The State of Illinois has created a project, “Subsidized
Guardianship,” for children who otherwise would spend many years in foster care. The new option
will be offered only when other goals, including returning home and adoption, have
been ruled out as acceptable alternatives. The State of Illinois will operate a demonstration
of this child welfare project statewide.
The project consists of a subsidized guardianship arrangement for children who have
been in foster care for one year or more, and who meet other criteria that indicate
the child is likely to remain in out-of-home-care. All foster parents and relative
caregivers in the project group will be eligible for the subsidized guardianship arrangement
with an emphasis placed on kinship care. Each guardianship will be established by
court order. The state will use Title IV-E funds to match guardianship payments for
such children, as if they were in Title IV-E adoption assistance.