[latebloomer]

Hi all!

We need IL State Police clearance for our dossier. I've called the State Police and after several transfers, I left a voicemail, but never heard back.

Is there anyone from IL out there who has been there and can help me?

Thanks!
Rhonda

[Mary Mulcahy]

Rhonda, in Illinois if you have a foster care license you will get the state police clearance. Your finger print will be run through the state police. I live in Illinois and my agency did not have me do this, however I think Devora from the list did you might want to PM her. You can call your local police and ask them if they will take your prints and run them, my local police do not do this as I live in a western burb. Talk to your home study agency they should be able to give you the information. Mary

[EDM4864]

Is it that you need a police clearance through your local law enforcement agency or the state information system? In Ohio, we had to obtain a wants/warrants check through our local police department and a second check through Ohio LEADS. The second check required that you were fingerprinted and the info was sent to B.C.I. in London, Ohio. We completed this process with the our Sheriffs Department via computer and received the information back several weeks later. Advise if you need further info.

[latebloomer]

Thanks for your help! It's actually a requirement for our dossier to have State Police clearance. Mary, we are required by our homestudy agency to be licensed for foster care, and maybe we'll receive the clearance through them. But I guess I"m confused by the fact that it's our placement agency requiring the clearance even though they're not the ones requiring us to be licensed for foster care.

[Devora]

Hi! Yes, we did the state police clearance. Here's the situation -- let me know if you have any questions!

* There are two different people who might require state police clearance: (1) your homestudy agency if they have you do the DCFS foster care license and (2) your homestudy/placement agency may require it for your dossier because some PGN reviewers are now requiring it.

* When DCFS does the clearance check you have to be fingerprinted. They use the state police database. HOWEVER, PGN requires that the results be printed on state police letterhead, so a letter from DCFS will not work for PGN. Therefore, you have to be fingerprinted again and it will go through the same database -- but this way you can get the clearance letter from the state police.

* To get the state police clearance you need to request a form from the Illinois State Police -- do not call them. Do it online. Go to their website at www.isp.state.il.us. On the left side of the screen click on "Services." You will then get a list of various services. On this list click on "Request UCIA forms."

* The request screen will ask for mailing address and the number of forms needed. There are two options: choose the "fingerprint request forms." Each form has a unique tracking number, so
they can only be obtained through the state police and cannot be photocopied. We received our forms about 1 week from when we requested them.

* The information for the form is very straightforward: name, address, birthdate, etc. The only two things to be aware of are that there is a space at the top of the form that asks for the requesting agency's number and it says this is optional: leave that blank. Also, there is a space where it asks for the mailing address of the person requesting the clearance check: put your own name and address on this so that the results will be mailed directly to you.

* For the fingerprints we went to our local police department and asked them to fingerprint us. In our case they were happy to do so. They use these forms all the time for their own background checks (for example, when businesses apply for liquor licenses) so they're familiar with them. If your police department isn't cooperative, I would check with your homestudy agency to find out if they can help you find a fingerprinting agency.

* In order to get the notarized results, ignore the instructions on the form that say not to send any other correspondence with the form. Instead, include a cover letter that explains that the background check is being done for purposes of an
international adoption and clearly spelling out the notary requirements. For Guatemala the requirements are that the results should be reported on state police letterhead, the signature must be notarized by a notary whose license does not expire for at least 1 year, and the date of the letter must be the same as the date it is notarized. I stated that last requirement twice and in bold as it's the one that it seemed was most likely to be done incorrectly.

* The cost is $20 per person and one check can be mailed for both people if you're a couple.

* We received our results in 2 weeks. They came in separate envelopes, one for each of us, and we each received two envelopes: one with the results un-notarized and another envelope with two copies of the notarized letter. They followed the
notary instructions perfectly. (Much to my surprise!)

* Your agency might have also said something about a LOCAL police clearance letter. This is what PGN used to require. Our agency said that the state police letter will replace the local letter. However, we had already had a local letter done (based on name, not fingerprints), so we included both with our dossier.


If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I was a bit worried about getting this letter -- both how long it would take and whether or not they would follow the notarizing instructions. But we had no problems at all.

Best wishes,
Devora

[latebloomer]

Thank you so much, Devora!

Wow! How do you know all this stuff?? So basically, we need 3 sets of fingerprints: We were already fingerprinted for DCFS, now we'll need a set for the state clearance, and then the appointed set from BCIS?

I will try the state website again later. For some reason, it's not letting my information go through right now.


So much to learn....!
Rhonda

[menadam]

I tried o request forms twice online and they never came. I called th number listed and they gave me a different number (sorry I pitched it) and the man took my info and I rec'd the papers about 4days later.
Good Luck
Cindy B

[latebloomer]

Thanks Cindy!

I'll look for that number!

Rhonda

[Devora]

Rhonda,

Yes, you've got it right -- 3 sets of fingerprints!

I'm glad to help! The only reason I know about this is because we've been through it already! We were the first ones at our agency to have to do this, so we were the guinea pigs. It also really helps that we have great homestudy and placement agencies! They're really good about keeping us informed of what's going on, explaining things, and working with us to figure things out when something new (like state police letters!) comes up.

Best wishes,
Devora

[latebloomer]

For anyone else looking for the phone number to request Illinois UCIA forms, it's the Bureau of Identification in Joliet: 815-740-5216. Hours are 8am - 4pm M-F.

[Lisatcst]

Hi Rhonda!

I live in Illinois also. I have state police clearance from when I was licensed for foster care through my homestudy agency.

My agency actually handling my adoption process is in Louisianna and they also require that their clients be cleared with the state police in the state that the client lives in. It was very confusing for awhile to the agency in Louisianna because the Illinois forms are so different from theirs. Eventually they understood how to read the forms.....after lots of explaining from me!! There is also a phone number that the agency can call and confirm your clearance. If you need it, please email me privately and I will go and find it for you. ltreacy1960@yahoo.com is my email address.

Hope that helps!!

Lisa

[menadam]

I think everyone who has a homestudy done in Illionois had to be fingerprinted through DCFS; and, NOW they want additional prints/clearances thru State police notarized and on their letterhead. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I believe Devora has the most accurate (and probably the most complete) info. My facilitator has since told me the same thing that she has. Evidently SOME reviewers are requiring this now and it is better to be safe than sorry.
Cindy B.