The Cook Performance Based Work Group met in Chicago on January 24, 2001. DCP staff confirmed that a memo to all supervisors and workers was issued reminding them of the importance of forwarding case opening DCP materials to agencies that assume foster care responsibility. If personal hand-off causes delays they are to send the materials via certified mail. The ward population at ERC fluctuates throughout the 40 range.

CAU staff reported that the initial reconciliation data should go out to agencies within the next week. There will be the customary 2-week correction and turnaround schedule. Agencies should pay particular attention to correcting any data that indicates a non-permanency discharge for any cases that were transferred out due to sibling case consolidation. This round of data will contain new pieces of data that DCFS will start tracking: Caregiver changes (children changing placements or a stability factor,) length of stay data to track adoptions and reunifications over a 12 month period and SOR�s while the child is in placement to track rates of abuse/neglect in placement. At this time DCFS plans to collect and look at the data. This is reflected in the program plan that specifies the need to track federal outcome data. It will not yet be used for contracting decisions.

CAU staff reported that most agencies failed to submit the corrected case lists by the required deadline. These are necessary to accurately report caseloads and track worker i.d.�s. These must be submitted to Roberta Washington of AP Unit immediately.

Agencies with an approved post-permanency plan should have received the funds in December. If an agency has not received their funds, they should contact Melissa Ludington.

Mary Debose and Harland Blixt provided an overview of the current status of the Best Practices Initiative. This is an opportunity for Social Work to reclaim its heritage within Child Welfare Practice. The Best Practices model and its accompanying guidelines will drive future practice as well as guide decisions for the SACWIS design. In the next few months there will be a number of opportunities for child welfare staff and managers to participate in focus groups that will examine portions of the best practices materials and provide recommendations for change, modification or confirmation.

The group engaged in a spirited discussion regarding the current DCFS concerns about the sluggishness of permanency rates. DCFS is concerned that the caseload ratio reductions on this year�s contract reflect rate increases that are not merited by low permanency performance by the agencies. They question why it appears that the DCFS units are performing at a higher rate. DCFS staff feels it is primarily a problem of staff turnover problems. The private providers expressed significant concerns about the problems and DCFS� perception of the problems. Providers pointed to the concerns expressed when performance contracting first began that eventually the system would be left with a core of children who were very difficult to move quickly to permanency. This is now that time. As the private sector made significant progress the first 3 years, DCFS units performed sluggishly. They are now able to move the cases they�ve been working on for some time to permanency. The cases left pose significant quality concerns. Some of the cases are not ready to move to permanency and should not be pushed. Caseworkers have more work than ever to do, even with decreased ratios. There is increased monitoring of all requirements, increasing the stress on workers and supervisors. Supervisors are given unrealistic workloads and expected to cover for workers and expected to report in court on 100+ cases. DCFS staff from the regions report that there is turnover in the placement units of DCFS just as in the private sector and that they share the private agency concerns about the unrealistic expectations on workers and supervisors. These issues will be shared when the Foster Care Infrastructure group convenes to examine future steps in performance contracting.

Agencies will receive case lists from DCFS within the next week. These are lists of 5000 children in the system for whom DCFS has adoptive rights or who appear to be eligible for subsidized guardianship. Agencies are asked to use these lists as a tool to review their current caseloads and determine if there are any "obvious" cases that can be funneled to permanency this year. (MB)

The Caseworker Foundation Training Committee met in Chicago on January 25, 2001. The curriculum is in the final stages of development and writing. DCFS legal staff provided a projected outline of the basic material on juvenile court work. It will include basic material as well as experiential exercises in learning to testify based on the case scenarios contained in the training materials.

The Change Management committee outlined a one-day seminar for supervisors and managers. This seminar will provide supervisors with information and tools necessary to support casework staff in the utilization of the foundation training. The supervisor plays a pivotal role in assuring that the skills and knowledge gained from training actually get applied in the field. Discussion topics for the day will be an overview of the foundation training, benefits of the training, nuts and bolts of registration, attendance, etc., explanation of how the foundation curriculum was developed and written as a partnership, review of the training table of contents and review of the supervisory tool box. The supervisory toolbox provides suggestions on how to enhance the learning and development of new staff before, during and after the training. The overall committee recommended that the supervisory seminars be conducted by a core of trainers extracted from the training committee and educational partnership, to assure continuity of the message. The train-the-trainers for this group should occur in early March, and the rollout of the supervisory training should occur in mid to late March.

