MONDAY REPORT
December 18, 2000
SPECIAL NOTE: Copyright 2000. The Monday Report is produced each week as a benefit to the member agencies of the Child Care Association. Please protect this membership benefit - DO NOT copy and distribute this report to agencies/staff that are not members of CCA. Thank you for your cooperation.
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CHILD WELFARE
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LICENSURE DEADLINE APPROACHES
Staff who are not licensed as of January 1, 2001 cannot be assigned as worker on a case. This includes current staff who are already assigned cases. If those staff have not passed the licensing exam and submitted a completed application packet, your agency will need to reassign their cases to someone who is licensed.
There are still 50 seats available for the licensing preparation classes in Chicago in the next two weeks. These slots are open to staff from any agency in any region. Registrations should be completed through Northern Illinois University at 800-637-1396.
Last minute questions on the training can be directed to Mary Ochman Ahmed of the Training Division at 217-785-5689.
The holiday season, with its numerous "days off" is approaching. The rate of return of completed private agency applications to DCFS is still sluggish. We strongly recommend you track licensure applications and employer verifications before the holiday week sets in, to avoid a problem January 1. Please do not delay in filling out the employer verification forms for staff or wait to send all your applications in one "batch." Staff can obtain a copy of the application by calling the toll-free information number: 877-800-3393. (MB)
CHILD WELFARE DIRECT SERVICE LICENSURE REPORT-DECEMBER 15, 2000
GUESTIMATED LICENSURE UNIVERSE: DCFS: 2,523
POS: 5,587
TOTAL: 8,110
LICENSURE EXAM: DCFS PASSED: 2,358
POS PASSED: 4,520
TOTAL: 6,878
ENROLLED IN LICENSURE 12/13-28/00: 150
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DCFS APPLICATIONS RECEIVED: 2,013
POS APPLICATIONS RECEIVED: 1,892
TOTAL: 3,905
DCFS EMPLOYER VERIFICATIONS
RECEIVED FROM OES: 975
DCFS APPLICATIONS ENTERED: 1,820
DCFS EMPLOYER VERIFICATIONS ENTERED: 532
POS APPLICATIONS ENTERED: 1,854
POS EMPLOYER VERIFICATIONS ENTERED: 1,780
DCFS AP�S READY FOR LICENSE: 439
POS AP�S READY FOR LICENSE: 1,562
DCFS INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: 445
POS INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: 152
PENDING AP�S (Waiting Licensure score : 0 (All Updates Received)
update from NIU)
APPLICATIONS NOT APPROVED
(Due to loan defaults)
DCFS: 5
POS: 41
PERMANENCY REPORT UPDATE
Member agency executive directors should be receiving a mailing from CCA this week that includes the Permanency Report through October. As we reported last week, the rate of permanencies is lagging significantly behind the performance of previous years in the private sector. Please take a moment to review the overall statewide performance and review your own agency's performance to date. We will need feedback from our agencies regarding the reasons for the sluggishness as well as ideas for how the future performance of the system might be improved.
DCFS staff report that according to their record there are several thousand cases that are eligible for adoption/subsidized guardianship. These are cases in which surrenders or tpr's have occurred, but there has been no finalization of permanency. DCFS will print the list of cases in your agency in the next few weeks and send them out to use as a tool in your agency's tracking of potential permanency cases. Again-we will really need to learn what any systemic barriers or issues are in preventing cases moving towards permanency this year. We also are aware of the need to advance further discussions with DCFS on realistic projections and targets for FY'02. (MB)
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SPECIAL EDUCATION
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CCA REVIEWS ILLINOIS� COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW: For the past 3 months, CCA staff member Bridget Helmholz chaired the Illinois State Board of Education Subcommittee that analyzes and reports Illinois� compliance with federal special education law. During this period, time was spent working with Illinois stakeholders to analyze data from ISBE and numerous other sources. A report was finalized and submitted to ISBE. The subcommittee focused its attention on "free and appropriate education (FAPE)" and the "least restrictive environment." These are the areas of greatest concern to CCA members. A full copy of the report is available from the CCA office and will be available at public hearings to be held around the state. It was determined that Illinois still has a long way to go to comply with provision of a free, appropriate education and placement in the least restrictive environment. One of the reasons Illinois has been repeatedly cited for non-compliance has been the shortage of qualified personnel available around the state. Shortages have been so severe that the federal Office of Special Education Programs found that one-half of the districts they reviewed for compliance in 1995 were not listing needed services on the IEP because district personnel knew those professionals were not availble (BRH).
