Ensuring that children are safely cared for is an important function of government. In Illinois, one of the primary ways that the State ensures the safety of children is the child protection system that operates under the Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS is responsible for investigating complaints of abuse or neglect of children. If it determines that intervention in a family is warranted, a court case can be filed and, if necessary, protective custody of children taken from the parents. In that court case, a judge determines whether or not a child has been abused or neglected. If a child has been abused or neglected, then the Court determines the appropriate permanency goal and services needed for all members of the family. Periodic reviews are held to determine the progress being made towards the permanency goal, until ultimately, the permanency goal is achieved.
That's a short description of an incredibly complex process, and one where attorney representation of various parties can be critical. The process is different for biological parents as opposed to foster parents. In the sidebar, you'll find links to pages for biological parents and foster parents. For biological parents, we'll go through a more detailed description of what happens at each stage of the process, and give some examples of how effective representation can help the entire system function better. For foster parents, we'll highlight some of the areas where attorney representation can be helpful in going through the process. Finally, if you're a foster parent and your case is proceeding to adoption or guardianship, there is some information about how the process works and what to expect as you go through the final steps in your journey through the court process. Contact us online or by calling 217-641-2807.