The Foster Care Alumni of America Illinois Chapter visited Springfield to testify for the Illinois Human Services Committee on two separate House bills on Wednesday March 20, 2014. Both of these bills passed and were signed into law effective January 1, 2015. A summary of each bill can be found below.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services created the Statewide Youth Advisory Board in 1994 as part of its work to teach leadership and advocacy skills to older youth and to give youth an opportunity to provide input on the issues and services that affect youth in foster care. The new HB 4773 formally recognizes the Statewide Youth Advisory Board by legislatively establishing it as an official state board.
For more than 40 years the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has provided a limited number of college scholarships to youth involved in the child welfare system. HB 4652 grows and strengthens this education scholarship program.
