104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3732 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 505/5.48 new Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and administer a 5-year Biological Foster Care Case Management Pilot Program that provides a framework to prioritize reunifying children with biological parents after an appropriate stabilization period. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall develop individualized, time-bound reunification plans that outline steps for returning children to their parents or guardians; and promote case coordination by providing caseworkers with specialized resources to focus exclusively on building relationships with biological families for the child. Provides that program tools and services shall include mental health evaluations, family counseling, and reintegration services. Provides that for each child placed in foster care, the Department shall develop a 2-year plan involving the child, biological parents, and key stakeholders to ensure sustained family stability. Contains provisions on employment and income opportunities for parents and foster youth under the pilot program; and Department reporting requirements. LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3732 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 505/5.48 new 20 ILCS 505/5.48 new Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and administer a 5-year Biological Foster Care Case Management Pilot Program that provides a framework to prioritize reunifying children with biological parents after an appropriate stabilization period. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall develop individualized, time-bound reunification plans that outline steps for returning children to their parents or guardians; and promote case coordination by providing caseworkers with specialized resources to focus exclusively on building relationships with biological families for the child. Provides that program tools and services shall include mental health evaluations, family counseling, and reintegration services. Provides that for each child placed in foster care, the Department shall develop a 2-year plan involving the child, biological parents, and key stakeholders to ensure sustained family stability. Contains provisions on employment and income opportunities for parents and foster youth under the pilot program; and Department reporting requirements. LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3732 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 505/5.48 new 20 ILCS 505/5.48 new
20 ILCS 505/5.48 new
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and administer a 5-year Biological Foster Care Case Management Pilot Program that provides a framework to prioritize reunifying children with biological parents after an appropriate stabilization period. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall develop individualized, time-bound reunification plans that outline steps for returning children to their parents or guardians; and promote case coordination by providing caseworkers with specialized resources to focus exclusively on building relationships with biological families for the child. Provides that program tools and services shall include mental health evaluations, family counseling, and reintegration services. Provides that for each child placed in foster care, the Department shall develop a 2-year plan involving the child, biological parents, and key stakeholders to ensure sustained family stability. Contains provisions on employment and income opportunities for parents and foster youth under the pilot program; and Department reporting requirements.
LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
A BILL FOR
HB3732LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b HB3732 LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
HB3732 LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
1 AN ACT concerning State government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
5 by adding Section 5.48 as follows:
6 (20 ILCS 505/5.48 new)
7 Sec. 5.48. Biological Foster Care Case Management Pilot
8 Program.
9 (a) Purpose. Illinois currently faces challenges with
10 prolonged foster care placements and reunification delays.
11 Only 18.6 % of the children who entered substitute care in the
12 Cook County region in Calendar Year 2021 were reunified with
13 their families within 24 months. The purpose of this Section
14 is to create a pilot program focused on providing parents with
15 their own case manager, separate from their children in State
16 care, to aid in reunifying children with their biological
17 families after entering foster care. The pilot program would
18 focus on, improving case management services and connection to
19 community resources, and integrating workforce development
20 initiatives for foster youth and parents facing economic
21 hardship.
22 (b) Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds the
23 following:
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026 HB3732 Introduced , by Rep. Maura Hirschauer SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 505/5.48 new 20 ILCS 505/5.48 new
20 ILCS 505/5.48 new
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to establish and administer a 5-year Biological Foster Care Case Management Pilot Program that provides a framework to prioritize reunifying children with biological parents after an appropriate stabilization period. Provides that under the pilot program, the Department shall develop individualized, time-bound reunification plans that outline steps for returning children to their parents or guardians; and promote case coordination by providing caseworkers with specialized resources to focus exclusively on building relationships with biological families for the child. Provides that program tools and services shall include mental health evaluations, family counseling, and reintegration services. Provides that for each child placed in foster care, the Department shall develop a 2-year plan involving the child, biological parents, and key stakeholders to ensure sustained family stability. Contains provisions on employment and income opportunities for parents and foster youth under the pilot program; and Department reporting requirements.
LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
A BILL FOR
20 ILCS 505/5.48 new
LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
HB3732 LRB104 09568 KTG 19631 b
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1 (1) Many children in foster care experience
2 instability due to insufficient family support systems and
3 inadequate caseworker resources.
4 (2) Family reunification, when safely possible, leads
5 to better long-term outcomes for children.
6 (3) Comprehensive support for parents, including job
7 readiness and placement programs, is essential to creating
8 a stable home environment for returning children.
9 (c) Program establishment and components. The Department
10 of Children and Family Services shall establish and administer
11 a 5-year Biological Foster Care Case Management Pilot Program
12 that provides a framework to prioritize reunifying children
13 with biological parents after an appropriate stabilization
14 period. Under the pilot program, the Department shall develop
15 individualized, time-bound reunification plans that outline
16 steps for returning children to their parents or guardians. To
17 promote case coordination, the Department shall provide
18 caseworkers with specialized resources to focus exclusively on
19 building relationships with biological families for the child.
20 Tools and services shall include mental health evaluations,
21 family counseling, and reintegration services.
22 (d) Two-year reunification plan. For each child placed in
23 foster care, the Department shall develop a 2-year plan
24 involving the child, biological parents, and key stakeholders
25 to ensure sustained family stability. The Department shall
26 also:
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1 (1) conduct quarterly service plan reviews to measure
2 progress toward milestones;
3 (2) promote family relationship building, by
4 implementing structured family engagement sessions during
5 the first 6 months of an open case to strengthen bonds
6 between children and biological parents; and
7 (3) target reunifying at least 40% of children who are
8 new to care within the first 18-24 months of placement.
9 (e) Workforce development component. To increase
10 employment and income opportunities for parents and foster
11 youth aged 16 and older, the pilot program shall:
12 (1) provide parents and foster youth with access to
13 job readiness training, paid internships, and mentorship
14 programs to build career skills and financial
15 independence; and
16 (2) provide job training, financial literacy, and job
17 placement services to parents in poverty to support
18 economic stability and successful reunification.
19 (f) Outcomes and reporting. Beginning one year after
20 implementation of the pilot program, the Department shall
21 submit annual reports to the General Assembly that detail
22 reunification rates, family engagement metrics, funding
23 adjustments, and workforce development outcomes. The final
24 report shall be submitted 3 months after the pilot program
25 terminates. After the pilot programs second full year of
26 operation, the Department shall conduct a program evaluation
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