Kane County Reporter

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) is calling for the resignation of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith.

"How many more kids have to be hurt before J.B. Pritzker fires DCFS Director Marc Smith?" Bailey asked. "There is no compelling reason for Smith to have a job and yet Pritzker continues to sit back and do nothing."

This comes as CBS Chicago reported that between January and May, 177 children – including a 5-year-old girl with autism – have been made to sleep in DCFS offices.

"There have been 177 kids who have had to sleep on office floors because of the incompetence of the J.B. Pritzker Administration," Bailey said. "His failings are hurting kids and it has to stop. It is time for J.B. Pritzker to be held accountable for the house of horrors - AKA the Department of Children and Family Services – he is running. The insanity in this Department is getting out of hand. It is beyond time for DCFS Director Marc Smith to go. The fact that he is still there is all of the evidence we need that J.B. Pritzker does not deserve a second term." 

Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert told CBS News Chicago that this is unacceptable.

"This is a child who is in DCFS's care due to concerns about abuse and neglect; and what does DCFS say to the little girl? Here. Here's an office. Go sleep on the floor of this office," Golbert said.

Following a number of high-profile child deaths, DCFS has recently come under fire, Southern Illinois News reported. Auditor General Frank Mautino's office noted in an audit that DCFS “was unable to provide 192 of the 195 (98%) required Home Safety Checklists.

Smith has been held in contempt of court twelve times, according to Prairie State Wire. Among the causes was for improperly holding a 14-year-old child in a mental health institution. One youngster was imprisoned until September 2021, went through the system 21 times, and was ultimately freed, CBS News Chicago reported. The judge in that case ordered DCFS to pay a daily charge of $1,000 until the teen received the necessary treatment. Despite the court's judgments, Pritzker has maintained his support for Smith.