ILLINOIS — The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services announced recently that the department found forever homes for nearly 2,000 children.

Director George H. Sheldon says this was all part of the department’s Home for the Holidays campaign. He said the goal was to find homes for 1,000 children in the department’s care, but the department surpassed that goal with 1,742.

848 children found a permanent home with a parent, 759 found a permanent home with an adoptive parent and finally, 135 children found a home with a guardian.

Sheldon says every child deserves to be loved, to have a family and a forever home.

Sheldon explains that one of the most important things his agency can do is find a permanent home for their children.

He notes it’s a great feeling to give a child the gift of a home and a family for the rest of their lives, and DCFS has pushed to complete as many as possible in time for the holidays.