Definitions

Definitions. As used in this Act: "Abuse" includes the meaning ascribed to the term in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 and in Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. "Abandonment" includes, but is not limited to, the failure of a parent to maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern, or responsibility for the welfare of the child or when one or both of the child's parents are deceased or cannot be reasonably located and includes the definition of dependency in Section 2-4 of the Juvenile Court of 1987. "Dependent on the court" means a child is under the jurisdiction of a "juvenile court" as defined in this Section's jurisdiction; the child was adjudicated at any time by a court acting under this Act's authority as abused, neglected, or abandoned as defined in this Act, and the child is in need of oversight and supportive services as determined by the court. "Juvenile court" means a court located in the United States that has jurisdiction under state law to make judicial determinations concerning the custody, guardianship, abuse, neglect, dependency, or protection of a juvenile and is authorized to issue orders, make factual findings and determinations concerning such matters as parental reunification, best interest of minors, including such findings necessary to enable a child who files a petition under this Act to petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Neglect" includes the meaning ascribed to the term in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of Section 2-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the failure to perform caretaking functions as defined in subsection (c) of Section 600 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. "Unaccompanied child" means a person under 18 years of age who meets the definition in Section 279(g)(2) of Title 6 of the United States Code, including any child who lacks a parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody and who is in the custody of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. (Source: P.A. 104-462, eff. 6-1-26.)