Today, COFI and POWER-PAC IL parents celebrated the official signing of the KIND “Kinship in Demand” Act! Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4781, which requires DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) to prioritize family members when placing foster children.
COFI and POWER-PAC IL parents supported this bill when they lobbied in Springfield for Moms on a Mission in 2024. Many COFI parents have cared for nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, oftentimes as informal guardians because relatives face barriers to receiving the support they need to get certified as foster parents or when they requested additional financial, medical, or social-emotional support caring for a relative.
COFI Parent Leaders Lynn Morton and Mamie Cosey know what it’s like to care for a relative. They spoke to the Chicago Tribune about the KIND Act. Lynn and Mamie spoke about why they supported this bill, the financial and emotional challenges they faced when caring for relatives, and why keeping children with a family member is important for a child’s wellbeing.
“It should be easier for a family member to pass through whatever checks they need to pass through and be able to take their relatives into their home,” Lynn said.
English 
Spanish