>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN THE SHOW TONIGHT.

I WILL BE TRANSITIONING TO THE ROLE OF DIRECTOR.

DCFS.

THE STATE'S BELEAGUERED DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN.

FAMILY SERVICES HAS A NEW LEADER.

A LOOK AT HER VISION FOR THE AGENCY.

AND THEIR STORIES HAVE LARGELY GONE.

UNTOLD UNTIL NOW WE MEET THE SQUADS OF HARLEM.

>> AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS MAKING A MIDWEST CAMPAIGN SWING STOPPING IN RACINE, WISCONSIN, TO COURT BLACK SUPPORTERS AND VOLUNTEERS AT A COMMUNITY CENTER AND TAKE JABS AT HIS OPPONENT, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

>> AND HE SAYS HE'S GOING TO GET RID OF ALL THE STUFF THAT WE'VE DONE.

WHICH IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE TO PAY 400 BUCKS A MONTH FROM DIABETES.

THIS IN $35 ENSURE AND JUST DOWN THE WHOLE LIST.

>> BIDEN ALSO TOUTED A NEW 3 BILLION DOLLAR MICROSOFT DATA CENTER IN STURTEVANT IN RACINE COUNTY.

IT'S ON THE SIDE OF WHAT TRUMP PROMISED WAS TO BE A 10 BILLION DOLLAR FACILITY FOR TAIWAN BASED ELECTRONICS GIANT FOXCONN WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT.

BUT IT NEVER MATERIALIZED THIS AFTERNOON, BIDEN LANDED IN CHICAGO FOR A FUNDRAISER.

MEANWHILE, TRUMP IS BACK IN FLORIDA WITH THE DAY OFF FROM HIS NEW YORK HUSH MONEY TRIAL.

CITY ATTORNEYS ARE RECOMMENDING 1.7, 5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FAMILY OF A 33 YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO DIED BY SUICIDE IN A POLICE HOLDING CELL IRENE.

CHAVEZ WAS FOUND IN HER CELL AT THE GRAND CROSSING POLICE DISTRICT IN DECEMBER 2021, THE CIVILIAN OFFICE OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY SAYS OFFICERS ARRESTED HER AFTER SHE PUNCHED A SECURITY GUARD AT A BAR IN SOUTH SHORE.

REMOVED HER SHOE LACES AND BELT, BUT SHE WAS FOUND WITH HER BUTTON DOWN SHIRT WRAPPED AROUND HER NECK LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER BEING PLACED IN THE CELL.

ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE FAMILY SAY OFFICERS IGNORED CHAVEZ'S MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS CITY COUNCIL'S FINANCE COMMITTEE IS SET TO CONSIDER THE SETTLEMENT ON MONDAY.

THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY PRESIDENT UNVEILS A REPORT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BUT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT A PROPOSED MERGER OF CTA, METRA AND PACE.

THE CTA BOARD MET TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE STATE LAWMAKERS PROPOSED CREATING A NEW REGIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.

THE CURRENT PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE IDEA, BUT ARE CALLING FOR MORE FUNDING AHEAD OF A HUGE BUDGET GAP EXPECTED IN EARLY 2026.

CTA.

PRESIDENT DORVAL CARTER HAD NO COMMENT ON THE MERGER TODAY, BUT HE TOUTED A REPORT FROM MIT AND ARGONNE RESEARCHERS THAT FOUND WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC TRANSIT TRAVEL TIMES WOULD INCREASE BY 35%.

2 MILLION TRIPS EACH DAY WOULD BE CANCELED IN THE REGION WOULD LOSE 35 BILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EACH YEAR.

WE'VE GOT MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

UP NEXT, WE'RE WAITING ON THE ARRIVAL OF OUR DCFS DIRECTOR.

SO FIRST, WE'RE BRINGING YOU A STORY ON THE LITTLE KNOWN HISTORY OF BLACK BALLERINAS.

THAT'S IN A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

WHEN ARTHUR MITCHELL, THE FIRST BLACK PRINCIPAL DANCER AT THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET FOUNDED THE DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM.

