The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is increasing the financial support provided to foster parents, caregivers, and older youth in care to help offset recent increases in the cost of living expenses. DCFS had already planned on a 3 percent cost of living adjustment for the new fiscal year. The new additional support of $14.6 million is supported by a decrease in youth coming into DCFS care.
DCFS Spokesperson Bill McCaffrey says that it is vital to support those who so generously open their homes.
Monthly stipends are going up as well beyond the already planned COLA, with more than 9,600 foster families in Illinois.
DCFS has projected 18,511 youth in care at the end of the fiscal year that ends on June 30th. DCFS currently has more than 17,800 youth in care with 700 fewer than the projected number.
