April 15, 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

CHILD WELFARE- 1

BUDGET CUTS- 1

FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES- 2

CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION- 3

JUVENILE JUSTICE- 4

JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION- 4

GENERAL- 4

WELFARE, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: A THREE-CITY STUDY- 4

HIPAA EXTENSION FORM-- 4

HIPAA SESSION DURING CBHA CONFERENCE- 5

CWLA HOLDS CONFERENCE CALL ON TANF REAUTHORIZATION- 5

TANF and Child Welfare- 5

WEBSITES FOR NEW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS- 5

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS- 6

Central Baptist Nominates Adoptive Parent for Channel 5 Jefferson Award- 6

Norman C. Sleezer Youth Home Accredited- 6

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY- 6

ECONOMIC IMPACT SURVEY- 6

UPCOMING EVENTS- 6

CCAI�S MEMBERSHIP MEETING / ANNUAL MEETING AND BARBECUE--JUNE 5-6- 6

Calendar- 6

BUDGET CUTS

Are you prepared to absorb the loss of the COLA due April 1? Are you prepared to absorb additional program cuts as of July 1 in all state funded programs?

This is the current risk we are facing.  Illinois� projected shortfall of revenue increases each day. Estimates now put the revenue shortfall at $413 million down from this time last year and $1.36 billion below projections. This is the first time in 50 years that fiscal year revenues actually dropped from one year to the next. There are $1.2 billion in unpaid bills waiting at the state comptroller�s office. The situation is very grim and the mood of the state capital is angry and anxious.

The COLA due on April 1 has disappeared and efforts to remind officials of its promise are not greeted warmly. This will also impact the restoration of the full rate methodology in DCFS rate programs.

The General Assembly and Governor Ryan will be in discussions over the next few weeks about how to handle the budget problems and will make decisions about which programs and line items will be cut. There are choices to be made. We want the Governor and General Assembly to choose not to cut the state funded programs at our agencies. We must have your participation as a CCAI member to work this issue. We need you to participate in two strategies:

To make a good case for the association as a whole, we must have good and reliable data. We have asked our member agencies repeatedly to participate in the survey that projects the impacts of budget cuts. To date, 50% of our agencies have not provided any information.

Report the impacts on potential budget cuts to us, now! The survey was faxed to members last Friday.  If you need a copy one can be emailed or faxed to you if you call the CCAI office at 217/528-4409.  You can save time by calling in your comments on this survey to Linda Lenzini at 217/528-4409, Ext. 27 in the Springfield office during the next week. You can also fax your survey to 217/528-6498 or e-mail to [email protected].  We are summarizing the data and using it in aggregate form. We are not reporting individual responses in any materials we put before the legislature or in any materials we are sharing with the Human Services coalition. Responses are kept confidential. For the 50% of our member agencies that have already met the challenge, we thank you for your reply.

Commit to visiting your state senator and state representative now.  We have about 3 weeks left in the General Assembly session to make our case. Visit them while in the home district or invite them to your facility. Engage your board members and advisory volunteers. They make a very effective case. Encourage your staff and foster parents to visit and make calls. Budget decisions will impact them all. Make a trip to Springfield. If you need help in Springfield finding their office, or learning how to call them off the floor while the chamber is in session, call our Springfield office and our staff and lobbyists will assist you.

You must make the case for the critical nature of the programs at your agency. You must insist on the need for the General Assembly to make good choices as they vote on final budgets and work with the Governor on his decision regarding their budget. CCAI staff and lobbyists can make the case for the sector as a whole, but individual legislators need specific examples in their minds as they make decisions. This is where it is essential for you to highlight individual agency needs.

Board links and CCAI staff will be in contact with you over the next few weeks to track your participation. Please call the CCA Office in Springfield if you need any materials to help in your contacts. Please feel free to call Marge Berglind if you need advice on what to say in contacts. Keep working at it. (MB)

FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The following grant opportunities may be of interest to agencies in developing foster grandparent or caregiver support programs. (MB)

Corporation for National and Community Service

Senior Companion Programs

Scope:   The CNCS is seeking application for senior companion projects and foster grandparent projects.

Deadline:   May 31.

Funds:   $211,825 for companion projects; $192,265 for foster grandparent projects.

Eligibility:   Nonprofit organizations.

Areas:  The Senior Companion program provides opportunities for income eligible individuals age 60 or older to serve adults with special needs.  The Foster Grandparent program provides opportunities for individuals� age 60 or older to care for children with special needs.

Contact:  For information, John Keller, (202) 606-5000, ext. 258.  Internet, www.seniorcorps.org

Department of Health and Human Services

Administration on Aging

National Family Caregiver Support

Scope:  The department is inviting applications to develop services and systems to help families and other caregivers of older relatives and children.

Deadline:  May 10.

Eligibility:  Nonprofit organizations.

Funds:  Grants range from $150,000 to $200,000.  Grantees must provide a 25 percent nonfederal match.

Contact:  For applications, call (202) 619-2575 or apply online at www.aoa.gov/egrants.