THE COMPANY WOULD NOT ONLY BECOME AN INSTITUTION WHERE BLACK BALLET DANCERS COULD PERFORM, BUT ALSO FIND SUPPORT AMONG EACH OTHER WHILE SHOWING FUTURE DANCERS.

WHAT COULD BE ACHIEVED.

BUT THEIR SUCCESS DIDN'T COME EASILY AND THEIR STORIES HAVE LARGELY BEEN UNTOLD UNTIL NOW.

THEY'RE SHARING THOSE STORIES IN A NEW BOOK, THE SWANS OF HARLEM, 5 BLACK BALLERINAS, 50 YEARS OF SISTERHOOD AND THE RECLAMATION OF A GROUNDBREAKING HISTORY.

I AM PERSONALLY HONORED TO HAVE THEM WITH ME NOW, LIBYA BARCA MITCHELL, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM AND THEIR FIRST PRIMA BALLERINA.

SHE'S ALSO THE VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE 100 52ND STREET BLACK BALLET LEGACY, ORGANIZATION THAT AIMS TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF BLACK L A KARL.

YOU SHELTON, BENJAMIN FIRST GENERATION DANCER WITH THE DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM WHO BECAME A PRINCIPAL DANCER.

SHE ALSO SERVES AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE 100 52ND STREET BLACK VALLEY LEGACY.

AND KAREN BE AUTHER OF THE SWANS OF HARLEM.

WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

KAREN.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU, PLEASE.

HOW DID YOU COME TO THE STORY?

IT WAS MAGIC.

THE WOMEN HAD FORMED THE LEGACY COUNCIL DURING COVID AND >> ONE OF THE BALLERINAS LIVES ON THE BLOCK A LITERARY AGENT IN HARLEM.

AND THIS AGENT KNOWS HOW MUCH A PLAQUE DANCE STUDIO HAS MEANT IN MY LIFE.

MY 2 DAUGHTERS ARE ADOPTED.

THEIR DANCE STUDIO IN AUSTIN, TEXAS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE THEY ARE THE MAJORITY IN THE ROOM.

AND LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT WHEN I WOULD PANCAKE THEIR SHOES BEFORE RECITALS, THAT IT WAS A PRACTICE THAT THESE WOMEN HAD STARTED IN THE 70'S.

SO WE JUST TOOK A MEETING AND THE REST WAS.

HIS AND HERE YOU ARE.

WHAT WAS WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE WHEN YOU LEARNED THAT?

>> THAT KAREN WANTED TO TELL YOUR STORY.

>> WE SO INITIALLY THOUGHT WE COULD TO BURN AND FALLEN G BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OF US THAT WORK SO HARD TO GET.

THE COMPANY STARTED AND DURING COVID WITH >> THIS CALLS ALL OF THE STORIES COME.

STARTED COMING OUT.

>> MEAN, THAT ARE JOHNSON THAT THAT ARE VERY AGENT NOW.

SHE SAID, LET'S START WITH JUST THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE WERE HUNDREDS, I MEAN, HUNDREDS OF DANCERS THAT WHO HAVE WONDERFUL STORIES TO TELL WE STARTED WITH.

ARTICLE.

KAREN ROAD AND FELL IN LOVE WITH CARE KNOWS HOW TO TALK TO US AND JUST PULL OUT THINGS WE HAD FOR WE DIDN'T WANT THINK BUT SO IMPORTANT TO THE STORY THAT'S HOW IT CAME WHY DO YOU THINK YOUR STORY ISN'T MORE WIDELY KNOWN?

>> THAT'S A GOOD I THINK DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE DANCING WITH OF HARLEM.

IT WAS MORE.

ARTHUR MITCHELL WAS REALLY THE FOCUS THE COMPANY.

HE ALSO MADE SURE THAT WE KNEW YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALL OF US.

IT WAS THERE WAS THERE ARE NO STARS.

THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THE COMPANY.

SO I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST KIND OF ASSUME THAT.

THINGS ARE GOING TO BE DOCUMENTED IN.

AND YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT, WHY YOU'RE DOING IT.

