Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
FFY 2011 Annual Progress and Services Report
189
Division of Budget and Finance
In addition to master contract listing of contracted vendors maintained by the
Office of Contract Administration, each region maintains a listing of current
placement resources available in their area.
Field Operations Division
1) In Cook County, the Resources Unit, Foster Parent Support Specialists and
Lead Advocates, along with the Children’s Reception Center are the contacts
for placements in an emergency situation.
2) Downstate, Licensing and caseworker notes determine where the
emergency placements will appear.
3) In extraordinary situations (like Katrina) whole communities require
emergency placements. In such a situation, the Director and Governor will
develop plans to serve the clients of this agency’s need.
E. Guardian Consents for Children For Whom DCFS Becomes Legally
Responsible
Division of Guardian and Advocacy
In the event of an emergency, the DCFS Guardian and Assistant Guardian
can provide consultation and guidance to staff as needed; they can also
provide consents for DNR and Withdrawal of Life Support orders. The
Consent Unit will also be maintained, which consists of 8 Child Welfare
Advanced Specialist (bargaining unit), to provide consents in Cook County
and statewide consents for psychotropic medication and psychiatric
hospitalizations. Select members of the list of DCFS Authorized Agents
(almost 500 staff) will be on duty as well to provide consents throughout the
various regions throughout the state.
Disaster Plan Utilized in 2011
In February 2011 the State of Illinois had a blizzard which caused the State of Illinois to shut
down all operations except for essential services. In many counties throughout the State, the
only people allowed on roadways were emergency personnel. Due to the extreme weather
conditions experienced throughout the State, the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services utilized aspects of the Disaster Plan to ensure that essential services provided by
IDCFS were available. The plan was used by various Divisions in the Department. One such
area was the 24 hour IDCFS Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline (State Central Register). The
hotline is manned 24 hours per day with multiple staff. Due to the weather conditions, some
staff were unable to return home and remained at work. Due to the roadways only being open
to emergency personnel and inability for cars to get through the deep snow, it was not possible
for other staff to get to the hotline to relieve workers who had been at their position for several
hours over their required shift. Child Protection Administration contacted hotline workers who
lived in the City of Springfield (where the hotline is located) to obtain a list of staff who would
be able to come into the hotline to work if transportation could be arranged. Once the list of
workers was obtained, Child Protection Administration contacted the Illinois Emergency
