Illinois Administrative Code › Title 89 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part 301 - PLACEMENT AND VISITATION SERVICES › Subpart B - VISITATION SERVICES › Section 301.230 - Contact Among Siblings Placed Apart

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) Unless the Department determines that it
				is not in the child's best interests to be provided information on a sibling's
				whereabouts or to have his or her whereabouts provided to his or her siblings,
				or a court has prohibited disclosure of this information, the Department shall
				promote contact and communication among siblings placed apart by taking the
				following actions:
1) the Department or
				purchase of service agency shall provide children and their foster parents or
				other caregiver with each sibling's birth date and the name, address, and
				telephone number of the foster parent or other caregiver of each sibling placed
				by the Department in substitute care. The Department shall also provide the
				birth date and the name, address and telephone number of siblings in the
				custody of a parent, adoptive parent, legal guardian or adult sibling, if that
				information is or becomes known to the Department;
2) the Department or purchase of service
				agency shall provide children who are in the care of their parents with the
				name, address and telephone number of siblings in the custody/guardianship of
				the Department, unless:
A) the Department or
				purchase of service agency has determined that it is not in the child's best
				interests to provide information on his or her whereabouts to his or her
				siblings, and the Department has notified each child's attorney and guardian ad
				litem in accordance with subsection (b);
B) the Department or purchase of service
				agency has determined that identifying information of the foster
				parent/relative caregiver shall not be released to the sibling based on the
				results of the assessment completed in accordance with Section
				301.440(a),
				and each child's attorney and guardian ad litem has been notified in accordance
				with Section
				301.440(b);
				or
C) a court has prohibited
				disclosure of this information;
3) whenever a child is moved to another
				placement, the Department shall:
A) give
				written notice of the name, address and telephone number of the child's new
				foster parent or other caregiver to each sibling and the foster parent or other
				caregiver of each sibling, in writing, within seven days after the move;
				and
B) review and, if necessary,
				amend the Visitation and Contact Plan in consultation with the caseworkers,
				foster parents, caregivers, children/siblings and other appropriate
				parties;
4) the
				Department shall encourage foster parents and caregivers to allow children in
				their care to use available modes of communication (e.g., telephone, cell
				phone, letter writing, email, video conferencing, etc.) to contact their
				siblings between visits as often as the children wish, provided, however, that,
				if necessary, a plan for scheduling reasonable contact may be established by
				the children's caseworker, together with the foster parent or other caregiver
				and the children. This plan shall be incorporated in the Visitation and Contact
				Plan.