CCA: Monday Report 05-28-02

MONDAY REPORT

May 28, 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

UPDATE ON STATE BUDGET. 1

DCFS PROPOSED RULES.. 2

DHS PROPOSED RULES ON CILAï¿½S.. 2

NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY ON JUNE 27. 2

GENERAL.. 3

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON.. 3

MEDICAID/SSBG FUNDING IN SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL. 4

WELFARE REFORM IN ILLINOIS: IS THE MODERATE APPROACH WORKING?. 4

IMPROVING THE JUDICIARY-PRIVATE AGENCY RELATIONSHIP IN JUVENILE COURT: PILOT FORUMS BEGIN IN JUNE.. 4

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS.. 5

LCFS Employee Honored as Social Worker of the Year 5

SACWIS - MIS group meeting.. 5

SACWIS Committee: 6

SACWIS Phase 1: 6

SACWIS Phase 2: 6

Past technology issues were reviewed: 6

Other questions that were asked include: 7

UPCOMING EVENTS.. 7

COOK AGENCIES MEETING WITH PRESIDING JUDGE THIS THURSDAY. 7

Calendar. 7

CHILD WELFARE

UPDATE ON STATE BUDGET

The General Assembly failed to reach any agreements on the stateï¿½s budget last week. Senate Democrats have proposed a budget with no cuts. Senate Republicans have proposed a mix of cuts and revenue increases. House Democrats have proposed a mix of cuts and revenue increases. House Republicans do not want any tax increases until all cuts are made. Various caucuses in each house were unable to agree among themselves in some cases or with other caucuses as a direction. The original adjournment date of May 17 is long past. However, constitutionally, the general assembly has a deadline of May 31 as the date by which a budget can be adopted with a simple majority. If the budget is voted on after May 31, it requires a super-majority; thus further complicating the entire budget scenario.

Governor Ryan has called a special session of the General Assembly on Memorial Day evening. He will present his revised proposed budget. From there, the General Assembly will decide what debate and steps are necessary and will determine when and if to vote on the budget. Due to time frames in composing the Monday Report we are unable to include any of that information as of this writing. CCAI will prepare a response to the Governorï¿½s budget plan and distribute that to the legislature. We will get information out to members by FAX after May 28.

The budget crisis and the looming vote deadline have also impacted our ability to completely confirm the CCAI Membership Meeting agenda for June 5. Our anticipated legislative staff guest speakers are unable to make a firm commitment until they know if they will still be in session on June 5. We ask our membership to be sure to register for the meeting. We will have a good set of experiences for our members. If they are still in session on the budget on June 5, we will have to modify our Membership Meeting agenda but will use the meeting as a real opportunity for members to impact the last minute budget negotiations. (MB)

DCFS PROPOSED RULES

DCFS has filed amendments to two rules. Both have a comment period deadline of June 24. The Direct Service Employee Licensure Rule proposed changes involve changed language that gives the licensure board the authority to make licensing decisions (and not just recommend decisions to the DCFS Director) and changes the procedure by which the OIG will alert the licensure board of cases for action.

Proposed changes to the ACR system change the requirement for the initial ACR after t/c to 6 months but specifies that special ACRï¿½s can be requested when an agency fails to establish and implement procedures for assessment/service planning, fails to set and conduct a family meeting or fails to comply with current and ongoing consent decree. When a special ACR is set, the supervisor must attend with the worker.

If you would like a copy of the rule, contact Barb in the CCAI Springfield office and she will fax or mail a copy to you. Agency comments should be made directly to DCFS, with a copy to Marge at CCAI ([email protected].) (MB)

DHS PROPOSED RULES ON CILAï¿½S

DHS has filed amendments to Rule 115, Standards and Licensure Arrangements for CILAï¿½s. The amendments establish provisions and specific requirements for the Host Family Arrangement Program in the DHS/DD office. The Host Family Arrangement provides 24-hour residential alternatives to traditional shift staff arrangements for individuals with developmental disabilities.

CCAI agencies with DD populations in CILA programs may want to review these changes to the rule. Comment period ends June 24. Comments should be made directly to DHS with a copy to Jan at CCAI . (MB)

NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY ON JUNE 27

The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) will sponsor its 8th annual national "Take the Test, Take Control" HIV Testing Day on June 27.

Young people, who represent one-sixth of the world's population, are rapidly becoming infected with HIV. The poverty, racism, sexism, and homophobia that many young people face cause a significant increase in their risk for HIV/AIDS.

Globally, an estimated 10 million people ages 15-24 is living with HIV/AIDS. In the United States, young people between the ages of 13 and 25 are contracting HIV at the rate of two every hour. An estimated 250,000 young Americans are unaware that they are infected with HIV. More than 123,000 young Americans have developed AIDS in there twenties, and most were infected with HIV as teenagers.

