MONDAY REPORT

March 25, 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

WORKFORCE SUMMIT--�Addressing the Workforce Crisis in Child Welfare� 1

CHILD WELFARE. 2

CWAC FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE. 2

�      Excess Revenue: 2

�      Bedhold Policy: 2

�      Case Management: 2

�      Medicaid in Specialized Foster Care: 3

�      Cook BARC/BAT Adjustments: 3

�      Current Funding at 75%: 3

�      Lapse in Current Funding: 3

�      Boilerplate Changes: 4

�      Rate Methodology: 4

�      Family-to-Family Foster Care Models and Impacts: 4

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY HEAD START GRANTS. 4

NATIONAL VIDEO CONFERENCE REGARDING THE EARLY HEAD START NATIONWIDE COMPETITION � APRIL 5, 2002. 5

MENTAL HEALTH and DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. 6

ILLINOIS MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION. 6

EDUCATION. Error! Bookmark not defined.

GENERAL. 7

CHILD WELFARE AND TANF REAUTHORIZATION. 7

TWO AGENCIES APPROVED FOR MEMBERSHIP. 7

WE HAVE TWO WINNERS. 8

UPCOMING EVENTS. 8

Developmental Grant Request for Proposals Workshop. 8

Calendar: 9

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.

CWAC FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

CWAC FAS met in Chicago on March 19, 2002. The following issues were discussed:

�       Excess Revenue:

 DCFS is going through the final stages on internal DCFS review of the proposed excess revenue rule. As a reminder, FAS assisted in development of the revised rule, which should allow up to 7% excess to be kept at the agency, similar to that which is allowed by for-profit state contractors. Once the rule finishes internal review it will be circulated for CWAC general review and comment and then go to the Illinois Register for first notice.

�       Bedhold Policy:

DCFS received few comments overall on the proposed bedhold policy but is reviewing those comments to determine if any changes are needed. They will submit revised policy to FAS for review and then implement the change, with a target effective date of July 1.

�       Case Management:

Thanks to the work of Bill Steinhauser of Bethany Moline, a proposed system of reimbursement for case management has been written. DCFS has not been able to yet agree on a system for case management fees to offset the upfront costs for ILO programs.  DCFS expressed concern that some agencies are not complying with 906 required timeframes in ILO. The POS members confirmed to DCFS that they should be enforcing the requirements so the other issues of ILO case management reimbursement can move ahead. The group will continue to pursue drafting a procedure for the ILO up front costs.

Additionally, DCFS is cautious about implementing any widespread reimbursement system for foster care cases that are not transferred in a timely way by DCFS. They do not feel opening the door for reimbursement after the current 90-day timeframe will solve the systemic issue of why DCFS is not fully transferring the case. They want individual case problems identified to DCFS executive staff. Provider members pointed out that this is critical issue for the POS agencies and is a pervasive systems problem. It will not be feasible for agencies to spend time documenting every case that does not fully transferred in a timely way. The group will continue to pursue this issue at the full CWAC and will craft some exception language for the proposed case management procedure.

�       Medicaid in Specialized Foster Care:

The FAS committee was asked by Foster Care Infrastructure to determine the amount of specialized rate designated to cover Medicaid infrastructure expenses. This amount will be deducted from the specialized rates as of July l, if the requirement for Medicaid Spec care is eliminated. DCFS was not able to research how the current rates were determined for this piece. There will be further work on this prior to the April Infrastructure meeting, so that the final amount can be determined. Agencies will need to know the amount of the decrease and how it will be applied in order to reorganize staff or drop positions as of July l. DCFS is concerned about possible challenges to the Specialized plan by Bureau of the Budget and Public Aid that will want to make sure all possible Medicaid funds are collected.

�       Cook BARC/BAT Adjustments:

If the April 1 COLA does not go through, DCFS will need to issue adjustments to the BARC/BATs which were set back in July in anticipation of a 2% April adjustment.

