(325 ILCS 42/1) Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Kinship Navigator Act. (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)

(325 ILCS 42/5) Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:(1) "Department" means the Department of Human

Services.

(2) "NPO" means a not-for-profit organization.

(3) "Municipality" has the meaning ascribed to it in

Section 1-1-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(4) "Kinship care" means, as defined by Child Welfare

League of America, the full time care, nurturing, and protection of children by relatives, members of their tribes or clans, grandparents, godparents, stepparents, or any adult who has physical custody and a kinship bond with a child. This definition is designed to be inclusive without age restrictions on the kinship caregiver and respectful of cultural values and ties of affection. It allows a child to grow to adulthood in a family environment.

(5) "Kinship Navigator" means a statewide program

designed to ensure kinship caregivers the necessary resources for the preservation of the family.

(Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)

(325 ILCS 42/10) Sec. 10. Legislative findings and intent. (1) Caregivers often provide kinship care without

compensation or support systems.

(2) Kinship caregivers are crucial to avoiding

institutionalization of children and saving taxpayer dollars.

(3) Kinship caregivers are frequently under

substantial physical, psychological, and financial stress. Unrelieved by support services available to the caregiver, this stress may lead to premature or unnecessary institutionalization for the care recipient or deterioration of the health condition and family circumstances of the kinship caregiver.

(4) Sudden responsibility for children often

precludes kinship caregivers the opportunity to plan basic day to day responsibility.

(5) The Kinship Navigator shall be seamless,

statewide, and coordinated among the Department of Human Services, Department on Aging, Illinois Housing Authority, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Corrections, and federal and local governments as well as other public and private sources.

(6) Additional services provided under the Kinship

Navigator shall be: organizing diverse, enriched, and culturally conscious kinship support groups and counseling; assisting with applying for benefits within the Illinois Department of Human Services' Family Community Resource Centers for those who qualify; publishing monthly newsletters; coordinating respite and crisis care services; assisting kinship caregivers with job readiness, job search, and job retention; and providing technical assistance to start up kinship support groups.

(Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)

(325 ILCS 42/15) Sec. 15. Kinship Navigator conferences: promotion. The Department shall arrange for the conduct of 2 conferences, one in Cook County and one in Sangamon County, and provide for exhibits and activities for kinship caregivers and social service providers. (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)

(325 ILCS 42/20) Sec. 20. Kinship Navigator administration. The Department, subject to appropriation, shall administer the Kinship Navigator through a contract with an NPO that has worked statewide with kinship families. The contract shall require that the program created by this Act will be coordinated with (i) the grandparent child care program administered by the Department of Children and Family Services under Section 34.11 of the Children and Family Services Act, (ii) the Department of Children and Family Services under Section 39.1 of the Children and Family Services Act, and (iii) the Department on Aging under Section 92 of the Family Caregiver Act. (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)

(325 ILCS 42/25) Sec. 25. Rules. The Department shall adopt the rules necessary for the implementation and administration of this Act. (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)

(325 ILCS 42/90) Sec. 90. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted). (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09; text omitted.)

(325 ILCS 42/95) Sec. 95. (Amendatory provisions; text omitted). (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09; text omitted.)

(325 ILCS 42/99) Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 96-276, eff. 8-11-09.)