KIND Act: Senate unanimously approves bill prioritizing kin-first foster care placement

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate unanimously approved a bill today requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to prioritize placing youth with their relatives.

More than 10,000 Illinois youth in care live with relatives. Although, more than 60% of those caregivers are currently denied foster care benefits.

The legislation could require DCFS to pursue federal funding to establish a kinship navigator program to help relatives who have youth in care.

"It directs the juvenile courts to provide necessary oversight to the department's obligation to maintain family connections," said Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). "And it promotes equitable opportunities to youth and families the thrive with rational permanence."

The ACLU of Illinois celebrated the bill's passage Thursday and encouraged the House to concur with the Senate amendment when they return to Springfield in January.

"Staying with a family member lessens trauma of family separation, reduces the number of times a child is moved, enhances permanency options if youth cannot be reunified, results in higher placement satisfaction for youth in care, and delivers better social, behavioral, mental health and educational outcomes for youth than when they are placed in non-kin foster care," said Nora Collins-Mandeville, ACLU Director of Systems Reform Policy.

The KIND Act previously passed unanimously out of the House on May 15.