Police and Illinois’ child welfare agency say staff at a Chicago-area hospital didn’t alert them after determining that a bloodied woman who arrived with a gravely ill newborn had not just given birth to the baby boy, as she claimed.
DCFS
Illinois’ child welfare agency is so intent on keeping children with their parents even when they have strong evidence of abuse that it has sometimes left those children in grave danger, a study released Wednesday found.
JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr. of Crystal Lake appeared in McHenry County court Friday, the day after a 30-page grand jury indictment was handed down in the case.
Illinois lawmakers on Tuesday took aim at the state’s Department of Children and Family Services, which has been haunted for decades by deaths wrought of abuse and neglect.
JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr.’s younger son was taken into Illinois Department of Children and Family Services custody following the disappearance of Andrew “AJ” Freund.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services had multiple contacts with Freund's family over reports of neglect and abuse in the months and years before the 5-year-old was found dead.
Police believe the Illinois couple killed 5-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund by beating him and forcing him to stand in a cold shower for an extended period of time.
Crystal Lake police Chief James Black said at a news conference Wednesday that police dug up what they believe is Andrew “AJ” Freund’s body in a field and that it was wrapped in plastic.
The mother of a 5-year-old suburban Chicago boy who went missing last week is refusing to cooperate with detectives, police said Monday.
A new lawsuit claims DCFS is keeping Illinois children in psych wards beyond medical necessity. We hear from the plaintiff in that case.
In a class-action lawsuit, the state’s child welfare agency is accused of keeping children confined to psychiatric hospitals beyond their discharge dates because it doesn’t have the necessary facilities to house them.
Beverly Walker, acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, talks about running the controversial agency charged with protecting Illinois’ children.
George Sheldon’s departure comes as he faces an ongoing ethics probe involving contracts and DCFS is under fire for its handling of the Semaj Crosby case.
Maryville Academy started nearly 133 years ago as an orphanage, but as a result of major cuts in funding, the agency announced it will no longer house children. We speak with Maryville's executive director about the changes and organization's new direction.
In the wake of the Penn State scandal, we talk about whistle-blowing on child sex abuse in Illinois, and possible ramifications that could result.
