Illinois’ child welfare agency wants to do a better job taking care of its most troubled kids, and they have a plan.
The idea is that kids who have suffered abuse or witnessed violence would be placed with families with no more than two wards per home. The parents in these foster homes would get special training and at least one would stay home full time.
Bruce Boyer is director of the ChildLaw Clinic at Loyola University. He says the idea is good.
"The real question is if the department will be able to provide the support that’s necessary to make it possible for any vendor to do what’s necessary in a meaningful way."
The pilot program is meant to direct kids away from the state’s troubled residential treatment centers.