Lutheran Child and Family Services

Herman Thomas Jr. is the new foster care director at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services and has more than 20 years of experience serving vulnerable youth and families. He says foster homes are scarce, leading to children sleeping in offices or hotels.

After the death of a Fairview Heights teenager, multiple women said the caseworker on the case threatened them and their children.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has refused to release a timeline or reports detailing their actions in the case — despite a law that requires DCFS to make findings and recommendations available when a child dies or is seriously injured in its care.