I. PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Policy Guide is to inform Department and POS staff that that: 

• until further notice, staff should continue to request consents for ordinary and routine medical and dental care from Authorized Agents of the DCFS Guardian, located in the DCFS Regions; and 
• substitute caregivers (including residential administrators and their designees) may consent to a child’s participation in athletic activities.  Substitute caregivers are required to use Reasonable Parenting Standards when making such decisions. 

II. PRIMARY USERS 

Primary users include all DCFS and private child welfare agency staff.

III. INSTRUCTIONS

1. Consent for Ordinary and Routine Medical/Dental Care.  Department and POS staff shall continue to request consents for ordinary and routine medical and dental care from Authorized Agents of the DCFS Guardian in the DCFS Regions.   
   Consents for ordinary and routine medical and dental treatment may be centralized in the future, but have not been centralized at this time.   
   Consent for major medical and surgical treatment shall be given only by the DCFS Guardian or an Authorized Agent at the DCFS Consent Unit or Child Intake and Recovery Unit.
2. Consent to Participate in School Athletic Activities.  Effective immediately, foster parents, relative caregivers, and residential administrators and their designees (substitute caregivers) may approve a child’s participation in school athletic activities.  The substitute caregiver must use “reasonable parenting standards” when making decisions for children to participate in athletic activities.  
   “Reasonable parenting standards” includes consideration of the child’s age, and whether the activity is developmentally appropriate for that child.  When considering whether an athletic activity is “age-” or “developmentally appropriate”, the substitute caregiver shall consider whether the activity is accepted as suitable for children of the same chronological age or level of maturity as that child, or is determined to be developmentally appropriate for a child based on development of cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral capacities that are typical for that child’s age or age group.   
   The decisions made for the child must keep that specific child’s capabilities and attainment of developmental stages in mind. 

V. QUESTIONS

Questions regarding these revised procedures should be directed to the Office of Child and Family Policy at 217-524-1983 or by e-mail through Outlook at OCFP-Mailbox. Non-Outlook users may send questions to cfpolicy@idcfs.state.il.us or the phone number provided. 

VI. FILING INSTRUCTIONS 

This Policy Guide is to be filed immediately following Procedures 314.30 c), Consents for School Activities and immediately following Procedures 327.4 d), School Matters and immediately following Procedures 327.5 a) 3) C), Ordinary and Routine Treatment Consents.