April 22, 2002
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Table
of Contents
FOSTER
CARE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
CHILD
WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
Changes
to Rule 401 and Rule 404�Licensing Standards for Agencies
NEW
ISBE SPECIAL EDUCATION MANAGER ANNOUNCED
THE
BABY FOLD�S 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
TANF
REAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
VOICES
FOR ILLINOIS CHILDREN PUBLISHES SPECIAL REPORT ON WELFARE REFORM SPENDING IN
ILLINOIS
HIPAA
PANEL AT COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
SAVE
THE DATE�COOK COURT MEETING WITH PRESIDING JUDGE
CCAI�S
MEMBERSHIP MEETING / ANNUAL MEETING AND BARBECUE--JUNE 5-6
FOSTER
CARE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
The Foster Care Infrastructure
Committee met on April 11 in Bloomington. As previously reported, there will
be no standardization of program plans or rates. Specialized will primarily be
used for step-downs from residential with only a very narrow intake window for
cases coming in new or through HMR/TFC. The
overall impact of this will be that agencies can expect to see a very
different looking specialized program in the future.
Medicaid:
Medicaid will be eliminated from
Specialized I programs as of July l. When
Medicaid was originally implemented into foster care, additional rate was
provided to offset the costs of the infrastructure needed to provide Medicaid
services. This must now be �backed out� of the rate. The group calculated
that $1.62/Day is the cost of Medicaid infrastructure. This means that after
the FY�03 rates for Specialized I are calculated, the rate will be reduced
by $1.62. Program plans will be rewritten to reflect the absence of the
Medicaid requirements. In the interest of getting contracts flowing by July l,
agencies may be asked to sign contracts under the previous program plan, and
then re-sign when the modified program plan is ready.
All Treatment (Specialized II)
contracts will be expected to convert to Medicaid. DCFS will bring a plan to
the next meet meeting on how it intends to certify agencies and convert
contracts.
Individual
Treatment Plans for HMR/TFC:
The work group for this issue
reported they have identified all elements of the treatment plan and the
planning process for these cases. Some logistics still need to be worked out,
such as how checks get cut for special services.
Counseling
Funds:
The group discussed the current
amount allocated to counseling. Feedback from agencies downstate and in Cook
increasing shows this amount is insufficient. The group arrived at the rate of
$69.95 for counseling for FY�03. DCFS
will fund this through a creative redeployment of existing resources.
Additional written clarification will be developed by DCFS to provide
instructions for agencies that must spend more than the $69.95 due to court
orders on cases.
Intake:
There is a 15% reduction in Cook
HMR anticipated. DCFS questioned whether they could continue to cut specific
agencies and still keep the existing provider system. The group discussed how
to apply multiple year, multiple indicators to arrive at planned cuts in
intake in programs. DCFS suggested a general benchmark that any agency that
didn�t make the benchmarks across the years would be subject to an intake
cut. The benchmarks proposed by DCFS were 80% towards permanency performance
and 20% for stability performance. They will run the numbers and report back
at the next meeting.
The TFC intake is expected to
increase slightly in Cook next year. DCFS projects using the same
permanency/stability criteria to make contract adjustments for increased
intake on these contracts. (Thanks to Arlene Happach of Children�s Home
Association for the details necessary for this report.)
CHILD
WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
CWAC met in Chicago on April 18.
Roy Miller of DCFS provided an
overview on the current state budget and its impacts on DCFS.
Problem is how to meet expenses with decreasing revenue projections for
the state. DCFS has been asked to
reduce its budget by another $52 million. There will be some operations
changes, particularly as the Cook Central region is phased out and those
operations combined into Cook North and South. Non-substitute care lines will
be down $5-6 million. First program cuts targeted are Family-Centered
services. There are no current funds included to support a COLA for next year
and the status of and inflationary factor in the rate methodology is still
unknown.
Cheryl Cesario of DCFS provided
information on number of problem cases at court. It appears the �court
watch� project is working in that the number of cases on the watch list has
dropped from 60 to 30. Twelve workers carry cases with multiple �watched�
cases so they must appear in court with supervisors. An incident was also
reported in which a private agency supervisor refused to follow the
recommendations of the HELP unit staffing. This is viewed by DCFS and the
court as a real problem. DCFS is also tracking the performance of hearing
officers and trying to review where there might be problems.
