Article IX. Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Proceedings · Part C. Child Custody Proceedings Under Articles II, III and IV of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 942 lets a juvenile court hold a Court Family Conference in abuse, neglect, and dependency cases to review the service plan, discuss reunification, and set a target date for the child’s return home, with most of what’s said kept off the record and confidential.
(a)Abuse Neglect, and Dependency Cases. In cases under articles II, III, and IV of the
Juvenile Court Act of 1987, on motion of any party or on its own motion, the court may in its discretion hold a Court Family Conference in accordance with this rule.
(1)Time. At the temporary custody hearing, or as soon thereafter as possible, the court shall set the date and time for an initial Court Family Conference and state whether parties shall appear in person or remotely, including by telephone or video conference. The initial Court Family Conference shall be held not less than 56 days after the Temporary Custody Hearing.
(2)Parties. All parties shall appear at the initial Court Family Conference except the minor, who may appear in person or through a guardian ad litem or his or her attorney. The caseworker assigned to the case must also appear. If no party objects, a foster parent may participate in the Conference. If any party objects, the court in its discretion may exclude the foster parent but the foster parent retains the right to be heard by the court before the end of the proceedings. The court may in its discretion allow other persons interested in the minor to attend the Conference at the request of the child or a parent. The court may permit any case participant to appear remotely, including by telephone or video conference. The failure of any party (with the exception of the child or his or her guardian ad litem or attorney) to appear, either in person or remotely, including by telephone or video conference, shall not prevent the court from proceeding with the Court Family Conference.
(3)Record. If all parties are present for the initial Court Family Conference, the court shall conduct the Conference off the record, and at the conclusion of the Conference summarize the Conference for the record. If the parents are not present, the Court shall conduct the entire Conference on the record.
(4)Disclosure of Service Plan. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or its assigns shall provide the most recent service plan to all parties seven days before the initial Court Family Conference. In the event that the service plan has not been filed with the court prior to the initial Court Family Conference, the court shall convene the initial Court Family Conference and discussion shall focus on services that would appropriately be included in the plan. Such discussion should ensure that the family and the caseworker have a clear understanding of the expectations of the court.
(5)Issues.
(A)The discussion at the initial Court Family Conference shall focus on eliminating the causes or conditions that contributed to the findings of probable cause and, if applicable, the existence of urgent and immediate necessity. If possible, at the conclusion of the discussion the court shall set a target date for return home or case closure. If the court determines that setting a target date for return home or case closure is not possible or is premature, the court, during the discussion, shall make clear to the parties and the caseworker what needs to be accomplished before the court will consider setting a target return home date.
(B)The discussion at the initial Court Family Conference shall include the services contained in the service plan for the parents and the child. The needs of the child and visitation plans between the parent and the child and between the child and any siblings shall also be discussed.
(C)The discussion shall include any other matters that the court, in its discretion, deems relevant.
(6)Other Issues. At the initial Court Family Conference, the court may address case management issues that would be appropriate for consideration at a subsequent Court Family Conference.
(7)Order. At the conclusion of the initial Court Family Conference, the court shall enter an order approving the service plan or setting forth any changes the court requires to be made to the service plan.
(c)Subsequent Court Family Conferences. Court Family Conferences may be held after the initial Conference as the court deems necessary. At a subsequent Court Family Conference, the court has the authority to make orders relating to case management as is provided for in other civil cases by Rule 218. In the court’s discretion, matters considered at the initial Conference may be reviewed at any subsequent Conference.
(d)Concurrent Hearings. The initial Court Family Conference may be held concurrently with any hearing held within the required time. Subsequent Court Family Conferences may be held concurrently with any other hearing on the case.
(e)Confidentiality. With the exception of statements that would support new allegations of abuse or neglect, statements made during an off the record portion of an initial or subsequent Court Family Conference shall be inadmissible in any administrative or judicial proceeding. If the court refers to any specific statements made by the parents in its summary of the off the record portion of the Conference or in the order entered following the Conference, upon objection of the parents, such references shall be stricken.
Plain-English Summary
In abuse, neglect, and dependency cases, Rule 942 gives the court a tool for talking through a family’s case outside the pressure of a formal hearing. On a party’s motion or its own, the court can hold a Court Family Conference bringing together the parents, the child (in person or through a guardian ad litem or attorney), the assigned caseworker, and, if no one objects, a foster parent.
