State Contact

Sylvia Fonseca
Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS)
Adoptions Administrator
1921 S. Indiana Ave, 4th Floor
Chicago IL 60616
Sylvia.fonseca@illinois.gov
866-538-8892

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Adoption resources on the web:

https://dcfs.illinois.gov/loving-homes/adoption.html

Illinois’s state-specific medical assistance information:
https://hfs.illinois.gov/

Illinois’s adoption assistance information:
https://pathbeyondadoption.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/about-us/policy-rules-and-forms/documents/cfs-1000/cfs-1050-45-post-a-g-services.pdf

Illinois Complied Statutes, 20 ILCS 505/5 (j):
https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=242&ChapterID=5

Scroll down to section (j).
Illinois Administrative Code, 89 III. Adm. Code 302.310, Adoption
Assistance:
https://casetext.com/regulation/illinois-administrative-code/title-89-social-services/part-302-services-delivered-by-the-dement-of-children-and-family-services/subpart-c-department-child-welfare-services/section-302310-adoption-assistance#:~:text=The%20Department%20shall%20provide%20adoptive,until%20adoption%20assistance%20payments%20cease.

In Illinois a child with special needs is defined as a child that has at least one of the following needs or circumstances that may be a barrier to placement or adoption without financial assistance:

  • One year of age or older
  • Member of a sibling group being adopted together where at least one child meets one of the other criteria listed here
  • Being adopted by adoptive parents who have previously adopted, with adoption assistance, another child born of the same mother or father
  • Irreversible or non-correctable physical mental or emotional disability
  • Physical, mental, or emotional disability correctable through surgery, treatment, or other specialized services
Age Rate
0-11 months $672
1-4 $672
5-8 $746
9-11 $796
12-20 $827

Specialized rates relate to the child’s individual needs, with decisions made on a case-by-case, agency-by-agency basis. To qualify for specialized rates, children must generally have multiple medical needs. Specialized rates are established while the child is in foster care.

All benefits may continue up to the age of 21 for children who are mentally, emotionally, intellectually, or physically disabled. Youth can also receive adoption assistance up to age 19 if they are still in high school. For children adopted on or after their 16th birthday the adoption assistance may continue to age 21 under other criteria.

In addition to the subsidy related services, Illinois provides the Adoption and Guardianship Preservation Program to all adoptive families in the state. This is intensive, in-home services and has been successful in stabilizing adoptive families throughout the state. These programs have been in place for 20 years. Information about respite, day care, and more services and contact information is covered in Post Adoption and Guardianship Services guide, https://pathbeyondadoption.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/about-us/policy-rules-and-forms/documents/cfs-1000/cfs-1050-45-post-a-g-services.pdf

Regular daycare is available for any child up to age three if the parent is working or in school. Therapeutic daycare may also be available. Parents should check with their adoption assistance worker for more information.

There are respite programs available statewide to all families that are receiving adoption subsidies from Illinois for the children that they have adopted. The type of respite service provided includes temporary and/or overnight care as well as specialty camp experiences. 

Adoption assistance does not include a provision for the payment of residential care, but families of children adopted through DCFS who later request residential care are assisted in exploring funding resources for such residential care. The Adoption Preservation Program and the Clinical Division of the Department help the family explore funding options such

as an Individual Care Grant through the school system, funding through Local Area Networks (LANS), and any other sources. If funding is not located through these sources, DCFS provides assistance to work with the Residential Services Authority that negotiates funding between the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Children and Family Services, and the Board of Education.

 

Illinois has a Subsidized Guardianship program, to be eligible, the permanency goals of reunification and adoption must first be ruled out and the child must be placed with a licensed relative that has been licensed for 6 months during which time the child has been in placement with them. There is one exception for non-relative placements for youth that are 14 years of age or older, but the licensing and placement period requirement is still 6 months.

Illinois has three programs to assist youth that were adopted from Illinois DCFS with the cost of post secondary education costs:

Tuition and Fee Waiver https://dcfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/brighter-futures/education-resources-for-youth-in-care/tuition-and-fee-waiver-tip-sheet.pdf

DCFS Scholarship Program https://dcfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/brighter-futures/education-resources-for-youth-in-care/scholarship-tip-sheet.pdf

Education and Training Vouchers https://dcfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/brighter-futures/education-resources-for-youth-in-care/etv-tip-sheet.pdf

For brief information for each program and DCFS contacts visit this page: https://dcfs.illinois.gov/brighter-futures/growing-minds/post-secondary-education-services.html