NAPWA created National HIV Testing Day in1995. Today, campaign participants include over 10,000 health departments; national, state, and local organizations; and the news media. The campaign intends to educate and encourage the public, especially those at risk for infection, about voluntary HIV counseling and testing services as a critical step in personal control and responsibility for one's health. It also focuses on increasing local testing opportunities in accessible locations.

For more information about National HIV Testing Day contact: NAPWA (www.napwa.org) 1413 K St, NW Washington, DC 20005 (202) 898-0414.

For HIV/AIDS education and prevention information contact: Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts.htm) 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333 (404) 639-3311, (800) 311-3435.

For HIV/AIDS state and territorial testing information throughout the U.S.: American Association for World Health (www.aawhworldhealth.org) 1825 K St, NW - Ste. 1208 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 466-5883. (MB)

GENERAL

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON

On May 16,2002, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the Child Care and Development Fund, and abstinence education (H.R. 4737). The House-passed bill falls short of what is needed to help low-income families move out of poverty and better support their children. The welfare debate now turns to the Senate, which is expected to take action on welfare legislation in the next few weeks.

The House-passed bill (H.R. 4737) was the final version of the bill that incorporates President Bushï¿½s welfare reform proposals. The bill:

1.) freezes TANF funding for the next five years at $16.5 billion and continues to provide $319 million a year in supplemental grants to 17 states;

2.) redesigns the state bonuses by eliminating the out-of-wedlock bonus and reduces the high performance bonus from $200 million to $100 million;

3.) increases work requirements for single mothers to 40 hours per week;

4.) reduces state flexibility to provide education and training to TANF recipients;

5.) offers small child care increase of only 4% next year with no additional funds guaranteed for the following four years;

6.) maintains funding for Social Services Block Grant at the current level of $1.7 billion;

7.) and gives broad authority to the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Housing, and Agriculture to waive any rules for programs such as child care, food stamps, public housing, and TANF. For example, under such authority states could choose to eliminate child care quality set-asides and market rate requirements under their child care programs.

The House earlier rejected along party lines an amendment by Congressman Ben Cardin (D-MD), that would have increased TANF funding by the rate of inflation over the next five years and increased funding for child care by $11.2 billion. Recognizing that substance abuse is a barrier to employment, the amendment would have also allowed up to six months of substance abuse treatment services to be considered as a work activity for TANF recipients. For a summary of the House-passed bill, H.R. 4737 go to: www.cwla.org/advocacy/tanf4737.htm. Letters have been submitted to Senator Durbin and Senator Fitzgerald asking them to address concerns expressed by passage of the House legislation of the TANF Reauthorization proposal. (JMS)

MEDICAID/SSBG FUNDING IN SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Last week the United States Senate was scheduled to vote on the FY 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. A bipartisan consensus state fiscal relief package has been developed with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) to provide $8.9 billion in temporary funding for Medicaid and the Social Services Block Grant to states. This bipartisan package includes:

1.) A temporary one percentage point increase in the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for all states for 18 months;

2.) A hold harmless provision that would help states whose FMAPs would otherwise decline in 2002 and 2003; and

3.) The addition of $4.4 billion to the Social Services Block Grant for the current fiscal year and be spent in FY 2003.

CCA submitted letters to Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald urging their support to add this relief package for states to the FY 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. (JMS)

WELFARE REFORM IN ILLINOIS: IS THE MODERATE APPROACH WORKING?

The University Consortium on Welfare Reform completed its second annual report on the impact of welfare reform entitled ï¿½The Illinois Families Studyï¿½. Universities included in the consortium are: Northwestern, Northern Illinois, Roosevelt, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Chicago. The study is longitudinal and will follow the same group of families for six years. The counties included in the study were: Cook, Knox, Stark, Marshall, Fulton, Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, and St. Clair. Recommendations to Illinois policymakers based on the results of the study include: 1.) Increase the earnings eligibility cutoff for exiting TANF; 2.) Enact policies that promote affordable housing; 3.) Ensure that TANF and non-TANF working poor families have access to emergency assistance funds; 4.) Raise the TANF monthly cash grant; and 5.) Extend KidCare to parents. To order free printed copies of the summary or the full report, please contact: Audrey Chambers, Publications Director, Institute for Policy Research at 847-491-8712 or e-mail: [email protected]. (JMS)

IMPROVING THE JUDICIARY-PRIVATE AGENCY RELATIONSHIP IN JUVENILE COURT: PILOT FORUMS BEGIN IN JUNE

The calendar has been set for the Court Improvement Programï¿½s Pilot Forums. Registration forms and invitations will be sent to all CCA agencies in the following circuits: Cook County, the 1^st Circuit, including Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, Alexander, and Union Counties; the 18^th Circuit, comprised of DuPage County; the 10^th Circuit, comprised of Peoria and Tazewell Counties; and the 8^th Circuit, comprised of Adams, Schuyler, Brown, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Calhoun Counties.

