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In This Issue

• Strengthening Families Illinois Initiative Highlighted as Part of Governor's Child Abuse Prevention Month Launch
• Get Funding for SFI
• Mental Health Consultants Become Trainers on New SFI Curriculum
• Illinois Team Contributes to National ECCS Meeting
• Network Members are Experts at 3rd Annual SFI Cross-Site Meeting
• Save the Date: Say It Out Loud Campaign Kicks Off on May1
• Birth to Five Project's Government Interagency Team Identifies Family Engagement as a Top Priority
• Conference Corner
• Thanks to
• Calendar

Strengthening Families Illinois Initiative Highlighted as Part of Governor's Child Abuse Prevention Month Launch

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and this year, Strengthening Families Illinois is at the center of the state’s official child abuse prevention campaign. A news release from Governor Blagojevich’s holds up Strengthening Families Illinois as an example of “success in linking early childhood education with child welfare to proactively protect children.” And at a kick-off ceremony March 31 at the James R. Thompson Center, First Lady Patty Blagojevich applauded the collaboration of state and community-based initiatives as the key to supporting families and preventing child abuse saying, “Children are safe when families are strong, and we are working together to help parents succeed.”  Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and over 30 partners helped coordinate launch events in Chicago, Springfield and Edwardsville. Click here for the full release.  

Child Abuse Prevention Month is about raising awareness of the importance of keeping families strong all year long and the resources developed for the Love Is Not Enough to Keep Your Family Strong public awareness campaign are a great resource to share with families about the 6 protective factors that keep families strong.  Parents can visit www.keepyourfamilystrong.org for help building their Protective Factors, and to connect with Love Is Not Enough Parent Cafés across the state. In addition, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois has a calendar of activities and events in April for families and professionals to support keeping families strong.  Click here to view the calendar.

For Love Is Not Enough brochures, posters, and other materials to distribute during Child Abuse Prevention Month and year round, click here

Get Funding for SFI

Preschool programs that want to embed the Strengthening Families Illinois approach should apply for Pre-K for All and Prevention Initiative funding through the Illinois State Board of Education.  The deadline has passed for new grantees, however programs that are applying for continued funding can use funds through Pre-K for All to support Strengthening Families activities. The application deadline for continuing programs is May 15. In addition, all programs applying for Prevention Initiative funds can include Strengthening Families Illinois in their proposals as a supplemental service before the May 6 deadline.

Most recently, Rockford Public Schools used ISBE Prevention Initiative funds to support the launch of their own SFI Learning Network, the first beyond SFI’s six pilots. In February, they hosted training on the Protective Factors with staff from 17 early childhood programs. “Initiating this Learning Network seemed the most effective and efficient way of ensuring that our teachers and other staff receive the training and support that they need to help keep children safe and make families stronger,” says Alex Brewington, Coordinator of the Rockford Strengthening Families Learning Network. To read more about Rockford’s network, click here.

Click here to access the RFPs and to learn more about what’s available through Preschool for All.

Mental Health Consultants Become Trainers on New SFI Curriculum

As of March 13, more people are ready to train those who work with young children and their families on how to recognize and respond to signs of family stress. The Midwest Learning Center for Family Support provided SFI training on the topic to Mental Health Consultants from Caregiver Connections.

The training, part of the SFI sequence delivered throughout the Learning Networks, helps early childhood providers:

• Understand the relationship between stress and potentially harmful parenting behaviors
• Recognize early signs of stress in the children and families they serve
• Learn techniques for supporting families in managing the everyday stress and strain of life

“The training gave us the insight and support that we can deliver to providers in the field” says John Roope, Project Director for Caregiver Connections. The Mental Health Consultants join a pool of trainers who are qualified to train child-and-family professionals on Strengthening Families topics—including Child Care Nurse Consultants. To find a Mental Health Consultant near you, click here. To find a Child Care Nurse Consultant, click here.

SFI and the Midwest Learning Center will continue to train trainers on recognizing and responding to stress, the Protective Factors. and other Strengthening Families topics.  If you are interested in becoming a trainer on any SFI curriculum,contact us. To learn more about the types of SFI training available, click here.

Network Members Are Experts at 3rd Annual SFI Cross-Site Meeting

More than 100 people gathered for the third annual SFI Cross-Site Meeting March 9–10, at the Marriott Hickory Ridge Conference Center in Lisle. Learning Network members from all six regions used their time together to learn from and celebrate the latest SFI innovations, build their work together regionally and in specific domains, and expand SFI’s borders into new areas to strengthen families.

