SPRINGFIELD – To ensure all youth in foster care have a pathway toward independence, State Senator Lakesia Collins’ new law will establish a lifelong process of ensuring that youth in care are provided the opportunities to succeed.

“As someone who has been a foster child and experienced the hardships that come with that, we have to create pathways for children to succeed,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “This bill requires DCFS to come up with a plan that provides learning opportunities and growth to foster care children and requires them to come up with a plan to push them on the path to independence.”

Senate Bill 1504 makes changes to the Children and Family Services Act to require the preparation of adolescents to successfully transition to adulthood.

The law requires DCFS to make reasonable efforts to develop, and assist youth in accomplishing, age and developmentally appropriate youth-driven transition plans for each youth in care aged 15 and over to assist them with developing and strengthening life skills that lead to successful adult living.

Approximately 720 youth in DCFS care celebrate their 18th birthdays each year. The vast majority of these youth will age out of DCFS care on their 21st birthdays, or earlier.

“Learning to become a successful adult is a lifelong process that we can facilitate through DCFS by creating plans that give more opportunities to learn and grow,” said Collins. “I know as a former youth in care, any and all educational opportunities help tremendously, and with this legislation we can provide a plan to children in care that will develop and foster a better future for them.”

Senate Bill 1504 was signed into law on Friday.

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