Private agency staff, court and DCFS staff met with Judge Bishop for the quarterly Juvenile Court meeting on April 19, 2001. Judge Bishop encouraged private agencies to identify issues for future meeting agendas. Although she confirmed she is open to private meetings with agencies, she would like to hear court system issues and questions addressed in the large meeting so all agencies can benefit from the discussion and information. The judge congratulated agencies on their contributions to continued progress in the court. The court continues to take in fewer cases and is disposing of almost twice the amount of new cases coming in. The caseload has been reduced from 48,000 cases to 23,000. The challenge now is to be sure to keep the trend going, especially with concerns about possible changes in economic conditions. She is particularly concerned that no child coming in to the court process ends up "aging out" of the system without a permanent home. Judge Bishop also thanked agencies for their contributions to the Benchmark Permanency Hearings. Workers have been prepared and competent and interested in what is happening to older kids in care.

Sybill Thomas presented an overview of the Mediation Pilot program due to start April 25. The pilot will initially focus on return home cases. The model is based on other mediation programs in the nation, which have seen success in mediated cases when more formal court hearings did not work. The goals are to involve all parties in planning, decision-making, supporting and monitoring safety and service plans for children and families; to expedite decision making and to ensure better informed decisions and to increase the court's ability to support increased visitation and ultimately, to return children home with confidence. Once a mediation agreement is reached, the mediator commits the agreement to writing and forwards it to the judge. Once the judge agrees, the mediated agreement becomes the binding order of the court. If no mediation agreement is reached the case is returned back to the court for hearing on the next scheduled court date. All Cook area agencies should receive an Information Transmittal from DCFS dated April 4 outlining the mediation process in more detail. Questions on the pilot or specific questions on the process can be referred to Sybill Thomas at 312-433-4842.

HELP Unit staff presented data on the types of cases being referred for HELP staffings. Seventy six percent are due to concerns about quality of service including services to parents, children and case management issues. Placement and permanency planning issues also constitute primary reasons for referral to HELP. This unit is also sponsoring additional Teaching Seminars Friday mornings from 9:30-11:00. For a complete schedule or to reserve a slot contact Ron Pastana at 312-433-4045.

Marge Berglind announced that the court had agreed to a Worker Recognition system. There are many workers receiving positive feedback reports from court facilitators, so it would be difficult to pick and choose only a single worker. However, there are some workers who are receiving special commendation letters from judges. These workers will all be recognized. They will receive special thanks from the court, their name will be posted on court bulletin boards and they will receive a certificate from the court during the quarterly Interagency Meetings. The first worker recognized is Toya Wilson of Beatrice Caffrey Youth Services, who received a commendation letter from Judge Michael Brown regarding her work on case. We congratulate Ms. Wilson and the Beatrice Caffrey agency on this recognition. The next quarterly meeting with Judge Bishop is scheduled for August 23, 2001 in the Juvenile Court Auditorium. (MB)

One of the strategies identified by CCA members to assist with current teacher shortages was to obtain as much information as possible regarding access to certification waivers. To meet that objective, Bridget Helmholz and Diane Harless Schultz met with Certification Division Director Frank Llano and Professional Preparation Director Rob Sampson and two of his staff on April 20. CCA wants to provide the most current and comprehensive information to its members on the PZZ/waiver process for teaching personnel. The most current documents, rule, and memoranda were provided at this meeting, as well as a summary on the basic qualifications requires to obtain PZZ�s. This will be sent to all members on the Education Committee next week (BRH).

CCA has obtained the report from the Governor�s office that is a blueprint for the reorganization of the Illinois State Board of Education. The report suggests eliminating 250 jobs (from 786 to 536) and one entire Division (Partnerships/Workforce Development). The Special Education Division is recommended to remain at its current 40 positions. Apparently no changes are proposed for Special Education�s Compliance, Intervention and Assessment and Least Restrictive Environment Divisions. The report recommends a new "superstructure" for ISBE, including the appointment of a new position of Secretary of Education, who will be appointed by the Governor. The Governor would continue to appoint the governing board, but they would be restricted to advising the Chief Education Officer on education policy. The new Secretary would have the authority to hire and fire the Chief Education Officer rather than the current board. Copies of this report will be sent to the Education Committee (BRH).

