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Procedures 301 : Placement and Visitation Services

• Section 301.60 Placement Selection Criteria
• Section 301.65 Disputed Changes of Placement
• Section 301.66 System of Care (SOC) Services
• Section 301.70 Sibling Placement
• Section 301.150 Identification Procedures for Children in Placement
• Section 301.210 Family-Child Visiting
• Section 301.220 Sibling Visitation
• Section 301.230 Contact Among Siblings Placed Apart
• Section 301.240 Grandparents Visitation
• APPENDIX A Family Visit Planning Critical Decisions and Documentation Protocol
• APPENDIX B Family Visit Planning Guide to Practice
• APPENDIX C Sibling Placement and Visitation Special Considerations
• APPENDIX D Unrelated, Unlicensed Homes
• APPENDIX E Placement Clearance Process
• APPENDIX F Child Identification Form

Section 301.60 Placement Selection Criteria

a) Required Placement Criteria | b) Assessing the Child's Individual Needs | c) Caregiver's Capacity to Meet the Child's Needs | d) Placement Alternative Contract

All placements are to be made consistent with the best interests and special needs of the children. When children are removed from the care of a custodial parent, the Department shall explore whether the non-custodial parent would be a suitable caregiver for the children. If placement with the non-custodial parent is not consistent with the best interests and special needs of the children or if the non-custodial parent is not a suitable caregiver for the children, placement shall be sought in the same home where a sibling resides before other placements are considered unless the case meets one of the exceptions in Section 301.70. When placement cannot be made with a non-custodial parent or another sibling, substitute care shall be sought.

a) Required Placement Criteria

1) Least Restrictive

Placement in a family home is the least restrictive and thus the preferable placement choice for a child when a family will be able to meet the needs of the child. However, if a child needs treatment which can best be provided in a group home or child care institution, the child need not be placed in a foster family home prior to placement in a treatment setting. The CFS 497, Client Service Plan, shall be used to document the reason that the selected placement is the least restrictive placement, which meets the child's needs.

2) Proximity to Home

It is important to maintain the continuity of children's educational and social relationships. Therefore, whenever possible, the placement for the child should be located in the same community and the same school district, unless there is a good reason to the contrary. Examples of good reasons might include the child's involvement with gang or drug activity, believable threats of violence from or abduction by the biological parents, or close proximity to a perpetrator of sexual abuse. If it is not possible or not desirable to place a child within the same community or school district, document on the CFS 497 the reason a placement outside the community or school district was selected.

When the permanency goal is return home, a child should be placed in reasonable proximity to the child's family (not exceeding 50 miles) to allow for visitation. Any special needs, which a child may have requiring placement more than 50 miles from the child's family must be documented on the CFS 497 and the rationale for the placement selection, detailed. Placement in out of state residential facilities shall not exceed 150 miles from a child's home unless:

A) the child has unusual and special needs requiring a placement which provides specialized services; and

B) no placement providing comparable specialized services exists within Illinois.

3) Race, Ethnicity and National Origin

Placement in a foster or adoptive family home shall not be denied or delayed on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the child, or the foster or adoptive family home members. If someone raises race, color, or national origin as an issue in the placement of a particular child, the placing worker or any other staff member who is or becomes aware that race, color or national origin has been raised as an issue or potential issue shall immediately request an individualized clinical staffing as described in subsection (b)(4), Addressing the Issue of Race in Placement.

4) Same Religion

A child placed in a foster family home, relative home, group home or residential facility shall be placed, when possible, in a placement where the religious affiliation is the same as that of the child or the child's parents. When the religious affiliation differs and the child is age 11 or under, the parents shall be asked to complete and sign the CFS-589, Consent For Religious Instruction/Church Attendance, indicating parental consent regarding the child's religious instruction and church attendance. Parental refusal to sign the CFS-589 shall be documented in the child and parent case records.

A child age 12 or older shall be allowed to choose his/her own religious preference and church attendance. The rationale for placement in a setting with a religious background, which differs from the child or that of the parents shall be documented on the CFS 497.

