DCFS adoption surge is cheered

SPRINGFIELD Illinois' child welfare agency nearly quadrupled thenumber of children placed into permanent homes during the last yearin a record-setting pace praised even by longtime critics.

During a 12-month period ending in June, the state Department ofChildren and Family Services moved 9,514 children into permanenthomes. That compares with 2,414 between mid-1997 and mid-1998.

"It's kind of amazing," DCFS Director Jess McDonald said. "Inlarge jurisdictions, no one has seen anything like this. It's nothappening in New York, Los Angeles or big cities anywhere. You go tothe suburban (Illinois) counties, and you'll find it, too."

In Cook County, adoptions and guardianships rose to 7,543 betweenmid-1998 and last June, a hefty increase from the 1,196 during thepreceding 12-month period.

"By and large, what DCFS has done is excellent. They should getall the credit in the world, and I give that to them," said CookCounty Public Guardian Patrick Murphy, a frequent critic of theagency.

From mid-1998 to mid-1999, 7,315 DCFS wards were adopted, triplethe number of adoptions two years earlier.

McDonald attributed the increases to a combination of factorsorchestrated by the state's judicial and legislative branches.

In the child protection division of Cook County Circuit Court,court calendars have been expanded and the number of hearing officersincreased under Presiding Judge Nancy Salyers, McDonald said.

The system also is operating under a 1996 state law that allowsjudges to terminate parental rights in a year, rather than 18 months,speeding up the adoption process.

McDonald also praised efforts by the Chicago Sun-Times and twoChicago television stations to publicize adoptions. Each Wednesday,the Sun-Times runs its "A Family for Me" column in the Showcasesection, highlighting a child seeking adoption.

"All children have a right to loving, permanent homes where theycan experience the stability and support necessary to succeed inlife," said Gov. Ryan.

"My administration has made improving the living conditions ofchildren in the child welfare system a priority."