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Illinois Board, Commission, Task Force and Council List

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Title:Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force
Contact Name:Department of Children and Family Services
Function:The Task Force shall: (1) Examine the historical and current role of mandatory reporting and its impact on the racial and gender disparities of families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services. (2) Examine the underlying factors that bring families into contact with the Department of Children and Family Services and the factors that lead to child removal, including, but not limited to, suspected or known substance use or dependency, intergenerational child welfare system involvement, and lack of access to shelter, food, clothing, income or employment, and healthcare, and how these impact the length of time families remain involved in the child welfare system. (3) Review the Department of Children and Family Services' progress on the planning and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act and determine what impact, if any, the plan may have on the current racial disparities of children and families in the child welfare system. (4) Examine the current processes and policies, data, and data collection methods for families involved simultaneously in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or criminal justice systems, including, but not limited to, youth who are dually involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. (5) Explore policies and protocols that honor language, culture, and heritage in identity formation and familial relationships, including, but not limited to, race-blind child protection screenings and child removal reviews, as implemented in other jurisdictions around the United States, and make recommendations for implementation in Illinois. (6) Explore the development of a curriculum for a child welfare specific implicit bias training for all public and private direct service staff and supervisors who interact with children and families.
Senate Confirmation:No
Chair:Co-chairs of the Task Force: member from the organization with expertise in the child welfare system that advocates to preserve and reunify families and the member from the organization that advocates on behalf of children, youth, and families
Authority:20 ILCS 4105

 Member Names
Name (Last, First)Term ExpiresMember SinceAffiliationAppointed ByPositionTitleCounty
Block, Sara4/4/2022GovernorProvides legal services to parents impacted by gender-based violence during the investigation phase of child abuse or neglect cases
Bos, Rep. Chris5/25/2022House Minority LeaderMember
Collins, Rep. Lakesia8/24/2021Speaker of the HouseMember
Collins-Mandeville, Nora2/25/2022GovernorStatewide organization advocating for the advancement of civil liberties for at least 80 years in Illinois
Davis, Ronald4/19/2022GovernorParents directly impacted by the child welfare system
Esposito, David3/3/2022GovernorRep. oganization with expertise in housing and the Continuum of Care Program
Fourman, Clarissa4/1/2022GovernorExperience as youth in the child welfare system
Frydman, Melissa3/3/2022GovernorProvide legal representation to parents in child protection cases, outside Cook County
Hunter, Sen. Mattie5/12/2022President of the SenateMember
Jones, Beverly4/27/2022GovernorOrganization that advocates on behalf of children, youth, and families
Lewis, Tina Marie4/19/2022GovernorProvide legal representation to parents in child protection cases, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Riley, Onie1/31/2022GovernorMember
Rodemeyer, Robert3/24/2022GovernorProvide legal representation on behalf of the State of Illinois in child protection cases, Cook County State's Attorney's Office
Samuels, Bryan3/3/2022GovernorAcademic researcher
Turner, Sen. Sally2/18/2022Minority Leader of the SenateMember
VACANTJoint Caucus Chair of Illinois Legislative Black CaucusMember
VACANTJoint Caucus Chair of Illinois Legislative Black CaucusMember
VACANTChair of the Illinois Latino CaucusMember
VACANTChair of the Illinois Latino CaucusMember
VACANTGovernorRep. of the Office of the Governor
VACANTStatuteDirector of Children and Family Services
VACANTStatuteSecretary of Human Services
VACANTStatuteDirector of Healthcare and Family Services
VACANTStatuteInspector General of the Department of Children and Family Services
VACANTDirector of the Administrative Office of the Illinois CourtsMember from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, Children and Families Unit, Court Services Division
VACANTGovernorParents directly impacted by the child welfare system
VACANTGovernorParents directly impacted by the child welfare system
VACANTStatuteCook County Public Guardian
VACANTGovernorProvides legal representation to children in child protection cases from outside of Cook County
VACANTGovernorProvide legal representation on behalf of the State of Illinois in child protection cases, State's Attorney's office outside of Cook County
VACANTGovernorRep. of organization with expertise in the child welfare system
VACANTGovernorExperience as youth in the child welfare system