5) Relatives

Relative home care shall be explored for children for whom the Department is legally responsible who can be placed in a family structured living arrangement. Placement shall be made only with relative caregivers who are licensed as foster family homes under the provisions of 89 Ill. Adm. Code 402, Licensing Standards for Foster Family Homes, or if unlicensed, who meet the placement selection criteria of Rule Section 301.60, Placement Selection Criteria, and the requirements of Section 301.80, Relative Home Placement.

6) Native Americans

Children of Native American heritage shall be placed in accordance with the procedures specified in Rules and Procedures 307, Indian Child Welfare Services.

7) Communication Requirements

The Department will make diligent efforts to place children who have special communication/language needs in a home that can meet those needs. This includes children with limited English speaking ability and children who are deaf or hearing impaired. The Department will insure the use of bi-lingual caseworkers, foreign language interpreters or sign language interpreters, whenever staff must communicate with children, their families, or caregivers, whose primary language or mode of communication is other than English.

The Department will help foster parents obtain supportive services or equipment necessary for the safety of or to facilitate communication with children who have hearing impairments. Such devices may include TTY's, flashing smoke detectors, amplifiers, etc.

8) Children of Hispanic or Latino Origin (Statewide)

Diligent efforts must be made to place a child of Hispanic or Latino origin whose family's preferred language is Spanish in a foster home that has been deemed to be a Spanish-speaking home or a bilingual (English/Spanish) foster home. The Department or private agency caseworker must ensure that a language determination form CFS1000-1/CFS1000-1S has been properly completed to correctly identify the primary language of the child's family. If the caseworker determines that a Spanish-speaking or bilingual home is not available, the caseworker must complete form CFS-1000-A, Burgos Violation Notification Form, Spanish Speaking Child Placed in a Non-Spanish Speaking Living Arrangement, and forward it to the Department's Burgos Coordinator within three working days of the placement of the child in a non-Spanish speaking home. A copy of the form is to be forwarded within three working days to the following:

A) local administrator for resources or support services,

B) Chief of the Office of Latino Services,

C) the Regional Administrator or designee of the affected region (Cook or Aurora); and

D) the Agency Performance Team representative, if services are provided by a private provider.

If the child whose primary language is other than English is placed in a home that cannot communicate in the child's language, Department or private agency staff must continue to make and document diligent efforts to identify a placement for the child where the caregiver is able to communicate in the child's language. If attempts, utilizing Department and/or private agency resources, to identify a Spanish-speaking home for a Spanish-speaking child are unsuccessful, the Burgos Coordinator must be notified in writing.

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9) Foster Parent Preference

When placement in a foster family home is identified as the least restrictive placement resource which can meet a child's needs, the worker shall give careful consideration to Section 1519.1 of the Adoption Act concerning foster parent preference. This Section requires that licensed foster parents be given preference and first consideration for adoption when a child who has been in their continuous care for one year or longer, the child has a permanency goal of adoption, and the child is legally free for adoption. As all foster family home placements must be viewed as potential adoptive placements if reunification efforts are unsuccessful, the following areas shall be considered when selecting a foster family home:

o current and anticipated future needs of the child;

o ability of the foster parent(s) to meet the current and anticipated future needs of the child. Placement in a foster or adoptive family home shall not be denied or delayed on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the child, or the foster or adoptive family home members. The decision to consider the foster parents as an adoptive placement must rest on a child's individual needs and not on assumptions that individuals may hold as to what a child of a particular racial or ethnic background may need.(See Subsections (b) Assessing the Child's Individual Needs and (c) Caregiver's Capacity to Meet the Child's Needs, below) Foster parents are to be informed of the availability of adoption assistance for special needs children.

b) Assessing the Child's Individual Needs

In assessing the child's individual needs for placement, the placing worker selecting an initial or subsequent placement shall consider the needs of the child based on available information at the time of placement. The caseworker shall document the criteria assessing the child's individual needs and the capacity of the caregiver to meet those needs by using the CFS 2017, Child/Caregiver Matching Tool. The purpose of the matching tool is to help the worker obtain the best possible placement for the child and to document the factors that were used in selecting the placement.