Four consecutive forums will be held in each circuit between now and Fall, 2002 in two-hour increments over the noon hour, with lunch served. The Forums will be held either at the courthouses in these circuits or in locations convenient to the courthouse(s).

There is no charge to attend. The Forums are being funded through the Federal Court Improvement Program. CCA agencies are encouraged to send Program Directors and other executive-level staff that are involved with the courts to these Forums. Attendance is limited, so register as soon as possible.

CCA member can obtain more information about the forums, a schedule, and registration information by visiting the CCA website at http://www.cca-il.org and downloading the fact sheet and registration form off the website. They may also contact the CCA offices at 217-528-4409, or visit the CCA website at http://www.cca-il.org.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

LCFS Employee Honored as Social Worker of the Year

Dennis Petty, Lead Administrator for CCA agency member Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS) in central Illinois, was honored Tuesday evening, May 21, as Social Worker of the Year by the Springfield District of the National Association of Social Workers.

Petty joined the staff of LCFS as a clinical counseling supervisor five years ago, after working at Catholic Charities for nine years.

"We are very proud of Dennis and the high degree of professionalism he brings to all of his work," said LCFS President and CEO Gene L. Svebakken.

In addition to honoring Petty, NASW will present their Public Citizen of the Year award to State Rep. Gwenn Klingler (R-100th District) in recognition of her strong record on children's issues, domestic violence and other issues. She is Spokesperson of the Illinois House's Children and Youth Committee.

(To submit your agencyï¿½s 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 JPGï¿½s for pictures are preferred.)

SACWIS - MIS group meeting

CCAI organized a meeting with Steve Bradshaw (DCFS / Private Agency Liaison) and the POS Management and Information Systems personnel that are involved with the SACWIS program. The meeting was designed for the Chicago area POS agencies to obtain information about the schedule changes in SACWIS Phase II and identify technical issues that would impact their agencies technology goals for FY03.

In the past 2 years, volunteers from the POS MIS Group have helped identify favorable technical specifications, promoted the terminal server technology solution, and initiated the data bridge planning.

SACWIS Committee:

Rommel Sangalang announced that the SACWIS committee would be focusing more on technology issues for FY03. The SACWIS committee would also be meeting quarterly, instead of monthly. There will be a change in the roster of the SACWIS committee for FY03 and this will be posted on the CCAI web site when the list is ready.

SACWIS Phase 1:

Steve Bradshaw announced that SACWIS Phase 1 was rolled out Sunday, May 19th, and has been operating successfully since then. Except for the system speed being slower than expected, the system was fully functional.

SACWIS Phase 2:

The new certification dates for Phase II will be for August 2003. Office automation training has been trimmed from 3 days down to 2 days, and even with the late certification dates, office automation training will go on as planned. The Data Bridge Group will not meet with DCFS until the detailed design is finished. Without the actual data fields being solidified, there is not much a Data Bridge Group can accomplish. Although any budget items can still change, as far as Steve understands, any FY02 SACWIS money not spent will be forwarded. If payments have not been made to any particular POS agency for FY02, please e-mail him at [email protected]. If an agency needs to verify their seat counts, you may also e-mail him for confirmation. Also, there are no longer any POS advocate positions to contact, Steve Bradshaw will now be the DCFS contact person for all questions pertaining to SACWIS.

Past technology issues were reviewed:

Spectrum Maximus, the original certification company, was replaced with WANG Getronics. During the last MIS meeting, Spectrum Maximus consultants did not believe that a NAT solution would get past the planned DCFS firewall structure, but if the private agencies could make the NAT work, they would not reject the site from being certified. Steve Bradshaw believes that WANG will agree to certify a site even if it uses a programmable NAT router successfully. If the NAT option cannot work, then POS agencies will be forced to use a dual homing IP configuration for each workstation. For Windows98, this would be statically configured. CCAI is still doing research for dynamically configuring Windows 2000/XP.
Certifying a site with only 70% of the SACWIS computers running might be a non-issue considering the extensive delay of the new certification date.
No Celeronï¿½s will be allowed; even the new series with faster bus speeds and more cache.
Some alternative printers have been accepted for use:

ï¿½ HP4050n, HP4100n, and up

ï¿½ Okidataï¿½s Okipage18n, Okipage24n, and up

ï¿½ Lexmarkï¿½s T618n and up

Note: Any equipment over $1500 needs to be tracked by DCFS. Please try listing your inventory in a manner that separates any options, so that the individual pieces are less than $1500, and no extra work in tracking SACWIS equipment will be needed.