MONDAY REPORT

March 18, 2002

SPECIAL NOTE:  Copyright 2002. 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

CCAI SPRING MEMBERSHIP MEETING�LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER.. 1

�      BREAKOUT GROUP DESCRIPTIONS.. 2

�      LEADERSHIP DINNER.. 2

WORKFORCE SUMMIT--�Addressing the Workforce Crisis in Child Welfare� 2

CHILD WELFARE.. 3

DIRECT SERVICE EMPLOYEE TRAINING UPDATE.. 3

�      Update on Foundation Training. 3

�      Enhanced Training Waiver 3

�      Information Strategy. 3

�      Financial Incentives. 4

�      Qualitative Evaluation of Trainers. 4

UPDATED INFORMATION ON PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES.. 4

�      General Information. 4

�      Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program.. 4

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT (CAPTA) REAUTHORIZATION.. 6

FAMILY CENTERED SERVICES STEERING COMMITTEE.. 7

MENTAL HEALTH and DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.. 7

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR DHS OFFERS TRAINING.. 7

EDUCATION.. 8

CRITICAL EDUCATION SERVICES INFORMATION NEEDED.. 8

ILLINOIS PURCHASED CARE REVIEW BOARD TO SEND OUT RULE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT  8

GENERAL.. 8

FREE RESOURCES FOR PRIVATE AGENCY FOSTER CHILDREN: PATHWAYS TO DEVELOPMENT. 8

CWAC SACWIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.. 9

Update on Best Practice. 9

Medicaid and SACWIS.. 9

Update of Phase I 9

Change Management 10

Update of Phase II 10

SAWIS/POS Equipment 10

UPCOMING EVENTS.. 10

Calendar: 10

CCAI SPRING MEMBERSHIP MEETING�LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER

March 21, 2002--9:30: Registration--Hamburger University Conference Center at McDonald�s Office Campus, 2815 Jorie Blvd., Room 222, Oak Brook, Illinois

10:00-12:00               OPENING SESSION

CURRENT DIRECTIONS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE

   CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS

Presentation of New Strategic Plan

Spring Policy/Legislative Challenges and Agenda

Current Update on Status of State Budget

Challenges on Outcomes Collection

Collection of Cost Report Information

Court Improvement Project

12:00 -  1:00              GROUP LUNCH AND NETWORKING WITH BOARD LINKS

  1:15 -  2:30              BREAKOUT GROUPS

  2:30 -  2:45              BREAK and CHANGE TO NEW BREAKOUT GROUP

  2:45 -  4:00              REPEAT BREAKOUT GROUPS

  4:00:                         ADJOURN

�        BREAKOUT GROUP DESCRIPTIONS

We are presenting each Breakout Group twice, to allow members to attend more than one interest area.

 1) Trends in Residential Care

Review recent study of Trends in Residential Care with Chapin Hall staff;

Review current projects relating to residential care including standardized measurements and residential worker training with CCAI sub-group chairs; Review current developments in residential planning discussions with DCFS with CCAI sub-group members; Identify future challenges for residential providers.

2) Current Developments in Foster Care

Obtain current information on developments in Specialized and Performance Based Foster Care programs; Review future trends and utilization patterns.

 3) CCAI Outcomes Project�New Directions

Review current plans of Steering Committee on Intensifying Outcomes Reporting for CCAI Members; Obtain information on new requirements and reports for FY�03.

�        LEADERSHIP DINNER

�Working Together for Children� for Executive Directors, CEO�s and Agency Board Members

Location: The Hyatt Lodge, Fullersburg Room, Oak Brook--Wednesday, March 20, 2002

6:15 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Jerry Stermer, President of Voices for Illinois Children.

If you would like to register for the Leadership Dinner and/or the Membership Meeting and need a registration form, please call the CCAI office at 217/528-4409, Ext. 21 or 22.

WORKFORCE SUMMIT--�Addressing the Workforce Crisis in Child Welfare�

Uhlich Children�s Home, 217 N. Jefferson, 2^nd Floor, Chicago, Illinois

Tuesday, March 26^th, 9AM � 2 PM

Learn how private agencies and legislative bodies can work together to advocate for child welfare workers and improve their training, incentives, and retention rates.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Executive level staff and human resource professionals from voluntary child welfare agencies will find this one-day summit helpful in:

Understanding current federal legislation that provide solutions

Identifying best practices in human resources that lead to employee retention and satisfaction

Being able to communicate the impact of the child welfare workforce crisis to stakeholders, lawmakers, and others.

