325 ILCS 7/5

The General Assembly finds that the University of Illinois' Children and Family Research Center determined in its October 2021 report, "Racial Disproportionality in the Illinois Child Welfare System", that: (1) In 2020, compared to their percentage in the general child population, black children were overrepresented in foster care having made up 16.4% of the general child population, but accounting for 38.5% of protective custodies. (2) In comparison, white children were proportionally represented in foster care having made up 52.8% of the general child population, but accounting for 48.8% of protective custodies. Hispanic children were under-represented having made up 24.9% of the general child population, but accounting for 11.5% of protective custodies.