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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Studies have shown the need for continued
3assistance for children who have aged out of foster care; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Studies have also shown that former foster care
5youth are more likely than their peers to have higher
6unemployment and lower levels of higher education; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Department of Children and Family Services has
8committed to assisting youth that age out of foster care with
9programs that ensure continued success of the child and are
10cost-effective for the State; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has implemented programs and
12laws to assist various populations for employment and
13educational opportunities; and
 
14    WHEREAS, There is a need to further examine existing laws
15and programs of other populations that may be applicable to
16youth that have aged out of foster care; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there
19is created the Success by 25 Task Force under the Department of
20Children and Family Services to identify and recommend

 

 

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1cost-effective ways to further assist foster care children as
2they age out of foster care and into independent living; and be
3it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall research, analyze, and
5consider existing laws, programs, and benefits that could be
6used to assist wards of the State in a cost-effective manner to
7live independently as they age out of foster care; and be it
8further
 
9    RESOLVED, That the primary focus of the Task Force is to
10identify programs that may be beneficial to young adults
11between the ages of 18 and 21 who are in the care of the
12Illinois Department of Children and Family Services; the
13secondary focus is to examine new programs and laws for young
14adults between the ages of 21 and 25 who were formerly in the
15care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
16to ensure their continued success for independent living; and
17be it further"; and
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
19following members:
 
20        (1) three members appointed by the Speaker of the House
21    of Representatives, one of whom shall serve as a
22    Co-Chairperson of the Task Force;
 

 

 

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1        (2) three members appointed by the Minority Leader of
2    the House of Representatives, one of whom shall serve as a
3    Co-Chairperson of the Task Force;
 
4        (3) the Secretary of the Department of Human Services
5    or his or her designee;
 
6        (4) the Director of the Department of Children and
7    Family Services or his or her designee;
 
8        (5) the Director of the Department of Healthcare and
9    Family Services or his or her designee;
 
10        (6) the Director of the Department of Corrections or
11    his or her designee;
 
12        (7) a representative from the Governor's Office,
13    appointed by the Governor;
 
14        (8) two members who are licensed social workers who
15    work with children in at-risk groups, appointed by the
16    Director of the Department of Children and Family Services;
 
17        (9) one representative from the Office of the Cook
18    County Public Guardian, appointed by the Director of the

 

 

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1    Department of Children and Family Services in consultation
2    with the Cook County Public Guardian;
 
3        (10) two representatives from the Children and Family
4    Services Advisory Council, appointed by the Director of the
5    Department of Children and Family Services; and
 
6        (11) two former youth-in-care, appointed by the
7    Director of the Department of Children and Family Services;
8    and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve
10without compensation; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall receive the cooperation
12of any State agencies it deems appropriate to assist the Task
13Force in carrying out its duties; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall be
15considered members with voting rights; a quorum of the Task
16Force shall consist of a majority of the members of the Task
17Force; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present its findings
19and recommendations to the General Assembly in a report to the
20General Assembly and the Director of Children and Family

 

 

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1Services on or before December 31, 2017.