July 8, 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

END OF FISCAL YEAR UPDATE ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.. 1

UPDATE ON FAMILY CENTERED SERVICES.. 2

DOWNSTATE PERFORMANCE BASED WORK GROUP.. 3

FEDERAL GRANTS AVAILABLE.. 3

MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.. 4

COMMUNITY INTEGRATE LIVING ARRANGEMENT HEARING.. 4

GENERAL.. 4

CCA AGENCY MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL IN PROCESS!! 4

HEALTHY FAMILIES ILLINOIS POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE.. 4

UPCOMING EVENTS.. 5

SACY TRAINING for JULY. 5

Assessment of Children 10 and Younger      July 18. 5

SACY Training for Foster Parents    (NEW)   July 20. 5

Calendar. 6

END OF FISCAL YEAR UPDATE ON FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

As reported in previous Monday Reports, we remind members of the following issues pertaining to finances of DCFS contracts:

�        Excess Revenue � Rule revision is still in policy.  Should be filed in time to impact FY �02 cost reports and FY �04 rates.

�        Composite Rates � Specialized I and II contracts with multiple rates were changed to a single composite rate using a weighted average model.

�        Medicaid in Specialized Contracts � Letters were sent to providers informing them that they would no longer be required to bill Medicaid in Spec I contracts.  $1.50/day (infrastructure cost) was backed out of the rates for these contracts.

�        Rate Methodology � The Department is unable to run rate methodology until utilization data for July and August is settled.  There is an expectation of up to a 250-client reduction in IGH.  When those numbers are finalized the subcommittee will look at implementing a modified methodology. There are still some agencies that have failed to submit cost reports preventing full calculation of accurate medians, etc.

�      CWAC recommended that agencies that have failed to submit the required reports lose their contracts. DCFS should do a temporary contract until all children are transitioned out of the agency as soon as possible. DCFS will be in communication with these agencies shortly. If any CCAI member wants to verify that DCFS has received their cost reports, they should contact their APT monitor or DCFS regional liaison immediately. If any agency has not yet submitted these reports they face the possible loss of their contract and should act immediately.

�        Cash Assistance � Stand-alone cash assistance was eliminated from all contracts (including Family First).  It is expected that Norman funds or Chaffee funds will cover all cash needs.  (MB)

UPDATE ON FAMILY CENTERED SERVICES

DCFS has made final decisions on what services to fund with the limited amount of $5 million in Family Centered Services for FY�03. As previously reported in the Monday Report, DCFS is viewing this as a transitional year. There may be a different use of these funds for FY�04 and beyond. Letters were mailed to all FCS providers last week by DCFS informing then of the following decisions:

�         Time limited reunification programs will not be funded.  The Department will help link FCS programs providing this service to nearby agencies that are otherwise funded for reunification with the hope that subcontracting relationships can be developed.

�         The additional dollar adoption support programs will be funded at 86.5% of their fiscal year 2002 levels from funds other than FCS.  Other adoption support programs previously funded as FCS will not be funded.

�         The entire $5 million restored for FCS will be distributed to family preservation and family support programs according to the need for such programs within each LAN.  The determination of need will be based on the number of victims of child abuse and neglect and the number of children entering DCFS substitute care in each LAN. Family preservation and family support programs will be expected to demonstrate that they prevent children and families from becoming involved in the formal child welfare system (i.e. children will not become indicated abuse/neglect victims and they will not enter substitute care during or following their families� involvement in FCS programs.)  To ensure that families served by FCS programs include those most likely to enter the formal child welfare system, programs will be expected to demonstrate that at least 50% of their FCS families have been referred to them by DCFS Child Protection staff.  There must be special emphasis on programs� capacity for linkage to services related to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and domestic violence.

�         During the next week LAN/DCFS partnerships will be formed in every LAN to quickly develop recommendations to the Department about which programs should be funded and at what level.    Programs recommended by the partnerships and approved by the Department will receive contracts directly from the Department. 

