MONDAY REPORT
December 2, 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.
NEW
FEDERAL STUDIES ON FOSTER CARE AVAILABLE
MEET
THE NEW LEGISLATORS ON WEB SITE
SUMMARY
OF JUVENILE JUSTICE PROVISIONS IN 21ST CENTURY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
APPROPRIATIONS ACT
DOWNSTATE
AGENCIES�SAVE THE DATE FOR BEST PRACTICES/SACWIS MEETING
HIPAA
SEMINAR WITH MISSOURI COALITION � DECEMBER 12, 2002
The most recent EFC report projects further decreases in general revenue for FY�03 and makes grim projections for FY�04. The report notes:
�Base
revenues are up $143 million or 2.0% through the first third of the fiscal year.
However, that gain includes approximately $156 million in one-time inter-fund
transfers. Absent those gains, revenues actually would be down approximately $13
million, reflecting that despite being in a recovery phase, state tax receipts
have yet to show many measurable signs of improvement. As the months pass
without a turn around, it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve earlier
growth expectations. While the Commission still forecasts some improvement in
the second half of the fiscal year, the degree of underperformance in some of
the major sources is significant enough to necessitate a downward revision at
this time�The
FY 2003 general funds forecast has been lowered $385 million to $23.793 billion,
which represents growth of $415 million or 1.8%. Summaries of the sources
experiencing revisions include the following:
 | Gross personal income tax receipts were down $45 million. Through October, withholding payments, which are based on current wages and employment and make up nearly 80% of total income taxes, are up only 0.2% reflecting the fact that the employment picture has not yet shown improvement. In fact, during the first quarter of the fiscal year, on a non-farm unadjusted basis, the average monthly number of persons employed is still running about 138,000, or 2.3% below the same time last year.� |
| Estimated payments, which are largely made up of non-wage income such as capital gains and other investment income and make up approximately 12% of total income tax receipts, are down 16.1% through October. As a result of the disappointing performance to date, in addition to the more modest outlook in the near future, the estimate of gross personal income tax revenues has been revised down $160 million ($148 net of refunds). |
| Gross corporate income tax receipts were down� As a result, the estimate of gross corporate income tax revenues has been lowered $51 million ($37 million net of refunds). |
| Through the first one-third of the fiscal year, sales tax revenues are up $30 million or 1.5%. While the consumer has held up the economy throughout the recession, there doesn�t appear to be much pent up spending pressure�The downside concern is that the consumer will take a breather, resulting in a slippage in this choppy recovery. It did not appear likely that the earlier sales tax estimate would be reached; therefore, the FY 2003 forecast has been reduced by $90 million. |
| Public utility taxes are down�. Competition and other factors have served to suppress that component of utility taxes and as a result the estimate has been reduced by $35 million. |
| Corporate franchise taxes are running about even with last year, but looks like it is in danger of missing the earlier estimate. The forecast has been lowered by $5 million.� |
Initial projections for the FY�04 budget contain significant areas of concern:
��Total general funds are estimated to be $350 million less next fiscal year. The decline is anticipated due to significant increases in the calculated income tax refund percentages�
| A net loss of approximately $90 million in inheritance tax receipts due to the continued phase-out of the federal inheritance tax, from which Illinois� inheritance tax is derived. |
| A reduction of approximately $50 million from lower available transfers from the Build Illinois general reserve account. |
| A decline of approximately $200 million in other transfers reflecting the $165 million in approved FY 2003 transfers as well as anticipated reductions in some other transfers. |
| An estimated $90 million reduction in federal source receipts. |
In conclusion,
while the base growth projections for most of the major tax sources are
anticipated to finally return to more respectable levels, a number of issues
will significantly impact on the bottom line for FY 2004. How these issues will
be dealt with will no doubt highlight upcoming budget discussions.�
The report also includes charts comparing the revenue forecasts of the Economic and Fiscal Commission (the budget shop for the state legislature) and Bureau of the Budget (the budget shop for the Governor and executive branch.) The revenue projections are different from each shop.
We encourage members to visit the web site of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission and to review the pertinent budget reports. These are the reports that are going to our state representatives and senators so it is important as we talk with them about the budget, that we are familiar with the background material provided to them. (MB)
Press
release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reads as follows:
�HHS
Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on November 22 announced the selection of 18
individuals and organizations as recipients of the department's Adoption
Excellence Awards. Given annually since 1997, the awards honor states,
organizations, businesses, individuals and families for giving abandoned,
neglected or abused children a loving family and a safe and nurturing home.�
"The
people and organizations we honor with these excellence awards are real heroes
to the many children who need loving homes and families," Secretary
Thompson said. "These awards reflect our appreciation for their commitment
and big hearts as we all strive to help so many children across the
country."
The
Adoption Excellence awards grew out of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of
1997. This law provided
unprecedented financial incentives for states to increase adoptions, made the
safety of children the paramount consideration for determining placement, and
mandated swifter time frames for permanent placement decisions.
An
estimated 131,000 children in public foster care are waiting for adoptive homes.
