1979-1989
Uhlich enters into a contract with the Department of Children and Family Services to provide Relative/Traditional Foster Care.
1980
The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 establishes the first federal procedural rules governing child welfare case management, permanency planning, and foster care placement reviews. It also requires states to plan how services would be delivered, make reasonable efforts to keep families together, creates an adoption assistance program and the first significant role for the court system by requiring courts to regularly review cases.
1986
Congress authorizes the Independent Living Program to help older foster youth make the transition from foster care to independence.
1987
CEO Emeritus, Tom Vanden Berk, joins the Uhlich family. (October 1, 1987)
Late Mayor Harold Washington acknowledges the hard work of UCAN employee, Mary Frost, for “Chicago’s Most Reliable Employee” at his City Hall Office. (November 24, 1987)
1988
Thomas Fox is voted as Board Chair; William Gillore, Vice President; Nicholas G. Smith, Treasurer; George Drost, Secretary. (October 17, 1988)