MONDAY REPORT
February 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
CCAI�s
SPRING MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SPECIALIZED
FOSTER CARE UPDATE
�
Foster Parent Grandfathering:
�
Changes to Standardized Rate:
FY03
FUNDING FOR SACWIS (STATEWIDE AUTOMATED CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION SYSTEM)
PUBLIC
POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 2/21/02
HELPFUL
WESITES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY
DIRECT
SERVICE EMPLOYEE/SUPERVISOR FOUNDATION TRAINING UPDATE
CCAI�s SPRING MEMBERSHIP MEETING
You should have received a �Save the Date� information page and
registration for the Association�s Spring Membership Meeting.
Further information on the meeting will be sent to you as soon as
possible. In the meantime, if you
would like to take advantage of the early bird registration fee, please send us
your registration and fee before March 4th.
CCAI now accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Please call the CCAI office to charge your registration fee.
There will be a Leadership Dinner at 6:15 at The Hyatt Lodge on March 20th.
Executive Directors and executive level staff are invited to join the
CCAI board at the dinner. Guest
speaker will be Jerry Stermer, President, Voices for Illinois Children.
On March 21st the Membership Meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m.
with registration at Hamburger University Conference Center, Room 222, adjacent
to the Hyatt Lodge. Topics will
include: CCAI Three-Year Strategic Directions; Specialized Foster Care
Developments; Trends in Residential Care; CCAI Outcomes Findings and Future
Directions; Current Illinois Budget Status; and Legislative Agenda.
If you need a registration form please call the CCAI office at
217.528.4409, ext. 22.
Reservations at Hyatt Lodge: If you need an overnight room at The Lodge
you need to call 800.233.1234 or 630.990.5800.
The Lodge has extended the Association�s cut-off date to March 1st. The CCAI rate is $113.00.
After March 1st the rate will be $189.00.
There are only a few rooms left in our block, so please call now if you
need a room. Be sure to say you are
attending the Child Care Association meeting.
(SKA)
SPECIALIZED FOSTER CARE UPDATE
The Foster Care
Infrastructure Work Group met February 19 to continue discussions related to the
future of Specialized and Treatment Foster Care. Nothing was decided at
this meeting. Points of discussion included:
DCFS expects
further overall shrinkage of the specialized population before the fiscal year
end, and projects almost 10% shrinkage every year until FY�05. This assumes
centralized control of referrals, greater use of individual treatment plans for
some class of Specialized I cases and permanency and step-down performance
remaining stable as a percentage of starting caseload.
Effective July
1 agencies with Spec I contracts would not be required to claim Medicaid. If
standardized rates were implemented, agencies that are currently Medicaid
certified would move to the new rates. If standardized rates were not
implemented, agencies that are currently Medicaid certified would have to adjust
out a specific amount from their administrative portion. This adjustment would
represent the costs that are embedded in the existing rate to cover expenses due
to Medicaid claiming. Medicaid certified agencies with Spec II contracts would
be required to continue claiming Medicaid. Agencies that are not certified but
have Spec II could be expected to become certified during FY�03. Agencies with
a professional foster parent model will be expected to continue claiming
Medicaid.
� Foster Parent Grandfathering:
The current
board rates proposed on the standardized programs present problems. Foster
parents receiving board beyond the standardized rate have already asked to be
�grandfathered� at their existing rate. This will pose challenges for those
foster parents receiving less than the standardized rate. DCFS proposed that the
rates are a combination of grandfathered and new cases. For 6 months, existing
cases would remain at the current board rate. If they are above or below the
standard rate for a particular age range, they could come down or increase over
the second 6 months, between 30%-50%, until the board arrived at the
standardized level.
� Changes to Standardized Rate:
The approach of
standardization has always included the principle of cost neutrality�the
overall cost would not exceed the amount currently budgeted for specialized
care. DCFS reported their most recent calculations on cost neutrality would
force the standardized rate down an additional $6-9. Here are the rates proposed
as of 2/18:
Spec I,
Behavioral/Mental Health Needs: $81.95
Spec I,
Medically Complex/DD:
$80.21
Spec II,
Behavioral/Mental Health Needs: $116.70
Spec II,
Medically Complex/DD
$111.38
The group
engaged in a spirited discussion of what might be modified from the original
program plans (Refer to mailing from CCAI last week which included program plan
elements.) Reduction of the amount of respite and modification of caseload size
were key elements reviewed. The
private agency members of the group expressed their profound concerns that the
goals of the program may not be reachable once pieces of the program plan are
modified. There were also problems in looking at the amount budgeted for
benefits, since health care costs for staff are rapidly escalating. DCFS
was not able to project a current statewide average for this line since a
significant number of agencies had not submitted cost reports.
