Lilly Helps Pass Legislation that keeps Children in Care with their Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A bill supported by state Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, that helps youth in care be kept with family members was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Wednesday. 

“There are many benefits connected to kinship care,” Lilly said. “Our youth needs stability and keeping them in care with family members gives them a greater chance of staying with their siblings. Not to mention, it gives them better responsive behavior skills, fewer psychological disorders, and better emotional wellness and support.” 

House Bill 4781 requires the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to implement a kin-first approach to fulfillment and directs the juvenile courts to provide needed oversight of the Department’s obligations to maintain family connections and promote equitable opportunities for youth and their families to flourish with lasting, supportive connections. 

“When families face trials and tribulations, they should not be broken apart,” Lilly said. “Instead, they should be given the resources they need to heal and repair themselves. I thank Gov. Pritzker for signing this crucial legislation that allows children to feel a sense of belonging, even in the face of adversity.”