The Urban Institute and Independent Sector have released the latest comprehensive guide to the nonprofit world, The Nonprofit Almanac.  The report includes data on foundation giving and statistics on volunteering.  An executive summary is available online at www.IndependentSector.org or www.urban.org

CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION

The CCA Public Policy Committee continues to track policy related legislation that was introduced this session.  The only two pieces of legislation that continue to be on the child welfare active list are as follows:

HB 4208 requires the Department, when placing a child for adoption, to consider as adoptive applicants the adoptive parents of a biological sibling of the child.  Requires the Department to notify those adoptive parents of the availability of the child for adoption.  Provides that the final decision of the Department must be based on the best interests of the child.  This bill has passed the House and has been referred to Senate Rules Committee.  CCA supports this legislation.

SB 2189 amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.  In provisions requiring that notice of an investigation be sent to the employer or other supervisor of an alleged perpetrator of child abuse or neglect if the alleged perpetrator is employed or otherwise engaged in an activity resulting in frequent contact with children, removes the provision limiting the notice requirement to situations in which the alleged abuse or neglect occurred in the course of the alleged perpetrator�s employment or other activity.  This bill passed the Senate and was assigned to the House Children and Youth Committee.  CCA supports this legislation.  (JMS)

JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION

Two of the bills this sessions being supported by the Juvenile Justice Initiative are HB 4129 and HB 4439.  Both of these bills are also on the legislative tracking agenda for the CCA Public Policy Committee.

HB 4129 provides that under certain situations related to drug charges that a minor that would normally be tried as an adult can petition to be in juvenile court.  Amendment three added does exclude minors with a class X felony violation of Illinois Controlled Substances Act.  This bill passed the House 65 to 26 and is supported by CCA.

HB 4439 allows a one word change from shall to MAY, to allow counties the discretion of keep juveniles charged as juveniles in juvenile detention facilities once they turn 17.  Currently counties have no discretion and are reading the act to mean that they must send 17 year olds charges as juveniles to the county jail.  This bill passed the House and is in Senate Rules Committee.  CCA supports this legislation.  (JMS)

WELFARE, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: A THREE-CITY STUDY

Welfare, Children and Families: A Three-City Study is an ongoing research project in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio to monitor the consequences of welfare reform for the well-being of children and families.  This study is being conducted by investigators from University of Texas, Pennsylvania State University, Northwestern University, John Hopkins University and Harvard University.  In a recent policy brief released on the study, findings were presented on the following four questions: 1.) How do low-income children in the Three-City Study compare to children in national samples in term of their cognitive and behavioral well-being? 2.) How does mothers� welfare participation relate to children�s well-being? 3.) Do mothers� sanction experiences relate to child outcomes? 4.) Are links between mothers� welfare participation and child well-being explained by differences in family characteristics or family functioning?  For additional information about the study and copy of Policy Brief 02- 1 entitled �Welfare Reform: What About the Children�, you can go to: www.jhu.edu/~welfare.  (JMS)

HIPAA EXTENSION FORM

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act has several deadline dates that states must meet and has been discussed in previous Monday Reports.  These deadlines are related to code sets for billing purposes and confidentiality of information.  In This Week in Washington, it was reported that the Administrative Simplification Compliance act that passed at the end of last year enabled covered entities under HIPAA to have an additional year to comply with HIPAA standards for electronic transactions and code sets.  To receive the extension, covered entities must file a compliance plan with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS) by October 15.  There is no approval system for the compliance plans but is intended as an exercise to increase awareness of the HIPAA implementation process.  CMS has released a model compliance plan that entities can file.  Covered entities are not required to use the model form but can choose to file any type of compliance plan so long as it addresses the requirements in the law.  Required summary information includes reasons for seeking an extension, budget, and implementation strategy.  Covered entities are also expected to begin testing no later than April 16, 2003.  (JMS)

HIPAA SESSION DURING CBHA CONFERENCE

Additional information is available about HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) during the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association conference being held on April 29^th and 30^th at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield.  The session on HIPAA is being held on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 from 10 to Noon.  Copies of the registration forms for the conference were mailed to all CCA members at the end of March.   CBHA has extended membership rates to CCA members for this conference.  Representatives from DCFS will be part of the HIPAA presentation to discuss the impact on providers within the child welfare system.  If you did not receive a copy of the registration form and would like to attend, please contact the CBHA office at 217-585-1600 or the CCA office.  All registration forms should be sent directly to the CBHA office.  (JMS)

CWLA HOLDS CONFERENCE CALL ON TANF REAUTHORIZATION

CWLA held a conference call on Friday, April 12, 2002 to provide an update on what was happening with the various pieces of federal legislation related to the TANF reauthorization.  CWLA also reported on the testimony provided before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources on April 11, 2002.  The various subjects covered in CWLA�s testimony included: Child Well-Being, Work Requirements, TANF and Child Welfare, Child Care, Social Services Block Grant, TANF and Barriers to Employment, and TANF and Adolescents.  Following are some of CWLA�s comments on TANF and Child Welfare.  Additional information on CWLA�s testimony can be found at their web site: www.cwla.org.