See Monday Report of March 25 for
full report. FAS has been asked to subsume SACWIS Committee functions. Much of
the design phase is over and DCFS sees a minimal need for the full SACWIS
committee to enter the final stages of change management and communication.
There needs to be further discussion about whether FAS is the best committee
for this and how to incorporate SACWIS issues.
This committee will expand its
focus somewhat to include discussion of in-home services both prior to
placement and in reunification. Some new members have been recruited to
represent the broader focus. First meeting is scheduled in early May.
See Monday Report of February 18
for full report. The SED Chair is currently conducting a phone survey of
residential providers to discuss the anticipated residential worker training.
See full report elsewhere in this
Monday Report.
Denise Gonzalez of DCFS reported
on the new demonstration project pertaining to lockout protocol. This project
is a collaborative effort between DCFS and CCBYS agencies to reduce the number
of youths who come into care due to allegation of a lockout. Three LANS (Rock
Island/Mercer, Berwyn, Proviso/Leyden) are conducting the pilot that includes
specific procedures for handling lockouts. After 6 months, the results of the
demonstration project will be reviewed with recommendations made for future
protocols, possible policy changes or legislative initiatives to assure this
population of children receives the services necessary.
Mike Sumski of DCFS Quality
Assurance provided information on the status of the Federal Child and Family
Service Reviews. Eight states
have already been reviewed. They are scored on their performance on the key
outcomes (children protected from abuse and neglect; children have permanency
and stability in their living situations, etc.) Even states that show overall
strength in an area can be rated as weak if outlying areas or regions show
severe deficits. The state must enter into a Program Improvement Plan with the
HHS Regional office for all weak areas. The plan includes a series of
financial penalties for the state if the state does not follow the plan and
show the necessary improvement levels.
Illinois is scheduled for its
review in September, 2003. In anticipation of this audit, DCFS has been
conducting the reviews with agencies voluntarily.
The results show a number of deficits in the key outcome areas so
improvement is needed across the system. Any agency that has not yet
participated in the mock review will be required by contract to do this over
the next fiscal year. Agencies are additionally asked to conduct case audits
using the federal tool regularly in-house. Illinois is trying diligently to
prepare for the actual audit, and to spot cases and records and systems now
that need improvement prior to the audit. We are all invested in Illinois
avoiding financial penalties from the feds.
DCFS is still facing a possible
loss of $50 million from its budget if DHHS does not change its policy
interpretation of payment for unlicensed placements. DCFS staff pointed out
that all efforts must be made to secure licensing for as many relative homes
as feasible. Renard Jackson reported that DCFS has lists showing a different
set of names as being unlicensed than many agencies report. A letter will be
going out to agencies asking for clarification. DCFS additionally reported
that agencies appear to be sending out staff unknown to the relatives to
inquire if they want to be licensed. These might be licensing staff or other
staff who are unfamiliar to the relatives. There is concern that relatives
could be hesitant to discuss their reasons for not wanting to seek licensure
with staff unfamiliar to them.
Changes
to Rule 401 and Rule 404�Licensing Standards for Agencies
DCFS adopted emergency amendments
for Licensing Standards for Child Welfare Agencies and for Child Care
Institutions and Maternity Centers. The amendments grant deemed status
to agencies accredited through the Council on Accreditation for Children and
Families. When an agency has deemed status, it does not have to have a
licensing study completed for a license renewal.
This rule change also includes restrictions against staff serving as
board members. CCA will be sending these emergency amendments out for review
and comment. The emergency amendments are active for l50 days. DCFS then must
file permanent changes.
(See Monday Report of March 18
for full report and previous Monday Reports for new Foundation Training
Schedules.)
Qualified Cook and collar county
agencies received a letter dated April 6 from DCFS inviting them to
participate in an informational meeting on May 2 about the IV-E waiver. It is
strongly recommended that CEO�s and program directors attend to get more
detailed information on participation in the waiver.
