SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WSIL) – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act, a new law aimed at helping grandparents and other relatives who step up to care for children in the state’s foster system. The legislation will make it easier for family caregivers to receive financial support, putting them on equal footing with licensed foster parents.
Currently, nearly 9,300 children in Illinois live with relatives instead of traditional foster families, but many of these caregivers don’t qualify for the same benefits due to outdated regulations. The KIND Act changes that by creating a simpler certification process for relatives while ensuring children’s safety and well-being.
The KIND Act was passed to support caregivers who are family members, said Governor Pritzker. “These heroes who stepped in to care for loved ones deserve every bit of support.”
Research shows that children in foster care experience less trauma and better mental health when they remain with family members rather than being placed with strangers. The new law prioritizes keeping children with relatives whenever possible.
“Whenever possible, a family member who already knows and loves the child can provide stability” and reduce the trauma for that child, Pritzker added.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will now develop new certification rules for family caregivers. Unlike traditional foster parent licensing, this process will be less restrictive, but still ensure safety, making it easier for relatives to provide a stable home.
DCFS Director, Heidi Mueller praised the law as a step forward.
“This legislation is one of the things I’m most proud of because it moves us away from outdated ideas of what is good for kids and families,* Mueller said. “The vision of DCFS is that every child can grow and thrive in a family. The way to achieve this is to center everything we do on young people and families that we care for.”
For caregivers like Jeanette Bird, the KIND Act is a game-changer.
“With the KIND Act, you are sending a powerful message to the children remaining connected to their families that it’s a priority in this state,” Bird said.
State Senator Mattie Hunter, who helped lead the bill’s passage, said it was long overdue.
“I just kept saying we could do better and we need to do better,” Hunter said. “So we put our heads together trying to figure this out, and I think we got it right this time.”
The KIND Act takes effect immediately, and DCFS will begin rolling out the new certification process in the coming months. Advocates say it’s a major step forward in ensuring children in foster care grow up in loving, familiar homes whenever possible.
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