SB 1743

Abstract

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services, in coordination with specified entities, to develop and process a standardized survey to gather feedback from children who are aging out of foster care and from children who have transitioned out of the foster care system. Provides that the survey shall include requests for information regarding the children's experience with and opinion of State foster care services, the children's recommendations for improvement of such services, the amount of time the children spent in the foster care system, and any other information deemed relevant by the Department. Provides that after the survey is created the Department shall circulate the survey to all youth participating in transitional living programs, independent living programs, or Youth in College and to all youth receiving scholarships or tuition waivers under the DCFS Scholarship Program. Requires the Department to conduct the survey every 5 years and to submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly at the completion of each survey. Provides that the first report shall be submitted no later than December 1, 2021 and shall provide a detailed review of the survey results. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/39.3 Further amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to place a locked suggestion box in each group home, shelter, and transitional living arrangement that accepts youth in care for placement by the Department. Requires the Department to submit a report to the General Assembly each year outlining the issues and concerns submitted to the locked suggestion box and the solution to each issue and concern.