The majority of these children have special needs, such as a history of
maltreatment; physical, mental or learning disabilities; older age (between 7
and 16); or are part of a sibling group. More than 50,000 children were
adopted from public child welfare agencies last year.
Award
recipients are chosen by a committee representing non-profit adoption agencies,
child welfare and adoption advocates, adoptive parents, foundations, the
business community, and state and federal offices. This year, the panel reviewed
70 nominations and chose 18 winners in six categories of excellence.
"It
is gratifying to confer this honor on a group of people who really are making a
difference for children," said Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., assistant secretary for
children and families. They stand as examples of the many thousands of
others across the country who are helping foster children move to permanent,
stable and loving homes."
Illinois winners include:
Illinois
Department of Children and Family Services, Springfield, Ill. Through the
leadership of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Illinois
restructured its operations in ways that build on the strengths and cultural
traditions of the African-American family and turned kinship care into a viable
route for achieving permanency. Illinois provided subsidies to families with
guardianship of foster children who were related to them; established a
performance-based payment system to reward agencies for achieving permanency
goals; and implemented state legislative reform that speeded up permanency
plans. After these changes adoption from kinship care increased 16 percent in
three years.
Tom
and Elizabeth Richmond, Peoria, Ill. Since becoming foster parents in 1993, the
Richmonds have parented or provided respite care for 15 children and adopted 3
children, all with special needs. Elizabeth Richmond's interest in helping
children in need began during her internship at a crisis nursery as a college
senior. She has since become one of Illinois' most vocal advocates for children
and the parents who care for them, whether birth, foster or adoptive. The
Richmonds serve on many adoption-related boards and councils and are frequently
invited to participate in state policy discussions. (Note from MB:
Elizabeth Richmond serves on CWAC and the Foster Care Infrastructure
Committee.)
Allison
Rosati, Chicago, Ill. Having once been a foster child, Allison Rosati
understands and relates to children who long for a stable family structure. Now
a newscaster with NBC 5 Chicago, she accepted the position as host of the
Wednesday's Child feature, and dedicated herself to developing a unique segment
for each child. As a result of two years of her work, 23 adoptions have been
finalized, 4 children are with guardianship families and 59 children are moving
toward permanency with identified families.
Jess
McDonald, Springfield, Ill. Under the leadership of Jess McDonald, Director of
the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services since 1994, the
department has made dramatic improvement in securing permanency for Illinois
children. McDonald's initial partnership with Cook County Juvenile Court
judges resulted in the elimination of case backlogs; the convening of special
court sessions on finalizing permanency decisions; the development of the legal
framework for Illinois' Permanency Initiative, and the reduction in the average
time a child spends in foster care from 4 years to 2 years. In addition,
Illinois has secured 3 separate federal waivers to test policy innovations
designed to support the rapid movement of children from foster care to
permanency.
Brenda
Krause Eheart, Rantoul, Ill. An adoptive parent herself, Brenda Eheart oversees
Hope Meadows, an intergenerational neighborhood she created eight years ago on a
decommissioned military base. Her foster/adoptive families, fixed-income seniors
and children live together and support one another. Children find nurturing,
permanent homes through adoption; parents receive tremendous support; and
seniors find a safe, affordable, and caring neighborhood in which to retire. For
more than 20 years, Brenda has conducted, published, and presented research on
adoption of foster children. She has demonstrated how a dedicated, energetic
scholar can bring her work to life by actively engaging politicians, the media,
the business community and other academics in providing permanent, loving homes
for America's waiting children. �
All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news. (MB)
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is announcing the availability of $6 million in funding for 12-14 grants to support substance abuse treatment and related reentry services in agencies providing supervision of and services to sentenced juvenile and young adult offenders returning to the community from incarceration.
WHO CAN APPLY: Public and domestic private non profit entities may apply, including state and local governments, Indian tribes and tribal organizations, courts, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations.
HOW TO APPLY: The
program announcement for this Young Offender Reentry Program, TI 03-001,
requires applicants to submit a memorandum of understanding among partners in
the effort. These partners must include the state or local department of
corrections; state or local alcohol and drug abuse agencies; the state or local
mental health agency; the state or local juvenile or criminal justice agency
responsible for community supervision of the youth; and other community-based or
faith-based organizations who provide services for youth reentering the
community.
The Request for Applications is available on SAMHSA's web site at www.samhsa.gov or by phone from SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 1-800-729-6686.
APPLICATION DUE DATE: January 17, 2003
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Applicants with questions on program issues should contact Kenneth W. Robertson at 301-443-7612 or [email protected]. Queries on grants management issues should be directed to Steve Hudak at 301-443-9666 or [email protected].
SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States. Information on SAMHSA's programs is available on the Internet at www.samhsa.gov.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site now includes two recent studies on foster care. Foster Care Dynamics in Urban and Non-Urban Counties provides details on how the experiences of children in foster care vary depending on whether they live in primary urban areas, secondary urban areas, or non-urban counties. (http://.aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/fostercare-issues02/dynamics/index.htm.)
