September 5, 2023 -The state has unveiled a new online data dashboard featuring insights and performance indicators maintained by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
DCFS is responsible for investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect; licensing Illinois’ childcare centers, adoptive and foster homes, and adoption agencies; and providing community resources to families experiencing social and economic hardships.
The launch of this new Insights Tool marks the first time that Illinois residents, child welfare advocates and the families receiving these services have near real-time access to information used by DCFS administrators, including:
• The number of reports of abuse and neglect filed with the agency and how quickly DCFS staff responded.
• Percentages of youth under DCFS care who have met with medical teams or enrolled in development programs.
• Engagement activities, including a breakdown of how often and the means used by caseworkers to interact with families served by the department.
Data is updated daily and can be viewed at the county or state level, spanning the past 30 days or the past 12 months. It is available HERE.
“Rebuilding the child welfare system in Illinois is not a single nor simple task; it requires innovation and a commitment to hard work,” said Governor Pritzker. “DCFS is continuously seeking new ways to engage the public and be transparent with its information while maintaining a careful balance of protecting the confidentiality of our children and families. It is our intention that this Insights Tool will serve as a resource for those who have a genuine interest in learning more about this tremendous operation that impacts thousands of children and families.”
The department is also initiating a systems-focused study of its Child Protection Services. The department is partnering with the Center for Innovation in Population Health (IPH Center) at the University of Kentucky to conduct the study. The study is expected to take approximately 24 months to complete, with recommendations provided to DCFS throughout this timeframe to ensure immediate action can be taken where necessary.