AND THEN 50 YEARS LATER, YOU GO.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WHERE IS ALL THAT HARD WORK THAT WE DID.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE DID REESE, CREATED THIS COMPANY ALONG WITH OUR TELL US WHAT YOUR DAYS WERE LIKE, DANCING WITH THE INTERIOR OF HARLEM.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GLAMOUR AND SOME FUN TO REALLY WANT TO START.

THEY STARTED AS AN APPRENTICE.

WE STARTED WITH A LOT BACK IN THE 70 SO AND THEN WE HAD REHEARSED CLASS FIRST.

CLASS WAS KNOWN TO HAVE 2 HOURS.

REHEARSALS.

AND THEN REHEARSE AGAIN.

THE TOURING DAYS FOR WHERE A LOT OF YOU KNOW, WE JUST WENT ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE PEOPLE THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF MEETING SO THEY WERE VERY EXCITING DAYS.

AND AND AND WE WERE LIKE A FAMILY, YOU WHERE WE STILL ARE THOSE EARLY DAYS FOR BECAUSE >> TRAVELED A LOT BUS BETWEEN CITIES AND THEN WE GOT UP AND DID EARLY WARNING ELECTION DEMONSTRATIONS AND WE DID A CLASS AND THEN WE DID A REHEARSAL AND THEN WE DID A PERFORMANCE THAT WE'VE GOT BACK ON THE BUS AND DID IT AGAIN.

>> I KNOW GROWING, THROW DANCE THEATER HOME.

I WISH I HAD SEEN ELECTION DEMONSTRATION MYSELF.

I GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS IN HARLEM.

>> BALLET WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I KNEW THAT MUCH.

ANYTHING ABOUT.

I GREW UP WITH FRED ASTAIRE AND GINGER ROGERS AND THE JACKSON 5 MOTOWN.

AND SO IT WAS JUST.

A REVELATION WHEN I MET MISTER MITCHELL, THAT BALLET WAS COULD BE HOURS.

HE REALLY IS THE 6TH CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE THE 5 SWANS THAT YOU FOCUS ON A NUMBER OF OTHER >> DANCERS FROM THOSE EARLY DAYS AS WELL.

KAREN.

BUT THEN ARTHUR MITCHELL IN AND YOU REALLY LEARN ABOUT THIS MAN AND YOU GET A SENSE OF HIS CHARACTER.

HIS PERSONALITY, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM.

I THINK HE WAS AS COMPLICATED AS HE WAS BRILLIANT.

AND WE DON'T ALWAYS LET OUR BLACK HEROES BE COMPLICATED AND LIVE IN THEIR FULL.

>> THEY'RE FULL GREATNESS AND THEIR FULL HE CREATED SOMETHING THAT THE WORLD SAID COULDN'T EXIST.

HE LOVED HIS DANCERS.

HE USED HIS DANCERS.

HE MADE SOMETHING MAGICAL AND HE WAS THEM.

BUT I THINK ALWAYS.

KNEW THAT HE BELIEVED IN YOUR GREATNESS.

YEAH, I IF YOU COULD WORK WITH THE MITCHELL, HE CA WHY DO YOU THINK HE WAS SO YOU?

BECAUSE KAREN, IN THE BOOK YOU WRITE THAT, YOU KNOW, INTEGRATING BALLET WAS SORT OF HIS SOCIAL.

>> SOCIAL JUSTICE RIGHT.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHY?

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE PHRASING BLACKS CAN'T JUST BE GOOD, GOT TO BE BETTER THAN GOOD MONEY.

BUT HE WAS SO YOU.

HE HAD TO BE LIKE, YEAH, WE WERE SETTING OUT TO.

SHOW PEOPLE THAT WE WEREN'T PROVING THAT WE COULD DO BALLET.

WE WANTED THEM TO SEE THAT WE COULD WE KNEW WE COULD DO IT.

>> AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CREATE SOMETHING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, FULL-OUT COMPANY OF CLASSICAL BALLET DANCERS.

OF COURSE, HE CAME OUT AGAINST A LOT OF OBSTACLES.

WAS DEALING WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

WE LEARNED EARLY ON.

>> HE WAS THE IT'S HIS WAY OF THE HIGH VERY CLEAR.

