MONDAY REPORT

September 10, 2001

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.

Table of Contents

EDUCATION. 1

CCA RAISES RATE-SETTING, TEACHER SHORTAGE ISSUES WITH ACTING ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS KOCH. 1

GENERAL. 1

PREVENTION WORKS ALLIANCE. 1

FEDERAL JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD. 2

SASWIS DESIGN SESSIONS CONTINUE. 2

REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WELFARE REFORM LAW.. 3

UPCOMING EVENTS/MEETINGS. 3

COACHING THE SOCIAL SERVICE VAN DRIVER. 3

OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING�NEW DIRECTIONS FOR CCAI 3

CALENDAR. 3

CCA RAISES RATE-SETTING, TEACHER SHORTAGE ISSUES WITH ACTING ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS KOCH

As an agency in substantial turmoil after the forced resignations of two top officials, ISBE continues to struggle with lack of direction and leadership on several major issues.  First, teacher certification, although appearing to move forward in special education is doing so despite an uproar from members of the General Assembly.  Senator Steven Rauschenberger, after hearing of Federal Judge Gettleman�s requirement that Illinois move forward with its proposed changes, said �Trying to mandate what goes on in a complicated school system like Illinois is just not right.  No matter how bright or enlightened Judge Gettleman is, he shouldn�t be doing this unilaterally or in a provocative way, and he is.  He�s making bad public policy.�  Now that State Superintendent Max McGee has been asked to resign effective December 31, 2001, it is a real question whether these proposed changes will actually occur.  CCA has already contacted the Acting Superintendent for Special Education, Dr. Chris Koch regarding our remaining issues with rate-setting and our need to work more closely with ISBE on teacher shortages.  CCA asked to be included in all grants and initiatives that are underway to assist school districts with teacher shortages.  CCA and several members will meet with Dr. Koch in the next two weeks.  Dr. Koch has extensive experience with education offered in alternative settings.  He has worked at a youth detention center, a psychiatric hospital, and a church-sponsored day school (BRH).

PREVENTION WORKS ALLIANCE

The Prevention Works Alliance represents a cross section of organizations committed to the work to �embed primary prevention into state policy in Illinois.�  The group met in August after three years during which the Dept . of Human Services had focused symposiums that looked at an integrated system of prevention services.  The group feels that there should continue to be a cross categorical dialogue among the various prevention programs of: substance abuse, all forms of violence, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, truancy, delinquency, mental illness, etc. The goals originally identified by the group included: 1.) To devise a conceptual model that integrates the diverse understandings and approaches used by various programs; 2.) To identify unique areas of expertise needed to address particular problems; and 3.) To keep community involvement and capacity building at the forefront of every effort. 

Recommendations made by the group at the recent meeting included: 1.) Create a map of prevention services, funding, and geographics to determine who is funding prevention, which bureaus/divisions receive prevention funding, and what agencies are awarded prevention funding (16 agencies receive substance abuse funding); 2.) Establish and implement common prevention language within DHS and other state agencies (IDPH, Illinois State Board of Education, State Police, DCFS, ILCC, ICVP, Illinois Criminal Authority, etc.); 3.) Create a common vision between state and grassroots prevention organizations; 4.) Provide professional development and technical assistance to DHS employees in common language/vision.

Activities directly related to organization and operation of the Alliance should include: 1.) Re-establish a cross categorical alliance; 2.) Involve alliance members in identifying a platform of 2-3 issues per year for the alliance to address; 3.) Mobilize the prevention field to establish its own identity from the ground up; 4.) Establish common policies across the prevention associations; 5.) Consider partnering with Project Success Oversight Committee to address prevention across disciplines; 6.) Consider drafting state legislation that mandates cross-categorical prevention planning.  The next meeting of the group is Friday, October 5^th in Bloomington.  Director Jim Nelson with DHS Office of Prevention and Community Services will be invited to attend.  (JMS)

FEDERAL JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD

During June the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Select Education approved the Juvenile Crime Control and Delinquency Prevention Act, H.R. 1900.  The bill reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, which provides federal funding for state juvenile justice programs and mandates certain protections for youth who are adjudicated delinquent.  This bill represents an improvement over previous legislation that was introduced to emphasize punishment and also had gun control laws associated with it.  This bill would consolidate several programs into a single block grant.  Prevention programs currently funded through the Title V Community Prevention Grants programs would be combined into a block grant that includes services for young people adjudicated delinquent which could result in a decrease for funds for prevention programs. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate, the Juvenile Crime Prevention and Control Act, S. 1165. 