�       Current Funding at 75%:

Current funding payments will again be reduced to 75% levels for May and June. This will allow full reconciliation of the caseload and payment. Agencies should be alerted to this change in payment now in order to plan for May and June.  DCFS is also concerned about the continuation of the current funding model given problems experienced recently in the closure of a large agency. DCFS feels there are still a number of agencies that use current funding for operations expenses and are not restricting the funds for foster parent payments. Members of the group will work with DCFS on crafting potential guidance language to issue to agencies.

�       Lapse in Current Funding:

There are still a number of agencies that face imminent lapse of their current funding due to failure to submit cost reports and/or audits. We encourage all executive directors to check with their finance staff to assure their agency has submitted all required reports in a timely basis.

�       Boilerplate Changes:

There will be some changes to the boilerplate of contracts. A work group of FAS will review these with DCFS prior to the next meeting.

�       Rate Methodology:

If DCFS gets the approval from BOB to run the rate methodology, it will have to find the funds within its existing budget. Since a number of agencies have not yet submitted cost reports, medians cannot be calculated, and DCFS cannot do any scanning of the impact of the full methodology before final decisions are made. We encourage all executive directors to check with their finance staff to assure their agency has submitted all cost reports so the necessary data on rate methodology can be obtained.

�       Family-to-Family Foster Care Models and Impacts:

The group expressed concerns about the current Casey model pilots and DCFS� intention to implement the model statewide. This will change not only preferences for relative placements but will impact the HMR licensing initiative and hold implications for performance contracting. Agencies participating in the pilots are covering additional costs for which they are not being reimbursed. Questions were raised about whether the Casey Foundation was making any funding available to offset these costs. This issue will be raised at the full CWAC as well. (MB)

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY HEAD START GRANTS

Attached is a message regarding a national Video Conference on April 5, 2002 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. CST for prospective Early Head Start (EHS) applicants interested in learning more about the EHS Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 Program Announcement and Nationwide Competition.  One of the videoconference sites will be at the ACF Region V office.

$10 million will be available to applicants proposing to serve children in an Early Head Start program whose families are receiving support from the Child Welfare Services (CWS) system.

The following is more information on the announcement:

Fiscal Year 2002 Discretionary Announcement for Nationwide Competition of Early Head Start; Availability of Funds and Request for Applications Administration for Children and Families Program Announcement No. ACF/ACYF/HS 02-04

Notice of Fiscal Year 2002 Early Head Start availability of financial assistance for nationwide competition and request for applications:

Federal Register, Volume 67, Number 50, March 14, 2002, 11487-11512 http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/fr-cont.html

SUMMARY [excerpt]: The Administration on Children, Youth and Families announces approximately $72 million in financial assistance to be competitively awarded to local public and private non-profit and for-profit entities--including Early Head Start and Head Start grantees--to provide child and family development services for low-income families with children under age three and pregnant women. Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply for these funds to become Early Head Start grantees.  Applicants may apply for one or more of the following categories of expansion:

1.     Current Early Head Start grantees, proposing to expand in their currently approved EHS service area ($20 million). (See Priority 1 Evaluation Criteria.)

2.      Applicants, including current Early Head Start grantees and, proposing to establish an Early Head Start program in areas currently unserved by Early Head Start (see Attachment A for a listing of currently served areas; any area not listed is eligible for funding in this category) ($42 million). (See Priority 1 Evaluation Criteria.)

3.     Applicants proposing to serve children in an Early Head Start program whose families are receiving support from the Child Welfare Services (CWS) system ($10 million). (See Priority 2 Evaluation Criteria.) Applicants eligible for funding under this category are as follows:

a.     Current grantees may include a request for serving CWS children as a second part of their application under either 1 or 2 above or may submit an application only to serve CWS children.

     While each applicant should decide on the appropriate mix between CWS children and other children, we would not expect applicants to propose that a large portion of their children be CWS children unless there are compelling reasons for doing so which must be documented in the application.

b.     Applicants who are not current EHS providers may apply to serve CWS children only if they are also submitting an expansion proposal under 2 above.

