Paving the way to permanent families for youth in care through guardianship

Every child deserves to grow up in a loving, stable home that supports identity formation, well-being and transition to successful adulthood. At DCFS, we envision and are working hard to realize a future where every child in Illinois has that opportunity. One vital but underused way to achieve this is through guardianship, an alternative to foster care that ensures more Illinois children find the permanency they need.

Guardianship allows children to live permanently with relatives or fictive kin (trusted, chosen family who are not related to a child by birth). Through guardianship, caregivers who are already part of a child’s life provide a permanent, safe and stable environment that preserves existing family bonds. Guardianship honors the wishes of older children who may not want to consent to adoption, and it preserves children’s rights to associate with their siblings, grandparents and other extended family members who are essential to their long-term well-being. It helps preserve connections to culture, language and community. Guardianship can permit birth parents to retain residual rights to visit and maintain a presence in their children’s lives.

In Illinois, over 18,850 children live in foster care. Of these, 9,843 are living with relatives, 7,781 are with foster families and 637 are in group homes. Like states across the country, Illinois is experiencing the effects of a nationwide shortage of traditional foster homes. Guardianship is one strong way to relieve an overstressed foster care system and build more permanent, loving homes that preserve vital connections with family, community, culture and language.

For eligible youth, DCFS provides a financial subsidy to caregivers who become legal guardians of children in our care. This includes a monthly stipend to assist with food, shelter, clothing and personal allowances. Children also receive health insurance that pays for necessary medical care and prescriptions. Legal guardians’ subsidies can also support counseling, physical therapy, medical equipment and daycare services.

By choosing guardianship, families offer children more than just a home; they offer a chance to maintain relationships that are critical to a child’s development and identity. Subsidized guardianship ensures children can continue to lean on these critical relationships to guide them as they transition into permanent homes, begin to heal from the traumas they have experienced and grow into successful adults.

When we support guardianship as a path to permanency for children in our care, we recognize the critical role of family, community and identity in a child’s life and create opportunities for more children to thrive. Together, we can reduce the number of children in foster care and help ensure that every child has the chance to grow up in a permanent, loving family.

Heidi E. Mueller

Director, Illinois DCFS