| Title: | Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force | | Contact Name: | Department of Children and Family Services | | Contact Comments: | | | 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 | | Qualifications: | | | Compensation: | N/A | | Composition: | Composition. The Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare Task Force is created within the Department of Children and Family Services consisting of members appointed as follows:
(1) Two members from the Senate, one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Senate Minority Leader.
(2) Two members from the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the House Minority Leader.
(3) Two General Assembly members from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, appointed by the Joint Caucus Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.
(4) Two General Assembly members from the Illinois Latino Caucus, appointed by the Chair of the Illinois Latino Caucus.
(5) One member from the Office of the Governor appointed by the Governor.
(6) The Director of Children and Family Services, or his or her designee.
(7) The Secretary of Human Services, or his or her designee.
(8) The Director of Healthcare and Family Services, or his or her designee.
(9) One member from an organization with expertise in housing and the Continuum of Care Program that works with impacted populations or convenes advocates to prevent and end homelessness, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(10) The Inspector General of the Department of Children and Family Services, or his or her designee.
(11) One member from an organization with expertise in the child welfare system that advocates to preserve and reunify families, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(12) One member who is an academic researcher who has studied the racialized history and impact of the child welfare system on children, families, and communities, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(13) One member from the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, Children and Families Unit, Court Services Division, appointed by the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
(14) Three members who are parents directly impacted by the child welfare system, at least 2 of whom come from a disproportionately represented racial group, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(15) The Cook County Public Guardian, or his or her designee.
(16) One member who provides legal representation to children in child protection cases from outside of Cook County, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(17) Two members who provide legal representation to parents in child protection cases, one from the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, appointed by the Governor's Office, and one from outside of Cook County, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(18) Two members who provide legal representation on behalf of the State of Illinois in child protection cases, one from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, appointed by the Governor's Office, and one from a State's Attorney's office outside of Cook County, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(19) One member who provides legal services to parents impacted by gender-based violence during the investigation phase of child abuse or neglect cases, including services related to safety plans, intact services, and administrative appeals, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(20) Three members who have experience as youth in the child welfare system, at least 2 of whom come from a disproportionately represented racial group, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(21) One member from a statewide organization advocating for the advancement of civil liberties for at least 80 years in Illinois, appointed by the Governor's Office.
(22) One member from an organization that advocates on behalf of children, youth, and families and the community-based providers that serve them, appointed by the Governor's Office. | | Chair: | Co-chairs: (i) member from org. with expertise in the child welfare system that advocates to preserve and reunify families; (ii) member from org. that advocates on behalf of children, youth, and families and the community-based providers that serve them | | Authority: | 20 ILCS 4105 |
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