Re-affirm DCFS’ role of surrogate parent Early identification and treatment of trauma Anticipate child development needs Recognize emotional attachments to bio families Focus on well-being outcomes Establish foundation for healthy adulthood Build bridges to community Goals of Lifetime Approach

Getting kids ready to start school with quality ECE Stability in ECE placement How does the Lifetime Approach apply to our youngest children? School Readiness Planning Initiative Bolster ability of ECE to work with children in child welfare system and to prevent child abuse Strengthening Families Illinois Strategy A Strategy B

All children in the system ready for school –Goal September 2005 – all 3-5 year olds enrolled in quality preschool (center-based early care and education programs) –Planning group for best practices 0 – 3 (Ounce of Prevention co-convening) –Help caseworkers and foster parents understand the importance of quality ECE –Working with early childhood community to ensure that quality preschools can meet our children’s needs –Working internally to ensure educational stability across placements and trauma-sensitive transition planning Strategy A: School Readiness Planning Initiative

Strategy B: Strengthening Families Illinois Early childhood and child welfare systems working together to prevent child abuse and neglect by strengthening protective factors 7 States / RFP – National Model DCFS Convener for Illinois 21 + partners 5 pilot sites involving 50 child care centers

Early Childhood & Child Welfare systems working together Child care centers work with families to keep children safe and healthy Parental involvement (foster, biological, and adoptive parents) Child care centers better able to meet the needs of children who have experienced trauma (and promote social and emotional well-being of all children) Child welfare workers and child care center staff intentionally work together to keep children safe

Protective Factors Research says if these are present, children are less vulnerable to child abuse and neglect (CAN): –Parental resilience –Knowledge of parenting and child development –Positive social connections –Access to help in times of crisis –Children’s social and emotional well-being

Local learning networks of 50 child care centers in –Chicago / North Lawndale –Southern Cook County –Peoria –Kane County / Carpentersville –Southern Illinois – 11 counties Pilot sites

Long-term Impacts of SF approach Fewer children in the child welfare system Higher quality programs and services for all children Children in the child welfare system are the most at-risk kids in the state – systems changes that meet their needs will create a rising tide that will lift all boats (e.g. trauma-informed services)

Moving Forward Collaboratively Integrate CAN prevention activities across state agencies by incorporating protective factors as framework for working with families Increase trauma-informed practice in ECE programs

Moving Forward Collaboratively Expand Mental Health Consultation to SFI pilot sites (all programs in learning networks) Take SFI model to scale – beyond pilot sites –Training –Professional Development –Building relationships / learning networks –Expectations for quality practice in ECE –Child welfare innovations / collaboration