Gary Marx

Chicago police Detectives Charlie Hollendoner, left, and Ron Jasica investigate potential sex crimes against children in Chicago. Both detectives work out of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center.

Police, DCFS cutbacks strain center that investigates child sex crimes

June 14, 2024 at 6:45 p.m.

Whimsically designed to suggest the gingerbread castle a child might build, the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center has earned national acclaim for its investigations of sex assault and abuse cases involving...

DCFS Director George Sheldon resigned in June and took a job with a Florida nonprofit.

New details emerge of former DCFS head’s controversial contracts, hires

June 14, 2024 at 6:41 p.m.

Weeks after former state Department of Children and Family Services Director George Sheldon resigned and took a job with a Florida nonprofit, new details are emerging about insider contract deals...

Beverly "BJ" Walker, shown in 2002, has been named the new director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Illinois DCFS names new director, a veteran human services leader

May 23, 2019 at 4:35 a.m.

Illinois' new child welfare director will bring a long resume of human services leadership to an agency battered by scandals, management upheaval and the deaths of children in state care....

George Sheldon, director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, seen here on May 3, 2017, in Springfield, is leaving the agency for a job in Florida.

Head of DCFS resigns amid controversy

May 23, 2019 at 4:29 a.m.

Facing an ethics probe as well as a series of recent child deaths and scandalous headlines, state child welfare director George Sheldon made it official Wednesday: He's resigned and is...

Flowers and toys mark the grave of Sema'j Crosby at Elmhurst Cemetery on May 30, 2017. She was found dead the month before in her Joliet Township home.

DCFS was weeks behind in filing reports when Semaj Crosby disappeared, records show

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

The morning after 17-month-old Semaj Crosby was reported missing from her Joliet Township home, state Department of Children and Family Services investigators and supervisors went to a strip mall office...

DCFS investigators competed for $100 gift cards for closing most cases

May 23, 2019 at 4:28 a.m.

As state child welfare investigators probed allegations of abuse in the Joliet Township home where 17-month-old Semaj Crosby would later be found dead, their supervisor was launching a contest that...

DCFS report shows litany of failures in death of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby

May 23, 2019 at 4:28 a.m.

A new report describes a litany of failures by state child welfare investigators who opened at least 10 investigations into abuse and neglect in the home of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby...

DCFS under fire for quickly closing child abuse investigations

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigators are overwhelmed by high caseloads and are being pressured to quickly close their abuse probes, even when they have not performed basic...

Illinois child welfare head pledges reform after recent deaths of children

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

State child welfare Director George Sheldon said Tuesday he is considering a major change in the way the agency conducts abuse and neglect investigations, saying investigators could benefit from access...

State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, is among a group of llinois lawmakers demanding answers from the Department of Children and Family Services about recent child abuse deaths.

Lawmakers want answers from state child welfare officials

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

Some Illinois lawmakers are demanding answers from the Department of Children and Family Services about recent child abuse deaths and new policies that push investigators to speed up abuse and...

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