Lake County Gazette

State Representatives Tom Weber, Nicole La Ha, and Steve Reick have called for significant reforms to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) following a recent compliance report by the Illinois Auditor General. The July 2025 report found 34 violations at DCFS, with 29 identified as repeat failures. Concerns have also been raised after the death of 18-year-old Mackenzi Felmlee in a foster home in Fairview Heights.

Rep. Weber, who has served as chair of the House Republican working group on Sustaining & Protecting At-Risk Kids since his election to the Illinois State House in 2019 representing the 64th District [source], said, “This isn’t about funding. It’s about a culture of mismanagement that continues to put children at risk.”

Rep. Nicole La Ha, a member of the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee, stressed the importance of bipartisan cooperation. “This isn’t a partisan issue,” Rep. La Ha said. “DCFS placed Mackenzi in a home where she was abused for years. When concerns were raised, as they should have been, the Governor dismissed them as political talking points. That’s unacceptable and extremely concerning.”

To address these issues, HB1797 was introduced by Rep. Weber and co-sponsored by Rep. La Ha to amend the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. The bill would require DCFS to immediately share any report alleging child abuse or neglect with local law enforcement agencies, regardless of who is accused.

Rep. Steve Reick highlighted his ongoing advocacy for reform since the death of AJ Freund in 2019 and is promoting two bills—HB2497 and HB2498—to improve transparency and workload equity within DCFS. HB2497 would establish a comprehensive caseload tracking system to monitor client case plans, departmental workflows, and staff responsibilities while ensuring equal distribution of caseloads among personnel; it would also trigger reorganization if disparities are found. HB2498 requires DCFS to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on active case files, staffing ratios, and recommendations for appropriations aimed at reducing individual burdens and improving case management.

The lawmakers called on Governor JB Pritzker and DCFS Director Heidi Mueller to implement recommendations from the Auditor General’s report and support legislative measures focused on transparency, accountability for caseworkers, and child safety.