Illinois Adopts the Family Violence Option

The Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Linda Renee Baker, announced this week that IDHS would administratively adopt the Family Violence Option (FVO). The FVO is a state option in the 1996 federal welfare reform law that allows states increased flexibility in applying program requirements of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to families affected by domestic violence. IDHS will amend the state’s TANF Plan (which must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and promulgate regulations to implement the FVO. Adoption of the FVO is an important victory for domestic violence survivors and all women and girls throughout Illinois, and it comes after years of advocacy by thousands of supporters.

Before Secretary Baker made her announcement, the General Assembly was considering two bills that directed IDHS to implement the FVO—House Bill 1983 and Senate Bill 446. H.B. 1983 passed out of the House on March 8 by a vote of 115 to 0. H.B. 1983 is now in the Senate. On March 19 Wendy Pollack of the National Center on Poverty Law testified before the subcommittee of the Senate’s Public Health and Welfare Committee in favor of S.B. 446. A representative of IDHS also testified in favor of the FVO. Subcommittee chair Senator Steve Rauschenberger (R) stated that IDHS already had the authority to adopt the FVO without legislative approval. That set the stage for IDHS’ announcement that it would administratively adopt the FVO. Further legislative action on H.B. 1983 and S.B. 446 is not necessary.

The National Center on Poverty Law would like to thank all the sponsors of the FVO legislation. In particular the Center would like to thank the chief sponsors. Rep. Patricia Lindner (R) has been the chief sponsor in the House for the past three years. Sen. David Sullivan (R) has been the chief sponsor in the Senate for the last two years. We deeply appreciate their dedication to and advocacy on behalf of domestic violence survivors. The cosponsors for H.B. 1983 are Representatives Larry McKeon (D), Ron Stephens (R), Constance Howard (D), Sara Feigenholtz (D), David Wirsing (R), Art Turner (D), Jeff Schoenberg (D), Mary Flowers (D), Maggie Crotty (D), George Scully (D), Barbara Flynn Currie (D), Harry Osterman (D), Monique Davis (D), Elizabeth Coulson (R), Dan Rutherford (R), and Judy Erwin (D). The cosponsors of S.B. 446 are Senators Lisa Madigan (D) and Miguel del Valle (D).

Also thanks to the sponsors of FVO legislation in previous years—former state representatives Jan Schakowsky (D) (now a U.S. representative), Sonia Silva (D), Carol Ronen (D) (now a state senator), and Lauren Beth Gash (D); Representatives Gwenn Klingler (R) and Patricia Bellock (R); and Senators Christine Radogno (R) and Barack Obama (D).

Thanks to all of you who have supported the advocacy efforts for the FVO. The meetings, phone calls, letters, faxes, and petitions did make a difference. They contributed to keeping the FVO a front-burner issue and now adoption. This victory is all of ours to relish.

But now the work really begins. The success of the FVO depends on proper implementation. If you are interested in working with the National Center on Poverty Law on implementing the FVO within the IDHS, please contact Wendy Pollack, 312.263.3830 ext. 238. Thank you.