Lake County Gazette

State Rep. Tom Weber (R-Lake Villa) has emphasized the paramount importance of safeguarding vulnerable children, asserting that it is the fundamental duty of the state.

Weber aims to effect meaningful change in the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), bolstering the agency's effectiveness and enhancing the well-being of children under its care. He expresses hope that these vital reforms will be advanced to ensure a secure and nurturing home for every child across Illinois.

“Protecting vulnerable children is our most basic responsibility as a state,” Weber said on Facebook.

“I firmly believe that the AJ Freund Act and the other legislation our Sustaining & Protecting At-Risk Kids working group has proposed will have a real impact on fixing DCFS and improving the lives of children in their care. I hope that we will start to advance these necessary reforms to ensure that every child in Illinois can live in a safe and loving home.”

In the wake of a lawsuit in January 2023 accusing the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) of mistreating children by sending them to juvenile detention facilities, House Republicans, under the leadership of State Representative Tony McCombie, have undertaken a concerted effort to reform the agency's care for foster children and families in crisis, according to the Caucus Blog. 

Spearheaded by the Sustaining & Protecting At-Risk Kids Working Group, the Republicans have introduced a series of comprehensive bills, including the AJ Freund Act, which enables law enforcement to independently investigate abuse or neglect cases and mandates DCFS to share investigation reports with local County State’s Attorneys.

The legislative package also includes measures such as requiring DCFS to adopt a caseload tracking system, improving transparency in reporting caseloads, and facilitating prompt payments to foster families for new placements. Amid ongoing challenges in foster care, lawmakers are determined to forge bipartisan solutions to enhance the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Investigators said Freund was beaten to death with a detachable shower head.  

Freund’s mother and father, JoAnn Cunningham and Andrew Freund Sr, were convicted of theirs son’s murder. AJ Freund was fives years old.

Freund Sr. is serving 30 years in prison. Cunningham was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2021 but has since sought clemency based on mental illness.

AJ Freund’s case known to DCFS prior to his death.

In fact, three DCFS caseworkers were criminally charged for not properly handling complaints regarding AJ Freund’s welfare.

DCFS’s track record is a poor one with a number of high-profile child deaths in their care.

Following an investigation, the Frank Mautino Auditor General's Office discovered that DCFS “was unable to provide 192 of the 195 (98%) required Home Safety Checklists.”

“Additionally, according to DCFS’ website, Home Safety Checklists had still not been updated with required new language as of March 16, 2022,” the audit reads.

DCFS Director Marc Smith has been found in contempt of court over a dozen times for refusing to answer in court to alleged mistreatment of children in the system.