CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois’ troubled child welfare agency says an improvement plan that it has submitted to a judge includes reforms for addressing children with emotional and behavioral issues.

The Department of Children and Family Services filed the detailed plans in court late Tuesday. They’re part of a decades-old consent decree aimed at improving care and follow an American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois lawsuit. The new plan includes pilot programs, more monitoring and streamlining.

Both sides negotiated the agreement. It will be implemented over six months. DCFS deems it “action to correct systemic deficiencies.”

The agency has been under fire for conditions at residential treatment facilities.

One goal in the plan is reducing the time that state wards stay at the facilities. The agency says it’s testing a pilot program to place wards with foster care parents faster.

 

 

 

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.