MONDAY REPORT

October 29, 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

CHILD WELFARE.. 1

FEDERAL ADOPTION ASSISTANCE UPDATE.. 1

UPDATE ON ASSISTANCE FOR UNLICENSED RELATIVES.. 1

GENERAL.. 1

SACWIS AND MEDICAID.. 1

TANF REAUTHORIZATION.. 2

BONUS FOR TANF.. 2

CCAI FALL LEADERSHIP RETREAT HELD 10/25-26/01. 2

VIDEOS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN FROM CCA.. 3

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY. 4

UPCOMING EVENTS/MEETINGS.. 4

JUVENILE JUSTICE SUMMITS.. 4

FEDERAL ADOPTION ASSISTANCE UPDATE

DHHS staff reported to us that in response to concerns from several members of Congress and private agencies, ACF conducted an intensive re-review of Policy Announcement ACYF-PA-01-01.  Based upon this re-review, ACF concluded that the eligibility criteria for title IV-E adoption assistance apply to any otherwise eligible child who is relinquished to either a public or a private, nonprofit agency. Therefore, the section of the policy announcement related to children voluntarily relinquished to private agencies will be revised to ensure that both public and private adoption agencies can participate in the adoption assistance program.  An Information Memorandum (IM) will be issued soon which will provide more details. (MB)

UPDATE ON ASSISTANCE FOR UNLICENSED RELATIVES

The report from the Cook Performance Based Work Group in last week�s Monday Report referred to DCFS policy on reimbursement of expenses to help unlicensed relatives reach licensed compliance. However, following that meeting, some DCFS staff claimed this was not a correct interpretation of the policy. There is at this time, no clear answer from DCFS as to whether there is any provision to financially assist relatives who wish to become licensed. We have asked DCFS executive staff for clarification and will update you as soon as we are able. (MB)

SACWIS AND MEDICAID

The CWAC Medicaid Workgroup met in Bloomington on October 24^th to review the revised Medicaid checklist and the procedures for appeals, suspensions and termination.  At the meeting there was also a brief discussion on the issue of incorporating Medicaid assessment and service planning information in the development of SACWIS and how that could be achieved.  A small workgroup was organized to meet on November 7^th to review the Medicaid-SACWIS issue further and develop recommendations.   The question remains how much of the Medicaid information needs to be a part of the SAWCIS system both for foster care and residential.

The group did complete a review of the revised Medicaid checklist to be used for the recertification process and agreed upon the changes to be made.  Plans are to implement the new checklist with the required certifications to begin this year.  (JMS)

TANF REAUTHORIZATION

A solicitation for comments regarding the Reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Authority was published in the October 17^th Federal Register (Volume 66, Number 201).  Any comments should be submitted on or before November 30, 2001.  Comments can be submitted by mail to TANF Reauthorization Ideas, Office of Family Assistance, 5^th Floor East, Aerospace Building, 370 L�Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447.  Links to the Federal Register Notice on TANF Reauthorization and to comment on Reauthorization were placed on the Office of Family Assistance home page.  These links are located in the �What�s New?� column.  Their web page address is: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ofa.   (JMS)

BONUS FOR TANF

American Public Human Services Association reported that H.R. 3113, introduced October 12^th proposed replacing the out-of-wedlock bonus with a bonus to reward states that reduce child poverty and changing the high performance bonus criteria to measures based on employment placement, success in removing barriers to self-sufficiency, and the provision of work supports.  It also adds activities that count toward work; modifies the contingency fund; mandates assessments upon request; eliminates sanctions against teenage parents not attending high schools; increases exceptions to the federal time limit; mandates the notification of recipient rights; eliminates special rules for aliens and bans full family sanctions and application diversion practices.  Several provisions would have a dramatic impact on the child support program.  For additional information go to: www.aphsa.org/reauthor/rr102401.asp#tanf.  (JMS)

CCAI FALL LEADERSHIP RETREAT HELD 10/25-26/01

Over thirty member agencies of CCAI were represented at the Hyatt Lodge in Oakbrook on October 25^th and 26^th. The theme of the � Retreat Directions for the Child Care Association of Illinois and its Members�, was selected to encourage members to think ahead as CCA looks forward in times of great change to how it can best serve children and families, and how it can effect policy, perception, and planning in areas that most impact the children and families served by membership agencies.

During the two-day retreat, ongoing focus groups, with facilitation by CCAI Board members, addressed the three areas of focus identified last summer during the Strategic Planning Retreat of the Board of Directors. The three areas, the changing role of the not-for-profit service provider in relationship to government funders, current needs and capabilities for serving in the area of juvenile justice, and the meaning of community were discussed. All attendees participated in focus groups for each of these three subjects, exploring the needs, the capabilities of member agencies to impact these issues, and the best way for CCA to become involved and affect policy and perception in these arenas.

