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SUCCESS STORIES Michelle R.* is a 16 year-old parenting teen. Michelle lived for many years with a non-relative foster parent, but when that foster parent decided to move to Florida, Michelle had no place to go. Her Lakeside Community Committee caseworker decided to place Michelle and her young son with her 21-year-old brother until a more permanent placement solution could be found for her. Michelle and her brother were both agreeable to this arrangement, particularly because the caseworker promised Michelle’s brother he would be provided a board payment for Michelle’s care. In addition, Michelle was entitled to $107.00 a month for expenses related to the care of her son. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Michelle or her brother, a child abuse report in her brother’s background prevented him from being a DCFS “approved” foster placement. The caseworker failed to inform Michelle, her brother, or her attorney/GAL of this fact until well over a month after he had placed Michelle in the home. The agency informed Michelle that they considered her to be in an “unauthorized” foster placement, and as such, her brother was not entitled to any board payment, and Michelle was not entitled to any money for her son. The agency then moved Michelle and her son into another non-relative foster home but refused to move her personal belongings (including clothing, family photos and baby equipment) from her brother’s South Suburban apartment to her new foster home in the city. When her brother moved out of the apartment, and the landlord threatened to throw away all of Michelle’s items, the caseworker still refused to help her move and informed her that she could use public transportation instead. As a 16 year-old girl with a small child, using public transportation to move all of her belongings from the South Suburbs to Chicago was not a viable option. In addition, Michelle did not know anyone who owned a car. Not surprisingly, the landlord threw away all of Michelle’s belongings when they were not picked up. Michelle’s attorney/GAL filed a service appeal with DCFS on her behalf, asking: 1) that Michelle receive financial compensation for all belongings that were thrown out when DCFS failed to move them into her new placement, and 2) she receive back payment for the $107.00 she was entitled to while living with her brother. Shortly thereafter, Michelle received a check from Lakeside Community Committee reimbursing her for her lost items. She then received a check from DCFS for a portion of the $107.00 back payment she was owed. Because DCFS failed to pay her back payment in its entirety by the end of the fiscal year, she and her attorney/GAL have now filed for the remainder of the payment in the Illinois Court of Claims. *names changed to protect client confidentiality Lessons for Geraldine Five year old Geraldine* loved to attend weekly Spanish and piano classes at Language and Music School in Oak Park, Illinois. She always looked forward to class and would be ready to go at the drop of a hat. After about one year in the program, the school told Geraldine’s foster parent that Geraldine could not longer attend classes due to an outstanding balance of $1500. Apparently, Child Link, the agency responsible for paying for the classes had stopped paying for the program and had refused to pay the outstanding balance owed. This left Geraldine saddened and upset. She would not be able to graduate with her classmates. Upon hearing this, Geraldine’s attorney/GAL filed a service appeal through DCFS. Initially the service appeal was dismissed but the GAL filed a complaint with the Chancery Court and in November 2007 the Department agreed to send the case for a hearing. At the hearing the Administrative Law Judge granted the appeal and determined it was not in Geraldine’s best interest to have her classes discontinued and recommended that Child Link pay the outstanding balance. The Administrative Law judge also stated that Child Link should refer Geraldine for future piano and Spanish lessons including make up lessons for the months she missed. We are happy to report that Geraldine is now enrolled in Spanish and piano classes. She recently wrote her GAL a note which simply said GRACIAS (thank you). *names changed to protect client confidentiality Wrongly withheld board payments. Tyler * is a 22 year old former DCFS ward. His case was closed when he reached 21 years old. There was time where Tyler’s whereabouts were unknown. He had moved from home to home trying to find a safe place to live. Eventually Tyler ended up at his first foster parents home. His foster parent welcomed him home and he lived with her and his sibling for over a year. The agency, LSSI knew he was living with his sibling in this home but refused to authorize this placement. Neither Tyler nor his foster parent received any board payments during this year. After hearing about Tyler’s situation, his attorney/GAL filed a compliant with the court of Claims for the board payments. After months of going back and forth DCFS legal and the GAL came to an agreement that DCFS would issue Tyler a check for over $3,500. Ms. Robbins delivered the check to Tyler recently and he was so appreciative. He plans to use this money to set up a household for his family. *names changed to protect client confidentiality
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