Foster System

We center parents in advocating for policies and laws that strengthen families.

Supporting families means supporting parents and children. We work to elevate the concerns and welfare of parents and families who have historically been sidelined in the foster system.

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Our Insights

For Black lives to matter, Black families must matter. Black mothers must matter.

In this pandemic, parents should be able to hold their children close in these trying times.

Our Impact

In 2022, Gov. J.B. Pritzker created a task force to examine racial inequities in the child welfare system and offer solutions. Last month, the task force issued more than 50 recommendations that call for investing in families with low income, not surveilling and separating them.

The task force will examine the foster system's disproportionate impact on Black families and communities.

Each day children and parents continue to be apart exacerbates existing harms.

We are calling on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to be vigilant in prioritizing reunification of parents with their children.

Resources

Jan 2021

Black communities, communities of color, and those living in poverty are overrepresented in many systems, including the foster system.

Dec 2020

Black communities, communities of color, and those living in poverty are overrepresented in many systems, including the foster system.

Dec 2020

Families should be able to remain together, especially during this pandemic.

Nov 2020

Black communities, communities of color, and those living in poverty are overrepresented in many systems, including the foster system.

Oct 2020

Black communities, communities of color, and those living in poverty are overrepresented in many systems, including the foster system.

Sep 2020

We must end systemic inequities and prioritize policies that keep families together.

Sep 2020

This resource list aims to provide materials related to what is traditionally referred to as the child welfare system.

Jun 2020

Since March, children of over 11,200 parents have been subjected to a Department of Children and Family Services policy banning supervised visits.

Jun 2020

Shriver Center advocates share updates on their COVID-19 response work and impact.

Mar 2020

Links to information and useful resources to aid communities seeking support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attorneys and Specialists

Vanessa White
Vanessa White
Vanessa White
Director of Community and Family Justice
she/her

513.417.9282

Bernadette Brown
Bernadette Brown
Bernadette Brown
Policy and Advocacy Lead, Community and Family Justice
She/her

(217) 373-1120

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