Illinois House passes bill requiring cultural hair care plans for DCFS youth in care

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House voted unanimously Friday to pass a plan requiring DCFS caseworkers to develop hair care plans with youth in care and their foster parents.

Members of the DCFS Youth Advisory Board worked with lawmakers to make this recommendation into legislation. They stressed that Black children are often placed with families or in residential settings where they aren't allowed to wear their their hair in ways that represent their cultural background.

Every youth in care will have a hair care plan which accounts for their racial, cultural, gender, religious or other identities unless the child indicates they don't need a hair care plan.

"I wish I had a hair care plan starting out as a foster parent because it would have been a tremendous asset," said Rep. Jed Davis (R-Yorkville). "I know this bill got a lot of different debate back in the Senate. It's a topic that unless you're in it, it doesn't necessarily make sense."

DCFS would also be required to develop training for caregivers to provide culturally-competent hair care by June 1, 2025.

"It's going to be up to DCFS to determine how the cost will be covered and what cost will be covered," said Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (D-Chicago). "So the cost could potentially fall on DCFS, the foster parents or from a youth's allowance."

The plan would allow DCFS to adopt rules to facilitate implementation of the changes, including responsibilities of caseworkers and placement plan specialists in developing the hair care plan, engaging parents regarding the hair care needs of youth and procedures to follow if the parents cannot be contacted, and factors to consider in granting children increased autonomy over hair care decisions.

"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."

House Bill 5097 passed unanimously out of the House Friday. It previously passed out of the Senate on a 49-9 vote. The proposal now heads to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk for his signature of approval.