(20 ILCS 520/Art. 1 heading)
(20 ILCS 520/1-1)
Sec. 1-1.
Short title.
This Article may be cited as the Foster Parent Law.
(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)
(20 ILCS 520/1-5)
Sec. 1-5.
Legislative findings.
Family foster care is an essential
service
for children and their families who have been separated due to the tragedy of
child abuse, neglect, or dependency. When children have been separated from
their families, it is the responsibility of the child welfare team to respond
to the needs of the children and their families by means including (i)
providing protection and nurture to children in a safe, healthy environment;
(ii) meeting the developmental and emotional needs of the children, including
maintaining and promoting a child's emotional attachment to his or her own
family; (iii) protecting and promoting the child's cultural identity and
heritage; and (iv) working toward permanency for children by connecting them to
safe, nurturing relationships intended to last a lifetime, preferably with
their own family.
Foster parents are an essential part of and fulfill an integral role on the
child welfare team along with children in care who are old enough to
participate in planning and services, parents of children in care, caseworkers,
and other professionals serving the child and family. By providing care for
children and supporting the attachment of children to their families in a
manner sensitive to each child's and family's unique needs, the foster parent
serves the child, the family, and the community.
In order to successfully fulfill their role on the professional child welfare
team, foster parents must be committed to the goal of the child welfare program
and must provide care to children and promote the best interests of the
children and
families served. In order to achieve this goal, foster parents must understand
and be sensitive to issues of culture, ethnicity, religion, and children's
connectedness with their families and must maintain a level of care, conduct,
and
demeanor that is consistent with the high professional ethics demanded of all
other members of the child welfare team.
The General Assembly finds that there is a need to establish public policy
regarding the
role of foster parents. The General Assembly establishes this statement of
foster parents' rights
and responsibilities, which shall apply to all foster parents in the State of
Illinois, whether supervised by the Department of Children and Family Services
or by another agency under contract to the Department of Children and Family
Services to provide foster care services.
(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)
(20 ILCS 520/1-10)
Sec. 1-10.
Definitions.
In this Law:
"Child welfare team" or "team" means the persons who provide child welfare
services to a child under Section 5 of the Children and Family Services Act.
"Department" means the Department of Children and Family Services.
"Foster parent" means a person who is licensed as a foster parent under the
laws of this State.
(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)
(20 ILCS 520/1-15)
Sec. 1-15. Foster parent rights. A foster parent's rights include, but
are
not limited to, the following:
(Source: P.A. 99-581, eff. 1-1-17.)
(20 ILCS 520/1-20)
Sec. 1-20.
Foster parent responsibilities.
A foster parent's
responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)
(20 ILCS 520/1-25)
Sec. 1-25.
Implementation; annual plan.
(a) The Department, and agencies providing foster care services under
contract with the Department, are responsible for implementing this Law.
(b) The Department, and each agency providing foster care services under
contract with the Department, shall prepare an annual plan for implementing
this Law in each of the Department's administrative regions of this State. The
plans shall be prepared by January 1 of 1996 and each year thereafter and shall
be submitted for public review and comment. The plans shall be reviewed,
approved, and monitored by the Department's Statewide Foster Care Advisory
Council
under rules adopted by the Department.
(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)
(20 ILCS 520/1-30)
Sec. 1-30.
No private right of action or claim.
Nothing in this Law shall
be construed to create a private right of action or claim on the part of any
individual or child welfare agency.
(Source: P.A. 89-19, eff. 6-3-95.)