    While each applicant should decide on the appropriate mix between CWS children and other children, we would not expect applicants to propose that a large portion of their children be CWS children unless there are compelling reasons for doing so which must be documented in the application.

DATE: The closing date and time for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. EDT on May 13, 2002. CONTACT: Early Head Start Nationwide Competition, 1901 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 301, Arlington, VA 22209 or telephone: 1-800-458-7699 or e-mail to: ehsnpal-tech.com.

A copy of the program announcement, necessary application forms, and appendices can be obtained by contacting: Early Head Start Nationwide Competition, 1901 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 301, Arlington, Virginia 22209. The telephone number is 1-800-458-7699; or e-mail to: [email protected].

NATIONAL VIDEO CONFERENCE REGARDING THE EARLY HEAD START NATIONWIDE COMPETITION � APRIL 5, 2002

The Head Start Bureau will hold a national Video Conference on April 5, 2002 from 2:00-4:00 p.m.  EST for prospective Early Head Start applicants interested in learning more about the Early Head Start FY2002 Program Announcement and Nationwide Competition.  The Announcement is posted on the following Website: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb

If you are interested in attending the Video Conference you can go to any Administration for Children and Families� Regional Office where a conference room will have the Video Conference hook-up to the Head Start Bureau in Washington, DC.   At the Conference there will be a presentation on the content of the Program Announcement, a discussion of application procedures and due date as well as a Question and Answer session.  The addresses of and contact persons in the Regional Offices are listed below.  By no later than March 28, 2002, please call the appropriate Regional Office contact person to register if you plan to attend the Video Conference.

You do not need to attend a Video Conference session to be eligible to apply for funds.  For questions about the Program Announcement you can call 1-800-458-7699 or email:  [email protected].  The Video Conference will also be taped and available through the Head Start Information and Publication Center at a cost of $5.00.  You may order a tape by calling a toll free number:  1-866-763-6481.

The Federal buildings where the Video Conference will be held have special security procedures that require a picture ID, search of the items that you bring with you and often take a considerable amount of time.

The Regional Office addresses and contact persons for the required registration are as follows:

Region V                      233 N. Michigan

                                   Suite 400

                                   Chicago, Illinois

                                   Contact:  Terra Bonds, Phone:  312-886-4922

Region XI                     American Indians and Alaskan Natives

                                   You may attend any Regional Office session. (mb)

ILLINOIS MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION

Following is a list of the mental health legislation with recommended positions that CCA is tracking this session.

House Bill 4183 provides that funding of community services for an individual should be in the same amount that was provided to that person when they were institutionalized.  Support

House Bill 4369 creates the Mental Illness Olmstead Initiative of 2002 and requires the Dept. of Human Services to provide appropriate residential or community based services to individuals with mental illness or co-occurring disorder of mental illness and substance abuse.  Support

House Bill 5571 and Senate Bill 1664 provides access to information for a client when it is necessary to collect sums and third party payment representing charges for mental health or developmental disabilities services provided by a therapist or agency to a recipient.  Cannot be used for anything else.  Allows agency to go to small claims court.   Support

House Bill 5844 provides for accreditation requirements and authorizes DHS to adopt additional standards.  Support

House Bill 4235 compiles cross disability database of disabled residents who are potential beneficiaries under most integrated setting of ADA and requires DHS to maintain a waiting list of DD persons needing community based services.  Support  (JMS)

CHILD WELFARE AND TANF REAUTHORIZATION

The Center on Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has developed a presentation on child welfare and TANF reauthorization.  The highlights of this presentation are on their web site and report on what is known and not known about the impact of TANF on child welfare, including a review of impacts on: the incidence of child maltreatment; the funding available for child welfare services; the coordination of child welfare and TANF services; and the services and supports available to kinship caregivers.

Four key questions regarding TANF and Child Welfare are: 1.) Have TANF requirements affected the incidence of child treatment? 2.) Has the block grant structure affected the funding level available for child welfare services? 3.) Has TANF implementation affected the delivery of services to vulnerable families? 3.) Has TANF affected the supports and services to kinship care families?

