Section 302.40  Department Service Goals

a)         The Department provides, directly or through purchase, a number of services for children and families that are individually planned to meet the needs of each child and family.  These services are directed toward four service goals:

1)         family preservation;

2)         family reunification;

3)         adoption or attainment of a permanent living arrangement;

4)         youth development.

b)         Family Preservation

            When family preservation is the goal, services are directed toward ensuring the children's development, safety and well-being in the home of their family and preventing placement of children away from their family.  Families may have been reported to the Department for alleged child abuse or neglect or referred to the Department for services. The service constellation for these children and families may include:

1)         counseling/advocacy;

2)         emergency caretaker;

3)         homemaker;

4)         protective and family maintenance day care and child development;

5)         family planning;

6)         parent education;

7)         self-help groups;

8)         emergency family shelter;

9)         intensive family preservation services;

10)         other placement prevention services;

11)         referral for substance abuse treatment services;

12)         referral for financial assistance and employment related day care;

13)         referral for housing assistance or housing advocacy;

14)         referral for legal services.

c)         Family Reunification

            When family reunification is the goal, services are directed toward returning a child to his/her parent's or private guardian's home when the child was removed because of alleged child abuse or neglect or other reasons.  Family reunification services are directed toward helping the children's parents or private guardians achieve minimum parenting standards and ensuring the children's safety and well-being upon return home.  The service constellation for these children and families may include:

1)         counseling/advocacy;

2)         homemaker;

3)         protective and family maintenance day care and child development;

4)         foster family home care;

5)         relative home care;

6)         residential care;

7)         family planning;

8)         parent education;

9)         intensive family preservation services;

10)         referral for substance abuse treatment services.

d)         Adoption or Attainment of a Permanent Living Arrangement

1)         When adoption or attainment of a permanent living arrangement is the goal, services are directed at securing a new legal status in a permanent living situation for children who cannot return to their legal families.  A goal of permanent living arrangement means that the child is to remain with a relative or foster family permanently and the Department has transferred or intends to transfer legal guardianship to the family.  The service constellation for these children may include:

A)        counseling;

B)        adoption;

C)        subsidized guardianship;

D)        relative home care;

E)         foster family home care;

F)         intensive family preservation services.

2)         When a prospective adoptive parent or guardian has a medical and/or physical condition that may render him/her unable to care for the child into adulthood, the Department shall request that the prospective adoptive parent or guardian develops a back-up care plan for the child, which includes a "back-up caregiver" willing and able to care for the child into adulthood.  The Department shall assess the back-up care plan and meet with the prospective adoptive parent or guardian and the back-up caregiver to review the Department's expectations with regard to the caregiver's role and responsibilities, the child's needs, available services, and financial assistance such as Subsidized Guardianship and/or Adoption Assistance.  The Department shall obtain a signed statement from the back-up caregiver acknowledging that he/she is aware of the child's needs and that the back-up caregiver will assume responsibility for the child's care in the event that the adoptive parent or guardian is no longer capable of providing care.  The statement will also inform back-up caregivers for guardianship that any subsidy the guardian was receiving is not transferable.

e)         Youth Development

1)         When youth development is the goal, services are directed at helping youth live independently or assisting unmarried youth with planning for the birth or care of their child.  Such services may be provided by the Department to youth for whom it is legally responsible and who are:

A)        16 years of age or older, to help them live independently of adult caregiver supervision and achieve economic self-sufficiency;

B)        high school graduates and have been awarded scholarships in accordance with the Children and Family Services Act [20 ILCS 505]; and

C)        unmarried and pregnant.

2)         The service constellation for youth for whom the Department is legally responsible may include:

A)        counseling/advocacy;

B)        day care for the children of unmarried youth;

C)        homemaker services;

D)        family planning;

E)         maintenance payments or foster family home, relative home or residential care payment, except that maternity home payment shall be limited to a maximum of 90 days.

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 2899, effective February 8, 2011)