            TANF and Child Welfare

A significant percentage of families in the child welfare system receive cash assistance and services funded by TANF. TANF funds also provide needed supports to prevent children from coming in contact with the child welfare system in the first place.  In 1999, of the child-only caseload, 30% were children in families where the head of household was related but not the parent.  These child-only kinship families represented approximately 9% of the total families on TANF.   Receiving TANF child-only stipends helps kinship caregivers meet some of the essential needs of the children for whom they have taken full responsibility.  CWLA encourages states to increase the amount of monthly stipends for children living with kin.

The 1996 TANF law repealed the eligibility standards for AFDC.  TANF, however, requires states to look back to the AFDC rules that existed on July 16, 1996, to determine eligibility for Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance.  CWLA recommends the eligibility link between Title IV-E foster care and adoption assistance and AFDC be removed.  This change will eliminate a costly administrative burden and will treat all children with special needs equitably.

Additional information regarding the specific federal legislation on TANF reauthorization will be on the CWLA website this week.  Legislation is anticipated to be out of committee before Memorial Day.  (JMS)

WEBSITES FOR NEW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS

If you would like to find your new legislative districts please visit the following sites: www.ilredistricting.org; www.leedaniels.com; or www.state.il.us/state/legis/map.htm.  If you do not know your district number go to www.elections.state.il.us, click on �find districts/officials� and click �search by address�.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Central Baptist Nominates Adoptive Parent for Channel 5 Jefferson Award

Mrs. Lequaster Williamson, a Central Baptist Family Services adoptive

parent from the Cook County area, was nominated by Central Baptist for the  2002 Jefferson Award, which celebrates Chicago's unsung heroes. She has been selected as a finalist and was featured along with Martin Sinnott, president and CEO, and Karla Thomas, director of communications, on Channel 5 during the 5 o'clock news on Friday, March 22, 2002. Mrs. Williamson has opened her home and heart to 75 foster children since 1955, and is now  the adoptive mother of two ten-year-old girls.

Norman C. Sleezer Youth Home Accredited

Effective April 9, 2002, CCA member Norman C. Sleezer Youth Home in Freeport, Illinois, has been officially notified by the Council on Accreditation of its accreditation for Home-based, Family-Centered Casework, Emergency Shelter Services and Residential Treatment Services. Norman C. Sleezer has been in operation since 1973, and has been a CCA member since 1982.

HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY

A listing of helpful websites for public policy and advocacy is available from the CCA offices. Contact Linda Lenzini at LLL@cca-il. for an electronic copy of the listing.

ECONOMIC IMPACT SURVEY

CCA members have recently received a fax requesting that they provide information for the Economic Impact Survey. This information will be used in discussions with legislators for the balance of the legislative session. To obtain an electronic copy of the survey, or to provide your answers by phone, contact Linda Lenzini at  [email protected], or contact her in the CCA offices at 217-528-4409, ext. 27. If you are not certain whether your agency has responded, a list of non-respondents is also available. (LL)

CCAI�S MEMBERSHIP MEETING / ANNUAL MEETING AND BARBECUE--JUNE 5-6

Plans are underway for the Association�s June Membership Meeting and 38^th Annual Business Meeting to be held on June 5-6 at The Crowne Plaza in Springfield.  Information on the agenda will be sent to you at a later date.  In the meantime, you can register at The Crowne by calling 217/529-7777 or toll free 800/227-6963.  Please be sure to say you are attending the Child Care Association meeting to get a $98.00 special rate.  To guarantee this rate and room availability, please make your reservation by May 14^th.

Also plans are being made to hold the CCAI Annual Barbecue at the Island Bay Yacht Club on Lake Springfield for the evening of the 5^th.  Don�t miss this legendary event.  Please mark your calendar for June 5-6, make your room reservation at The Crowne, and plan to attend the Association�s Membership / Annual Meeting, and Barbecue.  (SKA)

Calendar

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

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

May 9-10 - Third Annual Spring Conference, Illinois Administrators of Special Education,

                  Holiday Inn, Collinsville IL, features Steve Van Bockern, Co-Director of the Black

                  Hills Seminars and Alan Coulter, President�s Commission for Excellence in

                  Special Education. For more information contact Nancy Newbold at (618-395-

                  8626).

May 9-10 - Spring Legislative Conference, National Association of Private Schools for

                  Exceptional Children, Holiday Inn on the Hill, Washington, D.C.  For more

                  information call (202-408-3338).

May 14 - The 3^rd Annual Autism Conference, Holiday Inn and Convention Center, 18501 S.

               Harlem Ave., Tinley Park IL  60477.  For more information contact (708-206-1930).

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

July 10-14 - Developing Local Systems of Care for Children and Adolescents with Emotional

                    Disturbances and their Families Training Institutes, Marriott Wardman Park

                    Hotel, Washington, D.C. For more information phone (202-687-5000)