What Happens to Foster Kids When They Turn 21?

Foster Parent Education
July 17, 2026

Turning 21 rarely changes much for most young people. They keep their bedroom, stay on a parent’s insurance, call home when the car breaks down, and lean on a support system that was built quietly over twenty-one years. For a young person in foster care, that same birthday can close a chapter of their life […]

Foster Parent Education
July 13, 2026

At Let It Be Us, we often see patterns that remind us just how important thoughtful, child-centered recruitment can be. One pattern has remained remarkably consistent: at any given time, approximately 10% of the children and teens we are recruiting foster and/or adoptive families for are on the autism spectrum. Interestingly, about 10% of the […]

Foster Parent Education
July 13, 2026

Why Marketing is One of the Most Important Tools in Child Welfare Today When people think about marketing, they often picture advertisements, products, or businesses competing for customers. Child welfare couldn’t be more different. In our field, marketing isn’t about selling anything. It’s about helping children find families. Every blog post, every social media campaign, […]

Foster Parent Education
July 7, 2026

A long-ago conviction. A stretch of financial hardship. A small apartment instead of a house. People talk themselves out of fostering over things that, under Illinois law, do not actually close the door. At Let It Be Us, we hear these worries often, and most of them turn out to be misreadings of how licensing […]

Press
June 29, 2026

Let It Be Us Receives One-Year Grant from The Gies Foundation to Expand Adoption Recruitment in Illinois Barrington, Illinois — Let It Be Us is pleased to announce that it has received a one-year grant from The Gies Foundation to fund two new Adoption Recruiter positions that will significantly expand the organization’s statewide efforts to […]

Foster Parent Education
June 25, 2026

What Does a Therapeutic Foster Parent Look Like? By Cathy Newbury, Director of Foster Home Recruitment with Let It Be Us As a foster parent for nearly 20 years, I’ve learned that some of the children who enter care aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for safety. They’re looking for someone who won’t give up […]

Foster Parent Education
June 11, 2026

Fostering children who have experienced trauma requires specialized knowledge that goes beyond standard parenting skills. In Illinois, licensed foster parents who would like to become specialized foster parents must complete additional trauma-informed training programs designed to help them understand and respond to the unique needs of children who have survived abuse, neglect, or other traumatic […]

Foster Parent Education
June 5, 2026

Pride Month and Foster Care: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Illinois June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honor its history, and recognize the importance of creating spaces where every person feels safe, valued, and supported. It is also an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in […]

Foster Parent Education
June 4, 2026

Dear Licensed or Potential Foster Families, Can I be honest with you for a minute? I have a doctorate in social work. I have spent decades now in child welfare. And I am a three-time adoptive parent who has raised what I lovingly call my free-range young adults… humans who are now out in the […]

Foster Parent Education
June 4, 2026

The judge signs the order. You walk out of the courthouse with your child, legally and permanently yours. Relatives send congratulations. Friends call it the finish line. Three months later, you are sitting in your kitchen at 10 p.m. wondering how to help your child through the harder moments, why school conferences keep circling back […]

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June 2, 2026

Recruitment and placement in adoption and foster care play significant roles in the prevention of human trafficking and in 2025 Let It Be Us will expand into Specialized Recruitment to serve this underserved population.

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May 27, 2026

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May 22, 2026

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May 12, 2026

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May 11, 2026

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May 8, 2026

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May 7, 2026

Foster Parent Education
May 5, 2026

National Foster Care Month: What Let It Be Us Is Doing to Support Children and Families Every May, National Foster Care Month serves as an important reminder: thousands of children and teens across the country need the safety, stability, and support of caring adults. It is a time to recognize the resilience of children in […]

Foster Parent Education
May 4, 2026

Every May, something important happens across the country. Whole communities pause to focus on the children and young people who are growing up in foster care. At Let It Be Us, we see this month as both a celebration and a call to action, and as May 2026 approaches, the need for safe, stable homes […]