The second report, Employment Outcomes for Youth Aging out of Foster Care, is on employment outcomes of children exiting foster care. The study focused on youth exiting foster care near their 18th birthday in California, Illinois, and South Carolina during a 13-quarter time period in the mid-1990s. The findings say youth aging out of foster care are underemployed and progress more slowly in the labor market than other youth. (http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/fostercare-agingout02/dynamics/index.htm.)
The Children�s Bureau Express web site is www.calib.com/cbexpress. (MB)
Profiles of newly elected state senators and representatives can be found on the Illinois General Assembly web site. We encourage members to review these and become familiar with the new elected state officials for your home and agency service areas. We encourage you to promote this information with your board, volunteers, staff, foster parents and voting age young clients. (MB)
The Child Welfare
League of America had developed a summary and analysis of the Juvenile Justice
Provisions in the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations
Act (P.L. 107-273). This
legislation authorizes U.S. Department of Justice programs that include juvenile
justice programs. This new law
makes changes to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA),
the major federal law governing the juvenile justice system.
With some minor exceptions, this law maintains the core protections for
youth in the juvenile justice system. The
bill actually expands the protection relating to disproportionate minority
representation of all youth who come in contact with the juvenile justice system
� not just those confined. It
continues the formula grant to states, maintains the Title V local delinquency
prevention grant programs and authorizes and improves the authorization for the
Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant.
In addition the
new law includes important linkages between juvenile justice and child welfare
with three provisions:
For
additional information about this legislation go to: http://click.topica.com/maaaFaOaaUzC6aaaaaab/.
(JMS)
Downstate
agency Executive Directors/CEO�s along with Training Managers are asked to
save the date of December 4, 10-2 for a meeting with DCFS in Bloomington.
The
meeting
will take place at: CSS/Project Oz Office, 502 South Morris, Bloomington,
Illinois. (309-820-7616.) Office manager contact is Julie Edley. Lunch will be
served.
The meeting will include information on the Best Practices training to be rolled out in downstate areas next spring, and information relating to Best Practices/SACWIS. Development of a research-based child welfare practice model has been a top priority in Illinois for the past several years. This effort, commonly referred to as �Best Practice�, promotes a system wide journey toward continuous quality improvement that accompanies other system wide achievements. Implementation has involved both the public and private sector in a joint effort to advance practice.
Training is seen
as a critical component to the system wide improvement efforts.
Foundation Training and the Illinois Title IVE training Waiver for new
workers have set the stage for the next phase of these efforts.
DCFS will soon offer the availability of Phase II Best Practice Training,
for workers already in the field. The core components of Phase II relate to
permanency work through the use of integrated assessment, concurrent planning on
all cases and the use of family meetings. All downstate (non-Cook) agencies should have
received the invitation letter. If you have not, please call the Springfield CCA
office for a copy and for location instructions. If you are in doubt about
whether your agency should attend this meeting, please call Marge Berglind. (MB)
In our contacts
with other state associations regarding activities occurring around HIPAA, we
have received information from the Missouri Coalition of Children�s Agencies
that they are holding a seminar on HIPAA on December 12, 2002 from 9:00 to 3:30
in St. Louis. If you were unable to
attend either of the CCAI HIPAA training sessions in September and November, the
Missouri Coalition of Children�s Agencies is opening attendance for the
December 12th session to all CCAI members at the Missouri member rate
of $50. If you would like
additional information about the training please contact the Missouri Coalition
at 1-800-942-0326 or e-mail at [email protected].
Their FAX number is 573-635-9848.
Jeff Bormaster from CWLA will be the speaker for Missouri�s HIPAA
seminar. When registering for this
training, please indicate that you are a member of CCAI in order to receive the
Missouri member rate. Copies of the
registration form are also available from the CCAI office in Springfield.
(JMS)
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.
Dec. 3 �Addressing the Needs of Girls At Risk for Delinquent and Criminal Behavior�,
Hilton Hotel, Springfield; to register visit: www.youthnetworkcouncil.org/training
Dec. 4 Downstate Agencies--Best Practices/SACWIS Meeting, 10-2, CSS/Project Oz
Office, 502 South Morris, Bloomington (309.820.7616)
Jan. 15 Downstate Performance Based Work Group, 1-3, Springfield
Jan. 21 CWAC Finance and Administration Committee, Bloomington
Feb. 20 Cook Agencies Meeting with Presiding Judge, Juvenile Court, Chicago
Feb. 26-March 1: Learning
Disabilities Association 2003 National Conference, Palmer House
Hilton, Chicago. For
information, call Learning Disabilities Association of
Illinois (708) 430-7532
|
For
further information on any of the above, contact the staff member noted in
parentheses at the end of the text: MB = Marge
Berglind 312/819-1950
([email protected])
JMS
= Jan Schoening 217/528-4409,
ext. 25 BRH=
Bridget Helmholz 217/528-4409,
ext. 24 BMO=Barb
Oldani
217/528-4409, ext. 21 |
Sandy Armstrong
217/528-4409 ext. 22 ([email protected]) CMS=Cindy
Stich 217/528-4409
ext. 23 ([email protected]) Kelly
Pantaleone 217/528-4409,
ext. 26 ([email protected]) |
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