(20 ILCS 505/5.30)

Sec. 5.30. Specialized care.

(a) Not later than July 1, 2007, the Department shall adopt a rule, or an amendment to a rule then in effect, regarding the provision of specialized care to a child in the custody or guardianship of the Department, or to a child being placed in a subsidized guardianship arrangement or under an adoption assistance agreement, who requires such services due to emotional, behavioral, developmental, or medical needs, or any combination thereof, or any other needs which require special intervention services, the primary goal being to maintain the child in foster care or in a permanency setting. The rule or amendment to a rule shall establish, at a minimum, the criteria, standards, and procedures for the following:

(1) The determination that a child requires specialization.

(2) The determination of the level of care required to meet the child's special needs.

(3) The approval of a plan of care that will meet the child's special needs.

(4) The monitoring of the specialized care provided to the child and review of the plan to ensure quality of care and effectiveness in meeting the child's needs.

(5) The determination, approval, and implementation of amendments to the plan of care.

(6) The establishment and maintenance of the qualifications, including specialized training, of caretakers of specialized children.

The rule or amendment to a rule adopted under this subsection shall establish the minimum services to be provided to children eligible for specialized care under this Section. The Department shall also adopt rules providing for the training of Department and public or private agency staff involved in implementing the rule. On or before September 1 of 2007 and each year thereafter, the Department shall submit to the General Assembly an annual report on the implementation of this Section.

(b) No payments to caregivers in effect for the specialized treatment or care of a child, nor the level of care being provided to a child prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly, shall be reduced under the criteria, standards, and procedures adopted and implemented under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-1010, eff. 10-1-06.)