�         DCFS views fiscal 2003 as a transitional year for FCS.  A subcommittee of the FCS Statewide Steering Committee has been formed to make recommendations to the DCFS Director about the future direction of Family Centered Services. 

�         LANs and FCS providers in the partnerships can expect to hear from their DCFS LAN liaisons in the very near future. DCFS expects that the partnerships will make recommendations during the first week of August. DCFS hopes to minimize disruption to programs and their clients.

�         Questions about FCS decisions can be directed to Debra Bridgeforth at 312/814-6832 (e-mail [email protected] )   or to Mary Dreiser at b 312/814-6825 ( e-mail [email protected].) (MB)

DOWNSTATE PERFORMANCE BASED WORK GROUP

The next downstate performance contracting provider work group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 2002 from 1-3 p.m., in the second floor conference room of the DCFS office at 628 E. Adams, Springfield, Illinois.

Private agency members of the work group will meet at 11:00 a.m. in the CCAI Springfield office, 300 E. Monroe, 2^nd Floor, Springfield. (MB)

FEDERAL GRANTS AVAILABLE

CCAI members may be interested in the following federal grants:

�      Department of Education

Parent Information, Training

�      Department of Education

Parent Information, Training

Scope: The Department of Education is accepting applications to provide raining and information to enable individuals with disabilities, their parents, family members, guardians, advocates or other representatives to participate more effectively with professionals in meeting their needs. Applicants must describe how they will help affected parties to better understand vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs, services and statutes; and provide follow-up support for transition and employment programs.

Deadline: Aug. 1.

Funds: $700,000 for seven awards of $95,000 to $105,000 per year for up to five years.

Eligibility: Nonprofits.

Contact: Joyce Libby at 202-205-5392 or [email protected]. For applications, call 877-433-7827 or go to the Department of Education�s website at www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs/html.

�      Department of Health and Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Targeted Capacity Expansion for Substance Abuse Prevention

Scope: SAMHSA is accepting applications to expand substance abuse prevention services for youths and other at-risk populations, specifically racial and ethnic minority populations affected by HIV/AIDS.

Deadline: July 24.

Funds: $15.1 million for 40 to 45 grants of $250,000 to $350,000 per year for three years for service grants and $7.5 million total for planning grants.

Eligibility: Nonprofits.

Contact: Francis Johnson at 301-443-6612 or [email protected].

For applications and program guidance, go to the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, 800-729-6686 or check SAMHSA�s website at www.samhsa.gov. Refer to SP 02-005. (MB)

COMMUNITY INTEGRATE LIVING ARRANGEMENT HEARING

The Dept. of Human Services has scheduled a public hearing on amendments for �Standards and Licensure Requirements for Community Integrated Living Arrangements (59 Ill Adm Code 115) for Tuesday, 7/30/02, 10 a.m. to noon in Room 9-040 at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, Chicago.  The proposed rulemaking was published in the 5/10/02 Illinois Register and expands the basic community-integrated living arrangement (CILA) requirements to include a new �host family living arrangements� program for the developmentally disabled.  The amendments specify program requirements and criteria, host family and disabled individual pairing procedures, provider agency and contract requirements, and caregiver relief availability.  In addition, the rulemaking provides that rates for all host family settings shall be determined by DHS through CILA rate methodology and also lists components that will be considered when determining rates.  Other administrative details are also covered in these amendments.  Not for profit corporations that operate as DHS-licensed and DHS-certified CILA providers for developmentally disabled individuals may be affected by this rulemaking.  Questions/requests for copies should be directed to: Susan Weir, DHS 100 S. Grand Ave. E., Springfield, IL 62762, 217/785-9772.  (JMS)

CCA AGENCY MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL IN PROCESS!!

Renewal applications have been mailed to all Agency Executive Directors.  Please return your applications by fax (217-528-6498) or mail as soon as possible.  If you haven�t received your renewal packet please call Cindy Stich at 217-528-4409 ext. 23. (CMS)

If you have already submitted your application, thank you!

