(20 ILCS 505/5e)

Sec. 5e. Advocacy Office for Children and Families.

(a) The Department of Children and Family Services shall establish and maintain an Advocacy Office for Children and Families that shall, in addition to other duties assigned by the Director, receive and respond to complaints that may be filed by children, parents, caretakers, and relatives of children receiving child welfare services from the Department of Children and Family Services or its agents. The Department shall promulgate policies and procedures for filing, processing, investigating, and resolving the complaints. The Department shall make a final report to the complainant of its findings. If a final report is not completed, the Department shall report on its disposition every 30 days.

(b) If a youth in care, current foster parent or caregiver, or caseworker requests the information, the Advocacy Office shall make available the name, electronic mail address, and telephone number for each youth's court-appointed guardian ad litem and, if applicable, the guardian ad litem's supervisor.

(c) The Advocacy Office shall include a statewide toll-free telephone number and an electronic mail address that may be used to file complaints, to obtain information about the delivery of child welfare services by the Department or its agents, and to obtain the contact information for the guardian ad litem. This telephone number and electronic mail address shall be included in all appropriate notices and handbooks regarding services available through the Department.

(d) The Department shall provide a flyer to all youth entering care describing the responsibilities of the Advocacy Office listed in this Section, the toll-free telephone number and electronic mailing address for the Advocacy Office, and a description of the role of a guardian ad litem. The Department shall also provide this flyer to youth at every administrative case review.

(Source: P.A. 102-208, eff. 7-30-21.)