The placing caseworker shall attach copies of any relevant and available school reports, medical and psychological evaluations, disciplinary or police reports, etc. as necessary, to provide a complete description of the child's situation in order to document the child's individual needs. The CFS 2017 shall be reviewed by the placing worker's supervisor.

1) Initial placement: no current open case or an emergency placement made after hours when immediate removal is required to ensure the child's safety.

The child protection investigator or placing worker shall gather the following information:

o immediate physical health based upon physical examination;

o allegation(s) necessitating the placement, including type, frequency, duration and emotional effects of abuse or neglect;

o family members, including parents, siblings, and extended family;

o known community activities, including school, church, and social activities; and

o language or method of communication for the child and parent(s) or caretaker; and complete as much of the CFS 2017, Child/Caregiver Matching Tool, as possible with information that is available.

2) Placement of child after intact services offered.

The intact family services caseworker shall complete the CFS 2017 in its entirety based upon information gathered during the provision of intact family services. To the extent that the information described above is not known or available in the record, the caseworker or investigator shall obtain it as soon as it becomes apparent that the child will require placement.

3) Change of Placement from One Out-Of-Home Placement to Another

When the Department or agency makes the critical decision to move the child, it will inform the foster parent, relative caregiver, child's family, and child (through the child's representative), that the child will be moved to another placement.

A) Unless there are concerns for the child's safety in accordance with subsection (3)(B), the Department or agency will notify the involved parties at least 14 days prior to the proposed move. The staff person removing the child will hand the caregiver a copy of the CFS 151-B, Notice of Change of Placement, at the time of the removal. Copies must be sent to the child's family and the child (through the child's Guardian ad litem).

B) In the event the Department or agency has reason to believe the safety of the child cannot be assured in the current placement, the child will be removed immediately. Assessment of the safety of the child will be determined in accordance with the Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol, Procedures 300, Appendix G or Procedures 315, Appendix A. Upon removal, the staff person will hand the caregiver a copy of the CFS 151-B. Copies of the form must also be sent to the child's family and the child (through the child's Guardian ad litem).

C) The child's needs, as documented in the CFS 2017, which shall be completed in its entirety, shall be used to determine the appropriateness of a change of placement from one substitute care provider to another substitute care provider. (For purposes of this Subsection (3), neither the Emergency Reception Center nor a psychiatric hospital is considered a substitute care provider.)

D) If the current substitute care provider is meeting the child's identified needs, a change of placement should not be considered, except for the following reasons:

i) The child's safety in the care of the current caregiver is in question following a safety determination using the Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol;

ii) The child can be placed with siblings in accordance with Section 301.70;

iii) The child's communication needs are not being met;

iv) The current caregiver expressly refuses to facilitate the agency's recommended and/or court approved permanency plan for the child; or

v) The current caregiver requests that the child be placed elsewhere.

If any of the reasons in paragraphs (A) (i) through (v) are present, the caseworker and supervisor may approve a change of placement.

E) If one of the following conditions (i) or (ii) are present, the worker and supervisor must seek clinical consultation from the Region's Clinical Manager or designee (in purchase of service agencies, the clinical manager or the agency's counterpart to a clinical manager shall be used) and an individualized clinical staffing must be held to determine the appropriateness of continued placement or placement change;

i) An individualized assessment focused on the special needs of the child, indicates that the child's physical, medical, social, and educational needs are not being or cannot be met by the current caregiver or when the child's needs may be met more immediately or appropriately by another caregiver; or

ii) The child self identifies the need for placement.

The required consultation in Subsections (B) (i) and (ii) above between the caseworker and clinical manager or designee may be completed via an in-person meeting or by telephone provided the clinical manager has received and reviewed all the relevant materials, including the CFS 2017 and any relevant documentation. If the clinical manager retains the assistance of outside consultants (e.g. child development specialist), the recommendation of the consultant shall also be attached to the CFS 2017.