There was
discussion of the cost-efficiency factor. How many children does an agency need
on its caseload to adequately implement a standardized concept and correspond to
Medicaid requirements? DCFS proposed that agencies with fewer than 20 children
would stay at their current program and rate for the existing children. They
would eventually move to individual service contracts for those children.
Previous
proposals from DCFS suggested ITS contracts would become the wraparound service
facilitators for the system. This was modified on 2/19 to include some provision
for keeping ITS as a therapeutic service while moving to pilot the concepts in
several areas. There is a need to assure the service is available in all areas
so there would be some compression of ITS in areas with excess capacity and to
control use in specialized and residential. There was some discussion of whether
the ITS line item could be shifted into specialized care to offset the changes
in the standardized plan. There was no decision on that concept. DCFS appears to
definitely be moving in the direction of elimination of Placement Stabilization
in order to move those funds to strengthen other services. (MB)
Overall funding
for FY03 ($5,003,682.7 thousand) decreased from the FY02 appropriated level of
$4,906,230.2 thousand; however, FY02 estimated expenditures for FY02 were
$4,838,108.9 thousand. FY02
reserves total $111.8 million with $15.4 million coming from program changes and
the COLA deferral total of $10.5 million. Within
the service areas for FY03, the most significant changes are for Project
Success, which is being eliminated, and Teen REACH which shows a decrease from
$19,554.3 thousand in FY02 to $18,625.9 thousand in FY03.
Other programs such as CCBYS, Healthy Families and Teen Parent Services
which showed reductions in FY02 are being restored to pre-reserve levels for
FY03. Within the office of
Community Operations, vacant positions have been left open during FY02 and FY03
for a costs savings of $24.1 million. The
headcount dropped to 4,406, a decrease of 770 from FY02 budgeted.
DHS is holding smaller budget briefing meetings within each division and
program areas during the following several weeks.
Briefings for mental health, developmental disabilities and community
health and prevention are being held this week.
Additional information related to the FY03 DHS budget information will be
distributed to member agencies as it becomes available.
(JMS)
Governor Ryan delivered the State of the
State Message, including his proposed FY�03 budget on Wednesday, February 20.
There will be much discussion and debate about the proposed budget as
well as changes before it is finalized by the General Assembly at the end of the
Spring Session. Our Association of
member agencies will have much to do before it�s all over.
Here is what we know thus far:
The current state revenue situation is grim.
In this fiscal year, shortfalls could very well approach more than $800
million. Any problems as well as
projected remedies to this shortfall will impact the FY�03 final budget. The Governor proposed elimination of 3800 state jobs and
closure/downsizing of some state facilities as expense reductions.
State agency budgets were already cut by 2%
this year so far. The Governor
proposes an additional 3% cut. These
will translate into reductions on next year�s base.
As State agency budgets are reduced, we can expect impacts on contractual
services provided by our agencies.
The current status of the 2% COLA due April 1
is unknown. DHS staff seemed to
indicate at the DHS Budget Briefing that the 2% had not been included in next
year�s budget. However, the
overall status has not yet been officially announced. Although there is reluctance from some legislators to
�cut� human services, the 2% due April 1 has not yet been �paid� so it
is very much at risk. Likewise, the
status of restoring the full rate methodology formula for DCFS contracts is also
unknown. The budgets presented by
DHS & DCFS this year are different than in past years.
There is no comparison listed for FY�02 and FY�03 expenses:
There are only 3-year averages. This
makes it difficult for us to immediately assess any areas of concern until we
compare them side-by-side with last year�s budget books.
Additionally, the DHS budget briefing was very general.
They will conduct briefings over the next 2 weeks on specific divisions.
We will prepare a more in-depth analysis and
get it to members by the end of next week. The Governor�s state budget
address, the actual general budget and department budgets can be viewed on the
Illinois website at www.state.il.us.
Please call or e-mail us with any questions.
(MB)
HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act of 1996. Title II includes a section, Administrative Simplification,
requiring: 1.) Improved efficiency in healthcare delivery by standardizing
electronic data interchange, and 2.) Protection of confidentiality and security
of health data through setting and enforcing standards.
More specifically, HIPAA calls for: 1.) Standardization of electronic
patient health, administrative and financial data; 2.) Unique health identifiers
for individuals, employers, health plans and health care providers; 3.) Security
standards protecting the confidentiality and integrity of �individually
identifiable health information,� past, present or future.
