Illinois May Embrace ‘Kin-First’ Strategy for Foster Care System
Illinois lawmakers are considering a new approach to foster care that prioritizes placing children with relatives.
Illinois, Foster Care, Kinship Care, KIND Act, Child Welfare
Springfield: So, Illinois is looking to change things up in foster care. They want to make it easier for kids to stay with family or close friends instead of bouncing around in the system.
Experts have been saying for ages that keeping kids with relatives is a good move. It helps them feel more stable and less traumatized. Plus, it’s better for their mental health.
But here’s the kicker: the rules have made it tough for relatives to step in. They had to meet the same strict standards as regular foster parents, which included inspections and training. It was a lot to ask.
Now, the federal government has given states the green light to set different rules for relatives. This means Illinois can finally start making it easier for kids to be placed with family.
The Senate has already given a thumbs up to the KIND Act, which aims to push this kin-first approach. But the House needs to get on board before they wrap up in January, or they’ll have to start all over again.
State Senator Mike Simmons from Chicago is all for it. He believes it’s about time we fix the injustices in the foster care system and respect the families these kids come from.
Right now, over 10,000 kids in Illinois are living with family, but many of those families aren’t getting the same support as regular foster parents. That’s a big issue.
Governor JB Pritzker pointed out that helping relatives financially is crucial. It can really make a difference in how long kids stay in the system and help them get back to a stable home faster.
There’s also evidence that keeping kids with relatives can help reduce sibling separations and the risk of abuse. It’s a win-win situation.
But Illinois has struggled with its foster care system. In 2019, it was ranked low for finding permanent homes for kids. The KIND Act aims to change that by allowing more federal funding to support these efforts.
It’s not just about the kids, though. The bill also looks at the challenges faced by Black families, who are overrepresented in the foster care system. The poverty rates are much higher for them, making it even tougher to get the help they need.
Under the KIND Act, relatives would have different background check criteria, which could help more families step up to care for kids. Plus, courts would play a bigger role in making sure relatives are notified quickly when a child is removed from their home.
This bill is seen as a big deal because it shows a rare collaboration between DCFS and the ACLU, who have had their share of disagreements in the past. They’re finally on the same page, which is a hopeful sign for the future of foster care in Illinois.
So, fingers crossed that the House gets on board with this soon. It could really change the game for kids in foster care.