When a child's placement is changed for the purpose of meeting the child's individual needs, the placing worker must document on the CFS 492, Case Entry:

o the reason for change of placement, referencing the child's identified individual needs that precipitated or resulted in the change of placement;

o the child's need for continuity beyond the current caregiving family;

o the child's need to remain connected to the child's primary community;

o when reunification is the permanency goal, include the child's parents in the decision and arrangements; and

o arrange and implement a proper transition for the child, including transition into the new caregiver's home and, if necessary, with new service providers.

A child may not be moved from a current placement for reasons other than those listed in this subsection without administrative approval of the Regional Administrator and the region's Clinical Manager.

4) Addressing the Issue of Race in Placement

In compliance with the Federal Interethnic Placement Act, the Department or purchase of service agency staff may not:

o xxdeny to any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or foster parent on the basis of race, culture, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent or the race, culture, or national origin of the child involved in the foster or adoptive placement; or

o delay or deny the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care on the basis of race, culture, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent or the race, culture, or national origin of the child involved in the foster or adoptive placement.

Placement decisions require a case by case approach. While race, culture or national origin are not to be routinely considered when placing a child, an individual case may present facts that require the Department or purchase of service agency to consider the cultural, ethnic, or racial background of the child, However, the Department or placing agency must ensure that their decisions rest on a child's particular and documented needs and not on a set of assumptions that individuals may hold as to what a child of a particular racial or ethnic background may need.

Therefore, if race, color, or national origin is raised as factors in a particular child's initial placement or change in placement, the following procedures must be followed:

A) The consideration of race by the placing worker must be narrowly tailored to advance the child's best interests and must be made as an individualized determination and must be based on concerns arising out of the circumstances of the individual case.

B Such individualized determinations must not be used so frequently as to become a means of circumventing the Interethnic Placement Act which prohibits the denial or delay of a child's placement based on the race, culture, or national origin of the child or the potential caregiver.

C) In addition to the child's individual needs assessment using the CFS 2017, Child/Caregiver Matching Tool, the following are examples of factors that must also be present in the determination to consider race, culture, or national origin in the placement of a child:

i) the child states a preference for a placement with a caregiver of the same race, culture, or national origin; or

ii) persons who know the child in a professional capacity strongly believe the child should be placed with a caregiver of a particular race, culture, or national origin. Persons who know the child in a professional capacity may include: the child's guardian ad litem, physician, therapists, teachers, etc.; or

iii) the child's caseworker is aware of factors that lead the caseworker to believe that only a placement with a caregiver of the same race, culture, or national origin is in the child's best interests. Caseworkers shall not base their opinion on personal feelings, beliefs, or biases regarding race, culture, ethnicity, or national origin but rather on the child's needs and expressed desires. Such factors may include:

o whether a child has lived in one racial, ethnic, or cultural community. The placing worker may assess the child's ability to make the transition to another community;

o whether a child has a strong sense of identity with a particular racial, ethnic, or cultural community. The placing may consider whether it would be in the child's best interests not to disrupt that community tie. In making this determination the Department may consider the child's stated preferences for placement in a specific community.

D) The placing worker shall complete a CFS 2018, Interethnic Placement Act Assessment Form, which shall document:

i) that race, culture, or national origin has been raised as an issue in the placement of the child;

ii) who raised the issue of race, culture, or national origin;

iii) whether or not the placing worker believes there is any merit to the issue;

iv) any criteria for assessing the child's need for a placement with a particular race, culture, or national origin. Attach copies of any relevant school reports, medical and psychological evaluations, disciplinary or police reports, etc. as necessary, to provide a complete description of the child's situation in order to document the conclusions that the placement decision is in the best interests of the child.

E) The worker's assessment must be reviewed by the caseworker's supervisor, and the regional Clinical Manager. The regional legal counsel may be included, if necessary. The consultation between the caseworker, supervisor, clinical manager, and regional legal counsel (if participating) may be completed via an in-person meeting or by telephone provided the Clinical Manager and regional legal counsel (if participating) have received and reviewed all the relevant materials, including the assessment form and any relevant documentation. If the Clinical Manager enrolls the assistance of outside consultants (e.g. child development specialist), the recommendation of the consultant shall also be attached to the final assessment. In those cases where a child has expressed a concern or preference regarding the placement, the Clinical Manager should meet with the child outside the presence of the caseworker.

