Illinois child welfare agency remains noncompliant with safety law, audit finds

The short version

• A state audit revealed the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services failed to meet all requirements of Ta'Naja's Law across 2023 and 2024.[Associated Press]
• Auditors sampled 50 cases and found only 18% had mandated home safety checklists, alongside missing healthcare screening records.[Associated Press]
• The agency stated it has continued to make progress, noting several earlier audit recommendations have been implemented.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• An audit by Illinois Auditor General Christopher Meister spanning 2023 to 2024 determined DCFS made progress but did not comply fully with Ta’Naja’s Law.[Associated Press]
• DCFS provided only 18% of required home safety checklists across a sample of 50 evaluated cases.[Associated Press]
• Auditors found no documentation for 16% of mandatory physicals, 29% of vision screenings, 63% of hearing checks, and 51% of dental visits.[Associated Press]
• The agency recorded an overall staff vacancy rate of 13% across permanency, intact family services, and child protection divisions.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Illinois audit finds child protection agency made progress, but was still noncompliant with 2020 lawAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press