SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State senators approved a plan Friday to require DCFS caseworkers to develop hair care plans with youth in care and their foster parents.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Youth Advisory Board worked with lawmakers to make their recommendation into legislation.

"Hair care is not just about looking good or feeling pretty," said Sen. Mike Simmons (D-Chicago). "Hair is deeply intertwined with cultural identity and self-esteem." 

Black children are often placed with families or in residential settings where they aren't allowed to wear their hair in ways that represent their cultural background. 

Advocates said many youth end up living with families who don't know how to properly care for their natural hair.

"When they don't have access to hair care, they suffer from trauma like body dysmorphia, bullying, stigmatization and further neglect to hygiene," said Ni'yuana Baker, an undergraduate student at Illinois State University who hopes to become a DCFS social worker. "Going through these things, especially as a child, could possibly build trauma and break down self-confidence, making it hard for them to complete everyday needs." 

Every youth in care would have a hair care plan that accounts for their racial, cultural, gender, religious or other identities unless the child indicates that they don't need a hair care plan. DCFS would also be required to develop training for caregivers to provide culturally-competent hair care by June 1, 2025. 

"Hair plays a crucial role in nurturing young people's ties to their race, culture and sense of self," Simmons said. "I believe that when youth feel proud of their hair and heritage, they are better equipped to navigate the world with confidence and resilience."

House Bill 5097 passed out of the Senate on a 49-9 vote. The proposal now heads back to the House on concurrence due to a technical change. This plan previously gained unanimous support in the House on April 16.

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