325 ILCS 30/ Family Support Demonstration Project.

(325 ILCS 30/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 4101)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Family Support Demonstration Project.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/2) (from Ch. 23, par. 4102)

Sec. 2. Purpose. The legislature finds that families and family structures have changed dramatically, and many families are suffering because of the stresses and strains of economic demands.

Many families are at high risk of becoming fragmented and dysfunctional, and a substantial number will be trapped in a cycle of poverty unless existing support systems designed to intervene and assist them in times of need are vastly improved.

Under the present system of services to families, families are required to be in trouble or dysfunctional before they can become eligible to receive services and assistance.

In order to reach out to families and successfully assist them, support services should be coordinated and provided in a community-based setting. These community-based centers should be responsive to and involved with the communities in which they are located to the extent that the communities feel a strong sense of ownership of and identification with the centers. In addition, the overall atmosphere of the facility, as well as the attitude of the staff, should project compassion, understanding, friendliness, and patience.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a family support center demonstration project to demonstrate the effectiveness of a community-based family support center concept, and to test different models of service delivery.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/3) (from Ch. 23, par. 4103)

Sec. 3. Definitions. In this Act:

"Department" means the Department of Children and Family Services.

"Director" means director of the Department of Children and Family Services.

"Family" means the family as an enduring personal support system with the functions of nurturing, caring for, and educating children, youths, adults, and the elderly.

"Project" means the family support center demonstration project.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/4) (from Ch. 23, par. 4104)

Sec. 4. Project. There is established, subject to available appropriations, a 2 year demonstration project, known as the family support center demonstration project. The Department of Children and Family Services shall be responsible for the planning, implementation and establishment of a family support center. The project shall coordinate the provision of core services to families at a community-based center in order to develop the community's capacity to identify and resolve its problems. The center shall be responsive to the community and involve the participants as equal partners in program development and execution.

The center shall offer an array of services tailored to the specific needs of its constituents. Services shall be developed pursuant to family support principles. Services must:

(1) Be offered at convenient times in accessible locations.

(2) Build on strengths, rather than search for deficits.

(3) Involve participants and the community in planning and implementation.

(4) Show respect for participants.

(5) Serve the best interests of children.

(6) Strengthen families.

(7) Be presented in coordination with other agencies and services in the community.

No single service shall overshadow the others, and services shall be provided in a coordinated manner. Because some services will be provided directly by the center and other services will be provided by other agencies, the center, with input from parent constituents, shall develop a service plan, using a systems management approach, for the provision of services. The staff of the center shall be responsible for ensuring that all components of the service plan are carried out. This may require interventions on the part of the staff, including but not limited to, accompanying parents to appointments with other agencies, advocating on behalf of parents, reminding parents of appointments with other agencies, and providing short-term counseling to parents concerning referrals for services.

The center shall consider the following services, activities, and components when developing its core services:

(a) Enhancement of parenting skills.

(b) Infant and child stimulation activities to maximize child growth and development.

(c) Outreach services targeted at community organizations, families, youth, and others to ensure community awareness, acceptance, and participation.

(d) Health care, family planning, counseling, and other services to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

(e) Assessment and treatment planning for developmental problems of the parent or the child.

(f) Temporary developmental child care for the offspring of parents receiving services on-site.

(g) Peer support activities, including recreational and social activities.

(h) Educational services, such as post-high school classes and instruction to those attempting to earn general equivalency diplomas.

(i) Job preparation and skill development services to assist young parents in preparing, securing, and maintaining employment.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 4105)

Sec. 5. Funding. The Department prior to establishing the family support center demonstration project shall seek funding from public and private sources. Funding received from private foundations or from other sources may be used by the Department to establish the demonstration project.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/6) (from Ch. 23, par. 4106)

Sec. 6. Council. There is established the family support center council for the purpose of planning and implementing the establishment and development of a family support center. The council shall be appointed by the governor and consist of representatives from the public and private sectors of the community.

The council shall confer with the director who may:

(a) Enter into agreements with the federal government, other state departments and agencies, and the counties.

(b) Enter into assistance agreements with private persons, groups, institutions, or corporations.

(c) Purchase services required or appropriate under this Act from any private persons, groups, institutions, or corporations.

(d) Allocate and expend any resources available for the purposes of this Act.

(e) Encourage all agencies to cooperate with the Department in extending individual agency resources in order to develop the project.

(f) Enter into inter-agency agreements. All agreements entered into for the accomplishment of the purposes of this Act shall place a duty upon each affected agency to cooperate fully with the Department in making every effort to enter into the agreement.

(g) Do all things necessary to accomplish the purposes and provisions of this Act.

The center shall be required to complete an evaluation which includes, but is not limited to descriptive data on client status, program utilization data, profiles of participants, intervention plans, and participant and community satisfaction ratings.

The department may utilize a portion of its funds to conduct evaluations of the center.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/7)

Sec. 7. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98. Repealed by P.A. 97-1024, eff. 8-17-12.)

(325 ILCS 30/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 4108)

Sec. 8. Literacy program. As part of the project, family literacy programs shall be provided for the purpose of addressing the family's need for educational, vocational, and parenting training. The family literacy program shall focus on learning sessions for preschool-aged children and their parents. The children shall receive preschool education while their parents receive education focusing on parenting skills; traditional subjects as reading, language, mathematics, and vocational training.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)

(325 ILCS 30/9) (from Ch. 23, par. 4109)

Sec. 9. This Act takes effect July 1, 1992.

(Source: P.A. 87-678.)