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
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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.)