HEALTHY FAMILIES ILLINOIS POLICY AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

At the June meeting of the HFI Policy and Advocacy Committee, one of the agenda items included a discussion of the state budget for FY 03.  For the Healthy Families programs in Illinois, the budget results had mixed news.  While Healthy Families Illinois, the primary funding source for HFI programs was maintained at the FY02 level, many other funding streams were affected by the state�s budget cuts.  Family Centered Services was specifically mentioned, which lost half of the FY 02 funding, as well as the loss of any cost of doing business increase for FY 03.  Proposed cuts to Early Childhood Bock Grant were overturned.  There was further discussion of the FCS cuts and how HFI sites might be able to access continued DCFS funding.  DCFS is interested in having a measurable impact on abuse and neglect, which is one of the goals of the Healthy Families program.  While individual HFI sties are encouraged to contact the Department directly, the Committee suggested writing a letter to Director McDonald urging that HFI sites be a priority for funding. 

The HFI Executive Committee asked the Policy Committee to prepare a survey for HFI sites on their sources of funding, to improve the understanding of the various funding streams that may impact the HFI programs and how programs maybe affected by budget cuts.  Items identified to be included in the survey included various state funding sources in addition to private. 

Other advocacy items discussed included letters to the Governor and legislators thanking them for funding HFI and also to educate them on the value of HFI for future efforts to seek increased funding.  There was also initial discussion on outreach efforts to the Gubernatorial candidates as well as new legislators to ask their plans for funding and making them aware of the Healthy Families program.  (JMS)

SACY TRAINING for JULY

Assessment of Children 10 and Younger                                July 18

Assessment of children 10 and under with sexual behavior problems requires special skills.  This session will include topics of child development, intellect, emotions and behavior, attachment theory and the consequences of poor early attachment. Participants will learn: how and why children act out the differences between expression and imitation.  You will receive training in how to get kids to talk about sex and abuse, assessment materials and instruments, and discussion regarding play therapy.

SACY Training for Foster Parents         (NEW)                                    July 20

YES!  Saturday training to accommodate Foster Parents.  This new training is designed to meet the needs of Foster Parents working the children with sexual behavior problems.  Participants will receive an overview of the sexually problematic child in foster care.  The training will cover safety and security issues, accountability, adults as models for dress,  language and attitudes, music and the media, and where to draw the line on �hipness�.  This day will better equip foster parents to assist their agency and children in their care.     

Location: Catholic Charities of Chicago

St. Vincent Hall

721 N. LaSalle

Chicago

Time: 9:00 am till 4:00 pm

Lunch on your own

COST:  $85.00 per person per session

For registration simply go to the CCA Training site www.cca-il.org/training/htm or call Barb Oldani at 217-528-4409, Ext. 21.

Calendar

July 10            Downstate Performance Contract Meeting, 1:00pm - 3:00 p.m., 2nd floor conference room at DCFS, 628 E. Adams, Springfield, IL

July 11            18^th Circuit-Juvenile Court Forum � 11:30 a.m. � 1:30 p.m. � DuPage County Courthouse, Multi-Purpose Room 104, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL

July 17            8^th Circuit-Juvenile Court Forum � 11:00 a.m. � 1:00 p.m. � Location TBA

July 18            SACY Training � Assessment: Children 10 & Younger � 9:00 a.m. � 4:00 p.m. � Catholic Charities of Chicago, St. Vincent Hall, 721 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL

July 19            10^th Circuit-Juvenile Court Forum � 11:00 a.m. � 1 p.m. - Peoria County Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room 215, 234 Main Street, Peoria, IL

July 20            SACY Training for Foster Parents � 9:00 a.m. � 4:00 p.m. � Catholic Charities of Chicago, St. Vincent Hall, 721 N. LaSalle, Chicago, IL

July 26            1^st Circuit-Juvenile Court Forum � 11:00 a.m. � 1:00 p.m. � Smugglers, Harrisburg, IL