via community resources. Services that cannot continue to be paid for by the state must be
clearly delineated.
Added was the statement that “Caregiver is clear on which services will or will not continue in
the subsidy and after finalization of the adoption. Caregiver is willing to proceed with the
adoption with allowable services as per DCFS policy.”
This CFS 1443 is provided to the court at the time of legal screening so that all parties are aware
whether the current caregiver is willing and able to proceed based on explanation of services that
will continue after adoption or guardianship. If the current caregiver is unable to proceed,
language on the CFS 1443 indicates “I/We understand that if parental rights are terminated or the
child’s parents consent to the adoption, an adoptive family will be recruited for this foster child.
Recruitment will consist of among other things, including the child in the photographic listing
book of the Adoption Information Center of Illinois.”
Matching for Adoption and Permanency (MAP) Unit
The DCFS MAP unit was developed to support and assist child welfare worker’s efforts to
successfully match children with permanent homes. The MAP unit’s mission is to identify the
barriers towards permanency and remove those barriers through an Action Plan Development
Staffing. The MAP Unit has statewide responsibility for addressing youth freed for adoption, but
who remain in substitute care for a variety of reasons.
The MAP unit provides home studies, child assessments, and consultation to both DCFS and
POS caseworkers. The unit also provides training, technical assistance, and hands-on support for
those seeking families for children. Their collaborative development of an action plan specific to
each identified child enables progress to be made toward attaining a permanent home. The MAP
staff attend Child & Family team meetings when invited to provide support for the adoption plan.
MAP employees attend meetings with AICI, AIS and the DCFS Agency Performance Teams to
ensure consistent practice among agencies providing adoption services.
MAP also works with Cook County Court’s Adoption Resource Development Screening
(ARDS) process. This court requires cases to have an adoptive resource prior to moving toward
termination of parental rights. (The Juvenile Court is sensitive about creating “legal orphans”
without a forever family.) MAP also advocates for adoption by long-term caregivers when
children have stabilized in their homes. MAP coordinates information about special needs,
presents relevant new information at staffings, and removes perceived but undocumented barriers
to adoption.
Conclusion: Diligent Recruitment Plans and Strategies for FFY 2009
Much effective work has been done during this third FFY of the State’s Diligent Recruitment
Plan, resulting in many additional placement options for children and youth. Work will continue
on these initiatives and others as needs dictate and DCFS will report on its progress in one year.
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