| The
position of Inspector General for the Department of Children and Family Services
was created by unanimous vote of the Illinois General Assembly in June 1993 to
reform and strengthen the child welfare system. The mandate of the OIG is to investigate
misconduct, misfeasance, malfeasance and violations of rules, procedures or laws
by Department of Children and Family Services employees, foster parents, service
providers and contractors with the Department. (See 20 ILCS 505/35.5, 35.6, and 35.7) To
that end, the OIG has undertaken numerous investigations
and initiated projects
designed to improve practice, uncover
wrongdoing and increase the professionalism
of the
Department. The value and focus of the OIG is the individual life
of the child. The
OIG responds to and investigates complaints filed by the state and local judiciary,
foster parents, biological parents and the general public. At the request of the
Director, or when the OIG has noticed a particularly high level of complaints
in a specific segment of the child welfare system, the OIG will conduct a systemic
review. Investigations yield both case-specific recommendations and recommendations
for systemic changes within the child welfare system. The OIG monitors compliance
with all recommendations. The
OIG investigates deaths and serious injuries of all Illinois children who were
involved in the child welfare system in the preceding 12 months. The OIG is also
a member of Child Death Review Teams around the state. The Inspector General is
an ex officio member of the Child Death Review Team Executive Council. OIG
reports are submitted to the Director of DCFS. The OIG also reports to the Governor
and the Illinois Legislature. An OIG report contains a summary of the complaint,
a historical prospective on the case, including a case history, and detailed information
about prior DCFS or private agency contact with the family. An analysis of the
findings is provided along with recommendations. OIG
reports contain various types of information that are confidential pursuant to
both state and federal law. As such, OIG reports are not subject to the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA). The OIG has prepared several reports with confidential
information deleted for use as teaching tools for private agency and Department
employees. Rules
of the Office of the Inspector General are published in the Illinois Register
at 89 Ill. Admin. Code. 430. The Rules govern intake and investigations of complaints
from the general public, child deaths or serious injuries, and allegations relevant
to employee licensure action. The Rules also address the Inspector General's reports
to the Director.
Filing A Complaint Due to confidentiality requirements mandated
by law and the unsecure nature of electronic transmissions, the OIG does not accept
complaints by e-mail. If you wish to file a complaint with the OIG, please
print and fill out the attached form or contact the OIG directly at (800)-722-9124
or (312)-433-3000.
Resources:
Redacted
Reports
The OIG uses some reports as teaching/training tools. The
reports are redacted to ensure confidentiality and then made available to private
agencies, schools of social work, and DCFS libraries as a resource for child welfare
professionals to prompt discussion on individual and systemic problems within
the practice of child welfare. Redacted OIG reports are available from the OIG
by calling (800)-722-9124 or (312)-433-3000. | 