The extent of the impact of this act within DCFS is still being reviewed.
Generally stated the act impacts all health care providers, health plans,
employers, public health authorities, life insurers, clearinghouses, billing
agencies, information systems vendors, service organizations and universities.
Compliance deadlines requires that the transactions codes part of the act
must be in place by October 2002. The
privacy piece of the act is required to
be implemented by April 2003. The
security standard of the rule mandates safeguards for physical storage and
maintenance, transmission, and access to individual health information.
It applies not only to the transactions adopted under HIPAA but to all
health information that is maintained or transmitted.
Discussions of the impact of HIPAA for DCFS services are occurring within
the CWAC Medicaid Workgroup. Additional
information will be distributed to members as it becomes available.
(JMS)
FY03 FUNDING FOR SACWIS (STATEWIDE AUTOMATED CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION SYSTEM)
At the DCFS budget briefing held on Feb. 20,
2002, the question was asked if the FY03 budget would have an impact on SACWIS
and the funding for private agencies to be SACWIS ready.
DCFS indicated that there would be no impact on the funding level for the
project and the funding to private agencies.
There may be some reductions made in the content of the design in order
to insure completion of the project with minimal changes to the implementation
date but the funding level would remain the same.
Within the FY03 DCFS budget book, it was reported that the actual FY01
expenditures for the AFCARS/SACWIS budget line was $26,490,900.
For FY02 and FY03 estimated and appropriated levels are $28,275,000. (JMS)
CCA member Lutheran Child and Family
Services received a mention in a highly
positive article in the Chicago
Tribune�s Metro section on Sunday, February 24th. CCA member Adoption
Information Center of Illinois was also
mentioned. The article, by Darlene Stevens, Tribune staff reporter, was entitled
�Mom, Son, Share Precious Gift� and highlighted the responsiveness of
agencies like LCFS to the special needs of a foster child who was ultimately
adopted. A copy of the article can be obtained from the CCA offices. (LLL)
(To submit your agency�s news for The Monday Report, send to Linda Lenzini, Director, Marketing and Public Relations, at the Child Care Association. MSWord e-mail attachments for information and JPG�s for pictures are preferred.)(LLL)
PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 2/21/02
The third Public Policy Committee Meeting of
2002 was held at the CCA offices in Springfield last week to review the
Governor�s proposed Illinois budget for FY2003, review the status of current
bills and further develop the policy platform of the Association.
An analysis of the FY2003 state budget raised
several questions. The committee will seek answers to these questions in the
next few days. DHS is also holding
several sub-briefings for its bureaus, to which CCA will send representation. An
analysis of the budget will be sent to CCA agency Executive Directors shortly.
Tom Nolan reviewed the current political
environment for attendees. The House and Senate calendars are out of synch,
making it hard to work across the aisle in the General Assembly on legislative
issues. Bills that make it out of committee are limited by design. An upcoming
March 19 primary is distracting legislators from the business of session. All
this makes pushing our legislative agenda more challenging than it has ever
been, particularly when coupled with the State�s money woes.
Other discussion items on the agenda
included:
 | The
tobacco tax bill, calling for a
$.75 increase per pack on cigarettes in Illinois, and earmarking 25% of that
tax increase for human services in Illinois. The bill is meeting with strong
opposition from the tobacco lobby, and it�s considered likely that it will
not pass. |
�
The
CODB, which has not been built into
the base for FY2002 nor into the budget for FY2003. It was agreed that CCA needs
to maintain a wider focus than just the CODB, and that that focus should include
rate methodology practices> Margaret Berglind also reminded attendees that
cost reports against which rate methodology is calculated was due to DCFS
January 1, but to date only 50% of private agencies have submitted them. She
encouraged all agencies to assure that their cost reports had been completed and
submitted.
�
Subcommittees
addressing finance issues and gubernatorial campaign issues reported
that they were in the planning stages with their efforts.
�
A
number of current bills were reviewed,
with those requiring additional consideration or explanation earmarked for
further research. All bills that pertain to CCA�s members will be reviewed
this week to determine which were called, passed out of committee, or killed by
the 2/21 deadline.
Next
steps: Public Policy Committee
Members will meet via phone on Monday, March 4, 2002. (LLL)
SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ILLINOIS: THE IMPACT OF HUMAN
SERVICE BUDGETS ON ILLINOIS COMMUNITIES
Part I of this
planned study by CCA, which measures the impacts on service as a consequence of
the FY2002 minimal CODB, and anticipated impacts for service for FY2003, has
been completed in draft form. Due to a lower-than-desirable response rate,
non-participating agencies are encouraged to respond to the survey questions
from which this report was generated. To
obtain a copy of those survey questions, or to learn whether your agency has
already responded, contact Linda Lenzini, Director of Marketing and
Communications at CCA at [email protected].