The Children�s Confinement Conditions Improvement Act, S. 1174 has also been introduced.  S. 1174 would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention act which maintains the core requirements and the Title V prevention funding.  Funding has been approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for juvenile justice programs for FY 2002.  The Senate appropriations increased funding for Title V prevention from $95 million to $130.7 million.  The House appropriations levels are the same as FY 2001. (JMS)  

SASWIS DESIGN SESSIONS CONTINUE

We are in the fifth week of the design sessions for Phase II of SACWIS (Statewide Automated Child Welfare System).  Initial design sessions began the week of August 6^th with those that have taken place including: intake and screening and case assignment.  Assessment began the week of August 20^th and is still currently in progress through the week of Sept. 17^th.   Resource/ licensing began the week of August 27^th and continues through October.  It has been reported by the group monitoring quality assurance for the project that private agency participation has provided valuable input and raised good questions to be addressed by both individual groups plus the project developers.  (JMS)

REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WELFARE REFORM LAW

It was reported in the Illinois Welfare News that Congress intends to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families during the coming year, which is part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.  August 2001 represents the fifth year that the TANF program was signed into law.  The whole program including the amounts of money that Congress will dedicate to it will be up for debate.  Other programs that will also figure into the debate are The Child Care and Development Block Grant, the Food Stamp Program, Medicaid, State Children�s Health Insurance, child welfare and other related programs.  There are strong recommendations under the reauthorization from advocate groups that TANF should be tied to efforts to reduce poverty and incentives could be provided to states that address that issue.  Due to the decreased caseloads in many states under the TANF program, efforts must be directed at policy makers to prevent efforts to automatically reduce funding.  (JMS)

COACHING THE SOCIAL SERVICE VAN DRIVER

CCA will hold the above free seminar for members on September 20^th and September 28^th.  The seminar is co-sponsored by First Nonprofit Mutual Insurance Company.  On September 20^th the seminar is being held at The Baby Fold, 612 Ogelsby, Normal, Illinois, and on September 28^th at Lawrence Hall Youth Services, 625 E. Wacker Place, 13^th Floor, Chicago.  The seminar will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at Noon on both days.

If your agency uses vans to transport your clients, your clients are children, mentally retarded persons, developmentally disabled, physically handicapped, or seniors, then this seminar is for you.  This audience-interactive presentation was designed by the National Safety Council and modified to meet the needs of social service agencies.

To register please call Sandy at the CCA office at 217.528.4409, Ext. 22 or Barb at Ext. 21.  Space is limited so get your reservation in soon.  (SKA)

OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING�NEW DIRECTIONS FOR CCAI

Save the dates of October 25 and 26 for the Fall Membership Meeting in Oak Brook. We will examine new directions for CCAI, including review of the vision developed at the CEO retreat, strategic plan and opportunities for member involvement. Executive directors and executive level staff of agencies will be invited to attend. More details will follow in the next few weeks. Cutoff date for the Hotel is October 3. Reservations can be made now with the Oak Brook Hyatt Lodge at 630-990-5800 or 800-233-1234.  Be sure and say you are attending the Child Care Association Meeting.  The single occupancy rate is $115.00.

CALENDAR

Sept. 19 -  CCA Board of Directors Meeting, Holiday Inn Select, Naperville

Sept. 20 -  �Coaching the Social Service Van Driver�, The Baby Fold, Normal, IL�A Free seminar for CCA members.  For more information or to register please call Sandy or Barb and CCA 217.528.4409, Ext. 21 or 22 (Space is limited)

Sept. 20-21 � Open Minds Strategic Management Institute, Hyatt Regency O�Hare; The institute agenda can be viewed on the Open Minds Website, and CCA members can register online and receive a special discount at http://www.openminds.com.

Sept. 28 -  �Coaching the Social Service Van Driver�, Lawrence Hall Youth Services, Chicago, IL�A Free seminar for CCA members.  For more information or to register please call Sandy or Barb and CCA 217.528.4409, Ext. 21 or 22 (Space is limited)

Oct. 11 - �Assessing, Diagnosing and Treating the Mental Health Needs of Africa-American Adolescents in the Juvenile Justice System� at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago; For further information call: Wendy Reese at 217/522-2663 or 800/252-8045

Oct. 25-26 � CCA�s Fall Membership Meeting, The Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook, IL. The meeting is open to CCA Executive Directors and executive level staff