Members of the Learning Networks were a primary source of expertise and information to each other, and many presented on the innovative strategies and resources they’ve developed towards addressing the three goals of deepening the practice in their programs, expanding parent engagement efforts, and collaborating with child welfare  Examples included:  

• Lisa McCuan (Southern): Conversation Starters and Professional Development Day
• Donna Ashley (Peoria): Resource Manual, Preschool for All, CSFEFL Web Site
• Leslie Janes (Chicago): Training, Linking Strengthening Families Work with Other Funding Streams
• Ineabelle Mercado (Kane County): Spanish-Language Resources

In addition, several SFI presenters focused on how they’ve expanded their Strengthening Families efforts to teen parents, parent leaders, family childcare providers, and schools. They included:

• Sharifa Townsend (South Cook)
• Penny Smith (Peoria)
• Connie Boatright (Southern)
• Therese Cronin (Kane)
• Alex Brewington (Rockford)

Other highlights from the meeting included a presentation from Cynthia Moreno—DCFS Deputy Director, Service Intervention—on the department’s continued commitment to SFI and its work to embed the Protective Factors in families through collaborations across the child welfare system. Dana Weiner of Northwestern University presented on the new statewide provider database that is being used by caseworkers to help them locate local services for the families they are working with. 

In addition, Parent Engagement Workgroup Co-Chairs Xochitl Martirosyan, Statewide AOK Network Coordinator for the Illinois Department of Human Services and Renee Haynie-Jackson, Director of Training for Illinois Family Partnership Network talked about the upcoming workgroup launch (see March e-update) and got network members thinking about who their representatives would be.

And SFI events always nurture the spirit, and this meeting was no exception. Participants were welcomed by inspirational speaker Lisa Lee, Director of Training, First Five San Francisco, on Sunday evening and were offered a selection of relaxation and self-reflection activities later in the evening and throughout the next day.

To request copies of materials shared by any of the presenters, or to get a copy of the agenda for the cross-site meeting, click here

• April 24: Evaluation Workgroup Meeting, Chicago; Love Is Not Enough Parent Cafe, Freeport
• April 28: Love Is Not Enough Parent Cafe, Evanston
• April 30: Early Learning Council-Special Populations Workgroup, Chicago;Evanston Learning Network Meeting, Evanston; Albany Celebrating Strong Families Parent Resource Fair, Chicago
• May 1: Building Resiliency Workgroup Meeting, Chicago
• May 2: El Valor Annual Home Provider Conference
• May 9: ELFS Meeting, Chicago
• May 12: Southern Illinois End of Year Celebration/Network Meeting, Carterville
• May 14: Chicago Learning Network Meeting, Chicago; Kane County Learning Network Meeting, Carpentersville
• May 15: Love Is Not Enough Partner Cafe, Chicago / Hub Coordinators Call
• May 19 - 20: Parent Engagement Workgroup Orientation/Hub Coordinators Annual Meeting
• May 21: Peoria Learning Network Meeting

Click here to view additional details on upcoming events SFI's website .

You can subscribe to SFI's Calendar on Google by clicking button below:

Illinois Team Contributes to National ECCS Meeting

On March 13 – 14, teams from more than 12 states attended the 2008 Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Partners Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.  The meeting was centered on how states can learn from and with each other to build and sustain comprehensive early childhood systems to meet the needs of all children and families.

Each state brought a team that worked on developing an action plan for continuing to advance the ECCS work in their home state. The Illinois team included Adjoa Blalock, Roselyn Harris, and Joanne Kelly from IDHS, Nancie Brown from IDCFS, Laurie Morrison Frichtl, from the IL Head Start Association, and Karen Freel from the Ounce of Prevention Fund.  SFI Project Director, Kathy Goetz Wolf was also able to participate thanks to support from Illinois’ Federal Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) initiative (another example of how many early childhood/child abuse prevention initiatives are collaborating in Illinois). “There is a lot of interagency collaboration happening around early childhood in Illinois, but the challenge is bringing it all together under one roof in order to take the collaboration to a higher level,” said Joanne Kelly, Early Childhood Systems Coordinator at IDHS. 

Kelly alongside Kathy Goetz Wolf co-presented on lessons learned in implementing Strengthening Families and were joined by Strengthening Families Kansas representative Jackie Counts.  Jackie’s portion described how the initiative has been growing in their state and what they've learned. Click here to learn more about the Kansas Strengthening Families plan. The meeting web site will soon be available as well. Click here access information and presentations from the meeting.

Save the Date: Say It Out Loud Campaign Kicks Off On May 1

On May 1 you're invited to join the community at the "Say It Out Loud" rally. The rally will serve as the kick off for a new public engagement campaign developed through the IDHS/Division of Mental Health and the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership that is promoting good mental health for all Illinois Residents.

The rally will showcase new mental health resources through a variety of speakers and festivities. Highlights will include:

• The unveiling of the campaign; website, radio ads, billboards, etc.

• Local entertainment

• Say It Out Loud t-shirts and other giveaways

• The Governor's proclamation of May as Say It Out Loud Month

• People saying it out loud!

Be a part of the rally Thursday, May 1 at 10:00 am, Crystal Gardens at the Navy Pier complex (660 East Grand Ave.). Click here for more information.