CCA EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETS SEVERAL TIMES WITH DCFS PERSONNEL as part of a GAP workgroup. Numerous issues were discussed, and CCA continues to work with DCFS on selected items (BRH).
CCA EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS IDENTIFIED TEACHER SHORTAGES as the top issue of concern for the remainder of this year. CCA is working with ISBE to provide initiatives to help the private sector with these shortages (BRH).
CCA MET WITH THE STAFF OF THE NEWLY DEVELOPED CHILD WELFARE AND EDUCATION INSTITUTE at Northern Illinois University. Common problems were discussed regarding the education of children who are in the child welfare system. Due to the diversity of education issues in different locales, CCA will work with Institute staff to coordinate more "roundtables" around the state (BRH).
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WEB AND E-MAIL NEWS
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LINK TO THE CCA WEBSITE
If your agency has a website, you can be linked to the CCA website. This will enable visitors to the CCA website to simply click on your agency�s name and access your website. Send requests for linkage via e-mail to Linda Lenzini at CCA, e-mail address [email protected].
E-MAIL ADVISORIES FOR COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLIC RELATIONS PERSONNEL
If your agency would like to receive media updates and advisories, template and CCA news releases, and other items of interest, please send name, agency name, title, and e-mail address to [email protected]. (LLL)
SHOWCASE YOUR SUCCESS STORY ON THE CCA WEBSITE
Does your agency have an innovative program or recent success story that you�d like to share? CCA is interested in sharing your recent success story or innovative program with the rest of the membership. If you would like to be featured on the CCA website with your success story, contact Linda Lenzini at CCA with the details. (LLL)
=============================================================================MEDIA WATCH
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KNOW YOUR MEDIA CONTACTS
For publication names, addresses, phone numbers and editorial names for publications in your locale, contact CCA at [email protected], or call Linda Lenzini at 217-528-4409. Or..if you have a media contact that you would like added to CCA�s media list, send it to [email protected].
CHANGE IN PAPER REQUIREMENTS FOR POST CARD MAILINGS
Just a reminder that 7pt. paper will be required for post card mailings effective January 1, 2001. For exact specifications, contact your local postmaster. (LLL)
THE ARCH NATIONAL RESPITE NETWORK has developed a Respite Care Public Awareness Guidebook to promote understanding of what respite and crisis care services are, and how these services help families. It is designed to assist in the recruitment and training of respite providers, staff and volunteers and expand the funding base for respite and crisis care services. The materials in the kit are suitable for use by respite and crisis care programs that serve families caring for children, adults and/or seniors. A copy of the ARCH Public Awareness Guidebook and CD-rom are available for load through the CCA Library. Interested parties may also obtain a toll-free a free copy of the video and PSA�s in the Beta format used by broadcasters. Contact CCA at [email protected] to obtain a request form. CCA is also available to assist member agencies in planning Respite Public Awareness Campaigns.
