There will be DCFS approval systems put in place for seeking these funds. Cook performance contracts will not be able to seek case management funds for the above scenarios since this is included in administrative expectations.  DCFS is developing a form for approvals and billings. Once this is finalized, procedures and instructions will go out to agencies.

Cook Performance Contracting Receivables

Cook performance contract caseload adjustments have now been made and agencies have been alerted to the change. For some agencies with decreased caseloads, this has created a receivable for DCFS. The FAS committee approved DCFS� plan for recovering the receivable. The amount due back to DCFS and the schedule of recovery is based on the percentage of the receivable to the total administrative payment:

            Over 50%: Take in 3 equal payments for the next 3 months

            25%-50%: Take in 2 equal payments for the next 2 months

            Less than 25%: Take in one lump sum on next month�s payment

Specialized/Treatment Foster Parent Payments

Agencies should be providing a calendar of foster parent payments to their APT monitors. This was part of the agreement FAS reached with DCFS last spring instead of following a mandated payment cycle.

Agencies are reminded that they cannot decrease foster parent payments even if their rate for Specialized/Treatment decreased. The foster parent portion of the rate was extrapolated. It was inflated for FY�01 based on 2.5% since the COLA applied to foster parents in FY�01. If an agency program had not previously adjusted foster parent rates in FY�01, because of the COLA, this must be done now. The continuing cost of that rate is considered as part of the rate calculations.

Excess Revenue

DCFS has not yet filed the revised rule for Excess Revenue. Given the cycle of rule publication/review/comment, it is doubtful the revised rule will take effect prior to rate setting for FY�03.

Bed Hold Procedures

DCFS is not yet ready with revised Bed Hold procedures. They are seeking a streamlined set of procedures based on comments from the FAS group as well as DCFS internal operations personnel. There will likely be some form of bed hold system when a child returns to the same placement, with some type of service documentation similar to the process that will be adopted for Medicaid comprehensive rate programs.

Medicaid Comprehensive Rate Documentation

DCFS confirmed the information already sent via letter to agencies with Comprehensive Rate Medicaid programs. Agencies must document a service per day on the new form, in order to bill on the comprehensive rate when a child is absent from the facility for any reason.

Homemaker Work Group

The FAS committee discussed the status of DCFS� deliberations on recommendations from the Homemaker Work Group. The work group recommended changes in program plan, type and use of service, utilization and reimbursement levels for the new program plan and service. At the time of the meeting, DCFS support services staff were reviewing proposed new program/service, utilization levels of past homemaker services and possible appropriation changes in future budgets.  (MB)

DOWNSTATE PERFORMANCE BASED WORK GROUP

The Downstate Performance Based Work Group met in Springfield on November 19. Report of status of Foster Care Infrastructure was provided. (See entry elsewhere in this issue of the Monday Report for further details: �DCFS Caseload and Trends for High End Kids.�).

FY�01 Permanency Report

DCFS presented the final report for permanency performance for FY�01. The average permanency rate for non-Cook agencies was 39% in HMR and 30.7% for Traditional Foster Care. More than 2100 children were moved to permanency last fiscal year in downstate programs. Copies of the permanency results for downstate can be obtained by calling the Springfield CCA office.

Agency Performance Statistical Summary

DCFS staff shared plans for development of a quarterly statistical report for downstate programs. Jim Gregory explained that the data collected is a tool for agencies to use in reviewing performance or units and managing change. The Downstate Agency Performance Report uses MASRS/CYCIS and UIR data to present statistics related to caseloads, placements, permanencies, placement dynamics, case dynamics, staffing, safety and resources. Agencies already are receiving data for all programs in the agency in which an agency caseworker is the worker of record. However, these reports do not reflect the downstate focus on geographic units and the need to examine performance by units to use as part of future intake opportunities. As the material is initially collected, downstate providers suggested eliminating the �agency rank� in the individual criteria. As agencies receive reports and begin to understand the data, this could be added in at a later time. There will also need to be benchmarks developed. This could address questions such as, �How does an �average� team perform?� �Does my team look like everyone else�s team?� They also advised DCFS sponsor training sessions for agency executives, program managers and quality assurance personnel as the initial data is released. Once DCFS refines its data pursuit internally, they will work with CCA to set up the training sessions.  Copies of the summary and data fields can be obtained by calling the CCA Springfield office at 217-528-4409.

Referral Rotation System

DCFS staff are collating the data received from agencies from the survey on school placements. APT�s were supposed to have distributed the survey to all agencies. If an agency did not receive this survey, there is still time to submit agency results. Agencies should immediately contact Jeff Buhrmann at 217-785-2509.

Agencies questioned the rate of referrals in some areas. More than 50% of all new cases are �forced intake� to a specific agency due to sib placements or other compelling factors. However, not every region has collated referral statistics and shared these with the agencies in their region. They have been directed to convene these meetings as agreed on a quarterly basis.  Agencies should review their performance statistics as well. Intake is intended to go to agencies with high performance outcomes based on percentages of available intake in a sub-region. Regional DCFS staff also feel that an agency�s �pass� rate on referrals should be considered as part of future intake opportunities. There are agencies passing on available referrals. DCFS cannot promise additional cases at the same rate if agencies are passing frequently. January will mark the one-year period since implementation of the system. Decisions will be made in the future based on statistics at that time.  The rotation work group will meet before the downstate January meeting to look at implementation issues, data problems and whether the data is accomplishing what is was intended to do.