Two videos will be produced to enhance understanding of the training. One will be geared for CEO�s and one will be geared for all staff due to participate in the training. The videos will be shot over the next month and a half and will be ready as the rollout of training begins.

The evaluation committee proposed the use of a weekly feedback tool to be completed by all participants during the training. There is a need to rework this concept to assure it is easy to complete while being of use to the trainers. The committee is working with the DCFS Research Department to identify an evaluation component prior to start of the pilot training.

The pilot of the training will start April 16. There will be one for downstate, held in Peoria and one in Cook. Agencies will be asked to commit to sending new hires to the pilot training. The curriculum design team will modify material weekly based on the information from the pilot. FOUNDATION TRAINING WILL BE BEGIN MAY 21. AFTER THAT DATE ALL NEW HIRES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THE 20-DAY FOUNDATION TRAINING BEFORE THEY CAN BE ASSIGNED A CASE. The training will include the testing for CERAP and Licensure.

Basic licensure issues were discussed. DCFS proposed a change in the procedures for current staff. They want to collect original transcripts from workers as opposed to using the employer verification form. There is also a need to clarify whether workers required to be licensed but who do not carry cases will need to attend the foundation training (i.e. licensing staff or certain adoption workers.) The group recommended the Licensure Committee be immediately reconvened by DCFS to address these issues quickly.

CCAI members should note that a complete overview of the Foundation Training and discussion of issues will be held during the upcoming Spring Membership Meeting. (MB)

There appear to be some "Catch 22" type issues associated with Direct Service Employee Licensure. Staff cannot be licensed until all requirements are met, even if they have passed the test. The requirements include a cleared and returned background check. Current DCFS rules already specify that a worker cannot be left alone with children until the background check is clear. The licensing rule requires a background check. These are taking up to 30 days to be returned by the state police. Therefore, agencies may find a delay in receipt of the license even for those staff who have passed the exam. At this point, they still cannot be assigned as the worker on the case until the background check is cleared. Providers on the training committee identified these issues for DCFS staff. We will be working with DCFS to identify possible solutions for the period between now and May 21. However, we felt all agencies should be aware of this restriction and carefully track the responsibilities given to workers.

DCFS is not accepting assignment of cases to workers who have not passed the CERAP certification, even though the licensure rule does not require it. This is another area of caution for agencies. The CERAP legislation and rule has always required CERAP certification for workers with specific functions such as intact workers, and foster care and permanency workers. However, the DCFS procedure once allowed workers to carry cases as long as a CERAP-certified staff or supervisor conducted the safety assessment functions. DCFS is now clear that they will not assign cases without the CERAP validation. We urge all agencies to assure there are no remaining workers without this critical credential. (MB)

More than 90 representatives from Cook CCAI agencies met with Patrick Murphy and his supervising staff on January 23 in Chicago. The Public Guardian of Cook County serves as the GAL for all DCFS wards, in addition to providing guardianship services for adult wards of the state. The meeting was convened by CCAI to begin a dialogue with the GAL relating to common areas of concern. Additionally, Mr. Murphy has been critical of private agency performance and has shared this criticism with DCFS, COA and the media.

Mr. Murphy outlined his significant concerns. He sees numerous foster homes in which there are too many children placed. The foster parents cannot cope with the many problems presented. He sees other problems associated with managed care models on contracts. These restrict access to certain resources for wards served in private agencies. He feels DCFS covered cases get differential care. He sees workers as unprepared and uninformed. This causes delays in case actions. Finally, he agrees that 80% of the problems reside within 10% of the agencies.

The agencies present identified a number of concerns related to the GAL�s office. These include short and unrealistic notice for caseworkers to produce children in court to meet the GAL�s mandate of seeing the child in person, inconsiderate treatment of workers which contributes to feelings of hostility about the court system, contribution to a crisis mentality by going to the media or writing letters to DCFS and COA without seeking clarification from the agency and unrealistic expectations about private agency roles and resources.