F) The final decision of whether the child, based on the child's assessed needs, requires a placement with a caregiver of a particular race, culture, or national origin, shall be made by the Regional Clinical Manager.

G) The final decision must be dated and signed on the CFS 2018, Interethnic Placement Act Assessment Form, by the parties involved in the staffing. The decision is considered valid for no more than one year from completion. Written, signed, and dated updates, rather than a new determination, may be made for an additional two years.

H) The original of form CFS 2018, Interethnic Placement Act Assessment Form is to be maintained in the case file. Copies are to be retained by the regional Clinical Manager and Legal Counsel (if participating). The caseworker shall forward a copy to the Office of Quality Assurance and the Department Interethnic Placement Act Monitor. The worker shall also have a copy available at the next scheduled Administrative Case Review.

c) Caregiver's Capacity to Meet the Child's Needs

A caregiver shall be selected who is able to meet the documented individual needs of the child (See (b) Assessing the Child's Individual Needs above). It is preferred that persons who provide care for children are able to accommodate all the members of a sibling group, if a sibling group is being placed.

The criteria for assessing the capacity of the foster parents to meet the needs of the child are to be documented in the CFS 2017, Child/Caregiver/Matching Tool. The CFS 2017 must be reviewed with the casework supervisor. The caseworker and supervisor may consult with regional family development staff or other staff familiar with the caregiver.

The above assessments must be completed whenever an initial placement is being made or when a change of placement is planned or occurs, unless the child is being returned home.

d) Placement Alternative Contract

The Placement Alternative Contract (PAC) program is for selected youth, ages 18 or older, who are in the custody or guardianship of the Department and are unable to accept a traditional placement option. A youth selected for this program will receive services and financial support from the Department in a placement of his/her choosing, provided the youth has:

· selected a safe dwelling within the State of Illinois for himself/herself, and his/her children, if any;

· established written goals that promote the youth's ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency; and

· identified an advocate who will assist the youth in achieving his/her goals.

To be eligible for consideration in the Placement Alternative Contract program, the youth must satisfy each of the criteria set out below.

1. The youth must be age 18 or older. No exceptions will be made.

2. The youth must identify a dwelling where he/she will reside that satisfies the minimum safety requirements set out in the CFS 453-A, Placement Alternative Contract Safety Checklist. For a parenting youth, the placement must also satisfy the requirements in the CFS 453-B, Placement Alternative Contract Additional Safety Checklist for a Parenting Youth Whose Children Will Share or Visit the Placement.

3. The youth must identify an advocate who will assist the youth in achieving his/her goals and cooperate with the youth's caseworker. The advocate may be an adult relative or friend, a current or former caseworker or foster parent, or another adult who can mentor the youth. An advocate who is not a caseworker or foster parent must submit an authorization for a CANTS and criminal background (fingerprint and LEADS) check.

4. The youth and advocate must complete the CFS 453-C, Placement Alternative Contract 90 Day Self-Sufficiency Plan, identifying the youth's goals in preparing for independent living/adulthood, listing specific tasks along with timeframes for achievement and a plan for accomplishing each task (e.g., who, what, when, where, how), and identifying the method for measuring progress or completion (should include all life domains). The completed Self Sufficiency Plan shall be given to the youth's caseworker.

5. The caseworker shall submit the Self Sufficiency Plan to a Child and Youth Investment Team (CAYIT) for review within 2 weeks of the date the plan is received from the youth and advocate.

6. The youth and advocate must attend the CAYIT meeting, present the Self Sufficiency Plan, and provide sufficient information and documentation to establish that the youth's proposed living arrangement satisfies the minimum safety requirements set out in the Safety Checklists.

7. The CAYIT team shall review the plan and may make recommendations for changes or additions. If the plan is approved, the CAYIT team shall recommend that the youth be offered a 90-day Placement Alternative Contract and refer the case to the designated PAC review team.

