Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) employees are calling for protections as they take on cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AFSCME, the union representing DCFS workers, is asking for personal protective equipment to be provided to investigators. They're also looking for ways to allow certain contacts to be done through phone or video.
Heidi Creasy, a DCFS investigator in Peoria County, said she and others are first responders when it comes to abuse and neglect — and the pandemic has not changed that.
“Once a case is assigned, we are required to go out and find the child,” Creasy said. “If the child is in the hospital, we go. If the child is in the community, we go. If the child is at home, we go.”
Creasy said early on in the shelter in place order, she was called to a hospital to visit a child three times. At the time, she said, the department had not provided her protective equipment, but the hospital graciously did.
Creasy said she’s continued to visit hospital settings at least once a week since then. She said those in her field do what needs to be done because they’re passionate about keeping kids safe.
“We recognize that we are oftentimes the only voice for abused or neglected children,” she said. “We are not at all interested in cutting corners. We do, however, want to find a way to function effectively without putting ourselves at risk or putting children or families at risk.”
The union argues that some routine contacts can be done effectively without being face-to-face.
Anne Irving, regional director for AFSCME Local 31, said the goal is not to discontinue in-person visits, but to avoid putting people at risk unnecessarily.
For example, she said, in cases where a child is hospitalized and being cared for by medical providers, away from the perpetrator, the recommendation would be to delay the visit or minimize the recurrence of visits, in order to not have investigators moving in and out of the hospital.
“I don’t think it’s going to be an overwhelming number of their contacts … involving children, but I think those contacts involving other adults in the household, for example -- those could lead to a significant reduction in the face-to-face, without having any impact on the safety of the child,” she said.
Irving said it could also be applied to cases involving teenagers, when they’re not in imminent danger. She said in cases where in-person contact is necessary, the recommendation would be to conduct those interview outside, practice social distancing, and wear protective equipment.
Referencing DCFS data, Irving said 14 department employees have tested positive for COVID-19 since April 8. Another 38 have reportedly been “COVID exposed” as of April 21.
Correction: A previous version of this story said 15 Department of Children and Family Services employees had tested positive for COVID-19. That number was 14 as of Sunday, May 3. We regret the error.
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