Strengthening Families Illinois Early 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 NETWORKS Hubs: (continued on next slide)

7.John A. Logan CCR&R / Southern Region 8.Children’s Home & Aid CCR&R / St. Clair County (AOK0 9.YWCA Child Care Solutions (CCR&R) / Rockford / Northern Region 10.Centers for New Horizons / Chicago – Internal network 11.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 RESOURCES Publications: AVAILABLE AT or

Keep Your Family Strong Community on Facebook Updated strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org NEW RESOURCES Online:

Facebook: Keep Your Family Strong Online Community MORE TO COME! SFI ON THE WEB / Social Media

Kathy Goetz Wolf, Executive Director Guy Schingoethe, Assistant Director 312/ , x125 CONTACT: 312/