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE:

Presentation by: Andrew L. Reitz, Ph.D., Walker Trieschman Center, Child Welfare League of America

PANELS:

We will present two exciting and interactive panels with dozens of good ideas.

Child Welfare Agency Panel:  Agency panelists will share their own innovative solutions to the workforce crisis. Panelists include: Dave Coleman, Executive Director, Center for Children's Services, Danville, Illinois; Marjory Kostoglanis, Agency Training Coordinator, Uhlich Children�s Home, Chicago; Jennifer Sweetwater, Director of Human Resources, Children's Home Association of Illinois, Peoria.

Legislative Panel: Legislators and staff representatives advocating for legislation that will improve the training, educational benefits, and retention of qualified child welfare workers in Illinois and nation-wide.

You can find the information and registration form for this session on CCAI�s website at www.cca-il.org.

DIRECT SERVICE EMPLOYEE TRAINING UPDATE

The IV-E Waiver Committee met on March 15, 2002 in Chicago.

�        Update on Foundation Training

DCFS is set to proceed with a compressed Foundation Training. The training for new workers would be reduced to 2 weeks, and would not include the field day. It would include CERAP and Licensure exams on an 11th day.  Target date for this change is approximately mid-May. The last scheduled 4-week training will be those due to start on April 1. There would be no new training for about a 3-4 week period until the compressed training is rolled out. Agencies should use this information as they project new hires to assure they don�t miss out on the last available training cycles before the inactivity period.

�        Enhanced Training Waiver

The waiver project is moving at full speed. As noted in previous Monday

Reports, Cook and collar county private HMR/TFC agencies will be asked to participate in the waiver project which hopes to demonstrate that enhanced training for private agency staff results in higher reunification and other permanency rates and shorter lengths of stay.

�        Information Strategy

The committee recommended a 2 level  approach to preparation of agencies and supervisors who participate. 1) Prior to signing the letter of agreement, executive and program staff from qualifying agencies will be asked to attend a half day session which will provide an overview of the project and detail the expectations for agencies. 2) Once agencies are selected for participation, supervisors will be asked to attend a special overview training to go through the curriculum and understand the field day assignments, coaching/mentoring and follow-up responsibilities they will have for the training participants. There will be increased clarification of field day responsibilities and specific assignments. Every 5^th day of the enhanced training will be a field day.

�        Financial Incentives

The group recommended DCFS adopt the following financial incentives for those agencies selected for the demonstration group:

Mileage and parking for all trainees, lodging and meals for staff who must travel more than 35 miles in Cook and 45 miles in non-Cook areas to training.

Stipend of $750 per participant to the agency upon completion of the training.

�        Qualitative Evaluation of Trainers

In response to recommendations from the private sector members, DCFS will develop a qualitative evaluation for all trainers. This will be based on national standards and may include participation from volunteer �training observers.� Additionally, those selected for the enhanced training will be expected to demonstrate clinical and procedural knowledge as well as good interpersonal and presentation skills as part of the interview/selection process. This will be a somewhat open application process. DCFS hopes to select the best trainers available, which might include good people from the private sector. (MB)

UPDATED INFORMATION ON PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES

We received the following information from DHHS, Administration for Children and Families division.

�        General Information

The President signed the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001, Public Law 107-133 into law on January 17, 2002.  The law reauthorizes and amends the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program.  The law also creates authority for HHS to award competitive grants for programs to mentor children of incarcerated parents.  Finally the law amends the Chafee program and provides new authority for education and training vouchers for youth who may age out of foster care.

�        Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program

The amendments reauthorize the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program with mandatory funding of $305 million for Federal fiscal years (FY) 2002 through 2006.  The existing set-asides for Indian Tribes (1 percent), the Court Improvement Program ($10 million) and Federal research, evaluation and technical assistance ($6 million), are continued as mandatory funding in the reauthorization. 

