Your NPR news source

Illinois Dept. Of Children And Family Services Head Discusses Plan To 'Turn Things Around'

It’s been a half year since Beverly Walker stepped in to take over Illinois’ child welfare agency. Walker took over at a time when the Department of Children and Family Services was facing harsh criticism. The agency’s former director had just resigned in the midst of an ethics probe involving state contracts and several children in state care had died — including Semaj Crosby. The 17-month old was found dead just hours after her home was visited by a caseworker.

Walker joins Morning Edition host Lisa Labuz to reflect on her first six months with the agency and to discuss her plan to turn things around.



SHARE Illinois Dept. Of Children And Family Services Head Discusses Plan To 'Turn Things Around'

0000018f-844f-db24-a9ff-ccdf360d0000

It’s been a half year since Beverly Walker stepped in to take over Illinois’ child welfare agency. Walker took over at a time when the Department of Children and Family Services was facing harsh criticism.

The agency’s former director had just resigned in the midst of an ethics probe involving state contracts and several children in state care had died — including Semaj Crosby. The 17-month old was found dead just hours after her home was visited by a caseworker.

Walker joins Morning Edition host Lisa Labuz to reflect on her first six months with the agency and to discuss her plan to turn things around.

The Latest
Sunday marked the last day for four of the eight Walmart stores in Chicago: three neighborhood markets and one Supercenter. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Michael Puente
Chicago is a food writer’s delicious playground, and a new guide book aims to point you to all the best dishes created in the city. Reset learns more about those dishes, where to find them and the origin stories that started them all. GUESTS: Monica Eng, author of Made in Chicago and Chicago reporter for AXIOS David Hammond, author of Made in Chicago and Chicago food writer
Responders have not identified actual threats as a result of these fake active shooter reports. But Illinois State Police say these so-called “swatting” incidents are targeting schools throughout the U.S. Reset digs into why these threats are happening and how schools are responding. GUEST: Sophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times wire reporter
Chicago beat out Atlanta and New York to host next summer’s political convention.