The Division of Placement and Permanency Services PAC review team shall implement the 90-day Placement Alternative Contract no later than 2 weeks from the date of the CAYIT recommendation. If the advocate is the youth's current caseworker, the caseworker shall continue case management during the 90-day contract period. If the advocate is a DCFS/POS caseworker other than the current caseworker, the PAC review team may ask the current caseworker to transfer the case to another caseworker/service team in the vicinity of the youth's proposed placement.

To initiate the Standard of Need payment to the youth, the caseworker must fax a completed CFS 906/906-1 with a reason code "SSA" and Type Service Code "0731", a Placement Clearance Number, and written approval for the Placement Alternative Contract to the Central Payment Unit (fax: 217-557-0639). For a parenting ward with custody of his/her children, the names and birthdates of the children must be noted on the bottom of the CFS 906/906-1 in order to initiate the Ward With Infant special service fee.

During the 90-day contract period, the caseworker shall ensure that the Standard of Need payment is sent directly to the youth, and other Department services listed or recommended in the Self-Sufficiency Plan are available to the youth.

Prior to the end of the 90-day contract period, the caseworker shall request a staffing by the PAC review team to determine whether:

· the youth is making progress toward completion of his/her goals;

· the goals are modified as needed to reflect progress and barriers; and

· the contract should be extended for additional 90 day period.

The PAC review team staffing shall include the youth, advocate, caseworker, and a multidisciplinary team composed of persons who are knowledgeable about young adult services, supports and placements. The staffing participants shall determine whether the youth has completed, or made consistent efforts to complete, the tasks outlined in the Self-Sufficiency Plan. The youth's absence from the agreed placement or unauthorized change in placement, and safety-related changes in the current placement shall be considered. The staffing participants shall also review whether the youth has maintained regular contact with his/her advocate and participated in activities identified in the Placement Alternative Contract that are designed to increase the likelihood of successful transition to independence/adulthood (e.g., substance abuse treatment, counseling services, health services, etc.).

The PAC review team may extend the Placement Alternative Contract for additional 90-day periods when the staffing participants determine that the youth is making sufficient progress toward achieving his/her goals. The caseworker shall document the PAC review team's decision to grant or deny a 90 day extension at the end of the CFS 453-C, Placement Alternative Contract 90 Day Self-Sufficiency Plan.

When a 90-day extension is approved, the caseworker must submit a new CFS 906/906-1 to the Central Payment Unit before the end of the current 90-day contract period. If a new CFS 906/906-1 is not received by the Central Payment Unit, the Standard of Need payment to the youth will be terminated at the end of the current 90-day period.

When requested by the youth, the Department may petition the court to close the case if the youth has demonstrated the ability to function on his/her own with minimal support. A written plan explaining how the youth will live, work and meet expenses without Department assistance must accompany a request for case closure.

If the youth has not made sufficient progress toward achieving his/her goals, the Department shall not extend the Placement Alternative Contract. Instead, the PAC review team shall offer the youth a more structured placement or offer the option for the youth to continue to live on his/her own with services but without the Standard of Need payment for a maximum 90-day period. If the youth opts to live on his/her own, the caseworker must submit a CFS 906/906-1 to the Central Payment Unit with the reason code "SSU" in order to terminate the Standard of Need payment. If the youth demonstrates progress toward achieving his/her goals during this 90-day period, the youth may ask the caseworker to request a staffing for reconsideration of another Placement Alternative Contract. The Department shall petition the court to vacate guardianship when a youth age 18 or older in "SSU" indicates, by action or inaction, an unwillingness to accept appropriate services and guidance from the Department.

No "Standard of Need" Payment for an Unapproved Placement (SSU). When a youth selects a placement that is unapproved, the caseworker shall fax a CFS 906/906-1 with the reason code "SSU" to the Central Payment Unit (fax: 217-557-0639). However, a parenting ward with custody of his/her children can still receive the Ward With Infant special service fee and Medicaid card for the children, and the names and birthdates of the children must be noted on the bottom of the CFS 906/906-1 in order to initiate this fee. The caseworker shall work aggressively to engage the youth, including helping the youth identify resources in the community and approved placement options. The worker shall document all efforts to engage the youth.

