MONDAY REPORT

August 20, 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

PROCEDURES ON ADOPTION LISTING SERVICES. 1

PROPOSED RULE CHANGES FOR DCFS AUDITS. 2

SPECIAL EDUCATION.. 2

PZZ�S (WAIVER) INFORMATION SOLICITED ABOUT TEACHERS. 2

CCA SOLICITS INFORMATION ON GRANTS FOR SPECIAL ED CURRICULUM MATERIALS. 2

FEDERAL OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL BE IN ILLINOIS THIS WEEK.. 2

GENERAL.. 2

FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS. 2

CENSUS SURVEY.. 3

NEW CCA WEBSITE FEATURES. 3

SURVEY NEWS AND INFORMATION.. 3

WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR AGENCY�S COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM?. 3

COMMUNICATIONS NEWS. 3

MEDIA MENTION: TITLE IV-E WAIVER FEATURED IN GOVERNOR�S PRESS RELEASE. 3

CCA SELECTED FOR ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES MINI-GRANT. 3

MEDIA INTERVIEWS UNDER PRESSURE: SOME TIPS FOR SUCCESS. 4

PUBLIC RELATIONS INFORMATION AND IDEA EXCHANGE. 4

STILL AVAILABLE: �HOW TO GET INTO THE NEWSPAPERS WITHOUT COMMITTING A CRIME�  4

KNOW YOUR LOCAL PRESS. 4

UPCOMING EVENTS/MEETINGS.. 4

CCA CO-SPONSORS TRAINING WITH ICOY.. 4

CALENDAR: 5

PROCEDURES ON ADOPTION LISTING SERVICES

DCFS has issued new procedures for Adoption Listing Service, Section 309.40.  These procedures, which instruct staff on how to list children and families with the Adoption Information Center of Illinois, replaces Procedures 302 � Appendix A � Adoption Listing Service Utilization Procedures.  Comments should be submitted by September 4, 2001 to the Office of Child and Family Policy, 406 East Monroe Street, Station #65, Springfield, Ill. 62701, e-mail at [email protected] or FAX 217-557-0692.  A copy is being sent to all foster care providers for review and comment.

PROPOSED RULE CHANGES FOR DCFS AUDITS

The Department of Children and Family Services proposed amendments for �Audits, Review and Investigations� and Purchase of Service to raise the threshold above which certain audits from DCFS contractors are required from the current $50,000 to $150,000 in annually received Department funds.  In addition Part 357 amendments require that any building or equipment with a useful life of 3 years and exceeding $1,500 in value at the time of purchase (if purchased directly with DCFS funds and not included in an acceptable cost allocation plan) be identified and returned within 90 days after contract expiration or termination.  Currently only equipment purchased completely with State or certain federal funds and worth more than $300 must be returned.  Child welfare agencies, child care institutions and group homes that receive annual DCFS payments in excess of $150,000 in any one contract year are affected by these rulemakings.  Questions and requests for copies of the rule can be directed until 9/24/01 to Jeff Osowski, DCFS 406 East Monroe, Station 65, Springfield, Ill.  62701-1498.  217-524-1983.  FAX 217-557-0692.

PZZ�S (WAIVER) INFORMATION SOLICITED ABOUT TEACHERS

Information about CCA members� ability to obtain PZZ waivers for the special education teachers when necessary is still being solicited by CCA.  If you have had problems obtaining these waivers for teachers you presumed were eligible please call Bridget Helmholz at the CCA office.  (BRH)

CCA SOLICITS INFORMATION ON GRANTS FOR SPECIAL ED CURRICULUM MATERIALS

Non-public special education facility representatives have inquired about either grant programs or other private funding sources that would assist in paying for schoolbooks and other teaching materials.  If you have a source that you would be willing to share please contact Bridget Helmholz at CCA.  (BRH)

FEDERAL OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL BE IN ILLINOIS THIS WEEK

Federal office of Special Education Programs will be in Illinois this week

to work with the committee that is reviewing Illinois� compliance with special education law.  All day meetings will be held twice this week to review the reports submitted by the committee, chaired by CCA staff member, Bridget Helmholz.  These reports will then be reviewed in public hearings held throughout the State of Illinois and copies of the final Illinois document on compliance is available through the CCA office.  (BRH)

FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS

It was reported in This Week in Washington, that when Congress returns from its current recess around September 4 that the Senate and the House will have only 17 work days to complete appropriations for all 13 spending bills before the end of the fiscal year on October 1.  Funding levels for the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services within the Labor-HHS-Education bill have yet to be determined and are contingent on agreed-upon spending within H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which is currently in conference.  With the tight schedule, lawmakers are already discussing the need for continuing resolutions to keep the government functioning at this year�s levels until a final budget can be passed.  (JMS)

CENSUS SURVEY

New statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau this week offer U.S. and state estimates on income, poverty, housing, education, immigration and other social and economic forces shaping the country.  The statistics describe a nation where nearly 1 in 5 Americans does not speak English at home, more than 2.4 million grandparents are responsible for raising their grandchildren, and the number of adults who work solely out of their homes has grown a third since 1990.  Overall, Americans are better-housed and better educated than they were 10 years ago.  Yet more than one in six children lives in poverty with an estimated 12.5% of the overall U.S. population below poverty.  For additional information you can go to: http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/c2ss.html  (JMS)

NEW CCA WEBSITE FEATURES

The CCA website currently features several new offerings. They are:

�        From the President�s Pen: A reflection on CCA�s activities over the previous month, and comments on the direction of the Association and its members.