YES, BUT IT IT WAS VALUABLE BECAUSE WE WE LEARNED OF WORK AND JUST A PLAN.

WE WAS STRIVING TO WHICH WE COULD NEVER, REALLY, REALLY GET 100% APPROVAL.

BUT THAT WAS OK, BECAUSE IT MADE WORK EVEN HARDER.

WE HAVE TO DO.

WE HAD TO DRESS A CERTAIN WAY.

WE HAD TO IT WASN'T JUST ON THE STAGE.

IT WAS EVERYWHERE.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT I COULD TALK TO THE 3 OF YOU ABOUT THIS ALL DAY.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

FOLKS WANT TO KNOW MORE.

THEY GOT TO READ THE BOOK MY THANKS TO THE 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING THE CARINVAL BE LYDIA BARCA, MICHELLE AND CARLY SHELTON.

BENJAMIN, THANK YOU.

SOMETHING NEW.

>> AGAIN, CARE ALL THESE NEW BOOK IS CALLED THE SWANS OF HARLEM.

5 BLACK BALLERINAS, 50 YEARS OF SISTERHOOD AND THE RECLAMATION OF A GROUNDBREAKING HISTORY.

YOU CAN READ AN EXCERPT ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S BEEN A REVOLVING DOOR OF LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE'S TROUBLED DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.

>> IN FEBRUARY, GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER APPOINTED HEIDI MILLER AS HEAD OF THE AGENCY MAKING HER THE 13TH DIRECTOR IN THE PAST 14 YEARS AND REPAIRING THE AGENCY WILL BE A TALL ORDER.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS FREQUENTLY COME UNDER FIRE FOR THE HANDLING OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO ABUSE AND FOR LEAVING CHILDREN'S IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AFTER THEY WERE GIVEN MEDICAL APPROVAL TO BE RELEASED.

BUT MILLER IS LOOKING TO TURN THINGS AROUND, PROMISING SOME IMPROVEMENTS BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND JOINING US NOW IS HEIDI MILLER, DIRECTOR OF DCFS.

WE'RE GLAD YOU MADE IT DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S AFFIX.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS FOR YOU.

COME TO THIS HAVING PREVIOUSLY JUST SERVED AS HEAD OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THIS POSITION?

>> WELL, I WILL BE HONEST THAT WHEN I FIRST WAS CONSIDERING TAKING ON THIS POSITION, I WONDERED IF I WAS CRAZY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I TRUST ABOUT IT.

AND THEY SAID, YEAH, YOU ARE CRAZY BUT YOU HAVE TO DO IT.

I'M REALLY THE REASON I WANTED TO DO THIS WAS BECAUSE IN MY ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF DJJ, I REALLY GOT TO KNOW A LOT OF KIDS AND I GOT TO KNOW THEIR STORIES AND I REALIZE THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAD TOUCHED THE DCFS SYSTEM BEFORE THEY ENDED UP AT DJJ.

AND I REALLY WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FURTHER UPSTREAM AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP KIDS AND FAMILIES GET WHAT THEY NEED BEFORE THEY END UP IN OUR CAR CIRYL SYSTEMS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE 2 IT CAN CERTAINLY LINKED OR RELATED.

HAVE SOME INSTANCES.

>> AS WE MENTIONED, AS WE KNOW, IT IS AN AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY SOME CONTROVERSY FOR BACK IN FEBRUARY, WE HAD COOK COUNTY PUBLIC GUARDIAN CHARLES COLBERT HERE ON THE SHOW AND HE DETAILED SOME OF HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE WORSENING CONDITIONS OF MINORS UNDER THE CARE OF DCFS.

>> LAST YEAR ALONE, THERE WAS MORE THAN 1000 TIMES WERE TO SPOUSES, KIDS WERE PLACED OFFICES.

I'M IN THE EMERGENCY ROOMS IN WALKED PSYCHIATRIC WARDS IN JAILS BECAUSE THE SERVICE NO PLACE FOR THEM.

CHILDREN YOUNG AS 4 AND THOSE 5 YEARS OLD.

