EXPLAINED: Dcfs | Rare Historical Photos

The Nightmare Upstairs: Why two siblings locked themselves in a room for 54 days

Two-part Hulu documentary about the bitter custody battle between two Utah parents is out now

The Independent UK · May 20

Taylor Frankie Paul Scandal: What Happened to 'Bachelorette' Star's Children After Dakota Mortensen Altercation

Taylor Frankie Paul's anticipated debut on 'The Bachelorette' is postponed following a controversial video showing an altercation with her ex-boyfriend.

International Business Times UK · Mar 20

How a Kids' Soccer Game Became a Child Welfare Case

A routine neighborhood soccer game was escalated into a state investigation, illustrating how ordinary parenting disputes are increasingly routed through government systems.

Reason · Jan 29

Illinois Falsely Accused These Parents of Abusing Their Baby—and Now Won't Tell Them Who Actually Did It

"I never thought that this was even humanly possible," says Sabra Brucker.

Reason · Aug 20, 2024

Youth justice expert Heidi Mueller will head up embattled Illinois DCFS

Heidi Mueller, who has served as director of the Illinois Dept. of Juvenile Justice since 2016, was selected after a national search. She will take the reins of the scandal-plagued agency beginning February 1.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 3, 2024

DCFS needs grade-A leadership to overcome systemic failures

With the impending departure of Marc Smith, Gov. J.B. Pritzker is back to searching for a new director who is willing and capable of tackling the child welfare agency’s intractable problems.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 5, 2023

Embattled DCFS director Marc Smith announces resignation

The news comes a week after a blistering report from the Illinois auditor general highlighting delays in reporting child abuse to other authorities, protecting children allegedly abused and finding placements for kids.

Chicago Sun-Times · Oct 4, 2023

Former Johnny Depp lawyer weighs in on YouTuber Ruby Franke’s child abuse case

Attorney Ben Chew believes the claims Ruby Franke has made could be detrimental to her case

The Independent UK · Sep 13, 2023

Former DCFS manager accused of stealing at least $1.6 million in day care funds and spending it at a casino

Shauntelle Pridgeon was charged with fraud in a federal complaint handed down earlier this month but unsealed this week after Pridgeon was taken into custody.

Chicago Sun-Times · May 24, 2023

New records show how police found 8-year-old Sophia Mason — but it was already too late

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Newly obtained documents in the killing of Sophia Mason show that Hayward police — after getting a missing person’s report about the 8-year-old in March 2022 — swiftly determined what Alameda County social workers had failed to see for more than a year: The girl was…

Tribune News Service · Apr 10, 2023