The first conference cannot happen any sooner than 56 days after the temporary custody hearing, giving the family and the caseworker time to develop a service plan first. The Department of Children and Family Services must share its most recent service plan with everyone at least seven days beforehand. Discussion centers on what caused the case to begin, what the service plan requires of the parents and child, and whether the court can set a target date for the child’s return home or the case’s closure. If parents attend, the conference runs off the record, and the judge summarizes it afterward; if they don’t, the whole conference goes on the record.
Later conferences can happen as needed and can double as regular case management conferences under Rule 218. To keep the discussion candid, statements made off the record are inadmissible in later proceedings — with one exception: statements that support a new allegation of abuse or neglect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Court Family Conference?
A meeting the juvenile court can hold in abuse, neglect, or dependency cases to review the service plan, discuss the child’s needs, and work toward reunification or another resolution.
Who has to attend a Court Family Conference?
All parties, including the caseworker; the child may appear in person or through a guardian ad litem or attorney, and a foster parent may participate unless a party objects.
Is what I say at the conference confidential?
Statements made during the off-the-record portion are inadmissible in later proceedings, except statements that support a new allegation of abuse or neglect.
When is the first conference held?
Not sooner than 56 days after the temporary custody hearing — that is a minimum wait, not a deadline, and the court sets the exact date as soon after that point as possible.
Can the conference happen at the same time as a regular hearing?
Yes. The initial conference can be held concurrently with any hearing within the required time, and later conferences can pair with any other hearing in the case.
Committee Comments
Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues
A Court Family Conference is intended to be an opportunity for the trial court, the parents, the caseworker and the child or child’s representative to discuss the court process, and the meaning, intent and practicality of the service plan; to discuss and ensure the safety of the child; to cooperatively discuss goals; and ultimately, to expedite resolution of the case through reunification of the family or other appropriate action. Paragraph (a) authorizes the use of Court Family Conferences in abuse, neglect and dependency cases.
Paragraph (b)(1) provides that a Court Family Conference will be held not less than 56 days after the Temporary Custody Hearing in cases when the court determines it is appropriate to do so.
Paragraph (b)(2) provides that all parties are required to appear at a Court Family Conference, except the minor, who may appear through a guardian ad litem or through counsel. The assigned caseworker must also appear, and a foster parent may appear, absent objection by a party.
Paragraph (b)(3) provides that statements made at Court Family Conferences are confidential and may not be used subsequently, except for statements that may provide the basis for a new allegation of abuse or neglect. The Court Family Conference will be off the record unless the parents are not present. Upon completion of an off the record Conference, the court will summarize the matter for the record.
Paragraph (b)(4) provides that the most recent service plan is to be provided to the parties seven days prior to the Conference. At the initial Conference the service plan is discussed, with the purpose of ensuring that the caseworker and the parents clearly understand the expectations of the court.
Paragraph (b)(5) addresses the issues which should be discussed at the Court Family Conference, with an emphasis on the parties, the court and the service providers sharing information in an open and expeditious manner.
Paragraph (b)(7) provides that the court may approve the service plan or order changes to the plan at the conclusion of an initial Court Family Conference.
Paragraph (c) allows subsequent Court Family Conferences, and the combination of initial or subsequent Court Family Conferences with other hearings in the case. Subsequent Court Family Conferences may address any issues that could be considered in a case management conference under Rule 218.
Paragraph (d) provides that Court Family Conferences may be held at the same time that the court conducts any other hearing. As the rules of evidence apply to hearings, but do not apply to Court Family Conferences, it is incumbent upon the circuit court to only consider properly admissible evidence when determining the result of the hearing.
In order to promote an open and honest discourse at an initial or subsequent Court Family Conference, Paragraph (e) provides that statements made during the off the record portion of the Conference shall be inadmissible in any administrative or judicial proceeding. The only exception to this confidentiality requirement is when the statements at the Conference would support new allegations of abuse or neglect.
Amendment History
Adopted February 10, 2006, effective July 1, 2006; amended Sept. 29, 2021, eff. Oct. 1, 2021.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:court family conference IllinoisDCFS case conference requirementsabuse neglect case conferencereunification hearing juvenile courtservice plan review conference