Pritzker names new head of embattled Illinois family services agency

Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois announced on Wednesday that Heidi Mueller, the current director of juvenile justice, will replace Marc D. Smith as the leader of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Smith, who has been leading the department since 2019, faced criticism for improper housing of young people under the department's supervision. Despite announcing his resignation in October, he will aid in the transition process until the end of January.

Mueller, 49, has been the director of the Department of Juvenile Justice since 2016 and has gained national recognition for her work. Mueller, whose annual salary is $173,250, was chosen after a comprehensive nationwide search. Governor Pritzker praised Mueller's commitment and leadership, stating that both qualities will be instrumental in refining the state's child welfare system.

In contrast, Smith, 54, whose annual salary is $210,000, began tenure a few months into Pritzker's first term. Despite initiating reforms and conducting an independent review of organizational failures, including the deaths of three children under the department's supervision, progress was insufficient.

Smith was found guilty of contempt of court multiple times in 2022, following his failure to establish adequate placement for youths in the DCFS care. Pritzker accused his Republican predecessor of contributing to the problem by disbanding private social service agencies that were equipped to house youths appropriately during a 2015-2017 budget standoff with Democrats in the Legislature.

The problems at DCFS persist, as seen in an annual report on placement that showed hundreds of children were residing in temporary quarters for prolonged periods or kept in psychiatric hospitals or juvenile detentions past necessary dates due to inadequate placement options.

Charles Golbert, the Cook County public guardian, termed the DCFS director's role as one of the hardest and most critical in state government and encouraged Mueller to prioritize expanding DCFS's placement capacity. Heidi Dalenberg from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois echoed these sentiments and urged Mueller to focus on safe family placements instead of large, institutional settings.

Robert Vickery, deputy director of programs at Juvenile Justice, will take Mueller's current role on an interim basis while a search for a permanent successor occurs.