Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care - Illinois

Date: October 2025

Youth's Parental Rights
Citation: DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

In policy:  Youth in care have the right to receive nondirective and nonjudgmental information to help them make informed decisions regarding their options and choices in the event that the youth (or the youth's partner) becomes pregnant. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) caseworker and supervisor must ensure a youth receives accurate and unbiased options counseling that includes information about parenting, adoption, transfer of guardianship, and abortion/termination of the pregnancy. After receiving this counseling, a youth may want some time to decide what to do. The counseling must address the legal timeframes that apply in the different circumstances (e.g., access to abortion services, when a surrender for adoption may be given, etc.) as these may affect the amount of time the youth has to reach a decision.

A pregnant youth may consent to decisions regarding her own medical care during her pregnancy and a parenting youth may consent to decisions regarding his or her child's care.

Placement Options
Citation: Comp. Stat. Ch. 20, § 10/2.17; DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

A foster family home may provide care for no more than six children except the limitation may be waived to allow a parenting youth in foster care to remain with the child of the parenting youth.

In policy: A parenting youth in care should always reside with his or her child unless a separate placement is necessary for safety or treatment reasons or the child lives with the other parent.

Health Services 
Citation: DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

Pregnant youth have the right to receive necessary ongoing prenatal, medical, or dental care. Early and routine prenatal care and support is essential for all pregnant youth regardless of a youth's decision about the outcome of the pregnancy. 'Prenatal care' is defined as the health care provided to the pregnant youth and fetus before birth.

The goal of prenatal care is to monitor the progress of the pregnancy and identify potential risks to the pregnant youth and fetus, thus reducing the risk of premature delivery or other serious conditions related to pregnancy. Pregnant youth have the right to consent to and make decisions regarding their own prenatal care. Agencies must ensure that all pregnant youth have access to quality prenatal services, paying special attention to high-risk pregnancies.

Parent Preparation for Expectant Youth
Citation: DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

The DCFS caseworker shall do the following: 

  • Give a printed, up-to-date health passport to each youth
  • Encourage and prepare the youth to attend all prenatal visits by providing transportation to and from the appointments and assisting in formulating questions and voicing expectations as it relates to the youth's pregnancy and delivery
  • Refer the youth to health-care or pharmacy personnel who can educate and assist them with management and appropriate self-administration of medications during and after pregnancy and, after childbirth, appropriate administration of medications to his or her child
  • Refer pregnant youth to prenatal support programs (e.g., Family Case Management, Better Birth Outcomes, Nurse Family Partnerships, or Healthy Families Illinois)
  • Develop a birth plan (including family planning) with the pregnant youth that outlines supports, requests, and needs during labor and delivery (e.g., plan of care for other children), including access to a lactation consultant if the youth plans to breastfeed
  • Link the youth to Women, Infants and Children services

Education and Services to Support Parenting Youth
Citation: Comp. Stat. Ch. 505. § 505/5.10; DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

The Department of Human Services (DHS) shall provide direct child welfare services when not available through other public or private child care or program facilities. The term 'child welfare services' includes providing supportive services and living maintenance that contribute to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of children who are pregnant and unmarried.

In policy: All pregnant and parenting youth have the right to complete their secondary education and begin postsecondary education, vocational skills training, or employment regardless of their parenting status. Pregnant and parenting youth currently enrolled in high school must be supported in remaining in high school to earn their diploma. Pregnant and parenting youth who did not graduate from high school and have been out of school for an extended time must be provided with information about and assisted in enrolling in an alternative educational program to obtain a high school diploma or GED.

Economic and Concrete Supports 
Citation: DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

The child-placing agency is responsible for providing or securing appropriate infant sleeping equipment (e.g., bassinet, crib, or toddler bed) for each child and for any visiting resources or alternative caregiver.

Additional safety items that must be available for the child include an age-appropriate car seat, weather-appropriate clothing, a bathtub and water thermometer, and first aid kit. The Permanency Worker must observe sleeping environments during each home visit and document observations, discussions, information shared and interventions with parenting youth in this area in a contact note.

Pregnant and parenting youth have the right to receive the necessary transportation to and from school and to and from child care while they attend school or employment. Parenting youth also have the right to child care while they attend school or work.

Services and Supports for Parenting Youth That Promote Self-Sufficiency
Citation: DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

All pregnant and parenting youth have the right to receive services to promote self-sufficiency as a family unit while in DCFS legal custody and postdischarge. Research demonstrates that there may be a delay in achieving adolescent/young adult milestones due to past trauma and early parenthood. Therefore, it is recommended that parenting youth engage in services aimed at promoting self-sufficiency while they remain in the care of DCFS. Caseworkers and agencies must begin comprehensive transition and discharge planning upon intake of a parenting youth. Discharge planning is conducted to help determine the array and intensity of support and services (e.g., education/vocation services, parenting, therapy, community services) necessary to ensure a successful transition out of substitute care.

Caseworkers and supervisors have an ongoing responsibility to ensure the following: 

  • The parenting youth is involved in transition planning and exiting care.
  • The parenting youth has a plan and a backup plan for ongoing and stable housing before the youth leaves care.
  • The parenting youth's connections to family, community, and social supports are nurtured and maintained. 
  • The parenting youth's educational and vocational plans are realistic and in process prior to exiting care. 
  • The parenting youth is working toward financial stability.

Foster Care Prevention Strategy for any Child Born to the Youth
Citation: DCFS Proc. Man. § 302, Appendix J

All pregnant and parenting youth have the right to have the support in learning to be the best parent possible if parenting is the youth's choice. Each child and family served by DCFS is required to have a written service plan, regardless of whether a child is in placement and whether casework services are provided by DCFS or other agency staff.

When pregnant or parenting youth intend to parent their child, the service plan should address how those youth can acquire skills to be the best parents possible. The New Birth Assessment (NBA) is one tool that can be used to help identify parenting skills that need to be acquired or enhanced. The NBA can support youth in parenting their infants through the following:

  • It provides parenting youth with knowledge of child development and community resources.
  • It helps identify any concrete needs of the parent and child.
  • It evaluates the current level of parent-child interaction.
  • It notes any current safety or risk factors and how they impact parenting.
  • It makes recommendations for follow-up tasks and services.