SPECIAL NOTE:
Copyright 2001. 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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The State of Illinois FY
2002 Budget was passed by the General Assembly on Thursday, May 31.
In that budget there is a 2% CODB effective April 1, 2001 or an
annualized CODB of .5%! What a disappointment that figure is particularly after the
incredibly hard work that was put into this effort by our member agencies.
While it looked for a while like we might get 0%, a purely token increase
such as this is very very difficult to understand and accept.
The only bright spot in that figure is the fact that it will be built
into next year�s base. While that
helps, it certainly does not, in any way, meet agencies� ever-escalating
costs.
In addition to the .5% CODB,
D.D. providers will receive the $1 per hour increase for direct service workers
that they had been promised.
CCAI will send a letter to
the Governor and all the members of the General Assembly expressing our great
disappointment in their failure to provide adequate support to their
�partners� in the private sector. We
are also asking agencies to schedule face-to-face meetings with their local
legislators in order for them to express that same disappointment and to
indicate to them what the impacts will be for the children and families their
agency serves as well as for the staff and programs of their agency. Before we send that letter, we want to wait until we get an
actual paper copy of the budget as passed to make sure that our facts are
accurate. We will be sending all member agencies a copy of that letter as soon
as it goes out.
We will also be setting up
a formal process for all of our member agencies to report the impacts this
budget will have on their programs--will they have to close programs? Downsize
programs? Lay off staff? Reduce benefits? Etc.
This information will be critical for us to be able to make our case both
with the members of the General Assembly and with the media.
We would urge you to begin to schedule these appointments with your
legislators immediately!
It also appears that
despite the efforts of numerous groups, including the Association, the budgets
for Project Success/Teen Reach will stay the same as in the Governor�s
proposed budget. It is our
understanding that they have kept these two programs as separate line items but
they have not restored the cut in funding.
As soon as we get
additional details on these items as well as the substantive legislation that we
have been tracking throughout the legislative session, we will get that
information out to the membership.
We are certainly sorry that
we have such disappointing news to report.
Despite this unacceptable result, it is very clear that our membership
did an outstanding job of contacting and educating their legislators on this
issue. From the feedback received
from legislators, we had more letters, phone calls, and contacts made during
this Session than we have had in a long long time.
That support and that dedication to this effort is greatly appreciated.
We will need to take some time to assess the results of this session, and
to talk about a changed strategy to address this frustrating issue.
If you have any questions, please call Marge Berglind or Ron Moorman.
(RHM)
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The CCAI Board of Directors
met on May 31, 2001 following the Annual Meeting in Springfield. The board
elected officers for the next year:
CHAIR: Mary
Hollie, Lawrence Hall Youth Services
VICE-CHAIR:
Miller Anderson, Chicago Youth Centers
VICE-CHAIR: Rick Velasquez, Youth Outreach Services
SECRETARY: Jim
Sherman, Children�s Home Association of Illinois
Executive Directors are
asked to save the date of July 19 for a special retreat with the CCAI board at
Stoney Creek Inn in Peoria. This will be an opportunity to exchange views on the
future directions of CCAI, brainstorm on the current critical challenges facing
member agencies and the association and arrive at some mutual agreement on our
work plans for the year ahead. Board members will meet the following day on July
20 to discuss and develop the board work plan in relation to the challenges
outlined on July 19. Watch the mail for registration information. (MB)
More than one hundred CCAI
members attended the Spring Membership Meeting on May 30. The first day�s
topics addressed Work Force Challenges Confronting Agencies. Leslie Brancato
provided an overview of challenges facing human services from a national
perspective. Recent CWLA surveys show Illinois� turnover rate of 33% is ahead
the national average of 40%, but that salaries for caseworkers and supervisors
paid in private agencies are below the national average. It is important for
agencies to be able to quantify the direct costs of turnover (search costs,
training and preparation) as well as the indirect costs (impact on client
relationships, disruption in networking relationships.)
