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Featured Articles

1. Article number 1 - An Update on Coronavirus or COVID-19
2. Article number 2 - Protecting Children…it’s the law in Illinois
3. Article number 3 - YouthCare - What do you need to know?
4. Article number 4 - PATH Beyond Adoption: Support for Post-Adoptive Families
5. Article number 5 - Heart Gallery of Illinois – Children in Need of a Forever Family
6. Article number 6 - What is Family First?

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  An Update on Coronavirus or COVID-19

  Restore Illinois - Licensed Day Care Guidance, (Español), (中文)
  DCFS understands that the COVID-19 pandemic is an everchanging situation. This Guidance is intended to be updated on Fridays when CDC provides a update.

  IDPH School/Daycare Guidance

  DCFS continues to operate its hotline and carry out investigations.  As always, if you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, you should report it to the DCFS hotline immediately.  You can contact the DCFS hotline by phone at 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873) or visit the DCFS website to make an online report.

  DCFS, and its partners that make up the entire child welfare system, continue to monitor the safety of youth in care and conduct investigations when allegations of abuse and neglect are reported. When appropriate, staff are using technology to visit youth in care. This will help keep youth safe, keep the families looking after them safe, and reduce exposure for child welfare staff across the State.

  To get the latest on the coronavirus, visit the links to DCFS distributed communications and the Illinois Department of Public Health below:

  • DCFS Communications to Staff and Providers, Including Information for Day Care Providers
  • Latest News
  • Coronavirus Information
  • Governor’s News Conference
    
  • Coronavirus Q&A with Illinois DCFS Acting Director Marc Smith
    
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  Protecting Children…it’s the law in Illinois

  ​If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected you have a social responsibility to report it to the hotline. Most professionals in education, health care, law enforcement and social work are required by law to report suspected neglect or abuse. These individuals are called mandated reporters.
  
  To help mandated reporters understand their critical role in protecting children, DCFS administers a free online training course entitled Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Training for Mandated Reporters, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  
  For more information about the guidelines for mandated reporters in Illinois, read the Mandated Reporter Manual in English or en español.

  In non-emergency situations, anyone may report suspected child abuse or neglect using the new Online Reporting System.  To learn more, click here.

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  YouthCare - What do you need to know?

  ​Currently, DCFS and the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services (HFS) – the state's Medicaid agency – are planning for the implementation of managed care for DCFS. They are working with YouthCare, private agency providers and other child welfare experts to ensure youth's needs are prioritized during the implementation of managed care.

  Enhanced YouthCare Program to Begin September 1 with Three Times as Many Providers as Current DCFS System (7/10/20)

  
  The Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Advisory Workgroup meets regularly to advise stakeholders on the transition to YouthCare. To see the meeting schedules, membership list, meeting agendas and minutes, click here.
  
  For more information, read the Managed Care Fact Sheet.

  Questions? Connect with YouthCare via email at ILYouthCare@centene.com or call 844-289-2264; or connect with DCFS via email at  DCFS.HealthPlan@illinois.gov or call the DCFS Advocacy Office at 800-232-3798.

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  PATH Beyond Adoption: Support for Post-Adoptive Families

  ​Building a family by adoption or guardianship is the beginning step of a new journey, and Illinois DCFS is committed to supporting families along the way. The PATH (Partners Available to Help) Beyond Adoption support line is the entry point to connect families that move to permanency with DCFS or by private or international adoption to available resources.

  Call 866-538-8892 during business hours or leave a voicemail message at any time to:

  • Connect to resources
  • Get answers to questions
  • Seek counseling and other services
  • Locate a support group
  • Update your address and phone number

  Visit the new Path Beyond Adoption website for information, resources and support for post-adoptive families.

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  Heart Gallery of Illinois – Children in Need of a Forever Family

  ​​Every child deserves to grow up safe, secure and loved. Children from all across the state of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are taken into temporary care when it is not safe for them to remain at home. Many are in need of a loving home not only for themselves, but also a little brother or sister. Most children waiting to be adopted are living temporarily with loving relatives or licensed foster families. Some live in larger, professionally-staffed group settings.
  
  DCFS maintains an online listing with pictures and descriptions of children in need of a loving family. Please click here to learn how you can change the life of a child – and your own!
  

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  What is Family First?

  ​What is Family First?
  The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)was signed into law on February 9, 2018. This act reforms the federal child welfare financing streams, Title IV-E and Title IV-B, of the Social Security Act. The act supports important reforms in child welfare as we re-imagine DCFS as a department that emphasizes prevention, early intervention and evidence-based practices for children and families. The act also seeks to improve the well-being of children already in foster care by incentivizing states to reduce placement of children in congregate care.
  
  The FFPSA transforms federal financing for child welfare programming in two major ways:

  1. FFPSA allows Title IV-E funding to be used to fund up to one-year of evidence-based prevention services for children and families who are “candidates for foster care,” i.e., at “imminent risk” of child welfare involvement
  2. FFPSA regulates financial support for youth in congregate care settings to limit long stays in congregate care, provides residential treatment options for youth with clinical needs and establishes criteria for Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs)

  For more information, click on the title or the image.