When a youth who is currently in the Placement Alternative Contract program moves from an approved placement during the 90-day contract period without prior written approval from the caseworker, all terms of the Placement Alternative Contract shall become void, and the Standard of Need payment shall immediately cease. To stop the Standard of Need payment, the worker must fax a CFS 906/906-1 with the reason code "SSU" to the Central Payment Unit. A placement clearance number is not issued on unapproved placements.

The caseworker and supervisor shall assess each youth age 18 or older who has lived in an unapproved placement for 90 days or more. The caseworker shall ask the youth to be present for this assessment. When the youth cannot or will not attend the assessment, the worker and supervisor may conduct the assessment by reviewing the youth's record. When the youth demonstrates, by action or inaction, an unwillingness to accept appropriate services and guidance from the Department, and a court has not adjudicated the youth to be a disabled adult, the Department may petition the court to vacate guardianship.

Support Services and Ward With Infant Special Service Fee. Youth in the Placement Alternative Contract program are eligible for supports related to the activities specified in the Placement Alternative Contract (e.g., bus passes for youth attending educational or employment-related activities).

Parenting wards with custody of their children who have a Placement Alternative Contract or who live in an SSU-coded placement within Illinois are eligible to receive the Ward With Infant special service fee and Medicaid card for their children. Parenting youth in the Placement Alternative Contract program will receive the special service fee along and the Standard of Need payment by mail as long as they remain in their approved placement. Youth in unauthorized placements within the Teen Parenting Service Network will receive the Ward With Infant special service fee from their assigned caseworker during the monthly in-person visit* with the caseworker. Downstate parenting youth in unapproved placements will receive the Ward With Infant special service fee by mail after monthly verification by the caseworker of the youth's place of residence.

· Workers shall continue to see the youth in-person at least once a month. During this monthly in-person contact, the worker shall observe whether, for the time being, the youth and the youth's children appear unharmed and the youth's children's needs are being met. This visit should be supportive, allowing the caseworker the opportunity to reengage the youth by offering any services, supports or a more appropriate living arrangement. When the youth remains unavailable, the worker shall seek assistance from the youth's Attorney/Guardian ad litem in arranging a meeting with the youth.

PAC Questions and Answers

Q: Who can be an advocate?

A: An advocate must be an adult, and may be a mentor, teacher, adult friend or relative, caseworker, former caseworker or former foster parent.

Q: Why start the process with a CAYIT?

A: Before selecting PAC as the appropriate alternative, the caseworker should review all available alternatives for placement of a youth (e.g., TLP/ILO, YIC, return home, adolescent foster care, etc.). The CAYIT is the process for reviewing the level of care in these circumstances.

Q: Does the caseworker also have to complete the CFS 2025, Home Safety Checklist?

A: No. The caseworker must only complete the CFS 453-A and CFS 453-B for youth in the PAC program.

Q: Who is on the PAC review team?

A: The youth's advocate, caseworker and clinical staff with special knowledge of adolescent resources, including a regional transition manager.

Q: Why review the PAC at the end of each 90 days? If the youth isn't doing well in the PAC by the end of the first 90 day period, can't the worker request a staffing by the PAC review team and change the placement? And if the youth is doing well, can't the worker can just renew the PAC for another 90 days?

A: Early comments from youth on the Placement Alternative Contract program identified as a concern that success or failure should not be determined solely on any one person's (i.e., the caseworker's) opinion. There were concerns that some caseworkers may be biased by their past relationship with the youth, and that different workers may use different standards when making these decisions. The PAC review team ensures that several persons are involved in the review and decision-making process, including the youth's advocate, thereby reducing any effects of worker bias.

Q: Why should a youth be able to select someone other than his/her caseworker as an advocate when entering the PAC program? Wouldn't having the caseworker in that function keep the caseworker actively involved in the youth's life and ensure consistency?

