Illinois Families Now and Forever

              New name, look and audience for newsletter
Illinois Families Now and Forever is the new publication from DCFS for families parenting children
who are or have been in DCFS care. This new publication follows the tradition set by Fostering
Illinois to provide updates on DCFS policy and useful information to help foster families. The new
publication Illinois Families Now and Forever extends that goal to include adoptive and guardianship
families.
New Content
While the commitment to serve children is common to foster, adoptive
and guardianship parents, DCFS realizes the type of information
parents need can be different, depending on the family situation.
Illinois Families Now and Forever will continue to feature articles that
are pertinent to all audiences. However there will be some articles that
relate to a specific family setting. For example, adoption related topics
will be in a consistent section of the newsletter. Additionally, family-type
specific stories will have a special version of the logo on the page as
a cue to let readers know at a glance exactly what area the article covers.
That way readers can quickly determine which articles may address
their families’ needs and interests.
New Distribution
Illinois Families Now and Forever will be mailed six times a year to all:
• licensed foster parents
• unlicensed relative caregivers
• adoptive families, receiving a subsidy through DCFS
• guardianship families, receiving a subsidy through DCFS
As long as caregivers maintain a foster care license, even if there are no
foster children in the home at the time of printing, DCFS will
automatically send a copy of Illinois Families Now and Forever. As
always, any change of address requests or other changes must be
directed through the family’s licensing representative. Additionally, the
bulk mailings for staff at child welfare agencies will continue. Private
agencies can contact the Editor for more information.
These changes to the newsletter were developed with the input of the
Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council and the Illinois Adoption
Advisory Council. With the contribution of experienced parents and
child welfare experts, the newsletter will continue to be a vehicle to
provide important, relevant and practical information for families. As
always, reader input is valuable and welcome, so do not hesitate to
contact the Editor or the regional reporting staff with comments.
New Look
The logo with the
family inside a heart
was designed to
indicate that families
are parents and
children surrounded
by love. The heart
theme is carried over
in the faces of the
family members.
Throughout the
newsletter variations
of the logo will
designate stories that
address a specific
family setting.
2003 • Volume 1 Winter • Edition
Families by Foster Care, Adoption and Guardianship
FAMILIES
Now and
Forever
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services©
ILLINOIS
™