Mason Supports Legislation that keeps Children in Care with their Families

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation supported by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, that helps youth in care be kept with family members was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker Wednesday. 

“Relative placement is the best option for children in care,” Mason said. “A significant matter with foster care placements is that the child is unfamiliar with their foster family. A child in care being placed with a family member eliminates that issue, ultimately providing the child with emotional stability and a sense of identity which is important for their development.” 

House Bill 4781, often referred to as the “KIND” Act, requires the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to apply a kin-first approach to fulfillment and directs the juvenile courts to provide necessary oversight of the Department’s responsibilities to maintain family connections and promote equitable opportunities for youth and their families to prosper with lasting, supportive connections. 

“Families that lift each other up, grow together and stay together,” Mason said. “They succeed when they work together with the goal in mind of doing what’s best for our most vulnerable children. I thank Gov. Pritzker for signing this critical legislation that allows children to reap the benefits of a family’s love and connection, especially when they are in the face of hardship.”

House Bill 4781 provides more equitable financial support, along with an increased network of supports for relative caregivers, whereas before they received significantly less than non-related caregivers.