MONDAY REPORT

October 14, 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.

HIPAA REMINDER � DEADLINE OF OCTOBER 15, 2002. 1

GENERAL.. 1

CCAI HIRES NEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST. 1

CCAI SCHEDULES SECOND HIPAA SEMINAR � NOVEMBER 14. 2

HEALTHY FAMILIES ILLINOIS POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEETING.. 2

GRANT DOLLARS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH MORE THAN DOUBLE.. 3

TANF CASELOADS DECLINES IN MOST STATES IN SECOND QUARTER, BUT MOST STATES SAW INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR.. 3

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM WORK-RELATED TIME LIMIT EXEMPTIONS.. 3

UPCOMING EVENTS.. 3

�SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP-EXPERIENCES� 3

�SYSTEMS OF CARE� 3

�FATHERS AS EDUCATORS: PRACTICAL IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS FOR ENGAGING FATHERS IN THEIR CHILDREN�S EDUCATION� 4

Calendar.. 4

HIPAA REMINDER � DEADLINE OF OCTOBER 15, 2002

This is the final reminder related to filing the extension plan related to implementation of changes to the HIPAA standard transactions.  The deadline is October 15, 2002.  If anyone is still uncertain whether the requirements of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) apply to them, file the extension plan as a precaution.  Filing does not obligate an agency to meet the requirements if it is later clarified that HIPAA does not apply to your particular agency.  Filing electronically only takes 15 minutes.  Go to www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa.   If you are unable to file electronically, you can send it by mail and it must be postmarked October 15, 2002.  It has been recommended that people send it certified mail if they send it through regular mail.

Agencies also received a letter last week from DCFS regarding HIPAA.  The purpose of this letter was to inform agencies that may not have received any information to date related to HIPAA and advise all Medicaid agencies about the October 2002 and April 2003 deadlines.  (JMS)

CCAI HIRES NEW INFORMATION SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

As of October 7, 2002, Kelly Pantaleone was hired for the position of Information Systems Specialist with CCAI.  Kelly�s educational background includes Associates in Applied Science Degree with a major in Computer Networking, web site development, hardware installation/maintenance and use of Microsoft Office and Windows operating systems.  We want to welcome Kelly and look forward to his assistance with the information system needs of CCAI in implementing the goals of the strategic plan.  Members should direct their technology inquiries, including job postings on the CCAI web site or passwords to the Members Only Section of the CCAI web site to Kelly.  His e-mail address is [email protected].  He can be reached at the Springfield office by calling 217-528-4409 ex. 26.  (JMS) 

CCAI SCHEDULES SECOND HIPAA SEMINAR � NOVEMBER 14

As we are still trying to sort through the requirements and applicability of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) to social service providers whether as child welfare providers or multi-service agencies, CCAI is sponsoring a second HIPAA seminar.  This seminar provides more in depth review of the privacy requirements, examines security related issues and provides further review of the standard transactions used in defining the types of electronic transfer of information.  The second seminar has been scheduled for November 14, 2002 at the Wyndham Lisle, 3000 Warrenville Road in Lisle from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Copies of the agenda and registration forms were mailed out to all member agencies last week.  Included with the mailing is a brief list of questions to assist agencies in determining how HIPAA might specifically impact your organization. 

Our speaker for this seminar is Andy Tecson with Chuhak and Tecson, P.C. in Chicago.  Mr. Tecson provides legal services to physician groups, nursing homes, hospitals and other health care providers.  He has provided compliance services related to HIPAA, Medicare and tax exempt organization issues.  He also serves on the Board of Directors for Lutheran Child and Family Services and Community Family Services and Mental Health Association.  As part of this seminar we will have materials available for the participants that include templates of sample forms and draft procedures.  Registration information is also available on the CCAI web site at www.cca-il.org.  If you have any questions about registering for the seminar, contact Sandy Armstrong.  If you have any general questions about HIPAA contact Jan Schoening.  (JMS) 

HEALTHY FAMILIES ILLINOIS POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE MEETING

The Healthy Families Illinois Policy and Advocacy Committee conducted a brief survey of Healthy Families� programs to determine the impacts of this year�s approved budget on the funded Healthy Families programs.  Following are some of the major results from that survey:

1. Despite level funding in FY03 of the HFI budget line, a number of HFI sites suffered reductions in other funding sources for their HFI programs, resulting in staffing cutbacks and some reductions in services to families. 
2. Many more HFI sites reported decreased funding for their agencies, affecting infrastructure and support to their HFI programs.
3. Cutbacks in partner agencies� budgets also impacted HFI families adversely.

Specific funding programs that were tied to HFI included cuts made to Project Success (DHS) and also cuts to Family Centered Services (DCFS).  Also some cuts to local mental health agencies limited the availability of some families receiving services.  Survey results will be shared with HFI sites for further analysis and discussion. 

