Foster care in Illinois is often referred to as a “public/private” partnership between DCFS, which is a public agency, and the many private child welfare agencies contracted by DCFS to have foster care programs. DCFS provides some, but not all, services directly to children and families through foster care programs administered by DCFS regions. More often, DCFS contracts with other agencies, organizations and individuals statewide to provide needed services.

Agencies contracted by DCFS are “private” agencies, because even though they work with the state’s child welfare system, they are separate entities with their own leadership structure that decides the business and practices of the specific agency. Recently, about 20 percent of children in foster care live with foster families supervised directly by DCFS regional foster care programs and about 80 percent of children in foster care live with foster families supervised by private agencies contracted by DCFS.

DCFS is responsible for:

• contracting with private child welfare agencies;
• issuing licenses to foster families;
• contracting with other service providers; and
• monitoring all agencies and service providers under contract.

Agency contracts are usually for one fiscal year (July 1-June 30). Contracts specify all services to be provided and the rate DCFS will pay for these services.