The agencies suggested a number of remedies. 1) Executive directors want to know if the GAL has concerns about a case in their agency. The group offered to convene a staffing on any case within 24 hours with the executive present if Mr. Murphy requests this. This would hopefully resolve some problems and alleviate the need for reports and letters to DCFS. 2) Executive directors want to be immediately notified in writing of any letter going to DCFS. CCA agreed to forward the CCA membership list to Mr. Murphy so he knows the name of every executive director. 3) Executive staff of the agencies should begin to set up meetings with the lead GAL attorney for each geographic calendar on which the agency has a significant number of cases. The lead attorney is a good source of feedback and information about the GAL�s opinion of the agency�s performance. When the current lead attorney list is printed, Mr. Murphy will forward this to CCA for distribution to members. 4) The group asked for further opportunities to meet with Mr. Murphy to address common areas of concern including equal access to training and federal training funds, need for equitable funding to cover services for wards and restricted use of specialized foster care and residential care for wards who demonstrate need. (MB)

Methodist Youth Services, Inc. would like to inform CCAI members that Dr. Michela A. Coffaro has left the agency effective January 15, 2001. Dr. Deborah Aharoni, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with many years of experience in residential care, will assume the leadership role as Acting Executive Director. Currently, the Board is conducting an executive search campaign to locate possible candidates for the newly vacated position.

Dr. Aharoni is looking forward to her new role and in working with the various member agencies of CCA. MYS hopes that you will feel free to call her to congratulate her on her new position and for those of you who have not had the opportunity, just to get to know her a little bit better. (MB)

ChildServ�s Helen Gibbons, who grew up in foster care and is now, at age sixty, one of ChildServ�s foster parent recruiters, was interviewed on WGN�s "Chicago�s Very Own" on Saturday, January 27^th at 9 PM. The segment promoted the value of foster care and the need for foster parents.

David Hutchinson has been appointed to the position of Executive Director at Indian Oaks Academy in Manteno, Illinois. (LLL)

Ms. Randi Gurian has been appointed to the position of Executive Director at The Harbour, Inc. in Park Ridge, Illinois. (LLL)

The CCA Public Policy Committee met on Friday, January 26, to discuss a variety of juvenile justice issues. The Committee invited Ryan Gies, from the State of Ohio to do a presentation on the RECLAIM OHIO initiative--an initiative that has drawn a lot of national attention. The primary goals of RECLAIM OHIO are: 1) to empower local judges with more option and alternatives for the juvenile offender and 2) to improve the State Department�s ability to treat offenders. The program seeks greater involvement of families in community-based programs as well as an increased ability to provide service to youths in custody. In a recently completed study of this program, it was determined that the pilot counties were able to reduce commitments to the State Department of Corrections by approximately 36 percent in comparison to what would have been projected. In additional, the pilot counties were able to increased by 32% the number of youths committed to community corrections facilities. The evaluation indicated that the counties in Ohio (which are predominately favorable to RECLAIM OHIO) like the program because it made more options available to the court, gives flexibility to tailor programs to the youth in their community, made more money available, and the fact that RECLAIM OHIO is community-based. Of note is the fact that there has been a very low percentage of youth who, following involvement in a RECLAIM OHIO program has been subsequently committed to the State Dept. of Corrections. There were some problems with the funding formula, the amount of required paperwork for the program, and the need for more program evaluations. The committee spent considerable time discussing the various aspects of the initiative, and how it might possibly be implemented in Illinois--particularly since Illinois has a state-based correctional system rather than a county-based system as in Ohio. There is considerable interest by a number of organizations in sponsoring a similar type program here in Illinois and there is some possibility that legislation to that end may be introduced during the current spring session of the General Assembly. All in all, it is a program that has a very strong community-based client based thrust and may well lend itself to replication here in Illinois.

Rodney Albert, the head of the new CWLA Juvenile Justice Division, was also at the meeting to 1) give committee members an orientation on this new League program and 2) give an overview of what type of approach the new administration may or may not take to juvenile justice issues. The Division is particularly interested in addressing the connection between child abuse and neglect and later delinquent behavior. Rodney pointed out that child abuse increased the odds of future delinquency and adult criminality overall by 40%. Being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent, as an adult by 38 percent, and for a violent crime by 38 percent. Those are very troubling statistics. The new Division will be developing practical strategies for successful collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, provide on-site consultation, technical assistance, evaluation, and training. It will also be developing standards for the juvenile justice field, particularly in the areas of greatest overlap with child welfare. Rodney also discussed changes that might be expected with the new administration in Washington. Obviously there is not much to report just yet since the new Administration is just now getting into place. There is some concern and anxiety as to whether the new administration will revert, even more, to a punitive approach to juveniles. Rodney also shared information on the decategorization effort that has taken place in the State of Iowa--he urged the committee to take a look at that process as a possible model for Illinois in the future.

