DCFS AWARDS MASSIVE FOSTER CARE ADOPTION CONTRACT TO LET IT BE US

DCFS AWARDS MASSIVE FOSTER CARE ADOPTION CONTRACT TO LET IT BE US

$750,000 CONTRACT WILL ASSIST IN FINDING PERMANENT ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR CHILDREN

The Organization will Partner with DCFS to Improve Illinois' Statistics as One of the Lowest-Ranking States in the Nation at Foster Care Adoptions

CHICAGO – Let It Be Us, the largest nonprofit 501(c) 3 in Illinois providing collaborative, innovative solutions for effective recruitment and placement of children in Illinois foster and adoptive care, has been awarded a $750,000 three- year contract by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Illinois ranks one of the lowest in adoption placement rates in the US for children awaiting adoption. This contract will significantly improve these children’s trajectories for finding forever families. Founded by Dr. Susan McConnell, Executive Director, herself an adoptive parent, this milestone solidifies Let It Be Us as the go-to resource for linking waiting children with loving, permanent families across the state.

Already a trusted leader in adoption and foster care innovation, Let It Be Us will further enhance the visibility, accessibility, and support systems surrounding the adoption process. With the designation of this contract, the organization will implement a series of strategic initiatives to improve placement outcomes. To accomplish this mission, Let It Be Us will launch Illinois’ “Heart Gallery” -part of the Adoption Listing Service - directly on their website, providing case workers and prospective families alike with an interactive, user-friendly database highlighting the countless children and teens currently awaiting placement. This gallery will offer a glimpse into their extraordinary stories, personal interests and will serve as a vital tool in thoughtful matchmaking to place children in their forever homes. All Illinois cases for children in need of adoptive resources are mandated to be registered with the Adoption Listing Service.

“We are honored to take on this critical role in Illinois’ child welfare system,” said Dr. Susan McConnell. “Our mission has always been to create innovative solutions to support foster care and adoption and the future of waiting children. Managing the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois and The Heart Gallery of Illinois allows us to directly impact the lives of children in need of permanency.”

Let It Be Us’ strategic plan to elevate the Illinois Adoption Listing Service includes:

Developing an Enhanced Online Adoption Exchange – A user-friendly platform where families can explore profiles of waiting children and submit inquiries directly.

Increasing Recruitment & Outreach Efforts – Hosting both virtual and in-person adoption events to engage potential adoptive parents.

Streamlining Family Matching Processes – Utilizing data-driven tools and caseworker collaboration to ensure better matches between children and families.

Providing Additional Training & Support – Offering resources to caseworkers and families to improve understanding of the adoption process

To lead this transformative initiative, Let It Be Us has appointed a specialized team, headed by Lindsay Weinberg Perlmutter, JD, LCSW. A seasoned expert in child welfare, Weinberg Perlmutter brings extensive experience from roles at the Adoption Center of Illinois, DCFS Post Adoption and Subsidized Guardianship, CASA of Cook County, and the University of Chicago Law School.

Serving Illinois for over a decade in foster care advocacy, recruitment, and placement, Let It Be Us is dedicated to ensuring that every child in Illinois has the opportunity to grow up in a loving, supportive home. For more information on Let It Be Us and the Illinois Adoption Listing Service or to make a donation to support these vital resources, visit www.letitbeus.org or call (847) 764-5428.

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