Section 301.60 Placement Selection Criteria

Section 301

Section 301.60  Placement

Selection Criteria

a)         All placement decisions will be made consistent with the

safety, best interests and special needs of the child.  When a child is removed

from the care of a custodial parent, the placing worker shall explore whether

the non-custodial parent would be a suitable caregiver for the child.  If

placement with the non-custodial parent is not consistent with the safety, best

interests and special needs of the child or if the non-custodial parent is not

a suitable caregiver for the child, placement in substitute care shall be

considered.

b)         Substitute care placement decisions consistent with the

safety, best interests and special needs of the child shall be made in

consideration of the following:

1)         the least restrictive setting appropriate for the child that

most closely approximates a family;

2)         placement within reasonable proximity to the child's home when

the permanency goal is return home, and within the child's school district,

whenever possible, taking into account any special needs of the child and

family, the importance of maintaining continuity of the children's educational

and social relationships, and the availability of the service resources needed

for the child and family;

3)         the ability of prospective foster or adoptive parents to meet

the needs of a child.  Placement in a foster or adoptive family home shall not

be denied or delayed on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the

child, or the foster or adoptive family home members, nor shall placement for

adoption of a child be denied or delayed if an approved family is available

either outside of the Department's region handling the case or outside of the

State of Illinois;

4)         preservation of sibling relationships; and

5)         placement, if the child is of American Indian heritage, according

to criteria described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 307 (Indian Child Welfare Services)

placement for

adoption of a child be denied or delayed if an approved family is available

either outside of the Department's region handling the case or outside of the

State of Illinois;

4)         preservation of sibling relationships; and

5)         placement, if the child is of American Indian heritage, according

to criteria described in 89 Ill. Adm. Code 307 (Indian Child Welfare Services).

c)         Approval through the Department's Placement Clearance Process

is required prior to all placements in licensed foster family homes and

unlicensed relative homes.

d)         When a private agency or DCFS worker fails to secure prior

approval for a placement in a licensed foster family home or unlicensed

relative home through the Placement Clearance Process or provides false or

misleading information when requesting an approval, the Director may take

progressive action including, but not limited to:

1)         placing the worker's private agency or DCFS region on hold for

cases; and

2)         implementing progressive discipline for the DCFS worker.