IllinoisSB1504104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

DCFS-YOUTH INDEPENDENCE GOAL

Sponsored By: Lakesia Collins (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Department of Children and Family Services to make reasonable efforts to develop a youth-driven transition plan for each youth in care aged 18 and over for whom the court has set a permanency goal of independence or home environment not appropriate. Requires the plan to address, at a minimum, the youth's housing, mental and physical health and well-being, financial stability, employment, education, connections to supportive adults and peers, transition to adult services, if applicable, and child care and parenting supports, if applicable. Requires the Department to make reasonable efforts to assist the youth in accomplishing the plan and to ensure the youth is aware of any post-case closure supports and services and how to access such supports and services. Requires the Department to assist a youth in care in obtaining a list of persons, with contact information, who are willing to provide the youth with support. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Require the court to conduct Successful Transition to Adulthood Review hearings for minors who are 18 years old and older for whom the court has entered a goal of independence or home environment not appropriate. Lists certain information the Department shall provide the court 14 days prior to the hearing as well as certain Department actions that are subject to the court's review. Provides that if the court finds the Department has failed to make reasonable efforts to assist the minor in developing a plan toward independence, the court may enter such orders it deems necessary to ensure the minor is prepared to achieve the goal of independence when the minor turns 21 years of age. Makes conforming changes.

assignmentsjudiciaryadoption & child welfare

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Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Court reviews support youth entering adulthood

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts must hold Successful Transition to Adulthood Review (STAR) hearings for youth with an independence goal. These hearings also cover all youth age 17 or older in these cases, including those in DCFS juvenile-justice custody. The first hearing is due within six months of eligibility, then at least yearly; courts can order corrective action. DCFS must submit service plans, transition information, adult-document status, supportive-adult details, and applicable guardian assessments at least 14 days beforehand. Beginning July 1, 2026, courts restoring wardship must schedule a permanency hearing and a STAR hearing when applicable.

Continued help for youth leaving care

DCFS must provide or arrange services for youth under 21 who qualify to have court wardship restored. Services help youth become self-supporting, even when restoring wardship is not sought or allowed. Youth must consent and work with their case manager to develop a service agreement. Services end at 21, when consent is withdrawn, or when the youth reaches the service plan's self-sufficiency goal. DCFS must notify eligible youth of these rights and adopt rules describing the services.

More help after adoption or guardianship

DCFS must maintain accessible subsidized guardianship and adoption support services for qualifying children under age 18. Children must have been in DCFS custody or guardianship in child-protection cases immediately before adoption or guardianship. DCFS must operate a toll-free number, allow anonymous requests, and respond within one business day. It must publicize service information and review and update it yearly with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. By July 1, 2026, it must also offer an electronic way to request information.

More money for relative caregiver homes

Beginning July 1, 2025, certified relative caregiver homes qualify for at least the foster care payments licensed foster homes receive. Other relative homes qualify for at least 90% of that amount if neither certified nor licensed. Both rules cover children placed by Illinois DCFS. The law requires relative support program rules by July 1, 2025, allowing prepayment or reimbursement of reasonable, necessary home-safety costs. The program can also provide short-term emergency money for extreme hardship from adding a youth in care; help is not guaranteed.

Youth gain planning for adult life

DCFS must make reasonable efforts to develop youth-driven transition plans for youth in care age 15 or older. Plans belong in service plans and cover age-appropriate needs such as school, work, housing, health, money, and supportive relationships. DCFS must make reasonable efforts to help youth carry out plans, overcome barriers, and access support after case closure. Its service purposes and program rules include transition planning, including planning for youth who qualify for a disability guardian. Before wardship ends, DCFS must help gather adult-living documents and supportive people's contact details, with each person's permission.

Courts check life-skills help for youth

Courts must review DCFS's efforts to provide life skills suited to each youth's age and development. Courts can order service-plan changes or action when those efforts are not in the youth's best interest. For youth remaining in qualified residential treatment programs, DCFS must report life-skills efforts at every status and permanency hearing. If youth took life-skills assessments, reports must include results and explain how identified needs are being addressed.

More support and review for relatives

The law requires rules by July 1, 2025, for reconsidering denied relative caregiver certification, placement, or visits. Those rules must address children's best interests, competing relatives, and placement-change rules. DCFS must include kinship navigator services in applicable state plans and seek and use federal funding under federal rules. Until funding approval, DCFS must post progress updates twice yearly and notify the General Assembly's designee. No specific funding amount or household payment is set.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Lakesia Collins

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adriane L. Johnson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Celina Villanueva

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cristina Castro

    Democratic • Senate

  • Doris Turner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Graciela Guzmán

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier L. Cervantes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kimberly Du Buclet

    Democratic • House

  • Laura Ellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Li Arellano, Jr.

    Republican • Senate

  • Lisa Davis

    Democratic • House

  • Mark L. Walker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michael Crawford

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Porfirio

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Simmons

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rachel Ventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert F. Martwick

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert Peters

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sara Feigenholtz

    Democratic • Senate

  • Terra Costa Howard

    Democratic • House

  • Willie Preston

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 184 • No: 0

House vote • 5/21/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 111 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee;

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 55 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass as Amended Judiciary;

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0107

    8/1/2025Senate
  2. Effective Date July 1, 2026

    8/1/2025Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    8/1/2025Senate
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2025Senate
  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/21/2025Senate
  6. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-000

    5/21/2025House
  7. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  8. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  9. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Michael Crawford

    5/12/2025House
  10. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Terra Costa Howard

    5/8/2025House
  11. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis

    5/8/2025House
  12. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    5/7/2025House
  13. Do Pass / Short Debate Adoption & Child Welfare Committee; 011-000-000

    5/6/2025House
  14. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz

    4/28/2025Senate
  15. Assigned to Adoption & Child Welfare Committee

    4/17/2025House
  16. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

    4/11/2025Senate
  17. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker

    4/11/2025Senate
  18. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva

    4/10/2025Senate
  19. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

    4/8/2025Senate
  20. Referred to Rules Committee

    4/7/2025House
  21. First Reading

    4/7/2025House
  22. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet

    4/4/2025House
  23. Arrived in House

    4/4/2025House
  24. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    4/4/2025Senate
  25. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio

    4/4/2025Senate

Bill Text

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