(LLL)
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GENERAL
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CONGRESS COMPLETES FEDERAL BUDGET
Congress reached agreement with the Administration on the remaining FY2001 appropriations funding education, health, and labor programs and the New Markets Community Renewal Initiative. The agreement provides a $6.5 billion (18%) increase for the Dept. of Education, the largest ever increase. The Dept. of Health and Human Services receives a $9 billion (22%) increase. The budget expands coverage under Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP and restores reimbursements to health care providers that were disproportionately effected by the Balances Budget Act of 1997. The $817 million increase (to $2 billion) for the Child Care and Development Block Grant provides child care subsidies for 150,000 more children. The budget increases resources for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance abuse by 12 percent, providing nearly $3 billion. The final budget provides a $102 million increase (to $1.1 billion) to provide job training and summer job opportunities to roughly 660,000 disadvantaged young people. It also increases Youth Opportunity Grants to $275 million to provide comprehensive employment and training assistance to 63,000 out of school young people in high poverty areas. Additional information on the budget can be found at:
www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/1215-136.html. (JMS)NEW MARKETS AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL INITIATIVE
This 10-year, $25.8 billion tax cut package aims at creating jobs, spurring investment, removing pollution, and encouraging charitable donations in dozens of poor communities. The package included a 2-year phase in of the increase to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (to $1.75 per capita) which will provide greater funding for housing. Additional information on this initiative can be found at:
www.usnewswire.com/topnews/Current_Releases/1215-131.html. (JMS)SACWIS FOCUS GROUP MEETING � JANUARY 26, 2001
Please mark your calendar and plan on attending the SACWIS focus group meeting that is being held on January 26, 2001 at the Hyatt Lisle in Lisle, Illinois. The purpose of this meeting is to solicit input from representatives from private agencies in those design areas that will be developed as part of SACWIS. (Statewide Automated Child Welfare System). The specific areas that will be discussed will be case management, case assignment, archive, court processing, ACR, resources and licensing, health tracking, eligibility, financial, staff maintenance, technical, reporting and interfaces. It is critical that representatives from agencies that are familiar with these processes within their agency attend. We want to be sure that any client information system that is designed includes those issues that will impact private agencies. What items within such a system should not be included for private agencies? These should remain under the control of the private agencies. Who should be responsible for inputting various information that is part of the client file? What items would be nice to have in such a system, but would be considered optional? Registration material was mailed out the first week of December. If you have not received a copy of the registration form, please contact Barb at the CCA office. The meeting is scheduled from 10:00 to 4:00 with registration at 9:30 a.m. All persons attending are asked to indicate their preference for one of the focus group design areas. If you have any questions, please contact Jan Schoening at the CCA office. Overnight rooms are available through the hotel. If you would like additional descriptive information about the list of design areas, you can go to the CCA web site at
www.cca-il.org. Under the Library section, select the SACWIS minutes listing. This will take you to the Best Practices/SACWIS page. You will find the description under User Requirements. Further information is also included in the registration material. (JMS)==============================================================================
UPCOMING EVENTS/MEETINGS
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CHILD WELFARE DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL: APRIL 18th, 2001
Plan now to be a part of this exciting event at the Illinois State Capitol. The day will provide an opportunity to create visibility for your agency�s services and to speak with legislators from your district. Exhibit space for the event is limited, so register soon. The registration form is downloadable on the CCA website in a Microsoft Word format, or you can contact Linda Lenzini at the Child Care Association at [email protected] or by phone at 2217-528-4409 to obtain a registration form.
Calendar:
Jan. 8-9 � 2001 Business-Education Partnership Recognition Program, Fairmont Hotel, Chicago
Jan. 17 � CCA Board of Directors Meeting, Chicago suburbs
Jan. 26 � POS SACWIS Focus Group Meeting, Hyatt Lisle, Lisle, IL
Jan. 30-31 � Quality Improvement Training, Hilton Lisle/Naperville
Feb. 25-28 � 14th Annual Conference, A System of Care for Children�s Mental Health: Expanding the
Research Base, Tampa Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Fl. Call Lyn Bryan at 813/974-4649 for information.
March 22-23 � CCA�s Spring Membership Meeting, Hyatt Regency Woodfield, Schaumburg, IL
April 18 � Child Welfare Day at the State Capitol, Springfield. For more information contact Linda Lenzini , CCA, at
[email protected] or by phone at 217/528-4409.|
For further information on any of the above, contact the staff member noted in parentheses at the end of the text: RHM = Ron Moorman 217/528-4409 ([email protected]) MB = Marge Berglind 312/819-1950 ([email protected]) JMS = Jan Schoening 217/528-4409 ([email protected]) BRH= Bridget Helmholz 217/528-4409 |
RS=Rommel J.Sangalang 217/528-4409 ( [email protected])SKA = Sandy Armstrong 217/528-4409 ( [email protected])LLL = Linda Lenzini 217/528-4409 ( [email protected])Nancy Ronquillo � 309/827-0374 ( [email protected]) |
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