In addition, the law authorizes discretionary funding of $200 million for PSSF for FYs 2002 through 2006.[1]  Out of any discretionary funding, the bill authorizes a 2 percent set-aside for Indian tribes, a 3.3 percent set-aside for evaluation, research and technical assistance and a 3.3 percent set-aside for the Court Improvement Program.

Allocations to the States, Indian tribes and Territories will be distributed according to the existing formulas.[2]

Other new provisions of title IV-B, subpart 2 include:

An amendment to the definition of family preservation services to allow States to support infant safe haven programs (section 431(a)(1) of the Act).  The law also amends the definition of family support services to include services to strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages (section 431(a)(2) of the Act).[3]   Although States could always use PSSF funds for these services, the amendment clarifies the flexibility to do so.

The ability for the Secretary to reallot unneeded portions of State allocations to other States, so that the total appropriation remains available for program purposes (section 433(d) of the Act).

The transfer of the Court Improvement program authority to a new section 438 of the Act.  The law also expands the scope of the program to include improvements that the highest courts deem necessary to: 1) provide for the safety, well-being, and permanence of children in foster care, as set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89); and, 2) to implement a corrective action plan, as necessary, resulting from a Child and Family Service Review.

Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents:

Title I, Subtitle B, Section 121, entitled "Grants for Programs for Mentoring Children of Prisoners," amends subpart 2 of Title IV-B.  Under a new section 439 of the Act, the law authorizes $67 million for FYs 2002 and 2003[4] (and amounts as necessary for fiscal years 2004 through 2006) for competitive grants to establish and/or expand mentoring programs for children whose parent(s) are incarcerated.  Grants are to be made to State, local or Tribal governments, Tribal consortia, faith-based organizations or community-based organizations that operate in areas that have significant numbers of children of imprisoned parents and may not exceed $5 million.

Educational and Training Vouchers for Youths Aging Out of Foster Care:

Title II, Section 201, entitled �Educational and Training Vouchers for Youths Aging Out of Foster Care,� amends Section 477 of Title IV-E of the Act.  In addition to the existing authorization of $140 million for the Chafee program, the law authorizes $60 million[5] for payments to States for educational and training vouchers for certain youth. 

To receive funds, a State must certify that the State�s program for education and training vouchers is in compliance with the following conditions:

may be available to: 1) youth who otherwise are eligible for services under the State�s Chafee program; 2) youth who are adopted from foster care after age 16; and 3) youth up to the age of 23, as long as they are participating in the program at age 21 and are making satisfactory progress in completing their course of study or training.

State must also include a statement describing methods the State will use to:

ensure that the total amount of educational assistance to a youth under this and any other Federal assistance program does not exceed the total cost of attendance; and

avoid duplication of benefits under this and any other Federal assistance program.[6]

The law also amends the Chafee program to allow the Secretary to reallocate any funds for which States do not apply to other States (section 477(d)(4) of the Act).  In addition, the law provides a temporary extension in FY 2000 Chafee funds that allows States to expend the funds through fiscal year 2002 (section 202(b) of Public Law 107-133).  EFFECTIVE DATE: In general, the law is effective upon enactment, January 17, 2002.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT (CAPTA) REAUTHORIZATION

The following is the Internet link to the 3/5/2002 press release regarding the introduction of Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, which would reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and other related acts:

http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press107/captapass3602.htm

H.R. 3839 modifies current law by:

  Promoting partnerships between child protective services and private and
community-based organizations, including education, health and mental health
providers, to offer child abuse prevention and treatment services;

� Improving public education on the role of the child protection system and the reporting of suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect to reduce the number of false or malicious allegations;

� Improving the training, recruitment, and retention of child protective service personnel;

� Improving the training of child protective services to ensure collaboration with families and protection of individual rights;

� Requiring child protective services personnel to advise individuals subject
to a child abuse investigation of the allegation made against them;

� Instructing the Health and Human Services Secretary to conduct the fourth
National Incidence Study (NIS-4), which collects data on children who have
been investigated by child protection agencies and those suspected of abuse;

� Requiring the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to
conduct a study on the number of infants and young children abandoned each
year and their parents; and

� Extending the authorization for the transitional housing assistance
program, which awards grants to organizations that provide housing assistance
to victims and their dependents fleeing a domestic violence situation.

