Adopting From Illinois DCFS

 Posted on January 31, 2014 in Child Custody

In the past 10 years, the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has helped more than 17,000 children find permanent homes. Adopting a child through DCFS comes with its own special benefits and challenges.

DCFS recognizes the challenges associated with adopting a child who is currently living in foster care or group homes. To make the process as easy and smooth as possible for potential adoptive families, DCFS offers a number of different support options for potential adoptive families, including:

• Reimbursement for the costs associated with adopting or assuming guardianship of a child from DCFS, including court costs and attorney’s fees;
• Monthly adoption subsides to help support the child’s basic needs such as food and clothing;
• Supplemental assistance for healthcare needs through Medicaid enrollment;
• Counseling and adoption support groups for the adoptive parents;
• Counseling services for the child, if necessary;
• Therapeutic day care.

In addition to these supportive services, DCFS has also launched an adoption support line. This free service can be reached by calling 1-888-962-3678 (962-ADOPT) and provides an immediate connection to trained adoption preservation staff. The staff that can be reached at this line can provide assistance for urgent situations, and can connect families with experts for more long-term needs. The adoption support line can also provide answers to questions about adoption from the general public or potential adoptive families. The line is open from Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 8:00pm and on Fridays from 8:30am until 5:00pm.

If you or someone you know is considering adopting a child through DCFS or any other adoption agency, it is important that you contact an experienced Illinois adoption attorney for assistance and support. We can help ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. Our trained staff is qualified to help you with a number of adoptions.