AND WE HAVE STATS GOING BACK SEVERAL YEARS AND GETTING WORSE AND WORSE EVERY YEAR MORE CHILDREN INVOLVED LONGER WINDS WILL STAY IN THESE HARMFUL PLACEMENTS AND THE CHILDREN KEEP GETTING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER EVERY YEAR.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM CHARLES CALVERT?

WELL, I WATCHED THAT INTERVIEW IN AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TOO CLARIFY.

SOME OF THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT HE SAID.

THAT DCFS DOES NOT PLACE KIDS IN JAILS.

WE DON'T DO THAT.

GO THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS AND ADJUDICATE KIDS AND THEN COMMIT THEM JAILS AND PRISONS.

SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT DCFS DOES.

BUT WHAT HE'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN WE HAVE KIDS WHO HAVE VERY, VERY HIGH NEEDS ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC NEEDS OR COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS.

AND WE LOOK FOR PLACES FOR THEM TO THE PLACE AND HE'S TALKING HISTORICALLY THE AGENCY HAVING DIFFICULTIES FINDING APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT FOR THOSE KIDS?

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KIND OF TAKE A STEP BACK AND FOR ME, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

ONE OF MY CORE GOALS IS REALLY BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE WAY WE TALK ABOUT OUR KIDS IN CARE.

AND SO ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THERE ARE 24,000 KIDS IN CARE, IN DCFS AND OF THOSE KIDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY LIVE IN HOMES.

THEY LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

THEY LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

THEY GO TO SCHOOL WITH OUR KIDS.

THEY PLAY ON THE SOFTBALL TEAM WITH MY DAUGHTER AND I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PORTRAY OUR KIDS IN CARE AS A MONOLITH BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT.

ALL THOSE 24,000 KIDS, WE HAVE LESS THAN 5% WHO HAVE REALLY, REALLY HIGH ACUITY NEEDS PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS COMPLEX.

MEDICAL NEEDS AND ALL OF THOSE KIDS, EVEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM CAN BE HOSPITALIZED AND RETURN HOME IN A TIMELY WAY.

SO THE KIDS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS, MISTER CULBERT IS TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE POPULATION THAT WE SERVE AND THEIR KIDS WHO ARE OUR MOST VULNERABLE ARE MOST HIGH NEEDS OUR MOST COMPLEX RIGHT NOW AS OF THE END OF APRIL STATEWIDE, THERE ARE 23 KIDS THAT FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.

SO IT'S A REALLY, REALLY SMALL NUMBER OF KIDS.

BUT THOSE KIDS ARE VERY, VERY CHALLENGING FOR US TO TREAT AND TO FIND APPROPRIATE PLACES FOR THEM TO LIVE BUT IT IS.

YOU ASKED ME WHY I CAME TO DCFS AND ONE OF THE REASONS I IN ADDITION TO WANTING TO MOVE FURTHER UPSTREAM IS TO REALLY BE PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR THOSE KIDS BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR 24,000 KIDS DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE WE WOULD WANT KIDS TREATED.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT LAKE CHARLES COVERT OR SOMEONE IN HIS POSITION OTHER?

>> PUBLIC GUARDIAN'S?

I THINK THEY'RE NOT THAT MANY ACROSS THE STATE BUT OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE WITH YOU AND TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR OFFICE AND DEVELOPING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

>> WELL, THAT'S REALLY MY GOAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID IMMEDIATELY UPON TAKING THIS ROLE WAS TO START REACHING OUT TO OUR STAKEHOLDER PARTNERS BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT DCFS.

IS NOT THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IN AND OF ITSELF.

OUR CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IS BROAD AND COMPLEX AND IT INCLUDES THE PUBLIC GUARDIAN GUARDIANS AD LITEM.

IT INCLUDES THE COURTS.

IT INCLUDES PROVIDERS, THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THE MORE THAN 280,000 MANDATED REPORTERS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO IT'S REALLY A HUGE AND COMPLEX NETWORK.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY FIRST PRIORITIES WAS TRYING TO OPEN UP COMMUNICATION WITH THAT AS MANY STAKEHOLDERS AS POSSIBLE.

