Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
FFY 2011 Annual Progress and Services Report
250
reunification fails or is delayed, the placement made is the best available placement to provide
permanency for the child; and, when the minor is removed from his or her own family, to
secure for him or her custody, care and discipline as nearly as possible equivalent to that which
should be given by his or her parents, and in cases where it should and can properly be done to
place the minor in a family home so that he or she may become a member of the family by
legal adoption or otherwise.
Uniform Application of Licensing Standards
In Illinois, without exception, all foster and adoptive homes must be licensed as foster family
homes. The Department strongly encourages relative caregivers to become licensed as foster
family homes, but they are not required to be licensed. If a relative caregiver wishes to care for
a child who is not related to the caregiver or a child in his/her care, the home must be licensed
as a foster family home.
The Department, by rule, must send an application for license renewal to all licensees prior to
expiration of the current license. When a licensee makes a timely application for renewal of
the license, the current license remains in full force and effect until the Department makes a
final decision on the application.
Both the Department and POS agencies mail the renewal applications to all foster/adoptive
homes six months in advance of the expiration date of the license. Each foster home license
should be renewed on or before the license expiration date. While filing a complete and timely
application for license renewal prior to the license expiration date will keep the home's license
in force, it is expected that the vast majority of homes will have completed the entire re-licensing
process on or before the license expiration date. The Central Office of Licensing
sends monthly reports to each DCFS and child welfare agency foster care licensing team which
contains the status of the pending foster family home expiring licenses.
Additionally, the Department mails applications for license renewal to all other licensed child
care facilities six months prior to expiration of the current license. The facility must complete
the renewal application and submit the completed application to the Department by the Child
Welfare Agency within three months of receipt of the renewal notice. While filing a complete
and timely application for license renewal prior to the license expiration date will keep the
child care facility's license in force, it is expected that the vast majority of child care facilities
will have completed the entire re-licensing process on or before the license expiration date.
Department licensing staff will conduct a renewal licensing study and make a recommendation
on the renewal application prior to expiration of the current license. The Central Office of
Licensing sends monthly reports to each DCFS licensing team which contains the status of the
pending child care facility expiring license.
The Department initiates enforcement action when licensed homes or other child care facilities
fail to comply with licensing standards and the Child Care Act. In appropriate cases, the
Department may revoke or refuse to renew a license, or refuse to issue a license to a permit
holder (for example, when the licensee or permit holder is convicted of a crime that constitutes
a bar to licensure, when housing or the physical plant does not meet minimum licensing
standards, when there is an indicated report of child abuse or neglect in which the licensee or a