Latest News
April 29, 2026

Foster Parent Education
April 28, 2026

If you are considering foster care, the financial side of the conversation matters. Asking how much foster parents get paid is one of the most common questions we hear at Let It Be Us, and it deserves a straightforward answer. You should not feel uncomfortable for asking. Understanding the financial picture helps you plan realistically […]

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April 27, 2026

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April 22, 2026

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April 15, 2026

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April 15, 2026

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April 13, 2026

Foster Parent Education
April 11, 2026

deliverable_id: dlv_bZzepaq0pGPl client: let_it_be_us generated: 2026-03-26 Thinking about adoption is one of the biggest decisions you can make. Whether you have been considering it for years or are just starting to explore the idea, you probably have questions about where to begin, what it costs, and what type of agency is the right fit for […]

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April 7, 2026

Foster Parent Education
April 3, 2026

You get a letter in the mail or a call from your caseworker. A guardian ad litem has been appointed to your case. If you are a foster parent or prospective adoptive parent in Illinois, those words might bring up more questions than answers. Who is this person? What will they do? And what does […]

Foster Parent Education
April 1, 2026

National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Protecting Children Through Thoughtful, Responsible Advocacy April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize the importance of protecting children, strengthening families, and building systems that prioritize safety, dignity, and well-being (Child Welfare Information Gateway). Prevention doesn’t happen in a single moment. It happens through intentional decisions, responsible […]

Foster Parent Education
April 1, 2026

Choosing to foster or adopt a child of a different race is one of the most meaningful decisions a family can make. It is also one that calls for honest self-reflection, intentional preparation, and a willingness to grow in ways you may not yet expect. The love you bring matters deeply, and so does your […]

Foster Parent Education
March 6, 2026

In December 2018, Bryceson Sanders was called to the school office during his junior year of high school. Pink hearts were practically circling his head. He'd finally talked to the girl he'd been Snapchatting with for weeks, and he was in love. But his social worker stood waiting. She was checking him out early, and […]

Foster Parent Education
March 6, 2026

Foster care and adoption both create families for children who need them. But they work in fundamentally different ways, with different goals, different legal structures, and different timelines. Understanding these differences matters if you are considering either path. At Let It Be Us, we help Illinois families navigate both foster care and adoption through foster […]

Foster Parent Education
March 4, 2026

Every year, hundreds of young people in Illinois reach adulthood while in foster care. For many, this transition means leaving behind the structured support of the child welfare system and stepping into independent living without the safety net that most young adults take for granted: family, stable housing, financial security. This moment is not just […]

Foster Parent Education
March 2, 2026

Every foster parent reaches a point where the weight of daily caregiving starts to press harder than usual. Maybe the child in your care is working through a difficult behavioral phase. Maybe you have a medical appointment you have been putting off for months. Maybe you simply need a weekend to rest and come back […]

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February 24, 2026

Press
February 23, 2026

Let It Be Us Launches Foster Home Recruitment Pilot with Arden Shore Child and Family Services Let It Be Us is proud to announce the launch of a new foster home recruitment pilot program in partnership with Arden Shore Child and Family Services, a longstanding Illinois child welfare agency located in Waukegan, Illinois. Arden Shore […]

Foster Parent Education
February 20, 2026

Most people want a simple answer, a specific number of months from start to finish, then you bring your child home. But adoption from foster care doesn’t work that way. The honest answer is that most families in Illinois spend 9 to 18 months or longer from their first inquiry to finalization day. That might […]

Press
February 18, 2026

Let It Be Us Launches Foster Home Recruitment Pilot with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Let It Be Us is proud to announce the launch of a new foster home recruitment pilot program in partnership with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), one of Illinois’ largest and most respected child welfare providers. Through this pilot, […]

Foster Parent Education
February 18, 2026

Some children need more than a safe place to sleep. They need parents equipped with specialized skills, backed by a clinical team, and prepared to help them heal from experiences that have shaped how they see the world. Therapeutic foster care exists specifically for these children. It pairs specialized training with wraparound services, creating a […]

Foster Parent Education
February 16, 2026

You’re considering fostering or adopting a child with special needs. Maybe you’ve heard stories from other foster parents, or you’ve been reading about children waiting for families in Illinois. The term “special needs” keeps coming up, but what does it actually mean in the context of foster care and adoption? Special needs placement isn’t about […]