Surveys also show that agencies that have low turnover rates demonstrate
the following characteristics: livable wages and benefits, safety, training,
appropriate staffing levels, competent supervision and expressed appreciation.
Ms. Brancato also challenged the agencies to think through possible creative
solutions to the challenges, including new ways of centralizing recruitment of
staff, marshalling political resources to enable workers in agencies to obtain
salary and benefits similar to organized work forces and to increase the public
awareness of the profession in colleges, high schools, and junior high schools.
A panel of CCAI members and
associates shared their insights and ideas about the work force crisis from and
administrative, continuous quality improvement, training, human resources, and
education program points of view. Common factors of agencies derived from the
CCAI salary and benefit survey were discussed.
Mike LaReau of the Olivet Nazarene University Social Work program
expressed the challenges BSW programs face in trying to respond to training
child welfare workers. A group of BSW program directors is developing a core
program of child welfare study, but there are obstacles in creating a
standardized program and curriculum across schools with varying perspectives.
The accrediting body for schools also directs that schools provide generalist
courses of study, so there are challenges in creating new ways to comply with
accreditation and develop the specialty study.
He expressed, however, that the most important component of an agency
from a new graduate�s point of view is the availability of credentialed
supervision. Graduates new to the field seek competent clinical supervision as
well as supervision from social workers that will enable them to work towards
their own social work licenses and credentials. He recommended that agencies
work closely with their local social work programs to cultivate field placements
and opportunities for student study, as well as look to the feedback he receives
on the necessity of providing supervision.
The CCAI Annual Meeting
occurred on May 31. The membership approved an Annual Membership Statement that
details the expectations for all CCAI members, and confirmed a revised Ends
Statement to move the association to a new vision. Outgoing board members were
recognized for their hard work of the last 3 years. Gene Svebakken was provided
special recognition for his work as board chair and ex-officio member of the
board and executive committee. The membership elected a new slate of board
members and approved the association�s budget for FY�02. Ron Moorman
provided his final executive report and shared reflections on the numerous
challenges he has faced in his 22 years of association work. Marge Berglind
provided her first executive report and provided an overview of the immediate
challenges in the year ahead, including development of a new strategic plan and
assuring the association focuses on those strategies, working to advance the
vision in the revised ends statement of creating a responsive nonprofit delivery
system and shaping public policy for the benefit of children and families and
working on advancing the current policy focus areas in juvenile justice and
cultivation of a responsive front end system. Additionally, there will be
challenges for the association to analyze how to develop a different system of
assuring adequate financing for agencies both public and with private funders
and working to advance the accountability and performance credibility of
agencies. (MB)
Save the dates of July 11
and 12 for the CCA-co-sponsored conference on Juvenile Justice, �New
Partnerships for Juvenile Justice-Implementing Balanced and Restorative Justice
in Illinois,� at the Holiday Inn Matteson.
The conference will include
a plenary session by national expert, Dennis Maloney on National Perspectives
and Challenges for Illinois, presentation on developing a comprehensive juvenile
justice policy from Cook County State�s Attorney�s representatives and a
number of workshops highlighting current innovative programs using the balanced
and restorative justice principles. In the works are commitments from other
national presenters on federal funding streams and new initiatives. There will
also be a panel exchange on development across disciplines of future policy
initiatives. This conference will provide a unique opportunity for CCA members
to network with key players in the legal system and policy community as we move
towards intensifying our interests and advocacy around juvenile justice
concerns. Watch the Monday Report for further details. Program registration
information should arrive at agencies by mid-June.
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
In the final education budget,
the line items for regular school Orphanage Act, special education Orphanage
Act, and private tuition were all funded at 100% of estimated need.
An analysis of the actual funding levels will be sent to all members of
the Education Committee. Also,
House Bill 1096 has passed and been sent to Governor Ryan.
This bill, The Alternative Learning Opportunities Act, increases the
capability of school districts to provide extra supports and services to
students at-risk of academic failure. The
provision that these supports must be considered for use in the regular
classroom is a positive development for students in foster care, whose
educational progress often falls in the category of �at-risk.�
A copy of this legislation will be sent to all CCA members as well as the
Education Committee.
