Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
FFY2012 Annual Progress and Services Report
94
want, a relative who would otherwise be authorized under State law to make such decisions, and
the youth must be provided the option to execute a health care power of attorney, health care
proxy, or other similar document recognized under State law.
When a signature for a Power of Attorney or a Notification of Rights and Responsibilities is
required, then the youth with a developmental disability must receive a communication
accommodation to assure the likelihood of understanding. The caseworker/supervisor may
contact the Clinical Services Division Office of Services to People with Developmental
Disabilities for assistance with this notification and signature.
In addition to the above policy revisions, an Action Transmittal will be issued for the purpose of
describing the amendment to federal law and the ACF Program Instructions and how these
changes affect the Department concerning transitioning youth to emancipation.
3. Information/Education Provided to Youth in Accordance with the Personalized
Transition Plan
Information/education will be provided to the youth by their caseworker at the time that
the youth driven transition plan is developed in partnership with the youth. The contents
of information/education provided to youth to help them make and execute health care
decisions will include the following attachments:
“Your Future, Your Health” information sheet
1. Illinois Statutory Short Form Power of Attorney for Health Care
2. Certification of Receipt of Information & Education Regarding Health
Care Options
The Training Plan for DCFS/POS caseworkers will include the following:
Learning Objectives
o To understand the new ACF requirements for compliance with the
Amendments to Titles IV-E and IV-B of the Fostering Connections to Success
and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 on the education of youth transitioning
to emancipation concerning issues of health care treatment decisions and the
option to designate another person to make these decisions on the youth’s
behalf.
o To communicate effectively with transitioning youth the value and importance
of designating another person to make health care decisions on the youth’s
behalf in the event that the youth cannot make these decisions for
her/himself; and to choose the option to formally execute a Power of Attorney
for Health Care, upon reaching her/his eighteen birthday.
Training Topics
1. Importance of designating another person to make health care treatment
decisions on behalf of the youth, in the event that the youth is no longer able
to do so him/herself.
2. Who is an appropriate person to designate? For example, DCFS or a
DCFS/POS worker cannot be named as designee.
3. Instructions for caseworkers when youth does not have anyone to name as a
designee, but has the need for a designee; for example, DCFS/POS worker