If you'd like to see the full text version of the bill, go to:
http://thomas.loc.gov and enter the bill number:  HR 3839 and press search. (mb)
 
TANF INFORMATION

The following is the Internet link to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) 3/5/2002 press release regarding President Bush's proposal to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020305.html (mb)

FAMILY CENTERED SERVICES STEERING COMMITTEE

The last meeting of the Family Centered Services Steering Committee was held in February in Chicago.  Ron Stevens with Region V DHHS provided a legislative update for the committee. He mentioned the signing into law of H.R. 2873 which covered the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments.  The legislation expanded services to include mentoring programs for children whose parents are in prison and enhanced educational opportunities for children leaving foster care.  The legislation keeps intact and provides an increase for the four categories of service including family support, family preservation, time-limited reunification and adoption promotion and support services.  Ron Stevens also informed the members that there will be a reallotment period during which monies not spent by other states may become available for the FCS Initiative in Illinois.  It was also noted that this is the 5^th year of TANF.  Approximately 200 families in Illinois will be affected by this deadline.

Representatives working on the evaluation of the FCS initiative were also in attendance.  Much of the evaluation discussion focused on the specific outcomes desired for reduction in child abuse and neglect and how those outcomes would be used for the future evaluation of FCS programs.

A report was also provided on the DCFS Research Department�s �Adoption and Guardianship Tracking Dissolution, Disruption, Death/Incapacitation� tracking project.  This project is focused on developing a system to track cases reentering DCFS after achieving permanency.  This data will be part of the new SACWIS system. The next meeting of the Family Centered Service Steering Committee will be April 2002.  (JMS)

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR DHS OFFERS TRAINING

The Office of Inspector General within DHS is offering training from May through August on Rule 50 � Reporting Allegations of Abuse and Neglect.   Following is the schedule:

May 2, 2002               Howe Developmental Center

May 9, 2002               Choate Mental Health Center

May 21, 2002            McFarland Mental Health Center

June 19, 2002           Singer MHDC

June 20, 2002           Murray Developmental Center

June 26, 2002           CCAR Industries

July 3, 2002               McFarland Mental Health Center

July 16, 2002             Howe Developmental Center

August 1, 2002          Elgin Mental Health Center

August 8, 2002          Alton Mental Health Center

For additional information or to register for this training, contact the Office of Inspector General within DHS.  (JMS)

CRITICAL EDUCATION SERVICES INFORMATION NEEDED

Senate Bill 1843, the alternative certification bill that will allow nonpublic special education facilities to open the school year with substitute teachers, needs more information from us in order to help us to move it forward.  PLEASE SEND INFORMATION TO BRIDGET HELMHOLZ (or e-mail at [email protected]) regarding 1)whether workforce shortages are preventing you from expanding to meet the number of referrals from school districts; 2) whether existing classrooms or programs have closed due to lack of certified special education personnel; 3) any other workforce shortage problems.  This bill is stalled due to resistance from some teacher unions and some parent advocates who are concerned about a reduction in quality. We want to get our Association information to Senator Cronin (the sponsor) as quickly as possible. Our position is that the protections in the bill (mentoring and enrollment in special education program) help prevent reduction in quality, and the ability to have a child in a structured, therapeutic setting, if appropriate, is critical.  Many students are not able to be placed in such settings now because the personnel are not available (BRH).

ILLINOIS PURCHASED CARE REVIEW BOARD TO SEND OUT RULE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

In a discussion with IPCRB Executive Director Paul Fiorenza last week, CCA was told that the IPCRB rule will be distributed for public comment in the near future.  It is in that context, Mr. Fiorenza recommended, that CCAI�s comments regarding rule improvements should be submitted.  More information on this will be sent to the Rate-Setting Workgroup next week (BRH).

CWAC SACWIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The CWAC SACWIS Advisory Committee met after two months of cancelled meetings by DCFS due to implementation focus for Phase I.  The meeting was held on March 12, 2002 in Springfield.  Agenda items covered included an update on Best Practice, Status of Phase I and Phase II application design and development, POS Advocate reports, and SACWIS/POS Equipment.

