Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Even the people holding the news conference Tuesday had to admit: it’s rare to mention the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is a national leader in something good. However, in the year since Gov. JB Pritzker signed the KIND (Kinship in Demand) Act into law, DCFS has put the state atop all others.

“The federal Administration for Children and Families has identified Illinois as the Number One state for placement with relatives and kinship caregivers thanks in part to this historic legislation,” said DCFS director Heidi Mueller (pictured, at mic).

As opposed to being placed in a foster family of strangers at a most traumatic time, “children being able to be taken care of by relatives and fictive kin in environments that they’re familiar with don’t lose things that are important to them,” said Mary Kay Collins of the Center for Youth and Family Solutions, which hosted the news conference.

“It wasn’t just about legislation for our kids. It’s about their life.”