Thursday evening�s Leadership Dinner, attended by a number of CCA agency leaders, was highlighted by a presentation by Mark Courtney, new Director of Chapin Hall, who indicated that Chapin Halls is interested in providing more opportunities for cross-functional study in areas that impact children�s services and the communities in which they are delivered. A discussion about involvement and collaboration on the part of CCAI followed.

Friday morning began with a Board to Link Breakfast in which Board members and their links could visit informally over breakfast to network and share ideas. A full session in which feedback was provided by facilitators of the nine focus groups the previous day spurred additional discussion about the fine-tuning of the strategic plan by Margaret Berglind, President and CEO, and CCAI staff members, for presentation to the Board of Directors. The anticipated outcome is a new five-year strategic plan that takes into consideration the shifting of populations that are served by member agencies and the challenges of funding services in the future and impacting public policy.

Ms. Berglind also announced that CCAI has won a grant through the federal Court Improvement Program. The grant, administrated through the Administrative Offices of the Illinois Courts, will provide CCAI members with the opportunity to attend a series of forums on a circuit-by-circuit basis to create better understanding among court personnel and private agencies of juvenile court practices, and to recommend changes that will improve service delivery to children and families.  Additionally, Ms. Berglind announced that CCAI has been awarded a mini-grant through the Alliance for Children and Families to promote National Family Week, November 18^th through 24^th. The mini-grant has been used to develop pre-recorded Public Service Announcements for radio that provide the opportunity for CCAI members to tag them with their own agency�s name and work with their local media to emphasize the diversity and importance of families to the community. The program marks the first collaborative effort between CCAI and the Illinois Foster Parent Association. CCA has also received an award from the Child Welfare League of America acknowledging its outstanding efforts in the area of Kinship Care.

Upon adjournment, the group entered discussion of how best to use CCAI resources and to do meaningful, realistic planning for the future. Ms Berglind emphasized the importance of creating actionable goals, and the need to mobilize the membership and optimize their involvement in efforts.

Members wishing more information about the Leadership Retreat are urged to contact Ms. Berglind or Board Members of CCA for additional discussion and information. (LLL)

VIDEOS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN FROM CCA

Three videos are now available for loan from CCA. They are:

�        �Attracting and Keeping the Best Volunteers,� a satellite videoconference produced by the Learning Institute for Nonprofit organizations

�        �Strengthening the Foundation of Effective Volunteer Involvement,� a satellite videoconference produced by the Learning Institute for Nonprofit organizations.

�        �Legacy of Community Action,� a documentary funded jointly by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Kellogg Foundation and HBO, tells the story of a multigenerational family who overcomes poverty, welfare, drug addiction and family tragedy to transcend to success.  The film would be a great starter for discussion on collaboration and an excellent training film on the range of challenges social service agencies and workers face when working with clients.

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY

Tired of all that paper cluttering up your desk as you work on important public policy and advocacy issues? Check out these helpful online sites!

To find Illinois state legislators, their phone numbers, their districts, and their voting history:

http://www.state.il.us/state.legis

Provides legislation status and text, contact information for district or elected officials, and links to each legislator�s bio, voting record, contact numbers and e-mail address.

To find Congress members, phone numbers for districts, and voting history:

http://congress.org

Includes quick Capitol Hill tips, contacts for elected officials by zip code, issues and legislation, and a guide to the media. Provides bio�s and voting history for members of Congress and a quick means to contact them via e-mail.

To track CWLA public policy and advocacy information:

http://www.cwla.org/advocacy

Includes legislative agenda�s, report forms, Kids� Advocate Online, an interactive area of the website to obtain information and contact Congress, budget information alerts and updates, and more.

To track Alliance for Children public policy and advocacy information:

http://www.alliance1.org. Outlines public policy position statements, action alerts, and legislative tracking chart for current Congressional session.

To track DCFS Executive Summaries Monthly:

http:/www.state.il.us/dcfs

Includes updated Executive Statistical Summary Report covering trends in child abuse, foster care and licensing outcomes.

To learn how your congressional representatives and senators are doing at their jobs, identify and contact state or county elected officials and more:

http://www.vote-smart.org is the Project Vote Smart website. Contains policy information by keyword category, as well as bio�s on elected officials, and much more.

JUVENILE JUSTICE SUMMITS

The Juvenile Justice Initiative is holding 3 summits on juvenile justice. These summits provide an opportunity to participate in the development of model policy and appropriate recommendations and implementation strategies. Registration is necessary. Call 217-522-7970 for additional information and registration form. All summits are held from 10:00-4:00 with lunch included.

      Detention: November 5, Bloomington
      Prevention: October 30, Bloomington
      Fairness: November 1, Chicago
(MB)

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