Caregivers serve as parents to a pregnant and/or parenting youth, who parents their child. The foster youth, as a parent, has the same legal rights and responsibilities as any parent, even if the youth is a minor (under 18 years old). Caregivers, the caseworker, the agency and DCFS provide the environment and supports to allow the youth to become self-sufficient and be able to live independently. In most cases, both the youth and his or her children live together with the foster family. 

Caregivers of youth who are pregnant and/or parenting: 

• have primary responsibility for the youth and a secondary responsibility for his or her children; 
• receive a board payment for the youth, but not for his or her child or children; 
• receive a special service fee per child with the normal board rate to pass on to the parenting youth to purchase necessities for the child, such as diapers or clothing; and 
• must have a foster parent license which accommodates both the youth and his or her child or children living in the foster home. Example: A teen mom and her baby living with the foster family takes up two spaces of a foster family license, although the youth's baby is not a child in foster care. 

This unique dynamic of parenting a youth who is parenting a child presents implied responsibilities for the caregivers of: 

• modeling how to be a responsible adult;                                                             Examples: Budgeting money, keeping appointments, seeking medical care
• modeling parenting to teach the youth how to parent.                                                         Example: Teaching a youth how to appropriately discipline a two-year-old
• being involved with the father or mother of the youth's child due to visits, dating, medical situations, or others situations involving the other youthful parent; 
• working closely with the caseworker and medical professionals with issues related to fostering a youth who is sexually active; 
• letting the youth take personal responsibility for the welfare of his or her child, while ensuring the safety and welfare of the child. 
• Caregivers must be careful observers and are mandated reporters in reporting abuse or neglect of, not only the youth, but also the youth's child. But, caregivers must be able to parent the youth like any other — without using the DCFS hotline to intercede if the youth stays out late, or displays other normal teen behavior; and 
• guiding the youth through educational and vocational decisions which will influence their future and the future of their child/ren, with the caseworker. 

If you may be interested in fostering a pregnant and/or parenting teen, supports are available. (See pages 33-34.) If a child in your care becomes pregnant, notify the caseworker to get connected to services.

Supports for Caregivers of Pregnant or Parenting Youth 

Special Programs 

In Cook County, DCFS contracts with one agency to oversee the foster care programs designed to support both the foster family and the pregnant or parenting teen and his or her child/ren living with the foster family. If you would consider fostering a pregnant and/or parenting teen, ask your agency about becoming a foster family within this program. 

Outside Cook County, caregivers will find general support through their agency and caseworker. 

Special Service Fees 

A special service fee is available to caregivers serving the parenting population. DCFS can approve this fee for the provision of items for a parenting foster youth that are over and above board payment needs of the caregiver. 

Supports for Pregnant and/or Parenting Foster Youth 

Youth in foster care are not eligible to receive Public Aid because they are already receiving supports through DCFS as a child under state care. There are additional supports available. 

Medical Card 

A pregnant and/or parenting youth, as a child in the foster care system, receives a medical card. 

Independent Living 

Services Pregnant and/or parenting teens will receive life skills assessment, transition planning and supportive services through their caseworker. A life skills curriculum which specifically addresses the specialized needs of pregnant and parenting teenagers has been developed and is being utilized statewide. 

Education

Encouraging the youth to stay in school and guiding the youth through decisions about educational alternatives, with the caseworker, is one of the most important functions of the caregiver. Some local school districts have programs just for pregnant and/or parenting teens. The youth's caseworker and the agency should be able to help you find information about these programs. 

Day Care 

One of the most important supports available is day care for the youth's child or children, which enables the youth to stay in school. 

Other support programs meeting the individual needs of the teen are available through DCFS, contracted community agencies, the local school district, the Illinois State Board of Education and other state governmental departments.

Supports for Children of Foster Youth 

Food Stamps: Children of foster youth are usually eligible. 

Medical Card: Children of foster youth each receive a medical card which covers medical care and prescriptions. 

Special Service Fee: The special service fee added to the monthly payment check of the caregiver should be given to the foster youth to spend on the care of his/ her child/ren, not to include day care. 

WIC: Women, Infants and Children — Children of foster youth may be eligible. 

Rights of Pregnant and/or Parenting Teens 

Families providing or considering foster care to youth, male or female, who are pregnant or have a child that they take care of need to understand the youth's rights and what services are available to the teen and their child. 

Youth in foster care who are pregnant, or have a child they are caring for have these rights:

• to be placed in a stable, safe place to live with their child, unless a separate placement is necessary for safety or treatment reasons;
• to continue their education and obtain a high school diploma even though they are pregnant or a parent;
• to receive necessary day care for their child/ren at no cost to them; 
• to receive necessary transportation to and from the day care while they attend school; 
• to receive appropriate services necessary to help them achieve in school. Examples: Tutoring and GED preparation;
• to receive information and services to prevent pregnancy or make decisions about pregnancy and parenting;
• to receive any necessary ongoing prenatal, medical, or dental care wherever they live; 
• to actively participate in the care and support of their child/ren by having appropriate regular visits when they do not have physical custody of them;
• to receive appropriate services, such as counseling, to help them with any problems they may have; 
• to have necessary assistance in learning to be a better parent or how to live on their own;
• to receive help planning to use their monthly funds for the adequate care of their child/ren;
• to be free of discrimination based on their status as being pregnant or a parent.
• to continue to receive appropriate services as long as they are in DCFS care, which may continue until age 21 if necessary; and
• to leave a mental health facility after staff of that facility state that they are no longer in need of mental health hospitalization. 

Written Notice of Rights and How to Appeal Decisions 

All pregnant and/or parenting teens receive a written notice of these rights at the first Administrative Case Review (ACR). If they believe 1) they or their child/ren require additional or different services, 2) they need a different placement or, 3) their rights as described have been ignored, this notice instructs them to request help at the ACR or to contact their case manager. 

If their request for help is denied, they may appeal the decision by sending a written request to DCFS within 45 calendar days of the date of the notice of the decision. This same notice gives the teen the DCFS address to use in filing the appeal as well as the address and phone number of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago (800-824-4050) where they may get legal information or help.