CHICAGO, March 17, 2005 - Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Director Bryan Samuels announced today he has appointed a 30-year-veteran of the Chicago Police Department as Law Enforcement Liaison, a newly created position that will help the agency with issues involving police investigations.

Roberta M. Bartik joins DCFS after a three-decade career as a law enforcement officer. As Law Enforcement Liaison, Bartik will be a link for issues involving DCFS and law enforcement agencies, such as child abuse investigations, youth in state care who are missing or are in the juvenile delinquency or criminal systems.

For the last 10 years, Bartik was Commander of the Chicago Police Department Juvenile Advocacy Section (Youth Division). In that role, she formulated policy for the Chicago Police Department's response to youth issues involving juveniles as victims and offenders of crimes.

As Commander of the Juvenile Advocacy Section, she represented the Chicago Police Department in its work with Cook County Juvenile Court, DCFS, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Cook County Juvenile Probation Department, Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Illinois Attorney General's Office, and other community, civic and governmental organizations.

"We are very fortunate to have Roberta Bartik's extensive credentials and experience on our team," said Director Samuels in announcing the appointment as he released the findings of a report on the runaway population in Illinois that was conducted by the Chapin Hall Center for Children.

"Over the last two years, we have made significant changes to the department's management structure and policy direction as part of a continuing effort to provide better services for kids who need our help," he said. "Roberta's appointment is the latest step in that ongoing effort."

Prior to managing the Juvenile Advocacy Section, Bartik administered the police field operations for investigations of all crimes against children, which included oversight of detectives at the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center. She was also in charge of the School Patrol Unit that was responsible for the safety and security of children, staff and visitors to Chicago Public Schools. Prior to her career in law enforcement, Bartik was a schoolteacher in Chicago and in a suburban setting.

Bartik is a licensed attorney and graduated with honors from John Marshall Law School, where she served as a member of Law Review and received a scholarship for outstanding achievement from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. She also holds a bachelor's degree from St. Xavier University in Chicago where she majored in education and English.

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Contact:
Diane Jackson
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
312-814-6847