Affirming Parents' Rights in the Child Welfare System

Description

This bill establishes a Child Welfare Disclosure to Parents Act that codifies parents' rights when involved with DCFS, including respectful treatment, consultation on placement and visitation, timely disclosure of their rights, and involvement in care decisions such as hair care plans. It pushes a system that often sidelines families to recognize parents as central decision-makers whenever possible. CPAC supports strengthening parental rights against an overreaching child welfare bureaucracy and supported this bill. The House passed this bill on 2025-04-10 by a vote of 111-0. The bill later became law.