In Fiscal Year 1999, for the second consecutive year, DCFS moved a record number of children into permanent homes through adoption and legal guardianship. State efforts to improve permanency for foster children resulted in a remarkable 294 percent increase in adoptions and guardianships, from 2,414 in Fiscal Year 1997 to 9,514 in Fiscal Year 1999. This included 7,315 adoptions and 2,199 subsidized guardianships.

While overall adoptions in Fiscal Year 2000 were lower (6,281 adoptions), the proportion of foster children adopted and moved to other kinds of permanency is actually higher. This is partly due to success in reducing the Department's substitute care population from nearly 52,000 children in Fiscal Year 1997 to fewer than 17,000 children in September 2006.

In Fiscal Year 2001, some 4,208 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 1,131 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 2,813 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 8,100 children -- or about one-third of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2001.

In Fiscal Year 2002, some 3,393 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 1,084 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 2,740 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 7,200 children -- or about one-third of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2002.

In Fiscal Year 2003, some 2,795 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 919 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 2,456 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 6,170 children -- or about one-third of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2003.

In Fiscal Year 2004, some 2,137 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 671 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 2,095 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 4,903 children -- or about one-quarter of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2004.

In Fiscal Year 2005, some 1,867 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 638 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 2,153 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 4,658 children -- or about one-quarter of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2005.

In Fiscal Year 2006, some 1,670 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 565 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 1,989 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 4,224 children -- or about one-quarter of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2006.

In Fiscal Year 2007, some 1,682 foster children were placed into adoptive homes. An additional 563 children were also placed into permanent homes through the state's unique subsidized guardianship program, and another 1,987 children were reunified with their birth parents. In all, more than 4,232 children -- or about one-quarter of all foster children -- were moved into permanency during Fiscal Year 2007.

DCFS serves many children for whom finding adoptive families has been difficult. These children have come to be known as "the waiting children." They may be older children, sibling groups, or they may have special medical or behavioral needs.

In November 2002, Illinois led the nation in Adoption Excellence Award recipients announced by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. Presented annually since 1997, the awards honor individuals and groups helping move abandoned, neglected or abused children into loving and safe permanent homes. Five of the 18 recipients chosen this year were from Illinois. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and then Director Jess McDonald received Adoption Excellence Awards for their outstanding achievements in helping foster children find adoptive homes from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Also recognized by HHS were NBC News Anchor Allison Rosati, Peoria foster parents Tom and Elizabeth Richmond, and adoptive parent/founder of Hope Meadows, Brenda Krause Eheart. Sixteen Adoption Excellence Awards have been given to Illinois recipients since its inception, including five awards going to DCFS and its staff.

In November 2003, the DCFS co-founded One Church One Child minority adoption program was among three Illinois-based Adoption Excellence Award recipients announced by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.(Public Awareness Category). Nominated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the One Church One Child (OCOC) has become a national leader in special needs adoption. The program was created in the state of Illinois in 1980 with leadership provided by Father George Clements, along with a group of ministers, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and other governmental officials.

DCFS provides and funds a variety of financial and non-financial benefits after adoption or guardianship, including subsidies for families who adopt waiting children or become guardians of children in DCFS care. Subsidy agreements are entered into prior to court finalization of adoptions or approval of guardianships and begin after the adoptions (adoption assistance agreements) or guardianships (subsidized guardianship agreements) are finalized.
Subsidies may include any or all of the following:

*Ongoing monthly payments equal to what the child's foster care payment was, or would have been.

*Medicaid card to cover medical expenses not covered by family insurance or other public resources.

*Counseling services for the family and child, if needed.

*Therapeutic day care.

*Reimbursement for costs associated with the adoption or guardianship, such as attorney fees and court costs, with a maximum reimbursement for non-recurring expenses of $1,500 for adoption and $500 for guardianship.

There are also a number of other post adoption and guardianship services available including information and referral, educational services, non-identifying

The Department also provides administrative and technical services for families adopting children from other countries. DCFS provided assistance for 924 intercountry adoptions in Fiscal Year 2007. The most active countries included Guatemala (298), China (223), Russia (91), South Korea (55), Vietnam (43), Ethiopia (38), Ukraine (28), Kazakhstan (21), India (20), Taiwan (16), Haiti(14) and Philippines (10). See Intercountry adoption statistics for FY 2001-2007.