A: We completely agree that the caseworker should remain actively involved with the youth during a PAC. However, we also believe that the youth should be allowed to select as his/her advocate someone other than the caseworker. So long as the advocate is willing to share information and cooperate with the caseworker, consistency should not be an issue.

Q: Case closure seems like a drastic measure for a youth who is unsuccessful in the PAC program. Doesn't the Department have an obligation to try to provide another living arrangement so the youth does not become homeless?

A: The PAC procedure requires that youth who are unsuccessful in PAC shall be offered another type of living arrangement. If the youth does not accept that living arrangement, he/she will be allowed 3 months in an unapproved (SSU) living arrangement before case closure is considered. That makes a total of 6 months (3 months in an unsuccessful PAC followed by 3 months in SSU) before the caseworker and PAC team consider case closure. Case closure is only considered when the youth is unwilling to engage in any of the supports or services that the Department can offer.

Q: Why does the PAC team evaluate success based on "sufficient progress" rather than "reasonable effort"?

A: The tasks in a Placement Alternative Contract are set in increments that can be reasonably accomplished within 90 days. Youth in the PAC program should be able to accomplish many tasks and complete some goals within each 90 day time period. The youth should continue to work on the remaining tasks and help identify new tasks and goals at the beginning of each successive 90 day period, toward the goal of achieving emancipation.

Q: Is the Department required to invite a youth's guardian ad litem to the PAC team review staffing?

A: A guardian ad litem is welcome to attend and participate at a PAC team review staffing at his/her client's (the youth's) invitation. (Note: At age 18 the youth may chose whether to have his/her GAL/attorney present.)

Q: Why aren't youth in the PAC program allowed to live out of state?

A: The caseworker cannot provide services or ongoing monitoring to a home in another state without raising caseworker licensure issues. Further, as long as a youth is receiving benefits in Illinois, he/she is ineligible to receive benefits in another state. In addition, some states will not honor the Illinois Medicaid card, and this would leave the youth without medical insurance.

Q: Does this policy penalize youth who must move from their approved placement immediately and without notice to the caseworker because of an emergency?

A: No. The Department is aware that an emergency may arise that may require a youth to move from the approved placement immediately and without notice. A move in this circumstance does not void the PAC. However, the youth is expected to contact his/her caseworker and, when a new living arrangement is identified, go through the appropriate approval process.

Sample Objectives and Tasks

1. To secure & sustain employment throughout the 90 day contract

In order to accomplish this I will:

1. Apply for a minimum of 5 jobs that I am qualified for per week.

2. Learn to use the statewide employment database, with assistance from my worker.

3. Keep a log/report of the places where I have applied for work so that my worker has the information needed to respond to inquiries on my behalf.

4. Leave my worker's number as contact information and check in with my worker at noon each day in order to follow-up on my applications.

5. When I am offered a job, I will accept it.

6. When I start the job, I will continue it and will not quit without first consulting with my worker AND identifying another job that pays more money overall.

2. To make progress toward my GED

In order to accomplish this task I will:

1. Accompany my worker to _________________________ and meet with an advisor who can provide me with information regarding my standing with respect to the GED.

2. Enroll in preparation courses for any area of the GED that I am not prepared to test for now.

3. Take those subsets of the GED that I am prepared to test for now.

4. Should I fail any subsets of the GED I will enroll in preparation courses in those areas.

5. I will continue to attend preparation courses on each subset that I have enrolled for until I have passed that subset of the GED test.

3. To participate in recommended therapeutic services

To accomplish this I will:

1. Attend treatment group on Thursdays and will arrive on time. The only acceptable reason NOT to participate is that it conflicts with my work or school schedule.

2. Establish a minimum of once weekly contact with my AA sponsor.

3. Other: (one or two agreed tasks)

Policy Guides
• Policy Guide 2003.01
• Policy Guide 2003.06
• Policy Guide 2003.07
• Policy Guide 2006.04
• Policy Guide 2008.01
• Policy Guide 2008.02