Fostering and Adopting Youth with Diverse Medical Needs featuring Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Medical Director Dr. Margaret Scotellaro

Fostering and Adopting Youth with Diverse Medical Needs featuring Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Medical Director Dr. Margaret Scotellaro

On Tuesday, July 8, Let It Be Us hosted an impactful and informative webinar focused on fostering and adopting youth with diverse medical needs. This virtual event was designed for individuals and families across Illinois who are exploring adoption and foster care, especially those open to caring for children with medical or developmental challenges.

The session featured Dr. Margaret Scotellaro, Medical Director for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Dr. Scotellaro brought both professional expertise and personal insight to the conversation. As an adoptive parent to a child with medical needs herself, she shared not only clinical knowledge but also the day-to-day realities of parenting in this space. Her unique dual perspective resonated deeply with attendees and added richness to the discussion.

Throughout the event, Dr. Scotellaro addressed the types of medical and developmental needs often seen in children in foster care and adoption in Illinois. She also explained the evaluation process, available supports, and how prospective parents can prepare to meet the needs of these children. Whether attendees were licensed foster parents or new to exploring foster to adopt in Illinois, the webinar provided valuable tools and clarity.

The event included a live Q&A session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with Dr. Scotellaro. Licensed foster parents in attendance also received 1 training credit hour.

Let It Be Us is dedicated to supporting families pursuing Illinois adoption and foster to adopt Illinois journeys. Events like this are part of our mission to educate, empower, and recruit families ready to make a difference in a child’s life, especially those with unique medical needs. If you were not able to make it, you can watch it below.

For more information about fostering, adoption in Illinois, or upcoming events, contact Erin Janssens at erinjanssens@letitbeus.org.

About Let It Be Us
Let It Be Us is a licensed 501(c)3 and child welfare agency 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 Illinois child welfare system. Learn more at www.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.