By: Julianna Walo, Esquire I’ve spent decades fighting for children’s rights, and I thought I’d seen the worst of systems who fail kids. Then I read about Mackenzi Felmlee, and I realized that Illinois’ DCFS is exactly where it was 36 years ago when the landmark ACLU class action lawsuit... View Article
By: Julianna Walo, Esquire Illinois’ child welfare system, overseen by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), is facing a deepening crisis rooted in chronic understaffing, high caseworker turnover, and systemic negligence. Reports and audits have consistently shown that Illinois caseworkers carry caseloads well beyond recommended limits, resulting in... View Article
By: Julianna Walo, Esquire Foster care agencies across Illinois claim they are facing an unprecedented insurance crisis. Insurance companies say they are dramatically scaling back coverage for community foster care agencies throughout the state, creating a picture of higher costs and reduced protection for vulnerable children. As a Chicago child welfare practice... View Article
By: Julianna Walo, Esquire The child welfare attorneys at Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, regularly review cases where DCFS negligence claims arise from institutional failures in Illinois child advocacy. This particular case exemplifies why legal intervention is sometimes necessary to protect foster care rights and hold agencies... View Article
By: Julianna Walo, Esquire The Illinois child welfare system faces unprecedented challenges in protecting our state’s most vulnerable children. As child protection services struggle with systemic issues and DCFS oversight remains under scrutiny, families and advocates need clear information about the foster care system. Here are the most pressing questions... View Article
By: Julianna Walo, Esquire Illinois’ child welfare system is in crisis, with child advocacy groups increasingly concerned about systematic failures. Despite a landmark ACLU class action lawsuit filed 36 years ago (B.H. v. Johnson) meant to reform the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the treatment of children... View Article
By: Julianna Walo, Esquire The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) faces significant challenges in fulfilling its crucial mission of protecting and caring for the state’s most vulnerable children and preventing cases of child neglect by the department itself. As of July 31, 2024, the agency oversees the care... View Article
A former collegiate football player, Trulon Henry, has been accused of sex crimes against children in Illinois DCFS custody. He is charged with three counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and predatory criminal sexual assault stemming from crimes he allegedly committed while employed by Aunt Martha’s Health... View Article
A McHenry County State’s Attorney criminally charged two former Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) child protection specialists with endangering the life of a child and health of a minor. Before 2019, when 5-year-old AJ Freund was found in a shallow grave, DCFS received at least 10 prior... View Article
Recently introduced House Bill 3705 amends the Illinois’ Children and Family Services Act to reinforce the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services’ (DCFS) duty to children in foster care as well as its responsibility for placing youth in permanent family homes through guardianship or adoption (as opposed to adoptive homes)... View Article