We will be meeting this week with the Bureau of the Budget, with the Governor�s Office, and with Rick Larison, the Governor�s lead person on performance based contracting. We will be discussing a variety of issues with them including these juvenile justice issues as well as our concerns about adequate funding and cost-of-living increases for private agencies. There is every indication that this is going to be a very lean budgetary year without sufficient new revenue to cover all identified needs. In other word, we are going to have a fight on our hands to insure an adequate cost-of-doing business adjustment. As we get a better picture of the details of the spring session we will be sharing those with the membership including more details on the budgetary picture as well as substantive legislation that may impact services to children and families. (RHM)

With the final decisions made on the federal budget for FY 2001, it was reported in a December issue of the Child Protection Report that federal officials at HCFA were encouraging states to expand their Medicaid programs for those youth aging out of the foster care services at 18. Optional Medicaid expansions for states are one of the provisions under the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, P.L. No 106-169. In order to take advantage of this option states must prepare an amendment to their Medicaid plan stating which youth would be eligible. The act allows states to cover young adults who are aged 18-21. But states may restrict eligibility in the following ways: 1.) Using an income and resource test, as long as it is not more restrictive that what the state currently uses for families with children on Medicaid; 2.) Limiting coverage only through a young person�s eighteenth year or nineteenth year; or 3.) Providing coverage only to youth who received maintenance payments or independent living services under Title IV-E. (JMS)

1. Know beforehand what the topic is and who will be interviewing you, and who the listening/viewing/reading audience is
2. Provide a brief biography, no more than a page in length
3. Arrive fifteen minutes early
4. If you are nervous, take deep breaths
5. Sit still in your chair
6. Speak in a normal, well-modulated voice
7. Keep your answers brief and to the point, but don�t be afraid to pause before you speak, avoiding "uum" and "aah"
8. Leave the microphone where it is placed, and don�t lean into or away from it
9. Never let your surprise at a question you consider inappropriate or offensive show, but lead the interview back to the intended topic. "I�m sure your listeners would rather hear about __________," is often a gracious way to steer the conversation back to the stated topic
10. Always send a follow-up thank you note to the interviewer (LLL)
    

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. Please be prepared to identify the specific counties for which you need contacts. Or .if you have a media contact that you would like added to CCA�s media list, send it to [email protected]. (LLL)

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].

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)

Visit the home page of the CCA Website at http://www.cca-il.org for a new feature,

" Success Stories". These features, submitted by members or penned by CCA staff, share the successes that members have realized with innovative programs, new initiative, and hard work. If your agency has an innovative program or recent success story that you�d like to share, contact Linda Lenzini at CCA with the details.

Governor George Ryan has declared April 18^th, 2001 Child Welfare Day in Illinois. Be a part of the celebration by participating in Child Welfare Day at the Capitol. For a registration form, contact Linda Lenzini at the Child Care Association via e-mail at [email protected], or by calling 217-528-4409. The form can also be downloaded on the Child Care Association�s website at http://www.cca-il.com. A pre-event lobbying seminar is also planned for the CCA Membership Meeting March 22^nd and 23^rd. Watch the Monday Report for details. (LLL)

Please mark your calendars and plan on attending the CWLA Third National Kinship Care Conference that will be held July 25-27, 2001 at the Hilton Chicago and Towers, Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of this conference is to support kinship ties, promote responsive public policy and legislation, design and enhance support services for children and their caregivers in kinship care, and present research and outcomes. Professionals in the fields of child welfare, mental health, education, research, legal services, substance abuse, juvenile justice, housing and advocacy are urged to attend. More information will be available through the Child Welfare League soon. (LLL)

AMS has agreed that a one way Data Bridge will be designed. This Data Bridge will allow private agencies to pull down information from the SACWIS system. The Data Bridge meeting was designed to produce working assumptions and expose issues. Assumption identified include:

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