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Works in partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to recruit and equip families to provide safe, caring, temporary care for a child while the birth family works towards reunification. Note: Inquiries about a specific child being placed in home should be made directly to HHS at (877) 364-1112.

Works in partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to recruit and equip families to provide safe, caring, temporary care for a child while the birth family works towards reunification. Note: Inquiries about a specific child being placed in home should be made directly to HHS at (877) 364-1112.

Provides foster care programs designed to find safe, secure, and nurturing homes for children who cannot live with their families. Services offered include licensing, training, and becoming a foster parent, stable foster placements for children and adolescents, specialized care plans for youth with special needs (mental, behavioral, medical, and developmental), independent living opportunity for older adolescents to transition from foster care to an independent lifestyle, and finding permanent solutions for children in foster care (returning to biological parents, kinship/guardianship, and adoption).

Assists expectant parents in examining their options and coming to a decision about placing their child for adoption. LCFS social worker meets with expectant family privately and confidentially, in a location that is comfortable for them. After placing a child for adoption the LCFS worker will continue to be available for follow-up support as needed. If the choice is made to not place the child for adoption, follow-up services are also available.

Services include:

-- Assistance with selecting adoptive parents.

-- Assistance with pregnancy-related expenses.

-- Follow-up services, including referrals to resources.

Provides a list of referrals for adoption agencies in the area.

Recruits and prepares adoptive families. Offers services for identified adoptions, foster care adoptions, and post placement services.

Provides contractual home studies for domestic and international adoptions.

Orientation and services for families looking to become a prospective foster family.

Offers regular home visits from a dedicated Foster Care Specialist, training and connections with experienced foster parents, and 24-hour assistance from care professionals ready to help anytime.

Provides a list of referrals for adoption agencies in the area.

Provides services to couples and singles in all three programs:

- Agency Assisted Adoption: Includes home study and collaborating with another agency to place through the partnering agency.

- General Domestic Adoption Program: Includes home study and placement of infants, also offer the Sayers Center program which seeks to find homes for African American babies and promote adoption awareness within the African American community.

- Intercountry Program: Includes home study and working with another agency internationally.

Provides guidance and support during periods of match and placement. Conducts post placement visits and reporting in accordance with the placing state or country's requirements.

Recruits and prepares adoptive families. Offers services for identified adoptions, foster care adoptions, and post placement services.

Provides contractual home studies for domestic and international adoptions.

Recruits and licenses homes for traditional and specialized foster care placement.

Traditional foster care programs provide synergy between foster parents, biological parents, the court, social workers, and the child. Foster parents cooperate with the court to set goals that (ideally) results in the return of the child to their family. If that is not possible, foster parents are asked to commit to permanency for the child.

Specialized foster care programs work to meet the special needs of physically, behaviorally, and emotionally challenged children; as well as the foster families serving them. This program works toward permanency by providing intensive case management and comprehensive mental health services, along with medical, developmental, and educational services.

Adoption services include recruitment, screening, assessing, and case management provided to persons choosing to adopt an infant. Counseling and support are provided to birth mothers/fathers choosing to place a child for adoption, as well as post-adoptive services for those who are adopted, adoptive parents, and birth parents. This includes international and private adoptions.

Adoptive home assessments provide guidance to prospective adoptive parents and/or adoptive parents in Iowa and Illinois.

Assists individuals in Illinois in becoming licensed foster parents. Also provides follow-up training for foster parents to help meet the various needs of their foster children.

Services provided:

-- LCFS team provides guidance and support through the foster care experience.

-- Health insurance for the children placed in a foster home.

-- Therapy, counseling, and academic counseling, and special education services when needed.

-- Training programs, support groups, and newsletters geared to foster families.

-- Monthly financial support for the foster child(ren's) basic needs, including food, clothing, and housing costs.

-- Funding for daycare, after-school care, and extracurricular activities including sports and art programs for eligible children in foster care.

Offers support groups for seniors and their caregivers. Support groups being offered are Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group (meetings held in Normal and Clinton), Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group (Zoom and in-person meetings held in Bloomington and Pontiac), and Caretakers Path Caregiver Support Group (Zoom and in-person meetings held in Bloomington).

Out-of-home placement option for children and adolescents whose special needs hinder their success in a traditional foster care placement.

- Offers 30 hours of training, in-service training, professional consultation, 24 hour on call support services, respite services for foster parents, and performance evaluations.

- Foster parents are reimbursed for the child's basic needs, with an additional stipend for providing treatment.

Provides placement and casework services for children who have been removed from their birth families because of abuse or neglect. Provides training, licensing, and services for foster families.

Offers the support group, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren to help support any older adults who are caring for children.

Provides family-centered assessment, intervention, and skill-building services through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Services help families address issues that may place children at risk of abuse or neglect. Families may be referred through a child abuse assessment or juvenile court order, or caregivers may voluntarily request assistance from HHS.