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YOU ARE HERE: SOCIAL SERVICES > PROGRAMS > NORMAN SERVICES |
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Norman Services
Included on this page:
Rebecca Woodard
DCFS has created services, often referred to as "Norman Services," for families who have one or more children who are at risk of being placed in DCFS care or who have children who cannot be returned home and one of the reasons for this risk is lack of food, shelter, clothing, or other items that if providing this service will keep your child in your care or, if the child is in DCFS custody, will help your child return home. Youth Housing Advocacy Services assist DCFS wards transition to independence. In order to assist families in finding affordable housing, DCFS had created the Housing Advocacy Program (HAP). HAP provides a worker to assist Norman Families obtain housing. HAP workers will provide the following assistance:
If you have children in DCFS custody, a referral for this program should be made in time to allow you to obtain housing before your children are returned to you. Youth Housing Assistance The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may provide housing advocacy services and/or cash assistance to stabilize the housing situation of an emancipating or emancipated ward (before his or her 21st birthday).Housing advocacy services assist clients in obtaining and/or maintaining stable housing. Services include:
Please apply at least 6 months before a youth's 21st birthday to allow sufficient time to locate housing and for follow-up services. If your request for housing, emergency cash assistance or any other service you believe should have been provided to you is denied, reduced or delayed, you have the right to appeal DCFS' decision immediately. If your request for emergency cash assistance is denied or reduced, you should receive a letter from your caseworker or the person that denied your request stating the reason for the denial or reduction. Even if you do not receive this letter, you may still appeal anyway. To appeal a DCFS decision on cash assistance or services, you must send a written request within 45 calendar days of the date of decision. You should send your written request for appeal along with your name, your address, your children's names and dates of birth, and the name of the individual responsible for the delay, denial, or reduction of services to:
Assistance with the Illinois Department of Human Services' (IDHS) Public Aid Program (TANF). DCFS and IDHS should work together to coordinate the service requirements of each program. Your DCFS caseworker can assist you in getting benefits through public aid. If your children are about to return home and you will be eligible to receive TANF when your children are returned, IDHS will allow Norman families to apply for public aid (TANF) before the child is returned home. If your children are being placed in DCFS care for less than 90 days and you currently receive public aid (TANF), IDHS will provide eligible Norman families an "adult only" grant if DCFS believes that the children will be placed in DCFS custody for 90 days or less. Norman families are not excluded from receiving assistance from other DCFS programs. Talk to your caseworker about your service needs to determine if other programs may assist you. These families are often referred to as Norman families. Therefore, if:
Youth applying for housing advocacy services must:
Cash assistance is to assist newly emancipated wards or former wards (before their 21st birthdays) when a potential crisis exists. Cash assistance may be authorized for the following reasons:
Department of Children & Family Services: http://www.state.il.us/dcfs |
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