failed to take action, I call on Director Smith to resign for the good of the children in this state who depend on DCFS.”
The Governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
DCFS spokesman Bill McCaffrey issued a statement defending the work of the agency.
“The Department of Children and Family Services is dedicated to keeping children safe and strengthening families,” McCaffrey said. “We are aggressively addressing the decades-long challenge of a lack of community resources and facilities for children with complex behavioral health needs, which has been exacerbated by an increased demand in social services in recent years. Every single day, DCFS works with its network of providers and foster parents in an ongoing effort to place these children in settings that can provide the appropriate level of care and in which the children can grow and flourish.”
It isn’t clear where Smith stands with the Pritzker administration at this point, though we’re told there hasn’t been a push from Democratic lawmakers to dump Smith, though there has been some frustration over failures at DCFS.
Messages with spokespeople for House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon weren’t returned Monday.