One Worker-One Family Implementation

DCFS staff reported the initial implementation and case changes were fairly successful. A few cases needed APT direction when agencies were not able to reach agreement on consolidation. APT staff will be getting a monthly report on case consolidation and will be working with individual agencies regularly.

HMR Licensing Initiative

DCFS staff reported that the due to recent federal interpretation, there will still need to be diligent efforts to license all placements for children. (For a full report of the federal interpretation, see the Monday Report of 11/19/01.)

Court Process and Non-Compliance Findings

Lake County agencies reported they are frequently getting non-compliance findings from DCFS because of lack of reasonable efforts in pursuing court hearings. The Lake court is not generally holding such hearings on a routine basis. DCFS staff suggested such agencies in Lake or any other county with similar issues report this to their APT staff and ask APT staff to investigate how to resolve the issue.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 31, 2002 at 628 E. Adams.

DD SERVICE PROVIDER SURVEY OF SERVICES AND GAPS

The DHS Statewide Advisory Council created various committees to provide input into the implementation for the DHS DD Strategic Plan.  The Comprehensive Services Committee was created to address the objective of: Develop process guidelines for Networks to identify existing services and gaps by October 31, 2001.  A Gaps-in-Service Subcommittee was created to develop recommendations to implement a plan to identify existing services and gaps.  The recommendations included the process of developing and implementing two surveys: one for people with developmental disabilities and their family members and one for service providers.  The service provider survey was developed for each DHS Network to gather information about existing services and gaps.  Each network will inform service providers for children and adults with development disabilities and their families about the survey and their need to provide this information.  The survey will be based on the following broad categories: service coordination, early intervention, educational services, family support services, therapy and counseling, employment programs, adult day programs, residential programs, recreation and leisure, transportation, and other.   Copies of the survey forms have been sent to the DHS Networks for review and comment.  (JMS)

HOUSE REAUTHORIZES SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM

It was reported in This Week in Washington that the House passed H.R. 2873, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001.  The legislation reauthorizes the Safe and Stable Families Program for five years at its current level of $305 million in mandatory funding and includes an additional $200 million in discretionary funding for the program.  The measure also provides $60 million in discretionary funding to establish a grant program for children aging out of foster care.  Because the increased funding is discretionary, it must be included in the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bills.  The appropriated level in both the House and Senate appropriations bills is $70 million.  (JMS)

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Residents of the Youth Farm will be featured in a holiday article in the December 2001 issue of Peoria Metropolitan Magazine.

Margaret Berglind, President and CEO of the Child Care Association, recently spoke at a legislative dinner sponsored by Onarga and Indian Oaks Academies. For more information, visit �The President�s Pen� on this website�s home page.

(To submit your agency�s news for The Monday Report, send to Linda Lenzini, Director, Marketing and Public Relations, at the Child Care Association. MSWord e-mail attachments are preferred.)

WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF A MINIMAL CODB INCREASE ON YOUR AGENCY? CCA is currently surveying the membership for information about economic impacts related to the minimal CODB provided to private agencies in the State of Illinois�s FY2002 budget. Of particular interest are the following topics:

�        Any programs that will potentially be modified or eliminated in FY2002

�        Number of clients impacted by modification/elimination of program

�        The impact of this in client services and the community in which the service is provided

�        The counties in which that service is provided

�        Operational impacts, such as facilities or satellite locations that will be closed

�        Personnel related impacts, such as not filling vacated positions, eliminating positions, or freezing wage increases

�        Reduction of current staff hours

�        Reduction of education and training opportunities for staff

�        Reduction of benefits, vacations, holidays, or personal days

Please add any other comments you might have about the impact that a minimal cost of doing business has had on your agency for FY2002, or any anticipated concerns you have moving into the budget cycle for FY2003. Information can be sent via e-mail to: [email protected], or by fax to 217-528-6498.

HELPFUL WESITES 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 bios 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.

COMMUNITY FORUM--ILLINOIS SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP IV-E WAIVER DEMONSTRATION PRESENTS �INFORMATIONAL SESSION�

The African-American Family Commission Research Advisory Committee of the Illinois Subsidized Guardianship IV-E Waiver Demonstration presents �Informational Session�.  The date is Thursday, December 6 at Ada S. McKinley, 2907 S. Wabash, Chicago, from 10:00 a.m. until Noon.  Topics include: 1) Updated information on the Subsidized Guardianship IV-E Waiver Demonstration Research Project; 2) New services for older wards, 18-21 years of age and wards who have aged out of care; 3) Adoption and Guardianship Post-Permanency Services; and 4) The new Federal Outcome Training 426 Initiative.  CEU�s and Foster Parent Training Credits available.  For more information please contact: Wasi Young, African-American Family Commission at 312/326-0368.  (Our thanks to Terry Solomon for this information).