LSSI’s goal for children in foster care is to help them find their forever home through reunification with birth families or through adoption or guardianship. In Illinois, there is an urgent need for foster parents, with 20,000 children currently in foster care and not enough foster parents to meet the need. 

LSSI is the largest private provider of foster care in Illinois, licensing foster parents and placing children in foster care through 12 offices that include Aurora, Canton, Champaign, Chicago, Danville, Galesburg, Marion, Moline, Nachusa, Rockford, West Peoria, and Vienna. Foster parents for teens and siblings especially are needed. LSSI welcomes and affirms members of the LGBTQ+ community, including children in care and foster parents.

“LSSI actively seeks individuals and families interested in becoming licensed foster parents,” said Christine Hawes, Statewide Foster Parent, Licensing, and Recruitment Manager. “There is always a need for foster parents, but post-pandemic, the need is even more critical.”

Foster parents provide safe, loving, stable homes, help shape future generations, teach kids to connect with others, and provide positive support for biological families, Hawes said. By becoming a foster parent through LSSI, people join a community dedicated to providing support, resources, and guidance every step of the way.

Whether someone is considering fostering for the first time or has previous experience, LSSI embraces individuals from all walks of life. LSSI also welcomes individuals and organizations that can help spread the word about the need for foster parents.

For more information, visit LSSI.org/fostercare.