The Guardian Consent Portal makes it easy to submit many different consent requests in one place. You can access the portal anywhere you have an internet connection.

To request consent for psychotropic medication for youth in care, please complete the CFS 431-A: Psychotropic Medication form at:

 https://guardianconsent.dcfs.illinois.gov/RequestsForConsent/

You will need a valid email address that can receive protected health information to complete requests online. After you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with a copy of your submission and a confirmation number. This email will include the health information you entered, so please make sure you use an email account that is secure and not easily accessible to the public or anyone not involved in the youth’s psychiatric care.

When submitting a request for psychotropic medication consent, please be sure to provide the most up-to-date information on the “Current Psychotropic Medication” page. All psychotropic medications the youth is currently taking, along with the prescribed doses, must be included with each request. If this information is missing or incomplete, there will be a delay in processing. CSP team members will need to contact the submitter and reconcile the medication list with currently approved consents. It is important to provide accurate and current dosing so the consulting psychiatrists are aware of any titrations or changes that may have taken place.

In the “medication name” section, include either the brand name or generic name of the medication. If the medication has both short-acting and long-acting formulations, you must indicate which one is being used. Simply entering “long acting” without specifying the medication is not sufficient and will result in delays. CSP staff will follow up with submitters who do not clearly indicate which medication the youth is taking.

In the dosing section, you must enter the exact dose in milligrams. If a dose is given at a particular time of day, enter the numeric value in milligrams in the appropriate space. If no dose is scheduled for that time, enter “0” to show that nothing is given in that block.

If a current medication is being discontinued, or a medication has recently been discontinued, you must select “Yes” in response to the question “Will or has this medication been discontinued?” This will open additional fields where you must document the reason for discontinuation. Providing this information is important for accurate record-keeping, especially in the event of placement changes. It allows CSP staff to share relevant information with future providers and helps prevent the re-prescribing of medications that previously caused an adverse reaction.

At the top of the Medication Request page, you must indicate the type of request you are submitting. The options are:

In the “Medication Name” section, enter either the brand name or the generic name of the medication. If the medication has both short-acting and long-acting formulations, you must specify which one is being requested. Submitting only “long acting” without the medication name is not acceptable and will cause delays. CSP staff will follow up with submitters who do not provide clear information about the medication being requested.

In the “Form of Medication” section, indicate how the medication will be given, such as a tablet, injection, or oral solution. If the request is for an oral solution, you must also provide the milligram-to-milliliter concentration (i.e. 20mg/5mL).

In the “Medication Duration” section, you may enter the length of time you are requesting for the medication consent. The maximum duration that can be requested is 180 days (approximately six months). If the medication is only intended for a shorter period, you may enter the appropriate number of days instead.

In the “Medication Dosages and Times Given” section, you must enter the exact dose in milligrams for each scheduled time. Even if the medication is an oral solution, the dose should still be entered in milligrams. If no dose is scheduled for a particular time, enter “0” to indicate that nothing is given in that block. The “Maximum Daily Range” field allows for titration over the duration of the consent if needed, offering greater prescribing flexibility if the maximum daily range is set higher than the currently prescribed dose. If you anticipate increasing the dose during the consent period, submit a range that is higher than the total daily dose currently prescribed. If no increase is planned, submit a range equal to the current dose. Ranges may never be less than the current dose, and CSP staff will contact submitters if the submitted range is inadequate.

In the “Symptoms and Related Information” section, you must indicate whether the youth’s symptoms are currently being controlled by the medication or remain active issues. Symptoms cannot be marked as both current and controlled at the same time. If symptoms have improved but are not fully controlled, select “Yes” to the question “Are the youth’s symptoms current or partially improved?” If symptoms are fully controlled, select “No.” Your response will determine which symptom field becomes required, as indicated by the red asterisk. If symptoms are not remitted, you must complete the “Current Symptoms” field. If symptoms are controlled, you must complete the “Symptoms Controlled with Medication” field. Do not enter symptoms in both fields. Listing symptoms under both options will cause delays, as CSP staff will need to follow up to clarify the clinical information.

In the “Additional Rationale” section, provide any extra details explaining why a specific medication or formulation is being requested, including information not covered elsewhere on the form. If psychiatric consultants from DCFS request more information after a denial or at renewal, include your responses here. This information will be reviewed by the consultants and factored into their recommendation to DCFS.

Finally, laboratory results may be attached on the preceding page. If you plan to attach lab results, please select “Yes” from the dropdown menu at the bottom of this section.

To find out more visit the DCFS Guardian Consent Portal: guardianconsent.dcfs.illinois.gov

Questions? Please email: DCFS.IllinoisConnect@Illinois.gov