This bill aims to prioritize placing children in foster care with their family members by creating a more efficient certification process for relatives to become licensed caregivers.
It also includes provisions for providing financial resources to family members who care for the child and requires the Department of Child and Family Services to seek federal funding to support these families.
Currently, relatives must undergo the same licensing process as non-relatives, and without a license, they are not eligible for the same financial reimbursements. If the bill passes, these discrepancies would be addressed.
The bill is now awaiting approval from Governor JB Pritzker. For more details, click here.