CCA arranged a meeting between the private agencies technical community and the DCFS group that will certify sites SACWIS ready. According to Spectrum Maximus, the expected time frame for SACWIS certification will be no sooner than July 2002. Before the inspection of the individual agencies for certification, the Spectrum Maximus team hopes to have assigned the needed IP addressing structure a full 60 days in advance. The support for passwords and the terminal server screen will land on Getronics and fall under the Service Level Agreements between DCFS and Getronics. Major points of interest in the group discussion were:

For details, please log on to the SACWIS page of CCA's web site at

http://www.cca-il.org/library/BestPractice-SACWIS/BestPrac-SACWIS.html

The document can be found under the title SACWIS Technical Question & Answer Meeting

The April 18^th event at the State Capitol was well-attended, with over 60 CCA member agencies and 150 representatives attending the event. The day was highlighted by a noon program and reading of the proclamation, a display of over 200 works of art by young artists in the care of CCA agencies, and the participation of Reps. Tom Dart and Gwen Klingler, and Senator Ira Silverstein, who presented awards for the art contest. For more information on the winners, visit the home page of the CCA website at http:/www.cca-il.org, and click on "Art Contest Press Release".

Templates for media advisories, press releases and talking points for National Foster Care Month can now be found on the CCA website at http://www.cca-il.org. Go to the bottom of the home page and click on "Media Materials for National Foster Care Month." The available information available through CCA will help your agency plan and launch a public education program about foster care in your community. For additional ideas, resources, and suggestions on events, media attention, and advocacy, contact Linda Lenzini at [email protected]. Additional information with a national perspective is available on the Casey Family Programs website at www.casey.org/cnc (LLL)

The CCA Member Agency Salary and Benefit Survey is now available to CCA members and will be free of charge to CCA members who participated in it. The report includes information on salaries for workers in the child welfare field and covers a full range of job positions. The information is separated by geography and operating budget. An aggregate statewide salary report is also included. The benefits portion of the survey examines a range of benefits, recognizing that they are an integral part of compensation and thus comprise a substantial percentage of an agency�s operating budget. The report includes information on hours of employment, paid leave, holidays, medial plan eligibility, health and insurance health and wellness plans, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, raises, bonus or incentive plans certification and licensing plans and staff turnover. Non-participating members may purchase the survey for $100; non-member cost is $150.

In CCA�s efforts to mobilize member advocacy for a Cost of Living Adjustment this year from the State of Illinois, assistance is available. CCA member agencies wishing to advocate for this adjustment in their local media can obtain template press releases, talking points, and editorial contact names. For more information contact Linda Lenzini at [email protected]. (LLL)

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

" Success Stories". The most recent feature has been submitted by The Youth Campus. 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. (LLL)

"Coming Together As A Community" is the topic of Chicago Child Care Society�s 13^th annual child care symposium. The event will be held Thursday, May 17, 2001 from 1:00 p.m. � 3:00 p.m. in the lobby of the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration (969 East 60^th Street, Chicago, IL). Guest speakers include: Cynthia Barnes-Boyd, Ph.D., Assistant Dean, Community Health Initiatives, University of Illinois at Chicago; Tom Finnegan, Chief of Staff, Operations, Department of Children and Family Services; Ronald Moorman, President, Child Care Association of Illinois; Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor, Faith Community of St. Sabina; Randolph Stone, Director, Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, University of Chicago; and Paul Vallas, CEO, Chicago Public Schools. The event is free and open to the public with limited seating. For registration, contact Erin Walton at 773/256-2464. CEUs are available. (SKA)

Please mark your calendar for the Association�s Membership Meeting to be held on May 30-31 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Plans are underway and information on the two-day meeting will be sent to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can make your hotel reservation by calling the Crowne Plaza at 217/529-7777 or toll free 800/227-6963. The rate for single or double occupancy is $95.00. Be sure to say you are attending the Child Care Association meeting. (SKA)

May 1 � CWAC SACWIS Advisory Committee Meeting, Springfield

May 1�2 � National Family Heritage Coalition, Hilton, Oak Lawn, IL

May 9 � Assessing, Diagnosing and Treating the Mental Health needs of African-American adolescents

in the Juvenile Justice System. Springfield Hilton, 7^th and Adams, Springfield, Illinois.

Registration due by May 4, 2001. For more information, call 1-800-252-8045 (Illinois only) or

1-217-522-2663

May 10-11 - Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education Spring Conference, Holiday Inn,

Collinsville, IL, attn: Nancy Newbold (618)395-8627.

May 16 � CCA Board of Directors Meeting, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Springfield, IL

May 20-21 - Business and Education 2001 Conference, The Capital Hilton, Washington DC, contact

Customer Service (212) 339-0345.

June 26-27 - Tools to Effective Leadership Summer Academy: "A Framework for Understanding

Poverty and Learning Structures," Collinsville, IL. Call (618) 395-8626 for more information

June 28-29 - Tools to Effective Leadership Summer Academy: "A Framework for Understanding

Poverty and Learning Structures," Marriott Chicago Oak Brook, Oak Brook, IL. Call (618) 395-

8626 for more information.

July 25-27 � SUSTAINING KINSHIP TIES: PERMANENCY AND BEYOND--The third national kinship care conference, sponsored by the Child Welfare League of America, will be held July 25-27, 2001 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. For more information contact the Child Welfare League at (202) 638-2952.

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