Some of the items discussed for the legislative agenda this year were: quality components that might be added as enhancements for HFI sites, including mental health promotion; expansion of the program into unserved and underserved areas of the state since four of the 25 counties with the highest incidence of child abuse do not have HFI sites; a proposal to expand sites� caseloads to address waiting lists; and include HFI programs as part of any COLA adjustment.  (JMS)

GRANT DOLLARS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH MORE THAN DOUBLE

The Foundation Center has just released a special  �Children and Youth Funding Update�.  This brief report provides an overview of the growth of foundation funding for children and youth from 1996 to 2001 and compares this growth to the record increases in overall foundation giving for children and youth by purpose, presents breakdowns of funding for subsets of children and youth, and examines giving for children and youth by type of support and funder and recipient locations.  

U.S. grant making foundations directed an estimated $4.46 billion specifically to benefit children and youth in 2001, more than double the $2.09 billion reported in 1996.  Adjusted for inflation, giving for children and youth rose by close to nine-tenths since 1996-up 87.7 percent or 13.4 percent per year.  Growth in estimated giving for children and youth slightly outpaced increases in overall giving by U.S. foundations during this period.  For additional information go to: www.fdncenter.org/about/news/pr_0210a.html.  (JMS)

TANF CASELOADS DECLINES IN MOST STATES IN SECOND QUARTER, BUT MOST STATES SAW INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR

The Center on Law and Social Policy finds that nearly all states (44) report a caseload decrease in the second quarter.  This decrease is consistent with prior years, as caseloads typically peak in March of each year.  Families who are hitting welfare time limits may play a role in these declining caseloads.  CLASP also finds that a majority of states (29) report caseload increase over the past year, between June 2001 and June 2002.  Overall, most states are now seeing caseloads fluctuate over time, as opposed to move in a steady direction either up or down.   For additional information got to: www.clasp.org/DMS/Documents/1033487945.66/view_html.  (JMS)

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM WORK-RELATED TIME LIMIT EXEMPTIONS

A brief from the Urban Institute using data from the 1999 National Survey of America�s Families, finds that programs that �stop the clock� when recipients work at least 30 hours per week could benefit many families.  Approximately 613,000 families who receive TANF could automatically qualify because the primary caregivers in the families already work 30 or more hours per week.  Another 192,000 TANF participants would qualify if they increase their hours of work from between 20 and 29 hours to 30 hours per week.  An additional 750,000 eligible, non-recipients working at least 30 hours per week could benefit if they reenter welfare.  For additional information go to: http://click.topica.com/maaay04aaTPbUa30MABb/.  (JMS) 

�SUBSIDIZED GUARDIANSHIP-EXPERIENCES�

The African-American Family Commission will present two dates for �Subsidized Guardianship-Experiences�.  The first date and location is Friday, November 8, 2002 at Ada S. McKinley, 2907 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL from 10 a.m. to NOON.  The second date and location is Thursday, November 14, 2002 at Tri-County Urban League, 317 S. MacArthur Highway, Peoria, IL from 10 a.m. to NOON.  The intended audience is Child Welfare Staff and Foster Parents.  For more information and to RSVP � please contact Wasi Young, African-American Family Commission (312) 326-0368.

�SYSTEMS OF CARE�

The African-American Family Commission will present �Systems of Care� on Thursday, December 5, 2002 at the Juvenile Court Auditorium, 2245 W. Ogden Avenue, Chicago, IL from 10 a.m. to NOON.  The intended audience is Child Welfare Staff and Foster Parents.  For more information and to RSVP � please contact Wasi Young, African-American Family Commission (312) 326-0368.

�FATHERS AS EDUCATORS: PRACTICAL IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS FOR ENGAGING FATHERS IN THEIR CHILDREN�S EDUCATION�

This teacher and practitioner workshop is being co-sponsored by The Illinois Fatherhood Initiative, the Administration for Children and Families, and the City of Chicago Department of Human Services.

There will be two concurrent workshops�one focused on Early Head Start / Head Start / Preschool / Nursery School personnel and one focused on Elementary School Teachers, Administrators, Parents, PTA�s, PTO�s and others.

The workshops will be held on October 22 at the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe Street, Chicago at 10:00 a.m. and run until 11:45 a.m.

This is a free workshop for CCAI members.  For agenda and registration information please call Sean Scanlon at 800.996.3237.   Please be sure to say you are a member of the Child Care Association to get the free registration.  (SKA)

Calendar

Oct. 15   CCAI Outcomes Steering Committee � The Baby Fold � 10 to 2

Oct. 16   CCAI Public Policy Committee � Our Children�s Homestead � 11 to 3

Oct. 17   CWAC Medicaid Workgroup � Lawrence Hall � 11 to 2

Oct. 19   �Prevention not Suspension: Looking at Alternatives,� Workshop includes

                information on looking at alternatives to suspension, understanding the

                disadvantages of suspension, and connecting behavioral interventions to the

                student�s disability. Bev Johns, Author and Program Supervisor, Therapeutic Public

                Day School, 9:30 � 3:30, Egan Urban Center, DePaul University, 243 South

                Wabash Ave., 9^th Floor, Chicago, registration (312-939-3513).

Oct. 23-24   CCAI�s Fall Membership Meeting, Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center

Nov. 7      First NonProfit Free seminar--Charitable Giving with Randy A. Fox�For more

                information call toll-free 800.526.4352, X. 1531

Nov. 14    HIPAA Seminar � Wyndham Lisle � 10 to 3:30

Nov. 18    Healthy Families Illinois Policy and Advocacy Committee