Public Accountability Report Public Accountability Report

2025 Adoption and Guardianship
Mission Statement This program provides new permanent homes for children in DCFS's care who cannot safely return to or remain with their biological families; provides for the well-being of children in adoptive placement; provides support to adoptive parents before and after adoption consummation; and works in partnership with communities to fulfill this mission.
Program Goals and Objectives
  1. Support children in adoptive and guardianship homes.
    1. Maintain children in adoptive and guardianship homes.
      1. Stabilize placements in adoptive homes and subsidized guardianships.
        Source of Funds General Revenue Fund, DCFS Children's Services 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) $ 250,792.1 $ 237,375.8 $ 228,260.0 $ 214,303.8 $ 194,799.8
        Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) $ 250,792.1 $ 237,375.8 $ 228,260.0 $ 214,303.8 $ 194,799.8
        Average monthly full-time equivalents 132.0 117.0 129.0 116.0 88.0
        Output Indicators
        Number of children receiving adoption payments (end of year) 21,379 20,521 16,193 15,203 16,415
        Number of children receiving guardianship payments (end of year) 3,212 2,979 2,887 2,784 2,631
        Outcome Indicators
        Number of children adopted 2,059 2,098 2,455 1,698 1,871
        Number of children to guardianship 650.0 607.0 508.0 586.0 425.0
        Percentage of new adoptions and guardianships 18.60% 16.90% 13.90% 13.40% 13.00%
        Percentage of adoptions in which the child was adopted within 24 months of entry into care 10.10% 8.90% 10.80% 10.20% 7.40%
        Average number of days from adoption goal to adoption finalization 358.7 370.1 335.0 359.3 370.1
        Percentage of client families receiving adoption preservation services that remain intact 99.60% 98.80% 99.50% 99.10% 99.50%
        Percentage of families that received adoption preservation services in which the services offered met the families' immediate needs 99.70% 99.50% 99.70% 99.70% 99.20%
        Percentage of families that received adoption preservation services in which the services offered increased the families' level of functioning 98.50% 98.50% 98.00% 97.40% 95.20%
        Percentage of adoptions and guardianships that remain stable 99.70% 99.50% 99.50% 99.50% 99.40%

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