A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff:
New law expands grandparent DCFS visitation rights
Springfield, IL… The rights of grandparents and great-grandparents to visit children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) are expanded under a new law sponsored by State Senator Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry).
Pam Althoff
Governor Rauner signed House Bill 5656 into law Friday—the state fair’s Future for Kids Day—which adds great-grandparents to the statute requiring DCFS to make reasonable accommodations to provide for visitation privileges to non-custodial grandparents.
“It’s important these kids are able to maintain connections with family members, especially grandparents who can play a vital role in a child’s life,” said Sen. Althoff, chief senate sponsor of the bill. “This common-sense law gives them that opportunity.”
The new law also states these visitation privileges should only be provided to non-custodial grandparents or great-grandparents if it’s in the child’s best interest.
DCFS may deny a request for visitation after considering specified criteria, but grandparents are allowed to request a clinical review when denied visitation.
More information on the new law can be found here.
Interesting legislation,
But basically FLUFF compared
To the big issues in our state.
Our granddaughter’s mommy passed away, (our daughter), & the two were living in the San Antonio, Tx. area at the time of the horrific accident.
Alison Donatucci was left brain damaged, She couldn’t eat, walk or talk, but was totally alert.
Very sad.
Being her Mom, I kept her w/me in San Antonio to get her the best care I could.
Our granddaughter’s Daddy moved her (Laura), to Chicago (age 4 1/2), to live with he & future step-mom; not divorced from my daughter yet.
It was fine for awhile, trips to pick Laura up & fly her back to visit her Mommy, (in a coma 7 mos.), grandparents & the rest of her beloved Tx. Family.
This is a lengthy story, all in your court records, due to havin to hire an IL attorney to proof to judge that Alison couldn’t be present in court (brain damaged) where I helped in getting the divorce resolved.
Again, an attorney, because Daddy wouldn’t let us see Laura, bring her to S A, Tx to see her Mommy for 2 yrs.
Ultimate pain!
And Grandparents had no rights in IL.
Now my daughter is deceased from pancreatitis 9/27/12, & I’m just learning your law has changed.
We need your help now more than ever.
Daddy is on Step-mom #3 now, cheated on Mom #2, and I has justified the cheating by making this bizarre lie after lie & brainwashed our granddaughter, Laura to believe Mom#2 abused her.
What a joke.
He stayed home to be w/new girlfriend, while Mom#2 took Laura to Tx to her Mommys funeral.
Daddy & mom #3 don’t even want me talking to mom #2.
And make.Laura hide when she deals with Daddy’s 2nd daughter, Laura’s 1/2 sister.
The whole faimily’s been ripped apart Laura then 11 & sister, 4.
Such tragedy!
The girls fought the break up and I never saw any type of abuse.
Thank you in advance.
Please inform me what I need to do in order to get formal visitation times for our 14 year old granddaughter in Lake In The Hills,(Chicago), IL. to Spring Branch, Tx.
Although we, her maternal grandparents, will be retiring
to another state in about a year.
We love & miss her so very much & have to fight for her every minute we receive.
Her Dad & Step-Mom #3 love the total control.
Thank you.
What about those who live with their mother who won’t let the father’s mother let the children spend time with them?