Norman v. McDonald

930 F. Supp. 1219, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4582, 1996 WL 172278
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedApril 11, 1996
Docket89 C 1624
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 930 F. Supp. 1219 (Norman v. McDonald) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Norman v. McDonald, 930 F. Supp. 1219, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4582, 1996 WL 172278 (N.D. Ill. 1996).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

HART, District Judge.

This is a class action that challenged certain practices of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) 1 as being in violation of relevant federal statutes’ and the federal Constitution. . Plaintiffs are impoverished parents or legal guardians who are or were at risk of losing their children because they were unable to provide adequate food or shelter for the children. 2 Plaintiffs alleged that DCFS had policies and practices of failing to assist plaintiffs in securing the resources and services necessary to keep their families intact that were in *1221 violation of. federal statutory and constitutional requirements.

In May 1990, this court granted preliminary injunctive relief to two of the named plaintiffs in this case. See Norman v. Johnson, 739 F.Supp. 1182 (N.D.I11.1990). Defendant appealed that ruling. Prior to this court resolving the ease on its merits or the Seventh Circuit resolving the appeal of the grant of preliminary relief, the parties settled the case. Following notice to the class and a hearing, the parties’ proposed consent order was signed on March 28, 1991 (hereinafter the “Consent Order”). The Consent Order required that DCFS implement and develop certain procedures and provide certain services. The Consent Order also contains a requirement that defendant provide certain information and that a monitor (hereinafter the “Monitor”) be appointed to receive the reports and make recommendations concerning the implementation of the Consent Order. The term of the Monitor’s appointment was to be for approximately four years, expiring July 1, 1995. In February 1995, the parties agreed to move the court to extend that term to February 15, 1997. The basis of this motion was unresolved disputes regarding defendant’s compliance with the Consent Order. An extension was granted, but only to February 15,1996.

On February 12, 1996, plaintiffs moved to extend the monitoring period to February 15, 1998 on the ground that defendant had not complied with certain provisions of the Consent Order. 3 This time defendant opposes the extension. Defendant contends that he has substantially complied with the requirements of the Consent Order and that the additional expense of gathering information and employing the Monitor are no longer necessary. He also contends that changes in the law since March 1991 preclude the Consent Order from being enforced further. For purposes of resolving plaintiffs’ pending motion, defendant concedes that the Sixth Monitoring Report dated May 24, 1995 and covering calendar year 1994 (the “Sixth Report”) accurately reports defendant’s compliance.

Under the terms of the Consent Order, defendant agreed to implement three general policies. (1) A child is not to be separated from a parent 4 because of living conditions or lack of subsistence unless there is reason to believe that the circumstances or conditions of the child present an “imminent danger” to the child’s life or health and defendant has made “reasonable efforts” to prevent or eliminate the need for removal, unless reasonable efforts would not eliminate the need for removal. “‘Reasonable efforts’ includes, for example, provision of hard services such as assistance in locating and securing housing, temporary shelter, cash assistance (directly paid by defendant or otherwise provided), in-kind services including food or clothing, child care, emergency caretakers, or advocacy with public and community agencies providing such services.” Consent Order ¶ 4(a). (2) A child shall not be separated from a parent living in a shelter or substandard housing, unless there is reason to believe that the conditions present an “imminent danger” to the child’s life or health. Before returning a child to such conditions, defendant shall determine the child will be allowed to reside there and have a bed. Id. ¶ 4(b). (3) Instead of removing a child from a parent because of failure to protect the child from a perpetrator of domestic violence, defendant shall make “reasonable efforts” to keep the child in the parent’s custody unless an imminent danger to the child’s life or health is presented or reasonable efforts would be to no avail. “In this context, ‘reasonable efforts’ includes not only the efforts listed in paragraph 4(a) of this order, but also, for example, referring the parent for services to obtain an order of protection, exploring possible alternative housing with, e.g., relatives, and locating and transporting the family to a shelter for battered women.” Id. ¶ 4(c).

The Consent Order also contains more specific provisions. By July 1, 1991, defendant was to establish a cash assistance program providing a family with up to $800 per calendar year for rent, security deposits, util *1222 ity fees, furniture, or other items if the assistance would prevent the separation of parent and child. Certain record keeping is also required. Records of the money disbursed and whether the recipients remained united or were reunited are to be kept. Id. ¶ 5.

By July 1, 1991, DCFS was to seek to enter into an agreement with the Department of Public Aid (“DPA”) and jointly seek federal approval to continue AFDC benefits for up to 90 days during periods of DCFS temporary custody not expected to exceed 90 days. The agreement is also to provide that a parent can apply to DPA for benefits while a child is in DCFS custody and obtain payments prior to return of the child that will aid the parent in regaining custody. Id. ¶ 6.

By October 1,1991, DCFS was to establish a housing advocacy program to provide certain housing services that would aid class members in finding suitable housing. DCFS was also to seek agreements with public housing authorities that would aid class members in finding housing. Id. ¶ 7.

By July 1, 1991, DCFS was to establish a referral service for each office consisting of a localized manual containing an annually updated list of community resources relevant to the needs of the class. DCFS employees are to receive annual instruction regarding use of the manual. Id. ¶ 8.

It was also agreed that DCFS would implement the following procedures by July 1, • 1991: (a) require pertinent personnel to follow the requirements of the Consent Order and ensure timely administrative case reviews; (b) develop with the Monitor a means of documenting specific information regarding imminent danger determinations and the implementation of reasonable efforts; (c) “establish reasonable time guidelines within which DCFS workers should ordinarily return children home or initiate court action to do so for use in cases where problems with living circumstances are preventing family reunification;” (d) establish risk assessment methods based on living conditions; (e) establish a protocol for locating absent parents; and (f) promptly initiate court actions for the return of children. Id. ¶ 9.

The Consent Order contains a provision for notifying class members of their rights under the Consent Order and a method for appealing certain determinations.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
930 F. Supp. 1219, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4582, 1996 WL 172278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/norman-v-mcdonald-ilnd-1996.