Foster Parent Education
February 10, 2026

Illinois leads the nation in protecting LGBTQIA+ youth and families within foster care. Since 2003, when the state became the first in the country to establish formal LGBTQIA+ youth service policies, Illinois has built one of the most comprehensive support systems anywhere for LGBTQIA+ families who want to foster or adopt. Yet finding your way […]

Foster Parent Education
February 7, 2026

Your phone rings at 2:47 AM. A caseworker needs a safe place for a seven-year-old tonight. You have forty-five minutes to decide. This is emergency foster care. No gradual onboarding. No weeks of preparation. Just a child who needs stability, and you. At Let It Be Us, we connect already-licensed foster families with children in […]

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February 5, 2026

Foster Parent Education
February 5, 2026

Every year, over 20,000 young people in the United States age out of foster care without a permanent family.[1] In Illinois, that number sits around 700 to 800 youth annually who turn 21 and must navigate adulthood on their own. But here’s what the statistics don’t capture: you don’t have to face this transition unprepared. […]

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February 4, 2026

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February 4, 2026

Foster Parent Education
February 3, 2026

You’ve likely heard about foster care, but therapeutic fostering is something different. It’s designed for children facing significant emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges that go beyond what traditional foster care can support. These kids have received appropriate therapy and are ready to be placed in a home environment. They need a structured therapeutic environment, skilled […]

Latest News
February 2, 2026

Foster Parent Education
February 2, 2026

You've made the decision to become a foster parent. Maybe you've completed the training, or you're close to finishing licensing. Now you're facing the practical reality: a child may arrive at your home within hours or days, and you want to be ready. At Let It Be Us we work with agencies throughout the State […]

Foster Parent Education
January 31, 2026

If you’re exploring foster care in Illinois, you’ve probably encountered contradictory information: some sources make it sound impossibly complicated, while others suggest anyone can do it. Neither extreme tells the complete story. Becoming a foster parent requires meeting specific legal and safety standards, but these requirements exist to protect children, not to exclude qualified families. […]

Latest News
January 29, 2026

Foster Parent Education
January 29, 2026

Many prospective foster parents in Illinois wonder about the financial realities of foster care. You might be asking: Will I need to pay for everything out of pocket? What exactly does the monthly stipend cover? These are legitimate concerns, and understanding the financial support available is crucial to making an informed decision about foster care. […]

Foster Parent Education
January 27, 2026

Maybe you've been thinking about bringing a child into your home. Perhaps you've attended an informational session, or a friend shared their fostering story, or you simply feel ready to take this step. Whatever brought you here, you're facing a significant question: Should you foster or adopt? Both paths provide safe homes for children who […]

Foster Parent Education
January 26, 2026

To become a foster parent in Illinois, you must be at least 21, financially stable, and have safe housing (renting is fine). You complete DCFS, FBI, and State Central Register background checks, 30+ hours of online PRIDE pre-service training, and a home study. The process is free and typically takes three to nine months. Let […]

Foster Parent Education
January 23, 2026

You’ve heard the assumptions. Older children are harder to connect with. They come with too much baggage. The bond won’t be the same as raising a child from infancy. You will not be able to enjoy a child’s “first experiences in life.” These fears stop countless families from considering adoption beyond babies and toddlers, yet […]

Foster Parent Education
January 23, 2026

Separating siblings is supposed to be the exception. Illinois law protects siblings, placing brothers and sisters together whenever doing so serves their best interests. Yet thousands of sibling groups still wait in foster care, watching families pass them over for single children. The reluctance makes sense on paper. Adopting siblings means more space, more resources, […]

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January 7, 2026

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December 22, 2025

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December 18, 2025

You’re considering becoming a foster parent. Maybe you’ve attended an informational session, or you’re researching what the process really looks like. The training requirements probably seem overwhelming right now. Here’s the truth: foster parent training isn’t designed to intimidate you. It’s designed to prepare you for some of the hardest and most meaningful work you’ll […]

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