Meryl Daskal Paniak

     As of October 2012, I became Chief Counsel for the Office of Legislative Affairs at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and in this I provide legal advice and counsel regarding legislation affecting the Department; I review, interpret and critique state and federal legislation and advise staff on legal requirements and issues associated with proposed legislation in the General Assembly.  I serve as agency expert on all new legislation, agency rules and procedures, and all relevant law; I interact with members of the General Assembly and their staff on issues of interest to the Department; and provide testimony before the General Assembly to present the Department’s viewpoint and legal opinion regarding current and proposed legislation and ramifications on the Agency, foster and adoptive parents, children and families,

I have previously held the positions of Associate Deputy Director of Child Protection for Cook County, and  the Associate Deputy Director of Child Protection for the Downstate regions (101 counties) with the Department (2008-2012), and as such was ultimately responsible for coordinating and ensuring thatupon receiving reports of child abuse or neglect made to the Department, that investigators, acted to protect the best interest of the child, offer protective services in order to prevent any further harm to the child and to other children in the family, and stabilize the home environment and preserve family life whenever possible. 

I also have held the position of the Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) (2005-2008), Administrative Hearings Unit, coordinating and administering a system of hearings on a variety of child welfare, child protection, and licensing issues.   

Prior to my position as the Chief Administrative Law Judge with DCFS, I served as Special Assistant General Counsel andprevious to her work with the Department, from January 1992 through June 2000, I was employed as an Attorney/Lead Attorney and Guardian Ad Litem with the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian, engaging in the full-time practice of law in Juvenile Court, representing children in trials, and various hearings, as well as supervising other staff attorneys. 

During Law School I served as law clerk to the then Presiding Judge of the Cook County Criminal Courts, the Honorable Thomas R. Fitzgerald, where I was responsible for coordinating the Night Narcotics Court and research of various criminal law issues for all 39 judges presiding at the criminal court building. 

In addition to having a Law Degree, from IIT Chicago-Kent, I also have a Master of Social Work Degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and have experience as a child welfare/intact family worker, as well as experience as a psychiatric social worker, and private therapist for victims of domestic violence. 

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