National Hispanic Heritage Month: a celebration of unity, culture and resilience

As the leaves change color and fall weather sets in, a palpable sense of unity and pride has filled the air—it's National Hispanic Heritage Month! Observed annually from September 15 to October 15, this celebration honors the vibrant cultures, rich histories and valuable contributions of Hispanics across the nation. It is also a time to reflect on the values of family, resilience and cultural pride that are central to Hispanic communities.

At Illinois DCFS, we are committed to supporting the Latino youth and families we serve by ensuring that our services honor their language, traditions and unique experiences; and our Latino workforce by providing them with the tools and support they need to do their jobs effectively.

Supporting our youth in care

As of September 30, 2024, there are 18,850 youth in care in Illinois, of which 2,112 (8.9%) are Hispanic. We understand the importance of Spanish-speaking youth in care living with families who speak their language. The ability for youth to speak to, and be understood by, their caregivers during normal everyday conversations about what happened at school that day or weekend plans with friends builds trust and enhances the youth’s sense of belonging; and helps them become more comfortable when the time comes to have more in-depth conversations about their safety and emotional health.

The recruitment and retention of Spanish-speaking foster homes remains a priority, and the department is committed to expanding the number of Spanish-speaking homes so that every youth in our care can live in a culturally and linguistically compatible home.

Many of the youth in our care are also living with relatives through guardianship arrangements or with “fictive kin” – someone who has a committed, family-like relationship with the child although they are not related by blood. The importance of fictive kin and guardianship for Latino youth cannot be overstated. When youth can live with people they already know and love, the bonds of family and the continuity of traditions, celebrations, customs and language are preserved – ensuring that the youth's connection to their roots remains strong.

Supporting the families we serve

Just as it is important for the youth in our care to live with families who speak their language, it is equally important that the families we serve receive information, documents, supports and services in their preferred language. In 2024, the department’s “language line” received 7,064 requests for interpretation services across 75 languages, with 72% of the requests being for assistance in Spanish. While interpreter services are critical, we know that having bilingual caseworkers is far more effective. With that in mind, the DCFS Office of Latino Services (OLS) and the DCFS Latino Advisory Council (LAC), in collaboration with the Burgos Workgroup, Language Access Committee, CWAC Racial Equity Subcommittee and the SALUD Leadership Committee, are committed to expanding language access services and recruiting bilingual staff.

Supporting our Latino staff

As of September 1, 2024, there are 160 bilingual staff members working at Illinois DCFS, including 23 hired in fiscal year 2024. Yet, the need for Spanish-speaking caseworkers remains high, which underscores the need for continued recruitment. Our ongoing Soy DCFS – I am DCFS recruitment campaign seeks to increase the number of Spanish-speaking employees by telling the stories of our current Latino team members.

It is also our goal to compensate our bilingual staff in a manner that recognizes the value of their skills and encourage bilingual staff to seek promotions to all levels of our agency. To that end, Illinois DCFS offers staff who are serving in Spanish bilingual job titles a path to bilingual certification. Once certified, bilingual staff receive increased compensation when they use their language skills at work. In return, having robust bilingual representation across our agency helps remove language barriers for the youth and families we serve.

As we take this time during Hispanic Heritage Month to highlight the history and achievements of Latino Americans and the diversity they bring that enriches our society, let us also reflect on how we can strengthen families and ensure the safety and well-being of children by providing services that help children remain connected to their cultural identity and that allow every family to feel seen, supported and celebrated.

Yeni Rojas

Former Illinois DCFS Latino Advisory Council Chairperson