A few days ago we posted an item about the proposed budget cuts to Illinois’ child welfare system—cuts that would result in heavier caseloads for child protective services workers, a huge reduction (50%) in payment to foster parents, a cut in clinical services and other critical supports. ACLU filed suit on behalf of the 16,000 foster children in the state since the proposed budget cuts that might become a reality this week “violate a 21-year-old federal consent decree that gives the ACLU oversight of the well being of children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.”
 
Both DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe and DCFS director Erwin McEwen agreed that the proposed $460 million in budget cuts would bring them close to non-compliance. It would be the proverbial straw for the agency which has sustained almost $200 million in budget cuts since 2003. ‘"Given the proposed budget cuts, we acknowledge the impact on the safety ... and well-being of the children we serve,"’ McEwen said. ‘"We can only hope that the right thing will be done by funding these services today, as opposed to wasting valuable time and resources defending lawsuits."’
 
»Read the complete article here.

It will be interesting to see what the state does, if anything, to ward off the suit. We’ll keep you posted.

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