Illinois Evaluation For Parties (IEP) is a tool used by the Illinois Department of Human Services to evaluate parties involved in certain types of legal proceedings and to determine the best interests of children. IEP evaluates the parties’ ability to provide a safe and supportive environment, the parties’ attitudes and behaviors, the parties’ level of understanding of the legal process, and the parties’ plans for providing for the child’s needsIEPFP is used in proceedings such as adoption, guardianship, juvenile court proceedings, and child custody and visitation disputes. There are three different types of IEP: Parental Evaluation, Child Evaluation, and Home Evaluation. The Parental Evaluation focuses on the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) of the child and assesses their capacity to parent, their relationship with the child, and their understanding of the legal proceedings. The Child Evaluation focuses on the child’s needs and assesses their physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development, as well as their relationship with their parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s). The Home Evaluation focuses on the home environment and assesses the safety and appropriateness of the home for the child.