Finally, in the latest
development of the General Assembly�s fight with a Federal District Judge, the
Judge�s requirements for changes in special education teacher certification
have been overwhelmingly rejected by the legislature. The General Assembly unanimously passed House Joint
Resolution 30, which continues JCAR�s suspension of ISBE�s proposed Corey H.
special education certification rules. This vote permanently stops ISBE from
issuing rules requiring BOTH new and current special education teachers to teach
students with all seven categories of disability.
SJR 26 states that these �peremptory rulemakings� adopted by ISBE
�in response to a court order� would �constitute a serious threat to the
public interest, safety, and welfare, and particularly the welfare of the
State�s special education students.� CCA�s
members were vehemently opposed to new requirements for teachers who are
currently certified. This
resolution is a serious challenge to the Federal Judge�s directive. We have no news as yet regarding the Judge�s
response.(ISELA update; BRH).
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ASSOCIATION TO
CO-SPONSOR THE 2001 SUMMER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTES TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION
The Association has signed
on to be a co-sponsor of the 2001 Summer management Institutes to be conducted
by the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration on June
18-21 in downtown Chicago.
Since we are co-sponsoring
these Institutes, ALL CCAI MEMBER AGENCIES PERSONNEL WILL RECEIVE A 10%
DISCOUNT on their registration. In making their registration, member agency
staff are urged to note and request this discount on their forms.
The Institutes will focus
on managing change, forecasting the near-term social services environment,
exploring current and emerging political, economic, social, and cultural trends
and evaluating their implications for social services.
Highlighted will be: changes in federal, state, and local policies
affecting social services, changes in the market structure of services, changes
in the demographic composition of society and implications for services, changes
in the accountability of services, such as mechanisms for performance
contracting and outcomes assessment, changes in the social and cultural context
of services, such as the recent interest in faith-based services.
Brochures were distributed
at the recent CCA Annual Meeting and are available by calling the CAA office in
Springfield.
We would urge our member
agencies to take full advantage of this unique opportunity and to utilize the
discount that the Association has negotiated for this training.
If you have any questions, please call Ron Moorman.
(RHM)
On April 3, Senator Evan
Bayh introduced the Strengthening Working Families Act, S. 685, to expand a
number of initiatives that support families.
Some of the key child welfare provisions of the legislation include:
1.) Reauthorization of the Safe and Stable Families programs increasing
funding from $305 million to $505 million, and renaming it the Strong Families,
Safe Children program. 2.) It would
increase funding for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program from $140
million to $200 million for a scholarship program for those aging out of foster
care to receive vouchers up to $5000. 3.) It would restore Social Services Block
Grant funding to $2.38 billion and maintain the 10% transfer authority between
TANF and SSBG. (JMS)
On April 6, the Senate
passed an amendment by Senator Graham to restore SSBG funding to $2.38 billion.
Although not binding on the final appropriations process, if this
proposal were included in the final House-Senate budget resolution, it would be
an important first step toward restoring SSBG funds.
The Bush Administration�s FY 2002 budget reduces funding for SSBG by
$25 million and reduces the amount of TANF funds states can transfer into SSBG
from 10% to 4.25%. SSBG funding
would be increased to $2.38 billion permanently if Congress passes the Social
Services Block Grant Restoration Act (S. 501/H.R.956) introduced by Graham and
Representative Nancy Johnson. (JMS)
Carl
Koerner, Executive Director of FamilyCare
of Illinois, accepted the First Annual Award for Excellence Presented by the
Association of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists for the agency�s
outstanding work in the field of clinical services to children, adolescents, and
adults, as well as child welfare services provided to children and their
families. FamilyCare of Illinois
has been serving the Chicagoland area for over 143 years, offering programs in
Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties in foster care and adoption, counseling
services, family education, foster grandparents and senior companion services.
The agency is accredited by the Council on Accreditation and is a member of the
Child Welfare League and a United Way agency.