HELPFUL WESITES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Building Blocks for Youth at http://www.buildingblocksforyouth.org/
offers a number of resources for a fair and effective youth justice
system. Among these resources is a downloadable PDF document, �Public Opinion
on Youth, Crime and Race: A Guide for Advocates.� The guidebook, authored by
Mark Soler, President of the Youth Law Center, dashes some common misconceptions
about youth and crime and provides
recommendations about messaging for advocates. To obtain
a complete list of helpful websites for advocacy, contact Linda Lenzini,
Director, Marketing and Communications, at [email protected] )
DIRECT SERVICE EMPLOYEE/SUPERVISOR FOUNDATION TRAINING UPDATE
COOK
IITRI, 10 West 35th Street, Chicago
Date:
Licensure Exam
CERAP Exam
2/25/02 �
3/22/02
3/22/02
3/13/02
3/18/02 �
4/12/02
4/12/02
4/3/02
3/25/02 �
4/19/02
4/19/02
4/10/02
4/1/02 �
4/26/02
4/26/02
4/17/02
4/22/02 �
5/17/02
5/17/02
5/8/02
4/29/02 �
5/24/02
5/24/02
5/15/02
5/6/02 �
5/31/02
5/31/02
5/22/02
5/28/02 �
6/21/02
6/21/02
6/12/02
6/3/02 �
6/28/02
6/28/02
6/19/02
6/10/02 �
7/5/02
7/5/02
6/26/02
NORTHERN Hampton Inn, 2423 Bushwood Drive, Aurora
Date:
Licensure Exam
CERAP Exam
3/25/02 �
4/19/02
4/19/02
4/10/02
4/29/02 �
5/24/02
5/24/02
5/15/02
6/3/02 �
6/28/02
6/28/02
6/19/02
SOUTHERN Holiday Inn, 1000 Eastport Plaza, Collinsville
Date:
Licensure Exam
CERAP Exam
3/25/02 �
4/19/02
4/19/02
4/10/02
4/29/02 �
5/24/02
5/24/02
5/15/02
6/3/02 �
6/28/02
6/28/02
6/19/02
CENTRAL
Illinois State University, Professional Development Bldg.
Room 114, 207 South Main, Normal
Date:
Licensure Exam
CERAP Exam
3/18/02 �
4/12/02
4/12/02
4/3/02
4/22/02 �
5/17/02
5/17/02
5/8/02
5/28/02 �
6/21/02
6/21/02
6/12/02
To
register for any
of the above sessions or if you have questions, please call
877-800-3393 (SKA)
Feb. 25 � Medicaid/SACWIS work group �
Bloomington
Feb. 25 � Community Health and Prevention
Budget Briefing - Centralia
Feb. 26 � Mental Health Services Budget
Briefings throughout the state
Feb. 26 � Developmental Disabilities Budget
Briefing � Springfield
Feb. 26 � Community Health and Prevention
Budget Briefing � Normal
Feb. 27 � Community Health and Prevention Budget Briefing � Wheaton
Feb. 28 � Community Health and Prevention
Budget Briefing � Chicago
Feb. 28 � Healthy Families Advocacy/Policy
Committee
March 5 - �Discipline of Students with
Special Needs in Illinois,� Bev Johns, Gary Kerr,
Springfield IL,
register by phone:715-833-3959
March 8-9 � 2002 Spring Foster and Adoptive Parent Conference��Every
Child is a Success
Story.� Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Springfield.
March 12 � CWAC SACWIS Advisory Committee
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
May 3 - Learning Disabilities Association of
Illinois Spring Workshop, featuring Reed Martin,
Special
Education Attorney, Holiday Inn, Naperville, (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 ([email protected])
BRH= Bridget Helmholz 217/528-4409
ext. 24 ([email protected]) BMO=Barb Oldani
217/528-4409 ext. 21 ([email protected])
|
RJS=Rommel J. Sangalang 217/528-4409
ext.26 (RJS@cca-il.org) SKA = Sandy Armstrong
217/528-4409 ext. 22 ([email protected]) LLL = Linda Lenzini
217/528-4409 ext. 27 ([email protected]) CMS=Cindy Stich
217/528-4409 ext. 23 ([email protected]) |
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