The connections that can be identified between the child welfare and TANF systems are: 1.) connection between poverty and maltreatment; 2.) connection between single parent families and maltreatment; 3.) overlapping needs of families with substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence and poverty; 4.) kinship care families served by both systems; and 5.) structural overlap of the two systems.

Some of the studies to date using state level data found that as the share of single working mothers increased so too did rates of neglect.  It also found that states with more generous welfare benefits tended to have lower rates of substantiated neglect.  Additional highlights can be found at the following web site:  www.clasp.org/pubs/TANF/child%20welfare%20and%20tanf%20reauthorizarion.pdf.   (JMS)

TWO AGENCIES APPROVED FOR MEMBERSHIP

CCAI is pleased to announce that Alliance Human Services in Schaumburg, and Catholic Children�s Home in Alton have been approved for full agency membership.  Alliance Human Services is the parent organization of several subsidiaries involved in the provision of services to children and elders.  The organization currently operates more than 800 foster parent homes in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.  Alliance Human Services provides services to a wide range of seriously emotionally disturbed and behaviorally disturbed children and adolescents.  Catholic Children�s Home serves to promote and care for the needs, education and welfare of dependent, neglected or otherwise needy children and youths who need structured care away from their own homes.  The agency provides a Special Education Day School.  Residential services consist of long-term diagnostic and emergency shelter care programs for boys and girls ages 11 through 18 years of age.

You may write or call these agencies and welcome them to the membership at: Alliance Human Services, Joan Pine, Executive Director, 1365 Wiley Road, Suite 151, Schaumburg, IL 60173; Phone: 847/755-0836, Fax: 847/755-0822.  Catholic Children�s Home, Candace Lumetta, Administrator, 1400 State Street, Alton, IL 62002; Phone: 618/465-3594; Fax: 618/465-4023.  (SKA)

WE HAVE TWO WINNERS

CCAI would like to congratulate the two winners from the March 21 Membership Meeting at Hamburger University Conference Center in Oak Brook.  The two winners� names were drawn from the name badges that were turned in at the end of the meeting.  Karen Sneade, Division Manager from Aunt Martha�s Youth Service Center is the winner of a $25.00 gift certificate.com, and Sue Statz, Executive Director, Norman C. Sleezer Youth Homes, is the winner of a $25.00 gift certificate at McDonald�s.  We would also like to thank all of you who turned in your badges at the meeting.  CCAI would like to thank First NonProfit Mutual Insurance Company for their contribution of these gift certificates.  (SKA)

Developmental Grant Request for Proposals Workshop

CCAI will sponsor two workshops for The Children and Family Research Center, School of Social Work, University of Illinois, on April 4^th in Springfield and April 8^th in Chicago.

The Children and Family Research Center (the Center) was established in 1996 with an emphasis on outcomes, linking outcomes to practice, and evaluating services that directly apply to DCFS policy and practice.  Each year, the Center seeks research projects that support the Center�s goals and objectives through the Developmental Grant Program.  Private child welfare agencies are encouraged to submit proposals for consideration.  The Center has developed a one-day workshop in which potential grantees can learn Developmental Grant priorities and receive technical assistance on development of research projects and Developmental Grant proposal completion.

Workshop topics include: current Center priorities, organizing a proposal, developing a budget, collaborating with a research consultant, and preparing for submission to the Department of Children and Family Services Internal Review Board.

This workshop is designed for individuals involved with project development including program managers, quality assurance experts, and program development individuals.  It would not be useful to send direct practice-level workers, as they would not have the appropriate knowledge and skill for this workshop.

The most successful proposals are likely to be for exploratory research or pilot projects; research reviews that include pertinent analysis of topics as they relate to or inform child welfare practice, policy, or programming, or projects that are an outgrowth of an existing research program or an extension of research experience.

If you would like to register for the Springfield or Chicago workshop please call the CCAI office at 217.528.4409.

Calendar:

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