Bill Text: IL SB1385 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2016, the Department of Children and Family Services shall implement a 5-year pilot program of multi-dimensional treatment foster care, or a substantially similar evidence-based program of professional foster care, for (i) children entering care with severe trauma histories, with the goal of returning the child home or maintaining the child in foster care instead of placing the child in congregate care or a more restrictive setting or placement, (ii) children who require placement in foster care when they are ready for discharge from a residential treatment facility, and (iii) children who are identified for residential or group home care and who, based on a determination made by the Department, could be placed in a foster home if higher level interventions are provided. Provides that the Department shall arrange for an independent evaluation of the pilot program to determine whether it is meeting the goal of maintaining children in the least restrictive, most appropriate family-like setting while they are in the Department's care and to determine whether there is a long-term cost benefit to continuing the pilot program. Contains a provision concerning reporting requirements.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-24 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB1385 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SB1385-Introduced.html

---

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 SB1385 Introduced 2/20/2015, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 505/5.40 new
Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that beginning January 1, 2016, the Department of Children and Family Services shall implement a 5-year pilot program of multi-dimensional treatment foster care, or a substantially similar evidence-based program of professional foster care, for (i) children entering care with severe trauma histories, with the goal of returning the child home or maintaining the child in foster care instead of placing the child in congregate care or a more restrictive setting or placement, (ii) children who require placement in foster care when they are ready for discharge from a residential treatment facility, and (iii) children who are identified for residential or group home care and who, based on a determination made by the Department, could be placed in a foster home if higher level interventions are provided. Provides that the Department shall arrange for an independent evaluation of the pilot program to determine whether it is meeting the goal of maintaining children in the least restrictive, most appropriate family-like setting while they are in the Department's care and to determine whether there is a long-term cost benefit to continuing the pilot program. Contains a provision concerning reporting requirements.
LRB099 09578 KTG 29787 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
SB1385 LRB099 09578 KTG 29787 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended
by adding Section 5.40 as follows:
(20 ILCS 505/5.40 new)
Sec. 5.40. Multi-dimensional treatment foster care.
Beginning January 1, 2016, the Department shall implement a
5-year pilot program of multi-dimensional treatment foster
care, or a substantially similar evidence-based program of
professional foster care, for (i) children entering care with
severe trauma histories, with the goal of returning the child
home or maintaining the child in foster care instead of placing
the child in congregate care or a more restrictive setting or
placement, (ii) children who require placement in foster care
when they are ready for discharge from a residential treatment
facility, and (iii) children who are identified for residential
or group home care and who, based on a determination made by
the Department, could be placed in a foster home if higher
level interventions are provided.
The Department shall arrange for an independent evaluation
of the pilot program to determine whether it is meeting the
goal of maintaining children in the least restrictive, most

SB1385 - 2 - LRB099 09578 KTG 29787 b
appropriate family-like setting while they are in the
Department's care and to determine whether there is a long-term
cost benefit to continuing the pilot program.
At the end of the 5-year pilot program, the Department
shall submit a report to the General Assembly with its findings
of the evaluation. The report shall state whether the
Department intends to continue the pilot program and the
rationale for its decision.