Strengthening Families

IllinoisEarly Childhood / Child Welfare

Collaboration

November 3, 2011

MISSION: Build and promote:

• Family & community resilience • Effective partnerships between parents and family-service systems

• Strength-based, family centered approach in child care, school, agencies, and organizations serving children & their families

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES ILLINOIS

4 COMPONENTS:1.Early childhood 2.Collaboration on systems change with child

and family serving agencies and organizations statewide

3.Assistance with embedding the protective factors approach in the child welfare system

4.Parent engagement

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES ILLINOIS

• Children in the child welfare system and children of wards start school ready to learn

• Child welfare system is increasingly focused on keeping families strong rather than raising children

IL DCFS CHILD WELFARE / EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES

• Procedure Rule 314• School Readiness Team• SFI Learning Networks• Caseworker Training• Head Start Collaboration• Strengthening Families Illinois

KEY IMPLEMENTATIONS

• Revision of rule 314 / Wards 3 to 5 enrolled in early care and education programs

• School Readiness Team– 7 positions statewide– Monitor implementation of Rule 314– Increase number of wards and intact

families enrolled– Liaisons with early childhood professionals

in communities

SCHOOL READINESS

• Embed practice throughout program among staff and parents

• Raise awareness of Strengthening Families• Collaborate / communicate effectively with child welfare staff– Collaboration on service planning– Developing Collaborative Relationships training

– Early Childhood / Child Welfare Forums– Monthly Learning Network meetings inviting child welfare staff

LEARNING NETWORK SCOPE OF WORK

1. Carole Robertson Center for Learning / Chicago – Internal & external network

2. IL Action for Children / Preschool for All / South Suburban School Districts / South Cook

3. Childcare Network of Evanston / Evanston / Cook North

4. Tom Thumb Community Childcare Center (Children’s Home & Aid) / N. Kane County

5. Two Rivers Head Start (5 counties northern region) – Internal network

6. Crittenton Centers / Peoria / Central Region

SFI LEARNING NETWORKSHubs: (continued on next slide)

7. John A. Logan CCR&R / Southern Region8. Children’s Home & Aid CCR&R / St.

Clair County (AOK09. YWCA Child Care Solutions (CCR&R) /

Rockford / Northern Region10. Centers for New Horizons / Chicago –

Internal network11. One Hope United / Cook County –

Internal network & Child welfare collaboration network

12. One Hope United / Huddleston – Differential Response Collaboration / Southern Region

13. Ounce of Prevention Fund / Chicago Public Schools

EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING NETWORK HUBS (cont.)

• Learning Collaboratives across state– Strength based trauma informed practice

– Protective Factors training– Role of early childhood programs in keeping families strong / partnership opportunities

CASEWORKER TRAINING

• Agreements with all Head Start grantee agencies

• Cross-training for child welfare and Head Start staff

• Head Start slots for wards

HEAD START COLLABORATION

TALKING ABOUT THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS

•Parental Resilience•Social Connections•Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development

•Concrete Support in Times of Need

•Social & Emotional Competence of Children

•Parent-Child Relationships

•Be strong and flexible•Parents need friends•Being a great parent is part natural & part learned

•We all need help sometimes

•Parents need to help their children communicate

•Give your children the love and respect they need

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS / PROVIDERS

• Love Is Not Enough Parent Cafés

• Café Talk

• Awaken To Your Potential Leadership Training

• Café Training

• Living the Protective Factors Book (E-Book / Print)

• The Get Real Guide to Getting Your Kids Back (E-Book / Print)

• You’re Welcome: Parents Leaders Speak Out On What It Takes to Promote Parent Engagement

• Café Talk and Café Talk Booster Packs

NEW RESOURCESPublications:

AVAILABLE AT www.bestrongfamilies.com

orwww.strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org

• www.bestrongfamilies.com• www.bestrongfosterparents.com • Keep Your Family Strong Community on Facebook• Updated strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org

NEW RESOURCES

Online:

• Facebook: Keep Your Family Strong Online Community

• Twitter: @StrongFamsIL• www.bestrongfamilies.com• www.bestrongfosterparents.com • www.strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org • www.keepyourfamilystrong.org

MORE TO COME!

SFI ON THE WEB / Social Media

Kathy Goetz Wolf, Executive Directorkathygw@strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org

Guy Schingoethe, Assistant Directorguys@strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org

312/421-5200, x125

CONTACT: 312/421-5200