093_HB1430

 
                                     LRB093 05006 JAM 05065 b

 1        AN ACT concerning the Department of Children  and  Family
 2    Services.

 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:

 5        Section 5.  The  Children  and  Family  Services  Act  is
 6    amended by changing Section 7.3 as follows:

 7        (20 ILCS 505/7.3)
 8        Sec.  7.3.  Placement plan.  The Department shall develop
 9    and implement a written plan for placing children.  The  plan
10    shall include at least the following features:
11             (1)  A  plan  for  recruiting  minority adoptive and
12        foster families.  The plan shall include  strategies  for
13        using  existing resources in minority communities, use of
14        minority  outreach  staff  whenever  possible,   use   of
15        minority  foster  homes  for  placements  after birth and
16        before adoption, and other techniques as appropriate.
17             (2)  A  plan  for  training  adoptive   and   foster
18        families of minority children.
19             (3)  A plan for employing social workers in adoption
20        and  foster  care.  The plan shall include staffing goals
21        and objectives.
22             (4)  A plan for ensuring that  adoption  and  foster
23        care  workers  attend training offered or approved by the
24        Department regarding  the  State's  goal  of  encouraging
25        cultural   diversity  and  the  needs  of  special  needs
26        children.
27             (5)  A plan that includes  policies  and  procedures
28        for   determining  for  each  child  requiring  placement
29        outside of his or her home, and who cannot be immediately
30        returned to his or her parents or guardian, the placement
31        needs of that child. The  policies  and  procedures  must
 
                            -2-      LRB093 05006 JAM 05065 b
 1        include  the  photographic  documentation of the physical
 2        condition of a potential foster or adoptive home. Cameras
 3        and training in their use must be provided to  Department
 4        personnel   who  examine  the  physical  condition  of  a
 5        potential   foster   or   adoptive   home.   Photographic
 6        documentation of the physical condition of the  bedrooms,
 7        bathrooms,  and living areas of a home recommended by the
 8        Department for a foster or  adoption  placement  must  be
 9        included  in  any  final report submitted for review by a
10        judge deciding upon the placement. In the  rare  instance
11        when  an individualized assessment identifies, documents,
12        and substantiates that race, color, or national origin is
13        a factor that needs  to  be  considered  in  advancing  a
14        particular child's best interests, it shall be considered
15        in making a placement.
16    (Source: P.A. 92-334, eff. 8-10-01.)