HB4307 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 15706 RAS 41316 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
HB4307

Introduced 02/02/04, by James H. Meyer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Foster Care Independent Transition Pilot Program Act. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Children and Family Services shall establish and administer a foster care independent transition pilot program to assist young adults who will be leaving the State's foster care system with the transition to independent living. Grants the Department rulemaking power. Provides location, eligibility, and service criteria for the pilot program. Provides that the Department shall decide, subject to appropriation, whether to continue the program based on reviews conducted by the Department or by a private agency of the Department's choosing, jointly with the Department.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning children.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Foster Care Independent Transition Pilot Program Act.

Section 5. Definitions.

"Department" means the Department of Children and Family Services.

"Pilot program" means the foster care transition pilot program.

"Qualified entities" means municipalities, other political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit corporations, churches and religious organizations, and incorporated and unincorporated entities operating within the State that meet the requirements established by the Department of Children and Family Services.

Section 10. Foster care independent transition pilot program. To the extent that funds are appropriated by the General Assembly to the Department of Children and Family Services for that purpose, the Department shall establish and administer, solely or in conjunction with a private agency of the Department's choosing, a foster care independent transition pilot program. The purpose of the program is to assist young adults who are in the charge of the State's foster care system and whose foster care system association will terminate within one year so that they may make a successful transition to independent living.

Section 15. Rulemaking. The Department shall adopt rules to implement this Act, including rules to establish eligibility criteria, standards, and limits for the pilot program.

Section 20. Location. The Department must establish the pilot program in a county of the Department's choosing that is expected to have no more than 10 wards whose association with the State's foster care system will terminate before January 1, 2006. The location determination shall be based on previous county data and the current number of wards within a county.

Section 25. Eligibility. Participants in the pilot program must (i) be 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21 years of age, (ii) reach or have reached the age of 18 while in the charge of the State foster care system, and (iii) meet any other eligibility criteria established by the Department.

Section 30. Implementation. The Department may implement the pilot program through the award of contracts or grants to qualified entities to provide services under the program. The department may award contracts and grants if the Department deems the contracts and grants reasonably related to the purpose of the pilot program.

Section 35. Services. The pilot program shall provide, but not be limited to, the following services:

(a) education and vocational training;

(b) career and employment services;

(c) training in basic life skills;

(d) housing and utility assistance;

(e) mentoring and counseling services; and

(f) other appropriate services to complement the efforts of former State foster care recipients to achieve self-sufficiency.

Section 40. Review; duration. The pilot program shall be administered for 2 years, at which time the Department shall decide, subject to appropriation, whether to continue the program based on reviews conducted by the Department or the private agency of the Department's choosing, jointly with the Department. The reviews shall consider the effectiveness of services, progress of wards, cost-effectiveness for the Department, and possible replication of services.