State filed petition for adjudication of wardship, alleging that minor was neglected as his environment was injurious to his welfare. DCFS assigned case management responsibilities to Lutheran Children and Family Services (LCFS), which repeatedly failed to abide by court's orders and did not timely file necessary reports with the court. Court's determination that it was necessary to remove LCFS as case manager was proper and in best interests of the minor, as LCFS failed to fulfill its statutory duties. Court's order assigning DCFS as the case manager was an impermissible interference in DCFS's internal administrative procedures and infringes upon DCFS's explicit statutory authority to contract with outside service agencies and to designate a private agency or employee as a caseworker. (BOIE and BARBERIS, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Civil Court
Abuse and Neglect