Birth to Five Project's Government Interagency Team Identifies Family Engagement as a Top Priority

Convening first in 2001, the Government Interagency Team (GIT) was formed out of the Birth to 5 Project after recognizing the need to create a forum for senior level government agency administrators to come together to address key issues related to early childhood in Illinois and leverage resources that could have a broad impact on the field.   To this end, the GIT has been instrumental in helping create stronger connections between agencies and identifying barriers and solutions for improving systems for children and families in Illinois.   

At their most recent retreat, discussions centered around the issues and challenges that families are facing and how the GIT could have a positive impact towards addressing them.  As a result three priority areas were identified to guide their work over the next few years; one of which was meaningful family engagement in program and policy planning.   “We’re taking on getting families engaged in the policy process and ensuring that parent voice is heard and at the table in Illinois,” says Karen Yarbrough, Director of the Birth to Five Project at the Ounce of Prevention Fund and facilitator of the Government Interagency Team.  They will be identifying the types of issues involved with ensuring meaningful parent involvement and presence and what the appropriate tables are for inclusion, examining where parents are serving currently and where there is a need for increased involvement.   In addition, they will explore successful models from different states.   “It’s exciting,” describes Yarbrough, “The early childhood field has come so far in Illinois, but there are always improvements to be made.” 

Other priorities the GIT is addressing are local level community collaboration around systems of services, convening a day of learning in the fall to learn about community collaborations both formal and organic.  And they will also spend time on training in Illinois focusing on building stronger connections and strengthening professional development as a system statewide. 

Similar to the GIT, SFI’s Leadership Team charged the initiative with forming a Parent Engagement Workgroup to ensure meaningful parent voice in the initiative’s policy and program planning.  The new workgroup will launch in May.  Click here for more information.

Conference Corner

Leadership Connections Conference
May 15–17, Chicago, IL
Sponsor: McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership
Especially for early childhood administrators, lead teachers and supervisors, trainers and consultants, technical assistance specialists, and family child care providers. Midwest Learning Center for Family Support will present on Strengthening Families. Also—visit the SFI exhibit booth!

3rd Annual Head to Toe: Midwest Interactive Toddler Conference
May 31, Chicago, IL
Sponsor: Chicago Metro Association for the Education of Young Children
This one day conference is designed for early childhood educators in both centers and homes, mental health professionals, social workers, and others addressing topics like transitioning, challenging behaviors, social and emotional development and more.  Click here for more information or to register.  

National Association for Family Child Care Annual Conference
July 17–19, Schaumburg, IL
This national conference focuses on improving the quality of family child care, including NAFCC accreditation and ALI/PDI sessions. SFI will lead two workshops and give pre-conference demonstrations of Family Friend and Neighbor Cafés.

Save the Date: Advocating for All Children: Many Voices – One Vision
14th Annual Child Abuse Prevention Conference
November 20 – 21, 2008
Sponsor: Prevent Child Abuse Illinois
Oak Brook, IL
For more information visit www.preventchildabuseillinois.org.

Would you like SFI speakers or materials at your conference or event? Contact Us.

Thanks to …

Jennifer Florent, Roy Harley, Kendall Marlowe, Andrew Martinez, Denise McCaffrey, Lara Reddin and the numerous staff at both Prevent Child Abuse Illinois and IDCFS, as well as the multitude of statewide partners for their efforts and contributions in planning and coordinating the Child Abuse Prevention Month launches statewide and in promoting the many activities throughout the month that are raising awareness of the importance of keeping families strong ... The Illinois State Board of Education Early Childhood Division ... The Midwest Learning Center for Family Support for providing the TOT on Recognizing and Responding to Signs of Family Stress and Caregiver Connections for their continued collaboration on SFI training ... Donna Ashley, Chris Baer, Amber Baker, Connie Boatright, Alex Brewington, Therese Cronin, Maxine Delapp, Anne Douglass, Nancy Elizabeth, Keri Hartwig, Renee Jackson, Leslie Janes, Lisa Lee, Xochitl Martirosyan, Lisa McCuan, Ineabelle Mercado, Cynthia Moreno, Margie Perzynski, Marc Podolner, John Roope, John Sacelli, Ashley Schaff, Cherlynn Shelby, Penny Smith, Cynthia Stringfellow, Sharifa Townsend, Carla Washington, and Dana Weiner, for contributing their expertise around planning, presenting, and facilitating at the 3rd Annual Cross-site Meeting ... and to all of the SFI Learning Network members for their participation ... Karen Yarbrough at the Ounce of Prevention Fund ... Adjoa Blalock, Nancie Brown, Karen Freel, Roselyn Harris, Joanne Kelly, and Laurie Morrison Frichtl for representing Illinois at the National ECCS Meeting ...the Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership and IDHS-Division of Mental Health for their invitation to the Say It Out Loud rally ... and the many other people who contribute their time and support to strengthen Illinois children!

Know someone involved with SFI who deserves thanks? Send us an email.