HB5669 - Reuniting Family Initiative Act

• Creates the Family Advocacy Initiating Recovery (F.A.I.R.) Pilot Program within the Department of Children and Family Services to operate for 2 years, partnering with peer-led organizations to assess DCFS performance in child placement and parental termination cases involving parents with substance use disorders.

• Requires DCFS to provide peer-led organizations access to review departmental data on substance use at birth, child placement and reunification rates, case process changes, and ages of children transferred to foster care.

• Mandates F.A.I.R. pilot to create sustainable pathways to family reunification, conduct family needs assessments, utilize addiction experts to develop service plans, and submit detailed quarterly reports to the General Assembly on racial disparities, reunification success rates, and recommendations.

• Amends the Adoption Act to allow adoption contact agreements enabling ongoing contact between adopted children and birth parents, including visits and communication, with court enforcement powers and ability to modify agreements.

• Requires pre-consent counseling for legal mothers in DCFS cases before consenting to adoption or child surrender, delivered by an outside entity independent of DCFS with costs shared based on petitioner ability to pay.