Mary Kay’s Corner

CornerMary Kay’s

Foster Caregiver Advisory Board Gives a Voice to CYFS Foster Parents

The CYFS Foster Caregiver Advisory Board has been busy this past quarter helping review our CYFS Implementation plan and working on a way to reach out and support foster parents. The board put together a welcome letter that will go to every new foster parent as they become licensed. The purpose of the letter is to help new foster parents know they have a team of seasoned foster parents who are willing to help them as they begin to foster. What a great way to network and support each other as we all work to help the youth in our care.

Members of the Center for Youth and Family Solutions Foster Caregiver Advisor Board include: Sarah Hall Champaign Erica Wild Champaign Berenice Boyer Rock Island Bill & Beverly Huffman Peoria Meghan Gentry Champaign Herneidra Tellery Rock Island Lois McDonald Peoria Jillian Wood Bloomington Suzy Bell LaSalle Jacqueline Hoke Champaign Whitney Lawson Peoria Cynthia Skaggs Peoria Jessie Howard Bloomington Sarah Wilson Champaign Amanda High Springfield Foster Parent Law Implementation Plan 2023

Ahuge thank you to all of the foster parents and staff who have helped us craft the 2023 Foster Parent Implementation Plan. The 2023 plan truly captures the work we all do to help youth in care. For those of you who are new to the plan, the plan spells out the way in which CYFS carries out the Illinois Foster Parent Law. CYFS uses a family centered, inclusive, trauma informed, strength-based approach to serving the children and families in need. This model ensures children and families are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect while building upon individual and community strengths to resolve life challenges together. In keeping with the vision of CYFS and the Foster Care Program, The CYFS is invested in upholding the Foster Parent Law (Public Act 89.19). Licensing staff take a copy of the Foster Parent Law Implementation Plan and the CYFS Grievance Policy to each foster home during the first monitoring visit of the calendar year. Both documents are reviewed with the foster caregiver and any questions or concerns are addressed.

Copies of the Implementation Plan are available for foster caregivers at all of CYFS offices as well as online at www.cyfsolutions.org. The Implementation Plan available by contacting your licensing worker and is also periodically posted on the CYFS Facebook Foster Parent Support Group. Comments or suggestions can be made by contacting the Director of Licensing and Adoption, Mary Kay Collins at 309-323-6651 or mkcollins@cyfsolutions.org.