FamilyCare of Illinois is a long-time CCA member.
CCA offers an e-mail
advisory list for public relations professionals and other personnel within
member agencies that function in a public relations capacity. The Association
will also be offering additional opportunities to exchange information and ideas
and share your successes and challenges. To join your colleagues at CCA in these
efforts, please e-mail Linda Lenzini at the Child Care Association at [email protected],
or call the CCA offices at 217-528-4409.
The National Child Care
Development Association is made up of professionals who work in development,
public relations and marketing in agencies that serve children with specialized
needs. The association, first founded in 1989 through the encouragement and
support of Lloyd Wagnon, who is currently working with a number of CCA members
on development issues, will hold its 2002 Conference March 13th �
15th, 2002, In Chicago and is currently calling for papers. The
particular area of focus is in the applications of public relations, marketing
and development concepts or specialized supports for these functions in a child
welfare setting.
For more information,
contact Linda Lenzini at CCA at [email protected].,
or Debbie Reed at Chaddock at [email protected].
Need assistance with media
contacts, pitch letters, and other efforts to reach the media in your area?
Contact CCA for assistance via phone at 217-528-4409 or e-mail Linda Lenzini at
[email protected]
http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/wwwrsw/
This site has been
developed over the past seven years as a virtual library that assists social
service workers and allied professionals in obtaining Internet-based information
that they need. The site contains over 50,000 links and is updated daily. The
links provided include those linked to government agencies and professional
organizations, with a focus on direct links to full text, professional relevant
documents provided by the government or professional associations. Features that
will improve ease of navigation, including a new search engine, will be added in
the next future. The services on the site are free and are a joint collaboration
between New York University's Ehrenkranz School of Social Work and the Division
of Social Work and Behavioral Science, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
To make the site your
home page: In Microsoft Internet Explorer [5.5] click on Tools, then
click on Internet Options. Under the General tab the first option is Home Page.
Simply paste the WWWRSW address into the white space and click on OK.
In Netscape Communicator [4.7] click on Edit, then click on Preferences. On the
right hand side of the dialog box in the middle there will be a space where you
can paste the WWWRSW address. Then click OK.
There is also a link to this site in the CCA Web Page�s Library section.
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CCA will sponsor a training
session for Executives and Financial Managers in the critical areas of cost
reporting, rate setting, rate appeals and common problems experienced.
You will learn helpful techniques to improve cooperation between your
agency finance and program staff, as well as, receive an up-to-the minute
briefing on the rates for the upcoming fiscal year 2002.
In addition to covering rates set for Residential and Group Home programs
this session will cover Independent Living, Transitional Living, Treatment and
Specialized foster Care rates.
TWO LOCATIONS
NEAR YOU
Date:
Wednesday, June 6, 2001
Location:
Hilton, Lisle/Naperville, IL
Date:
Wednesday, June 13, 2001
Location:
Northfield Inn & Conference Center, Springfield, IL
For more information or to
register call D.D. Fischer at (217) 656-3000.
Calendar:
June 5 � CWAC SACWIS
Advisory Committee � LCFS River Forest
June 6 � CCA�s Training
Session: �What�s the Status of Your Agency�s Financial Health?� Hilton
Lisle
June 13 - CCA�s Training
Session: �What�s the Status of Your Agency�s Financial Health?�
Northfield
Inn, Springfield
June 18 � CCA�s
Training Session: �Financial Resource Development�, Northfield Inn,
Springfield
June 19 - CCA�s Training
Session: �Financial Resource Development�, Hilton, Lisle
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.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN ILLINOIS, Holiday Inn Matteson
July 19-20 � CCA
Membership / Board Retreat, Stoney Creek Inn, East Peoria
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.
|
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
([email protected])
|
RJS=Rommel
J.Sangalang 217/528-4409
([email protected]) SKA
= Sandy Armstrong 217/528-4409
([email protected]) LLL
= Linda Lenzini 217/528-4409
([email protected]) |
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