Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Friday that supporters say will strengthen state child-protective services.
One bolsters child-safety plans composed by the Department of Children and Family Services. Deerfield Democratic Sen. Julie Morrison says her initiative gives DCFS the ability to move a child to the home of a relative when there is an allegation of abuse or neglect that doesn’t yet warrant state custody or foster care.
Another is meant to stop what Morrison calls a “disturbing trend” — parents who give up custody of their children because they can’t get proper mental health treatment. The measure allows parents to get state assistance for treatment when their private insurance won’t pay any more and they earn too much to receive Medicaid.