Public Accountability Report Public Accountability Report

2025 Family Reunification and Substitute Care
Mission Statement This program ensures the well-being, safety, and permanency of children who are placed outside their homes due to abuse, neglect, or dependency; and works in partnership with communities to fulfill this mission.
Program Goals and Objectives
  1. Children placed outside of the home are protected from abuse and neglect.
    1. When in care, children are placed close to home in the least restrictive setting and in a stable environment.
      1. Return children home or move them into an alternative permanency quickly.
        1. Have a process in place to allow children to achieve their highest educational outcomes, given their capabilities and desires.
          1. When in care, children receive appropriate and necessary physical and mental health-care services.
            Source of Funds General Revenue Fund, DCFS Children's Services Fund, DCFS Federal Projects Fund, DCFS Special Purposes Trust Fund Statutory Authority Children and Family Services Act
            Fiscal Year 2026 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2025 Actual Fiscal Year 2025 Target/Projected Fiscal Year 2024 Actual Fiscal Year 2023 Actual
            Input Indicators
            Total expenditures - all sources (in thousands) $ 1,645,061.4 $ 1,221,538.9 $ 1,616,873.2 $ 1,145,004.9 $ 1,025,658.5
            Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) $ 1,645,061.4 $ 1,221,538.9 $ 1,616,873.2 $ 1,145,004.9 $ 1,025,658.5
            Average monthly full-time equivalents 1,467.0 1,415.0 1,437.0 1,318.0 1,081.0
            Output Indicators
            Children in independent living - paid 380.0 405.0 354.0 372.0 360.0
            Children in regular foster care - paid 3,233 2,889 3,579 3,265 3,502
            Children in relative care - paid 9,760 9,414 10,779 10,365 11,099
            Children in residential placements - paid 909.0 765.0 861.0 765.0 776.0
            Children in specialized foster care - paid 2,115 2,300 2,339 2,390 2,467
            Children placed outside of the home (end of year) - paid 16,397 15,773 17,912 17,157 18,204
            Children with a "return home" goal 7,000 6,486 7,000 7,312 8,064
            Outcome Indicators
            Child cases closed 7,500 7,259 7,500 7,449 8,561
            Percentage of children returned home 17.50% 19.70% 16.70% 18.60% 20.00%
            Percentage of children served within the year moved to permanency 36.00% 36.50% 29.30% 32.00% 30.80%
            Percentage of sibling groups placed all or partially together 78.20% 78.00% 78.80% 78.00% 76.70%
            Number of children returned home 2,550 3,149 2,668 3,179 3,073
            Median length of time open for children in substitute care (years) N/A N/A N/A N/A 2.0
            Percentage of new youth receiving an initial health screening within 24 hours of protective custody 87.60% 86.40% 87.00% 86.40% 87.60%
            Percentage of youth who are current with state immunization requirements 83.00% 81.50% 82.30% 81.50% 83.60%
            Percentage of youth under three years of age who are current with Well Child Exam requirements 98.50% 98.30% 94.50% 94.10% 99.60%
            Percentage of youth three years and older who are current with Well Child Exam requirements 94.80% 94.50% 82.50% 81.20% 99.60%
            Percentage of Screening, Assessment, and Support Services (SASS) and Crisis and Referral Entry Services (CARES) hotline calls that are abandoned (goal is no more than 8% per month) 0.80% 0.70% 0.08% 0.07% 3.10%
            Percentage of independent living/life skills assessments that are completed in a timely manner 83.60% 82.80% 83.20% 82.80% 81.20%
            Treatment Opportunity Days Rate (TODR) 96.00% 95.80% 95.70% 94.60% 96.40%
            Percentage of youth in paid placements who are placed in institution and group home care 3.90% 4.30% 3.90% 3.90% 4.00%
            Percentage of reunifications in which the child was returned home within 12 months 49.50% 49.20% 42.80% 40.60% 38.10%
            Average number of days from the establishment of a reunification goal to the actual return home 487.2 489.0 572.5 580.6 587.8
            Percentage of youth who entered foster care during the previous 12 months who have had no more than two placements 94.70% 93.20% 94.30% 93.80% 91.80%
            Percentage of day-care provider billings that are processed within 10 calendar days from receipt of an accurate bill (a) 13.20% 60.53% 87.90% 67.36% 48.30%
            Footnotes
            Fiscal year 2025 data was affected by the hiring of a new supervisor, a change in bill processing, and needing to train employees.

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