E-Update from Strengthening Families Illinois

June 2006
E-Update
Highlights for Leaders and Partners of Strengthening Families Illinois
Welcome back to the SFI E-Update! Warm weather and planning for the next year are in the forecast as the first pilot year comes to a close. But lots of activities are happening in preparation for the fall school year and summer training. If you have comments or suggestions, please send us an email In This Issue Illinois Leads in Addressing Early Trauma New SFI Partners SFI a Big Hit in the Big Apple Learning Network Emerges from 'Partnership' New Supplemental Service on the 'Block': Strengthening Families Illinois Agreements Will Enroll More Wards in Head Start Caseworkers, Center Staff Partner Around Kids in the System DCFS: Our Kids Need Preschool for All Tools for Strengthening 'Las Familias' Thanks to Calendar Illinois Leads in Addressing Early Trauma A workgroup convened by DCFS Director Bryan Samuels and Ounce of Prevention Fund President Harriet Meyer, to develop quality child welfare practice for children birth to 3, met for the second time on June 8 to plan the next steps for implementing a Trauma Sensitive Early Intervention System for DCFS wards. The group is working to make Illinois one of the first states in the country where all kids aged 03 in the child welfare system are prepared for preschool—and for life. The group is expected to have a framework and implementation plan in place by the end of the summer which will ensure that child welfare services for children birth to 3 are developmentally and clinically appropriate, offer services and training to foster parents and case workers on trauma and child development for children 0 to 3, and expand early intervention services for this population. New SFI Partners Child Care Network of Evanston: Martha Arntson, Tanya Brown SFI a Big Hit in the Big Apple Illinois is getting national attention as the first state to require all wards 3 to 5 to be enrolled in a quality early childhood education program: On May 24, DCFS Special Assistant to the Director Anne Studzinski and SFI Project Manager Kathy Goetz Wolf presented to New York City’s Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children. “New York county officials were very interested in how they could institute policy to enroll more wards in quality early care and education,” said Anne Studzinski. “We were glad to share what we’ve learned through our School Readiness Initiative and Strengthening Families Illinois.” The audience of 130 included foster care, child protection, and other child welfare agency staff as well as early childhood providers and parent support programs. Continued collaboration is planned for next year. Click to download the presentations on DCFS' Lifetime Approach or Strengthening Families Illinois. Kathy Goetz Wolf and Anne Studzinski (middle left to right) with members of NYC's Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice Learning Networks Emerging From ‘Partnership’ As part of it’s continuing collaboration with Strengthening Families Illinois, The Partnership for Quality Childcare’s (PQCC) recent quarterly directors meeting included training on the Protective Factors. “It is a really good partnership," says Jamilah Jor'dan, PQCC Executive Director and SFI leadership team member. "The training was well received and they are looking forward to next Fall.” The Fall meeting will offer a new training on Recognizing and Responding to Signs of Family Stress, being developed by the Midwest Learning Center for Family Support and DCFS’ Training Department. PQCC members became interested in the Strengthening Families approach after a presentation on the initiative at their last quarterly meeting. Since that time, they have committed to completing program self assessments and are exploring ways to form learning networks of their own. New Supplemental Service on the ‘Block’: Strengthening Families Illinois This year, thanks to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), programs applying for Birth to 3 services funding through the Illinois Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) could include Strengthening Families Illinois as a supplemental service to enhance birth to 3 comprehensive services in their proposals. The Strengthening Families approach is a perfect fit as the ECBG emphasizes relationships among early childhood education, parenting education and involvement, and future success in school. The aim of the prevention initiative is to create partnerships that support the development of infants and children from birth to age 3 years. ISBE has already agreed to provide social/emotional development training to SFI’s Learning Networks next year through its StarNet curriculum and Strengthening Families Illinois' inclusion in the RFP further demonstrates the commitment across the state in building a strong educational foundation for Illinois’ youngest children.
Calendar June 23: SFI Leadership Team Meeting, Sustainability June 25-27: Hub Coordinator Planning Meeting, Gilman June 29: SFI Professional Development and Training Workgroup Meeting, Action for Children July 6: SFI Communications Work Group Meeting, DCFS / Thompson Center; Parent Focus Group July 7:Evaluation Work Group Meeting, MCIC July 13: Hub Coordinator Monthly Call July 14: Southern Cook Learning Network Meeting, Markham July19: Peoria Learning Network Meeting, Peoria July 26: Building Resiliency Workgroup Meeting, Voices for Illinois Children August 10, Hub Coordinator Monthly Call August 23, Peoria Learning Network Meeting, Peoria Where missing, times and locations are TBD Stronger Together Upcoming Training Southern Cook County: 9:00 am–3:30 pm, June 29 & 30 To receive an updated SFI calendar by email every month send us an email.	Agreements Will Enroll More Wards in Head Start Agreements are in the process of being signed across the state that will result in record numbers of kids in the child welfare system—and their families—being enrolled in Head Start. The agreements between local Head Start grantee agencies and DCFS outline full partnerships between DCFS and Head Start on child welfare prevention service plans for children in the system. They will be crucial to implementing a DCFS policy that goes into effect this fall requiring all wards ages 3 to 5, as part of their education service plans, be enrolled part of the day in quality early care and education programs in order to prepare them to enter school ready to learn. The agreements also include children whose families are intact but have open child welfare cases. Head Start programs were targeted for the agreements because they provide quality care and education, comprehensive services to families, and are committed to the five Protective Factors that prevent child abuse and neglect and keep families strong. DCFS: Our Kids Need Preschool For All This summer and fall, as Illinois’s Preschool for All initiative expands to include more children, DCFS is prepared to meet those guidelines through its School Readiness and Strengthening Families Illinois initiatives. The department believes in focusing on quality early care and education because it strengthens Illinois families and helps prevent child abuse and neglect. Strengthening Families Illinois is working with childcare centers statewide to build their capacity in working with all families and the School Readiness initiative will ensure DCFS wards and children of wards ages 3 to 5 are enrolled in quality childcare for part of the day. Strengthening Families Illinois and DCFS have been developing resources to help caseworkers understand the impact that quality early care and education programs can have that are available at www.strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org or by clicking below: Our Kids Deserve a Fair Start brochure – Click here for Spanish 5 Ways to Keep Kids Safe brochure – Click here for Spanish 10 Reasons to Partner with Pre-School Staff
Caseworkers, Center Staff Partner Around Kids in System In July, Strengthening Families Illinois will take a major leap in its work to build Protective Factors around kids in early childhood centers: Using a survey developed by DCFS and filled out by center staff, SFI Learning Networks will identify children at centers who are involved with the child welfare system. The children’s caseworkers will get in touch with center staff so that they can work together to make sure the children are safe and their families are getting the support they need. Children to be identified include both wards and those in families with open child welfare cases who have not been removed from the home. Tools for Strengthening ‘Las Familias’ Three major SFI publications will soon be available in Spanish. First on the list is the Midwest Learning Center’s training on the Protective Factors. Jacinta Passamentt, a staff member at Carole Robertson Center for Learning and a trainer for SFI’s Chicago Learning Network, is translating the materials. She says it’s “important to ensure that both English- and Spanish-speaking early childhood professionals are educated with high standards of quality child care and that children and families are given the same outreach support.” Next up for translation consideration are Stronger Together and Protecting Children by Strengthening Families: The Strengthening Families Self-Assessment Guidebook. Stay tuned for ordering information. Thanks to … ... all SFI Learning Network hubs and centers!! Know someone involved with SFI who deserves thanks? Send us an email. SFI Speakers Available To have an SFI representative speak at your next event, email us.
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