If agencies are interested, reservations must be made soon. More
information can be obtained from Bev Dorsey at 312-328-2812. (MB)
Senate Bill 1777 continues to move forward in the House after passing the Senate. This bill allows special education teachers to select their own certification based on their needs, whether it be specialized or generic. Senate Bill 1843 has stalled and most likely will not get anywhere this session. This bill would provide alternative certification for special education teachers. The Chicago Public Schools staff drafted the legislation, and CCA joined on by extending certification to our members. However, several roadblocks materialized, including opposition by the Illinois Education Association (teachers� union) and an inability for CPS staff to develop a compromise with ISBE staff on means to alternative certification. CCA will continue to work with CPS on alternatives in this area (BRH).
NEW ISBE SPECIAL EDUCATION MANAGER ANNOUNCED
A replacement for the vacancy left by Chris Koch has been announced. Dr. Anthony Sims is the Manager of Specialized Programs at ISBE. Dr. Sims is a native of Chicago and attended Dunbar High School. He recently was employed in the Special Education Department of the University of South Florida in Tampa. He earned his Bachelor�s, Master�s and Doctoral degrees from Howard University, and he holds a School Psychologist certificate.
THE BABY FOLD�S 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2002
Contact: Dale White, Director of Development & Public Relations, 452-1170, x.225
The 100th Anniversary of the founding of The Baby Fold will be celebrated on Sunday, May 5. An open house will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at both campuses of The Baby Fold, 612 Oglesby, Normal and 108 E. Willow Street, Normal. Tours and refreshments will be available.
A brief welcome and appreciation will be at 1:00 p.m. in the Centennial Training Center, 612 Oglesby, Normal.
At 2:00 p.m. the Hammitt Chapel Consecration Ceremony will take place in the Hammitt Chapel, 612 Oglesby, Normal. The Hammitt Chapel in memory of William A. and Gwendolyn Hammitt, Superintendent�s of The Baby Fold from 1939 to 1974, was made available through the generosity of the Hammitt family.
There will also be materials available focusing on the milestones and highlights of The Baby Fold over the past century as well as information on current programs and volunteer opportunities.
All CCA member organizations are invited as well as former board members, former staff and former residents, clients, donors and volunteers.
The Baby Fold is a not-for-profit, multi-service child welfare agency, specializing in residential, educational, therapeutic and prevention services for nearly 1,600 children and families, each year, throughout McLean County and Central Illinois.
TANF REAUTHORIZATION LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
It was reported in This Week in Washington, that the House Republicans introduced a legislative package to reauthorize the TANF program which includes H.R. 4090, the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act introduced by Rep. Herger. An additional bill introduced is H.R. 4092 by Rep. McKeon and mirrors many provisions of H.R. 4090. Overall the Herger bill follows the White House proposal�s funding levels by maintaining the present TANF block grant level, restoring supplemental grants and the contingency fund, eliminating out-of-wedlock bonus, and redirecting funds from the high-performance bonus to marriage promotion. On April 18, 2002, the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Ways and Means adopted the legislation sending it to the full Ways and Means Committee for its consideration. Other features of the bill are:
 | TANF funding will be held at the same level for the next five years with no adjustment for inflation. |
| Work requirements will be made tougher. States will be required to have 70% of their caseload working instead of the current 50% requirement. |
| TANF recipients will have to be engaged in activities and work for 40 hours per week rather than the current requirement of 30 hours of work. At least 24 hours of this total must be in job activities defined by the federal government such as an actual job or supervised community service. The remaining 16 hours must be in state-defined activities such as job training, education, or other activities. |
| Child welfare waivers under IV-E would be expanded. Under the bill language there would be no limit on the number of IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance waivers states could receive and there would be no limit on the number of individual waivers one state could receive or the types of specific waivers in the country as a whole. (JMS) |
VOICES FOR ILLINOIS CHILDREN PUBLISHES SPECIAL REPORT ON WELFARE REFORM SPENDING IN ILLINOIS
Voices for Illinois Children completed a report on welfare spending in Illinois for the years 1998 through 2001. As part of this break down of spending, it includes those child welfare services within DCFS that are part of TANF spending plan in Illinois. It must be noted that spending for TANF is basically done retrospectively, meaning that the state looks at what services could quality for TANF and the state�s maintenance of effort requirement rather than developing a plan to indicate how TANF dollars should be spent. Therefore, as cash assistance decreased DHS may have looked at where they could spend some of those TANF dollars but it was not directed by a plan. For example as the Healthy Families program in Illinois continued to grow and requested additional funding each fiscal year, Healthy Families received TANF funding; however, most TANF savings from cash assistance for Illinois were spent to support child care.
