SPRINGFIELD – State government leaders joined the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the ACLU of Illinois, and community partners at a press conference at the Center for Youth and Family Solutions in Springfield today to highlight significant accomplishments and ongoing progress in implementing the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act, landmark legislation signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in 2025.
As a result of this initiative and the Department’s focus on ensuring timely permanency for all youth in care, Illinois has been ranked No. 1 in the country for kinship care by the Administration for Children and Families.
House Resolution 0905 (HR 0905), cosponsored by Assistant House Majority Leader State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr.; Representative Suzanne Ness, chair of the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee; and Representative Michelle Mussman, vice-chair of the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee, recognizes the progress Illinois DCFS has made in implementing the relative caregiver program as a result of the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act.
The Resolution urges the Department to continue its work to expand permanency options for children and youth in care and ensure family connections are maintained when reunification is not possible. It also calls on DCFS to pursue new federal funding for kinship navigator services and continue providing training and resources for staff. The resolution also encourages the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts to provide statewide judicial education on the KIND Act and expresses support for the judiciary’s efforts to fully implement the Act.
As of May 14, more than 340 youth currently live with caregivers certified under the new program, helping preserve family and community connections while improving long-term outcomes.
“Seeing a comforting face every day can make all the difference in the life of a youth in care,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Last year, I was proud to sign the landmark KIND Act into law, and I applaud the tireless efforts of DCFS to implement the Relative Caregiver Certification program as we continue to support children and families across Illinois.”
A key component of the KIND Act’s success is the Department’s new Relative Caregiver Certification program, which provides increased financial benefits and a simplified process for relatives, such as grandparents, to become certified caregivers for related youth.
“The KIND Act is changing lives by creating a path to permanency for the 8,700 children and youth in our care who are living with relatives, and we are thankful for the support of Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois legislature as we work to reimagine the child welfare system in Illinois,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “The Act is transforming how we support children and their families, and we remain fully committed to expanding kinship placements, expanding permanency pathways for children and youth in our care, and ensuring that our vision for every child and youth to grow and thrive in a family becomes a reality.”
“Since the implementation of the KIND Act, we’ve seen firsthand how compassionate, community-centered policy can improve lives and strengthen trust between families and government,” said Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr. “The rollout has been thoughtful, effective, and rooted in dignity. I want to thank Governor JB Pritzker for his compassionate leadership and unwavering commitment to ensuring Illinois leads with humanity and fairness.”
“The approach of the KIND ACT is simple – allow children facing the trauma of separation from their parents to stay with someone they know, someone with whom they have a relationship and someone they can trust,” said Nora Collins-Mandeville, director of the Youth and Family Policy Project at the ACLU of Illinois. “It prioritizes the needs of children and families over bureaucracy and red tape. We are seeing the first signs that we can achieve better results for children facing a life-changing, traumatic moment. Under the KIND Act, we are choosing to surround that child with family members who know who and what the child loves and what they need.”
About the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS):?Our vision is for every child and youth in Illinois to grow and thrive in a loving family. To achieve this goal, DCFS promotes the safety and well-being of children, youth,?and families by responding to reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and providing family-centered care and connection to resources to strengthen families and keep children safely at home. Our values –?family focused, integrity, respect, empathy and equity – are at the forefront of every decision we make to ensure children are safe and families have the resources they need to succeed. To make an anonymous report of suspected child abuse or neglect, visit?childabuse.illinois.gov.