            Update on Best Practice

SACWIS project staff are using the period when the design sessions were put on hold to review the results of the previous JADs and make adjustments as necessary.  The goal is to refine the design and leave only those items necessary.  For example upon reviewing the education design, there were 22 data elements that were removed.  It was decided that the time involved by field staff to ask the questions and record the answers in SACWIS was excessive.  There will be a pilot test of a centralized behavioral health screening system.  The screener would be gathering the information rather than the worker.  A majority of the social history would be done by the screener. 

            Medicaid and SACWIS

One of the ongoing issues has been the integration of the Medicaid information with SACWIS so that assessment, service plan and case note information does not have to be entered twice into two separate systems by private agency staff.  Recommendations were submitted to DCFS regarding these components of Medicaid.  At the meeting on March 12^th the request was made to schedule a meeting to review the material and address questions.  DCFS pointed out that April and May will start the blending of the financial components into the SACWIS design.  Medicaid considerations will be incorporated at that time.  A meeting is anticipated at the beginning of April.

            Update of Phase I

The original date for the Phase I (Intake and Investigation) to go live was April 22, 2002.  That date has been delayed until May 20, 2002 to allow additional time for performance tuning and to resolve lingering design issues.  Some of the performance issues related to the length of time that it was taking to complete a search.  Some searches were taking 40 to 45 seconds.  Field-testing for Phase I is planned for April 8 � May 7.  Test sites will be in Marion, Galesburg, Chicago (1911 S. Indiana) and SCR.  Training prior to the May 20^th implementation date will be April 17 � May 17. 

            Change Management

DCFS is working on change management issues for Phase I and had managers go through the Phase I SACWIS application using a live version, not a test version.  The managers are developing action plans to address work process changes that will be required when SACWIS goes live.  The managers are also required to prepare bi-weekly status reports of action plan implementation.  The action plans consists of the following general areas:  Identified Phase I SACWIS Action Item; Local Activities to Accomplish Action Item; Person responsible for Activity; Expected Outcome; and Date outcome to be achieved.  DCFS reported that when the Phase I roll out is completed, there will be a review of Phase I procedures, activities, plans in preparation for Phase II.  It was recommended that work needs to begin on the change management activities for Phase II as soon as possible rather than wait until the completion of Phase I.

            Update of Phase II

Phase II which deals with the case management activities and information was delayed until June 2002.  During this time the Best Practice Staff have been meeting and looking for items to be removed from the Phase II design.  This review process is to be done by April 2^nd and the integration of the financial system components will start immediately thereafter.  The goal is to establish the boundaries of Phase II by the end of May and keep to the original timeline for implementing Phase II.  The planned rollout for Phase II is August 2003 for the first wave.  No more JADs will be held to complete the development of Phase II.  The final design of Phase II will be the responsibility of the Best Practice staff with input as needed from either DCFS or POS subject matter experts.

            SAWIS/POS Equipment

DCFS reported that for FY02 there has been reimbursements totaling $863,636 to 52 agencies compared with FY01 of $1,596,900 to 42 agencies.  The total amount spent by private agencies is $2,515,305.  This is only about 1/3 of the total amount allocated to the private agencies for SACWIS readiness activities.  The seat count adjustments were also reported.  62 agencies will get an increase in SACWIS funds and 35 agencies will get a decrease.  Letters will be issued out to all agencies regarding their new allocations as soon as internal review is completed by DCFS budget staff.  Certification dates for POS SACWIS readiness have been moved to March 2003 and July 2003. (JMS)

Calendar:

March 20 � CCAI�s Board Meeting and Leadership Dinner, The Hyatt Lodge, Oak Brook

March 21 � CCAI�s Spring Membership Meeting, Hamburger University Conference Center,

                   Oak Brook

March 26 � Workforce Summit �Addressing the Workforce Crisis in Child Welfare�, Uhlich

                   Children�s Home, Chicago; 9 a.m. � 2:00 p.m.

April  2 � Integrating Program and Finance, Prevention First, Inc., Springfield, 9:00-4:00

April 12 � Integrating Program and Finance, Catholic Charities of Chicago, St. Vincent Hall,

                 Chicago, 9:00-4:00

May 3 - Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois Spring Workshop, featuring Reed Martin,

             Special Education Attorney, Holiday Inn, Naperville, (708) 430-7532

June 5-6 � CCAI�s Annual Membership Meeting, Crowne Plaza, Springfield