SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House passed a plan Tuesday night to require DCFS caseworkers to develop hair care plans with youth in care and their parents.

Advocates say many youth in care end up living with families who don’t know how to properly care for their natural hair. Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet (D-Chicago) said every youth in care should have a hair care plan that accounts for their racial, cultural, gender, religious or other identities unless the child can maintain their hairstyle without a plan.

This comes as Black children are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system and are often placed with families or in residential settings where they aren’t allowed to wear their hair in ways that represent their cultural background.

The DCFS Youth Advisory Board worked with Du Buclet to make these recommendations into legislation.

"It’s going to be up to DCFS to determine how the cost will be covered and what cost will be covered," Du Buclet explained. "So the cost could potentially fall on DCFS, the foster parents or from a youth’s allowance."

The agency could also be required to develop training for caregivers to provide culturally competent hair care by June 1, 2025.

This bill would allow DCFS to adopt rules to facilitate implementation of the changes, including responsibilities of caseworkers and placement plan specialists in developing the hair care plan, engaging parents regarding the hair care needs of youth and procedures to follow if the parents cannot be contacted, and factors to consider in granting children increased autonomy over hair care decisions. 

House Bill 5097 passed out of the House unanimously. The proposal now moves to the Senate for further consideration. 

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