Northern Illinois Leaders Come Together with Let It Be Us for Children in Foster Care in The Northern Region for a Foster Home Recruitment Event
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- February 4, 2026
Northern Illinois Leaders Come Together with Let It Be Us for Children in Foster Care in The Northern Region for a Foster Home Recruitment Event
Let It Be Us was proud to partner with five Northern Illinois State Senators, led by
Illinois State Senator Darby Hills, and Lake County–area elected official together with:
State Senator Mary Edly-Allen
State Senator Adrianne Johnson
State Senator Julie Morrison
State Senator Craig Wilcox
“Thank you to Senator Darby Hills, Senator Mary Edly-Allen, Senator Adrianne Johnson, Senator Julie Morrison, and Senator Craig Wilcox. Let It Be Us works with all counties in Illinois and we see Lake County as having the special need of lacking open foster homes. Why is it important to place a child in foster care in their own county? For a few reasons; to stay in their own school, to stay close to family, including siblings, to stay close to teachers and mentors, and to stay close to friends. These are important support systems that a child loses when they are placed outside of their county. These Illinois State Senators helped us make a difference for kids in foster care in Lake County,” said Susan McConnell, executive director of Let It Be Us.
The seminar took place on Saturday, January 31, from 10:00–11:30 AM at the Libertyville Civic Center, bringing together public leaders, child welfare professionals, and community members who share a commitment to improving outcomes for children and families across Lake County and surrounding areas.
Why This Seminar Matters
Illinois continues to face a critical shortage of foster homes-especially for older youth, sibling groups, and children with complex needs. While many people feel called to help, the foster care and adoption systems can feel overwhelming or difficult to navigate. This seminar is designed to change that.
By convening elected leaders alongside experienced practitioners, Let It Be Us aims to demystify foster care and adoption and ensure families leave with clear, accurate information and a sense of confidence about next steps.
Let It Be Us Recruits Foster Parents
Participants heard from expert guest speakers about the different pathways to foster care, including:
- Emergency Foster Care – providing immediate, short-term care for children entering the system
- Specialized Foster Care – supporting children with higher or more specific needs
- Traditional Foster Care – offering stability and care while permanency plans are developed
- Therapeutic Foster Care – caring for children who benefit from additional clinical supports
Leadership That Listens
The participation of five Northern Illinois State Senators underscores the importance of community education and collaboration in strengthening the child welfare system. Their presence reflects a shared belief that informed families are essential partners in creating safe, stable, and loving homes for children.
This seminar is not about politics-it is about people, children, and solutions.
Take the First Step
Whether you are simply curious, actively considering fostering or adoption, or ready to begin the process, this your open door. For those who would like to become foster parents, please complete the form below.
About Let It Be Us:
Let It Be Us is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recruitment, matching and placement within foster care and adoption across the State of Illinois. Through innovative programming and strategic partnerships, Let It Be Us aims to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system. Learn more at www.letitbeus.org.
Dr. Susan A. McConnell is the Founder and Executive Director of Let It Be Us, an Illinois licensed child welfare agency with the mission of providing collaborative, innovative solutions of effective recruitment and placement within Illinois foster care and adoption. Susan has an MBA from DePaul University and a Doctorate Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California, where her work focused on permanency within child welfare. She is the Chair of the Permanency Committee of the Illinois Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council, appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in 2017. She is also an adoptive parent with over 30 years of open adoption experience. She can be reached at susanmcconnell@letitbeus.org.
Let It Be Us is an Illinois 501(c)3 and licensed child welfare agency. The mission of Let It Be Us is to provide collaborative, innovative solutions of effective recruitment and placement within Illinois foster care and adoption. The Let It Be Us platform manages the Adoption Listing Service of Illinois and the Heart Gallery of Illinois, engines of success for Illinois foster care adoptions. The Let It Be Us vision is for all children in the Illinois child welfare system to achieve educational equity, employment equity, and overall well being through the incorporation of Let It Be Us Programming into statewide advancements in foster care and adoption recruitment and placement. For more information about Let It Be Us, visit www.letitbeus.org.
