DCFS-REPORTS-YOUTH IN CARE

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Provides that no later than December 31, 2018, and on December 31 of each year thereafter through December 31, 2023, the Department of Children and Family Services shall prepare and submit an annual report, covering the previous fiscal year, to the General Assembly regarding youth in care waiting for placements. Provides that the report shall include information on: (i) the number of youth in care who remained in emergency placements, including but not limited to shelters and emergency foster homes, for longer than 30 days, their genders and ages, their recommended placement type, and other specified data; (ii) the number of youth in care who remained in psychiatric hospitals beyond the time they were clinically ready for discharge or beyond medical necessity, whichever is sooner, their genders and ages, their recommended placement type, and other specified data; (iii) the number of youth in care who remained in a detention center or Department of Juvenile Justice facility solely because the Department cannot locate an appropriate placement for the youth, their genders and ages, their recommended placement type, and other specified data; (iv) a description of how the Department collected the information reported and any difficulties the Department had in collecting the information and whether there are concerns about the validity of the information; and (v) a description of any steps the Department is taking to reduce the length of time youth in care wait in psychiatric hospitals, emergency placements, detention centers, and Department of Juvenile Justice facilities for clinically appropriate placements.