At Let It Be Us, we are committed to achieving permanency for children in foster care. If you are a caseworker or child welfare professional looking to support Illinois adoption, we welcome the opportunity to partner with you through the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois.

To register a youth for Illinois foster care adoption, including placement on the Heart Gallery of Illinois, please follow the steps below. The children eligible for registration must have a court-ordered permanency goal of Adoption or Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights.

Eligibility Requirements

Children in foster care may be registered with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois only if they have a current court-ordered permanency goal of:

• Adoption, or
• Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)

These are the youth we refer to as waiting children, and our goal is to connect them with families interested in adopting a child in Illinois or pursuing foster to adopt in Illinois.

How to Register a Child

To register a child for the Heart Gallery of Illinois and the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois, please:

1. Complete the required registration forms
2. Submit all materials to:
   dcfs.adoptionlistingservicesinquiryunit@illinois.gov

Note: caseworkers do not need to have a professional photograph of a child in order to register them for the Adoption Listing Service.

Questions?

If you have any questions about registering youth or about our services for Illinois foster care adoption, please don’t hesitate to reach out:

adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
Call us at: 800-572-2390

In order for the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois to match youth in care with prospective adoptive families, there are 4-5 forms that must be completed and signed by the appropriate DCFS or Agency representatives:

1. ALS-1

2. ALS-1a

3. Adoption Listing Service of Illinois Child Registration Form

4. Adoption Listing Service of Illinois Release of Information Form*

If the youth has a court-ordered goal of adoption, an additional form must be completed:

5. Adoption Listing Service of Illinois Photograph Consent Form*

*If the child is 12 years of age or older, they also must sign form #4 and #5.

If you are having trouble downloading the forms, please contact Kate Himes at katehimes@letitbeus.org to receive these forms via email. 

At Let It Be Us, our mission is to create lasting connections between waiting children in foster care and licensed adoptive families throughout Illinois and beyond. The Adoption Listing Service of Illinois, operated by Let It Be Us, is a key resource for Illinois foster care adoption, helping child welfare professionals match youth with families ready to foster to adopt in Illinois.

Required Documentation for Youth Registration

To ensure the most accurate and effective matching process, we ask that caseworkers and agencies provide:

• A copy of the court order confirming the child’s permanency goal (Adoption or Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights)
• Any relevant case details as outlined in the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois Release of Information Form (Form #4)

This information allows our team to ensure that no important case developments are missed, improving outcomes for children in need of permanency.

Matching with Prospective Adoptive Families

Licensed families across the state – and even out of state – register with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois at Let It Be Us to explore how to adopt a child in Illinois or how to adopt a baby in Illinois for free. These families can:

• Inquire directly about children featured on the Heart Gallery of Illinois
• Be proactively matched to waiting children, even without submitting an inquiry

That’s why it’s vital to complete all forms thoroughly and comprehensively. The more detailed the information you provide, the more successfully we can match a child with a qualified, loving adoptive family.

Legal Requirements for Caseworker Participation

According to Illinois Administrative Code Title 89 Part 309 and DCFS Procedures 309, child welfare professionals are required to register eligible youth with the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois when:

1. The child needs an adoptive resource, and
2. A legal screening has determined that adoption is the appropriate permanency plan
   [DCFS Procedures 309.40(b)(1)]

Important:
Even if a case has not passed legal screening or the State’s Attorney will not pursue TPR due to the lack of an adoptive resource, workers should still list the child. These cases must be submitted within two weeks of the legal decision
[DCFS Procedures 309.40(b)(2)]

When Not to Register a Child

Do not register a child if:

• The current caregiver is uncertain about adopting
• The child’s case has not passed legal screening (unless the exception above applies)
• The child does not need an adoptive resource
• Adoption is not an appropriate goal

[DCFS Procedures 309.40(b)(2)]

We’re honored to partner with you in securing permanency for the incredible children you represent. If you have any questions about registering youth for Illinois adoption, or if you’d like help navigating the process, please contact us at:

adoptionlistingservice@letitbeus.org
800-572-2390

Let It Be Us is here to support caseworkers, families, and agencies throughout the adoption Illinois journey. Together, we can help more children in foster care find the loving, permanent homes they deserve.