Child Welfare
Illinois youth and family services’ goal is to improve the lives for children, parents and families to experience positive outcomes. Our services connect children and families to resources to improve their circumstances. Illinois Youth and Family Services offers child welfare services to protect the safety and wellbeing of children and reunify families. Using data-driven, collaborative and preventative solutions, we believe families can work, play, and live together more effectively.
As a result of the current system of child welfare, we believe it must be transformed. The old way of viewing Child welfare services will be replaced by solutions for the well-being of children, families, and communities.
For a child and youth’s wellbeing, the family is of the utmost importance. Since we believe families understand their needs, we will be a valuable partner for them. Listening and responding to families are our most important roles. To ensure we offer solutions tailored to meet the individualized needs of our families, we will include family-centric and diverse supports.
Illinois Family and Youth Services provides intact family services, foster care services, and foster to adopt services to children and families.
Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) refers families and caregivers to us when there is a report of abuse or neglect. A comprehensive range of home-based case management services is provided by Illinois Youth and Family Services. In order for children and youth to remain safe at home, these services are designed to resolve these issues. Families are kept together whenever possible by Intact Family Services.
Foster care provides safe, secure, and nurturing homes for children separated from their families. Children who cannot be cared for by their families are placed with foster parents who are capable of providing appropriate care based on the individual needs of each child. All families have different values and cultures, and we respect their unique values and cultures.
Emergency Foster care provides a safe place for children that have been separated from their families and are in need of immediate placement. Thes children cannot be cared for by their families but are in need of emergency shelter. Emergency foster parents serve as a “temporary” parent until stable housing can be located for the youth.