Unfortunatly DCFS in Illinois send children back into enviroments that have not changed a whole lot because they are more into the numbers of reunification than the safety of the children we had a child who was with us for almost 2 years he was taken at birth others were already in care there was no bonding no connection with the bio parents that was reported by the person supervising visits they were getting ready to terminate rights and the caseworker got transfered to a different position and a new worker was assigned who is the only case worker for the area who is overworked and very understaffed and the supervisor told her we are returning the kids and within 5 weeks they were returned the baby would not even look at mom he screamed for my husband and I it did not matter mom had them on a weekend the older kids told their foster mom of bio mom drinking and smoking weed and driving without a license and when brought to the workers attention was told it was hear say they removed the lady who supervised the visits she expressed concern for the kids cause when the visits occured bio mom sent them to their rooms instead of interacting with them so the little boy who got murdered by his mom and her boyfriend is not the only one that gets sent back into unsafe enviroments unfortunatly way to many kids are getting sent back and when they are old enough to speak up they are ignored by the system and illinois is so under staffed that they are risking the childrens welfare and safety I can not get into to much more details cause we are leaving our spot open for our baby and if it gets found out that I said something to you they will try to have our license removed the supervisor already tried when we reported him to the attorney general for investigation I just want you to know that there are tons of kids in DCFS care that our being sent back to unsafe homes just for the new law of reunification.

I find it appauling that this could happen. At this time we are pleading for help for our two and a half year old granddaughter due to some suspicious behavior and things she has said about her biological father. We have talked to DFS and they did schedule a meeting with the CAC but the terms they used to question her were not age appropriate at all. I don't know many two year olds that know what a vagina is. I am disappointed that we can't seem to get anyone to listen. I am scared that if we don't get help and it is indeed a sexual abuse act , she will never have a chance to live the normal, carefree life she deserves. She will suffer some severe emotional issues. How can it be that Animal Control can remove any animal for neglect or abuse, sometimes for the remainder of the animlal's life but we continue to ignore the cries of helpless children? Who is going to stand up for them? It makes me cringe to think that this little boy could be safe today if he wouldn't of been sent home by the judge. Maybe our kids deserve alittle more consideration than our pets.

Dear Vickie, yes it is so sad and a tragedy when the courts give back a child to its mother and then it it is found dead. i don't know why they don't place them in foster care or if the parent doesn't want them, then they should put them up for adoption.there are thousands of couple unable to conceive that want children, then you have these who don't and kill them.I am truly heartbroken about what happened to an innocent child. Thank you for your time and keep up the good work. You are one of our favorites on KMOV. Good luck. Despina.

I'm not a supporter of abortion, especially late term abortion, but I have to think that it would be somehow less horrifying if these children who suffer so much at the very hands of the ones who should love and protect them had never been born. Penalties are not harsh enough for those who murder, abuse, abandon and neglect helpless children.

Vickie, I really don't know how you are able to report stories like this all the time and not break down. I wouldn't be able to - just hearing the story on Joseph made me weep.