Total spending for TANF from 1998 through 2001 was over 1 billion dollars with the TANF Block Grant remaining the same at $585,056,960. The maintenance of effort spending by the state was $441,265,454 (1998), $430,088,196 (1999), $441,272,522 (2000) and $439,380,113 (2001). Federal bonuses were received by the state in 2000 and 2001 for $41,571,928 and $16,693,489. The categories of spending for TANF are cash assistance, child care, education and training, administration, and family stability. Cash assistance decreased from $549.33 million in 1998 to $190.59 million in 2001.
TANF dollars spent on child welfare services are funded through DCFS under the administration and family stability categories. DCFS administration dollars for TANF was $88.65 million in 2001. The family stability service category was broadly defined as including expenditures that enhance family fiscal and physical well being other than through cash assistance, education and training, and child care. Most of the DCFS TANF spending is on Emergency Assistance; such as shelter, counseling, parenting education, child care, transportation and other basic needs. DCFS also operates a crisis hotline, arranges relative foster care, counseling services and skills training. Because these programs previously qualified to receive AFDC matching funds, Illinois is entitled to count it as TANF spending. DCFS spending for family stability totaled $83.22 million (1998), $89.85 million (1999), $98.02 million (2000), and $79.49 million (2001). Funding for 2001 was totally from the TANF block grant funds. The prior year had been split between the TANF Block Grant Funds and maintenance of effort required by the state for 2000 and was totally funded under maintenance of effort for 1999 and 1998. Total funding for family stability services across all agencies increased from $157,183,781 in 1998 to $293,237,736 in 2001. This also included transfers to the Title XX Social Services Block Grant, which has continually been cut at the federal level over the last three years.
If you would like a complete copy of this report, contact Voices for Illinois Children at 312-456-0600 and ask for Andrea Ingram who served as the Project Director. (JMS)
HIPAA PANEL AT COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
This is a reminder that CBHA (Community Behavioral Healthcare Association) is conducting a session on HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) at its conference that is being held on April 29th and 30th. The HIPAA session will be held on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 from 10 to 12 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. CBHA has extended their membership rates to all CCA agencies that register to attend either both days or just one day. The HIPAA session with have representatives from DHS, Public Health and DCFS to discuss the impact of HIPAA on their service system. If you would like to register and have not received a copy of the registration form, please contact the CBHA office directly by calling 217-585-1600. For additional information about HIPAA, please refer to previous Monday Reports. (JMS)
SAVE
THE DATE�COOK COURT MEETING WITH PRESIDING JUDGE
The next meeting of agencies with
Presiding Judge Patricia Martin Bishop is scheduled for May 30, 10:00 a.m.
�Noon, at the Juvenile Court Auditorium. We urge executive directors and
executive program staff of agencies to attend this meeting. (MB)
CCAI�S MEMBERSHIP MEETING / ANNUAL MEETING AND BARBECUE--JUNE 5-6
Plans are underway for the Association�s June Membership Meeting and 38th 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 14th.
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 5th. 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)
May 2 � CWAC Medicaid Workgroup � St. Joseph�s Carondolet, Chicago
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 3rd Annual Autism Conference, Holiday Inn and Convention Center, 18501 S.
Harlem Ave., Tinley Park IL 60477. For more information contact (708-206-1930).
May 30 - Meeting of agencies with Presiding Judge Patricia Martin Bishop, 10:00 a.m.�Noon,
at the Juvenile Court Auditorium.
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)
| 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]) |