THAT INCLUDES MISTER GOBER.

WE MET RIGHT AWAY AND WE'VE ACTUALLY MET AGAIN.

WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH REGULAR MEETING SO THAT WE CAN REALLY COLLABORATE AND COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO ME THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS SYSTEM MAKES PROGRESS AND MOVES FORWARD.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.

WE KNOW THAT IT REQUIRES COLLABORATION WITH THE COURTS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THESE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT MAKE UP A PART OF THE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE REALLY HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.

AVOID FINGER-POINTING DECIDE, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THESE KIDS THAT ARE ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE?

YOUR PREDECESSOR WAS HELD IN CONTEMPT OF SEVERAL OVER THIS ISSUE.

PLACEMENT SHORTAGES AND SOME MINOR STAYING IN HOSPITALS.

AS WE SAID.

>> LONGER THAN MEDICALLY BUT, YOU KNOW, BEYOND THAT, JUST ENSURING THAT YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH PLACEMENT FOR FOR THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN YOUR CARE HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU PLAN ON FIXING THAT?

I THINK A COOK COUNTY JUDGE EVEN ASKED YOU COME AND TESTIFY IN COURT ABOUT THIS AS WELL.

WHAT IS WHAT IS THE PLAN?

>> WELL, IT IS A CORE PRIORITY OF MINE TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS HAVE THE RIGHT PLACEMENT.

AND WE'RE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE.

CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST HAVING BEDS AND SHOVING KIDS INTO ANY OLD BED.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING CAREFUL CLINICAL DECISIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT KIDS HAVE THE RIGHT TREATMENT TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUALIZED MEATS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY PREDECESSOR DID THAT WAS REALLY GREAT.

HE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO REPLENISH A LOT OF THE RESOURCES THAT HAD BEEN DIMINISHED IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS.

AND SO EVEN BEFORE I GOT THERE, HE HAD ALREADY STARTED INVESTING IN INCREASING THE SORT OF SPECIALIZED INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENTS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M REALLY COMMITTED TO CONTINUING.

AND THEN TO INCREASE INVESTMENT SO THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES AND CARE FOR KIDS.

BUT IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST FOCUS ON THIS IDEA OF RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT IN BETS.

A LOT OF KIDS IN OUR CARE CAN BE SERVED AT HOME WITH THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT WRAPPED AROUND THEM.

AS LONG AS WE'RE SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES.

AS LONG WE'RE SUPPORTING THEIR CAREGIVERS APPROPRIATELY, THEY CAN BE AT HOME AND RECEIVED THE TREATMENT WE NEED.

AND SO.

I DON'T WANT TO FOCUS SOLELY ON RESIDENTIAL BEDS.

DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE SPECIALIZED TREATMENT.

FOSTER CARE INTENSIVE WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND CARE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES TO KEEP KIDS FROM ESCALATING INTO HOSPITALIZATION IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> GOVERNOR PRITZKER IS PROPOSING TO INVEST 100 MILLION DOLLARS INTO DCFS IN HIS 2025 BUDGET PROPOSAL.

HOW MUCH OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE CHALLENGES AND SHORTCOMINGS THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS GRAPPLING CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO LACK OF FINANCIAL INVESTMENT PREVIOUSLY.

AND DO YOU YOU KNOW, HOW FAR WILL ALL OF THIS INVESTMENT GO TO SOLVING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'VE GOT?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE LACK OF INVESTMENT HISTORICALLY WAS CRITICAL.

IT WAS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THE AGENCY.

AND I THINK GOVERNOR PRITZKER RECOGNIZING AND PRIORITIZING INVESTMENT IN DCFS IS REALLY THE FIRST STEP TO U.S. BUILDING THE KIND OF SYSTEM THAT WE REALLY WANT FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS IN ILLINOIS.

WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO USING THAT 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE TYPES OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES THAT WE REALLY NEED AND USE DATA TO KIND OF DRIVE THAT DEVELOPMENT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS THERE'S A REAL LACK OF CARE FOR KIDS WHO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS OR WHO ARE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM IN ILLINOIS.

THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR THAT.

THAT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD INVESTMENT IN PREVIOUSLY.

AND SO WE ARE REALLY WORKING TO INVEST IN A NUMBER OF PROVIDERS WHO ARE DEVELOPING SMALL HOME LIKE THERAPEUTIC CARE SETTINGS FOR THOSE KIDS AND YOU WILL ACTUALLY SEE OVER THE NEXT 6, 12, 18 MONTHS.

A LOT OF THOSE RESOURCES START TO BECOME AVAILABLE.

6, 12, 18 MONTHS AS HE TOLD TO LAWMAKERS FOR AND JUDGED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> SO WE HAVE TO HAVE TO ASK ABOUT A LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED THIS WEEK.

IT WAS AGAINST THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE AND THE STATE AND IT ALLEGES ABUSE AND ASSAULT AT CENTERS FROM 1996, TO 2017 AT THE HANDS OF CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND OTHER STAFFERS.

YOU ARE OF COURSE NOT NAMED IN THAT LAWSUIT.

BUT YOU DID SERVE AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR PROGRAMS THAT I DJJ FROM 2014 TO 2016 BEFORE TAKING ON TAKING OVER AS DIRECTOR IN 2016.

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THIS LAWSUIT?

>> WELL, THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT I CAN SAY.

I AM NO LONGER DIRECTOR OF DJJ AND SO REALLY YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF DJJ FOR COMMENT.

I KNOW THAT THAT TEAM IS TAKING THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO ENSURE NOTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN SAY ABOUT IT OTHER THAN THAT EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT I'M AWARE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE MADE WHEN DJJ WAS NOT EVEN A STAND-ALONE AGENCY YET, BUT WAS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

AND THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT LEAD TO THE FORMATION OF THE AGENCY IN THE FIRST AND A LOT OF THE REFORMS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS THERE, I WAS CHARGED AND PUT IT UP.

CHARGED WITH PUTTING IN PLACE.

AND WHILE WE'RE WHILE WE'RE ON JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE AT THE TIME ON THE TAIL END OF THE RANGE SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE PARENTS WHO MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S SAFETY IN AND I DJJ AGENCY OFFICE FACILITY?

WELL, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST THE PARENTS, BUT ALL OF US IN ILLINOIS SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF KIDS IN CARE.

>> ANYWHERE.

AND THAT INCLUDES DJJ.

AND I THINK I AM VERY THAT THE TEAM THAT'S IN PLACE AT I DJJ NOW IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF KIDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE KIDS WHERE THEY'RE SAFE.

>> ALMOST OUT OF TIME MAY IS FOSTER CARE MONTH.

SOME ADVOCATES ARE CALLING FOR RELATIVES OF CHILDREN IN YOUR CARE WHO TAKE PLACEMENT OF THOSE CHILDREN TO RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PAYMENT AS FOSTER FAMILIES WHO'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION 30 SECONDS.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT?

OH, MY GOSH.

ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

I THINK IT COSTS THE SAME TO RAISE A CHILD NO MATTER WHO'S DOING IT, NO MATTER HOW YOUR CATEGORIZED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED IN OUR FY 25 BUDGET IS THE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE EQUITY IN THE PAYMENTS FOR.

>> FOSTER PARENTS, WHETHER THEY ARE TRADITIONAL FOSTER PARENTS, WHETHER THEY ARE GUARDIANS, ARE KINSHIP CAREGIVERS.

SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING AND IT WILL ULTIMATELY LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR KIDS AND LETTING KIDS STAY IN COMMUNITIES, STAY CONNECTED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO THEY LOVE.

ALL RIGHT, HEIDI MILLER, A BRAND NEW DIRECTOR, DCFS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS.

>> AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES, ORGANIZATION IN NORTH CHICAGO IS BUILDING NEW HOMES AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

PLUS, MORE LATINOS ARE PURSUING ADVANCED DEGREES.

WE'LL SPEAK WITH A FEW ABOUT TO GRADUATE.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, WHICH IS PROUD TO HONOR FOUNDER AND SENIOR PARTNER ROBERT WHO IS