Illinois Families Now and Forever

              2004 • Volume 1 Winter • Edition
FAMILIES
Now and
Forever
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services©
ILLINOIS
™
From the
DCFS
Director
I ended 2003 by traveling the state to
see first hand how the department is
coming through on our mission to serve
children and families. I met many
dedicated foster and adoptive parents
who are working hard to take care of
children with intense needs. In many
cases you are doing so with limited
resources and support. I can promise
you that the department will not take
your assistance for granted.
In 2004, I will continue to focus my
staff and the private agencies on what
children need to prepare them for life
with a family and after they leave the
care of the state as adults. The first
major area to which I will commit
resources is the Integrated Assess-ment
Program to determine a child’s
developmental, emotional, physical and
educational needs when he or she
enters care. Secondly, I have directed
more resources for education. I believe
that encouraging educational achieve-ment
is necessary for successful
transitions to adulthood. I also believe
that if we do a good job of identifying a
child’s needs and providing services,
then we will see more stable and
successful placements. After that,
there is no telling how far you and the
children you care for will be able to go.
Bryan Samuels
Families by Foster Care, Adoption and Guardianship
Free tax booklet helps
foster and adoptive parents
Once again it’s time for taxes. DCFS and the Center for
Economic Progress continue to work together to provide
foster and adoptive families with timely information to help
them in preparing their tax returns. Each January, the
Center for Economic Progress mails the Tax Booklet for
Foster and Adoptive Parents to families with foster and
adopted children to help them obtain all federal and state
tax benefits and credits for which they might be eligible.
The Center for Economic Progress also tracks changes to
the tax laws that are pertinent to these families. For
example, beginning in 2003, parents who adopt a special
needs child can receive the full $10,160 adoption tax credit,
even if actual expenses are less. The credit can be carried
forward for five years. Also, the Child Tax Credit has been
increased from $600 to $1,000 per child. Foster parents
often qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can
be over $4,000, and the Child Tax Credit. The tax booklet
has more details.
The Center for Economic Progress also continues to provide
free tax preparation to families with income under $35,000
at 28 sites located throughout Illinois. The booklet provides
the addresses of these sites and other services for which
foster and adoptive parents may be eligible such as free legal
tax representation in cases of tax controversies with the
IRS and the Illinois Department of Revenue.
For more information on any items in the booklet including
the free tax preparation sites, tax representation or any
other question pertaining to tax issues for foster and
adoptive parents, please call the Center for Economic
Progress at 312-252-0280.