�        Recent press releases, including the press release on July�s BAR-J Forum in Matteson, Illinois. Upcoming press releases will also be archived on the site

�        On-line registration for the upcoming Strategic Management Seminar, co-sponsored with Open Minds. A link leads to their site. Click �Register Now� and scroll down to register at a special 40% discounts CCA member price.

SURVEY NEWS AND INFORMATION

Annual Membership Surveys are being sent out to individual members, completed with last year�s information, for updating. If you completed last year�s survey, and 85%  of the membership did, you need only review last year�s information and update it. If you have not yet received your survey, or did not participate last year and would like to do so this year, please contact Linda Lenzini at [email protected] or by phone at 217-528-4409.

WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR AGENCY�S COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM?

How important is communications to your agency?  Participate in the CCA Communications Survey on the CCA home page at http://www.cca-il.org, and learn how your agency compares to other member agencies in the communications arena.  The short (3-page) survey measures the efforts, areas of interest, and background of those responsible for communications and development functions among agencies, and is designed to help CCA assess what communications information and training would be most helpful to Association members. Deadline is August 30, so fill yours out today.

COMMUNICATIONS NEWS

MEDIA MENTION: TITLE IV-E WAIVER FEATURED IN GOVERNOR�S PRESS RELEASE

In order to read this release, in which Margaret Berglind, President and CEO of the Child Care Association, is quoted, visit the Governor�s home page at http://www.state.il.us. Scheduled for release on Monday, August 20, 2001, it is also anticipated that selected publications will also publish  the information.

CCA SELECTED FOR ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES MINI-GRANT

CCA has been selected as one of fifty winners nationwide of a mini-grant that will promote National Family Week, November 18^th � 24^th, 2001.  The award will underwrite a public service campaign for the event which features radio public service announcements developed around the theme for the week, �Connections Count.� The campaign, featuring the Child Care Association of Illinois and the Illinois Foster Parent Association, will heighten public awareness of the agencies and foster parents who provide stable homes for vulnerable children in Illinois.   The program will also incorporate opportunities for features, editorial submissions, and media interviews statewide. The mini-grant program is underwritten by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. To learn more about this program and to obtain press kit materials, contact Linda Lenzini, Director, Marketing and Communications, Child Care Association of Illinois.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS UNDER PRESSURE: SOME TIPS FOR SUCCESS

�Media Interviews Under Pressure: Some Tips for Success� has been prepared by the CCA Communications office for member use. To obtain your copy, contact Linda Lenzini, Director of Marketing and Communications at CCA at [email protected]. Please specify whether you prefer an MSWord attachment, imbedded email, or hard copy of the information.

PUBLIC RELATIONS INFORMATION AND IDEA EXCHANGE

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.

STILL AVAILABLE: �HOW TO GET INTO THE NEWSPAPERS WITHOUT COMMITTING A CRIME�

This handbook, prepared by the Illinois Press Association, is available to CCA member agencies upon request through a permission to reprint agreement with the Press Association. The handbook is ideal not only for communications professionals, but for educating staff, Boards of Directors, and volunteers. To obtain your copy, contact Linda Lenzini at CCA at [email protected] or by calling 217-528-4409. 

KNOW YOUR LOCAL PRESS

Names, titles, and contact phone numbers of your agency�s local media outlets are available for the asking from CCA. Contact Linda Lenzini at the Child Care Association at [email protected], or call the CCA offices at 217-528-4409.

CCA CO-SPONSORS TRAINING WITH ICOY

�Assessing, Diagnosing and Treating the Mental Health Needs of Africa-American Adolescents in the Juvenile Justice System� is scheduled for October 11^th at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago.  The training, sponsored by the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, is co-sponsored by DHS/DCHP Providers, State of Illinois Employees, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, Illinois Probation and Court Services Association, and CCA.  The presenter is Lee Underwood, Psy.D., Regent University, School of Psychology and Counseling, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  CCA members will be able to register at a reduced fee of $25.00.  Look for the program and registration form in your mailbox this week.  For more information call Wendy Reese at 217/522-2663 or 800/252-8045.  (SKA)

CALENDAR:

August 23 - Cook agencies meet with Judge Patricia Martin Bishop 10:00 a.m.-Noon, Juvenile Court Auditorium.

Aug. 23-24 - Uhlich Children's Home presents "Building Skills for a Brighter Future"-- For further information please contact: Dee Ann Flynn at (773) 588-0180, X1275 or via email at [email protected]

Aug. 27-28 - Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Update Training�Cunningham Children�s Home, Urbana

Aug.  27 � Outcome Steering Committee/Board Outcome Committee Meeting, The Baby Fold

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

Sept. 20-21 � Open Minds Strategic Management Institute, Hyatt Regency O�Hare; The institute agenda can be viewed on the Open Minds Website at http://www.openminds.com.

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