705 ILCS 405/2-28.2

(705 ILCS 405/2-28.2)

(This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)

Sec. 2-28.2. Successful Transition to Adulthood Review hearings.

(a) The court shall conduct Successful Transition to Adulthood Review (STAR) hearings to review the Department's efforts to ensure the minor is provided with opportunities to engage in individualized future-focused planning towards adulthood, to develop age-appropriate daily living skills to live successfully as an adult, and if applicable, to be prepared to transition out of the care of the Department at age 21.

(b) The court shall conduct a STAR hearing for all minors for whom the court has entered a permanency goal of independence and for all minors who are 17 years of age or older. The minor's first STAR hearing shall be conducted within 6 months of the minor qualifying for a STAR hearing. Subsequent STAR hearings may be conducted contemporaneously with the minor's permanency hearing. At a minimum, the court shall conduct STAR hearings for eligible minors within 6 months of the minor becoming eligible for a STAR hearing and annually thereafter. The court may schedule additional STAR hearings as necessary and in the minor's best interest.

(c) Fourteen days in advance of the STAR hearing the Department shall provide the court with the youth's service plan that includes the following information:

(1) a copy of the youth-driven transition plan developed in accordance with Section 35.10 of the Children and Family Services Act;

(2) for youth 17 years of age and older, the ILO TLP Quarterly Discharge Launch Plan, if applicable;

(3) a description of the documents necessary for adult living as provided in Section 35.10 of the Children and Family Services Act that the minor has, the documents the minor continues to need, and the Department's plan to ensure the minor has such documents prior to case closure;

(4) a description of the Department's efforts to assist the youth in developing and maintaining connections with supportive adults and a copy of the minor's Ongoing Family Finding and Relative Engagement Plan developed in accordance with Section 2-27.3; and

(5) for youth who are likely to need a guardian as a person with a disability, in accordance with Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975, a description of the Department's efforts to obtain any necessary assessments.

(d) At the STAR hearing the court shall:

(1) review the Department's efforts to assist the minor in developing and implementing an individualized youth-driven plan to develop life skills that will lead to successful adult living;

(2) review the plan developed by the Department and the minor to ensure that it is reasonably likely to ensure the minor can live independent of supports from the Department;

(3) review the Department's efforts to assist the minor in accomplishing the plan;

(4) review the Department's efforts to ensure the minor has documents necessary for adult living, as defined in Section 35.10 of the Children and Family Services Act prior to case closure;

(5) review the Department's efforts to ensure that the minor is aware of available supports and services post-case closure and how to access such supports and services; and

(6) if applicable, review the Department's efforts to obtain any needed assessments to determine whether the youth may qualify for a guardian as a person with a disability under Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975.

If the court finds that the youth-driven transition plan for the minor is not in the minor's best interest or will not be reasonably likely to result in the development of life skills necessary for adult living, the court shall make specific factual findings supporting its findings and order the Department to develop a new plan with the minor consistent with the court's findings. If the court finds that the Department has failed to make reasonable efforts to (i) assist the minor in developing and accomplishing a youth-driven transition plan or (ii) obtain any necessary assessments for minors to determine whether the youth may qualify for a guardian as a person with a disability under Article XIa of the Probate Act of 1975, then the court shall make specific factual findings and may enter such orders it deems necessary to ensure that the minor is developing necessary life skills and, when appropriate, is prepared to successfully transition to adulthood.

(Source: P.A. 104-107, eff. 7-1-26.)