Sangamon Sun

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) is calling for the firing of Department of Children and Family Services director Marc Smith who has been held in contempt of court 11 times for mishandling child welfare cases.

Butler took to Facebook to call for Gov. J. B. Pritzker to take action.

“It is time for the Governor to step up and fire this man, Butler wrote. “DCFS Director Smith is failing our children, failing our families, and failing the hard-working staff of this agency."

Butler shared a link from the Illinois House Republicans' Facebook page, where they wrote: "Each contempt charge racked up by Director Marc Smith represents a real child that has been failed by DCFS. The dysfunction has to end, DCFS needs to be overhauled immediately to protect our state's most vulnerable children."

Smith's most recent controversy came in April when a court order directed him to remove an 11-year-old girl from an emergency room by the end of the day on April 14.  The order told Smith to place the girl either in a psychiatric hospital or a secure residential facility, according to ABC NewsChannel20. The girl remained in the emergency room for two more days before being moved to a shelter placement where she remains.

While in the emergency room, the girl, according to newschannel20.com, made repeated threats of suicide, tried to run out of the hospital, and was physical with staff. She required five emergency medication restraints to calm her down, according to the report.

ABC NewsChannel20 reported on May 20 that Smith had been held in contempt 11 times since January, and is being fined $1,000 a day every day he is in contempt in this instance.  

Pritzker appointed Smith to direct the DCFS in April 2019 and he was confirmed by the Illinois Senate in June 2021.