SB2879sam001 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Kwame Raoul

Filed: 3/11/2008

09500SB2879sam001 LRB095 19230 HLH 48149 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2879

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2879 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 1-35 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/1-35 new)

Sec. 1-35. Families of incarcerated parents. The Department of Human Services shall collaborate with the Department of Corrections, community-based organizations, and social service providers to make information available to families and children of incarcerated parents about services that are available to them.

The Department shall include awareness, education, and outreach materials regarding children of incarcerated parents within its promotion of programs and information to be directed toward families, schools, and service providers for children of incarcerated parents in Illinois. The public information shall be designed to reduce stigma and to provide support for families caring for children of incarcerated parents. The public information shall include contact information to assist families in locating and accessing services for children.

The Department of Human Services shall develop informational materials for families and children of incarcerated parents and shall make that information available to inmates who may have children affected by their incarceration. During the reception and classification process, the Department of Corrections shall provide the materials to inmates and shall provide one envelope with postage that the inmate may address to the children's caregiver. The informational materials shall also be made available within the facility visiting rooms and waiting areas. The materials shall be designed to inform children and families of incarcerated parents about social services that are available to them, including visitation programs, family counseling, mentoring, school-based programs, and other programs. The materials shall provide telephone and internet contacts to provide the children's caregivers with further information. The Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Corrections shall work cooperatively with community organizations and service providers, including but not limited to, members of the Illinois Task Force for Children of Prisoners - Children of Promise, including the Illinois African American Family Commission, the Community Renewal Society, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, and Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers, to identify local providers of services.".