1. Strengthening Families Illinois
Early Childhood / Child Welfare Collaboration
November 3, 2011

2. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES ILLINOIS
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
CSSP released an RFP to states interested in piloting the model in Illinois along with 7 other applications were chosen to pilot the initiative at first. IL DCFS has been and continues to be the primary funder of Strengthening Families Illinois (SFI) since IL is known nationally as being a SF leader in both child welfare and parent engagement work.

3. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES ILLINOIS
4 COMPONENTS:
Early childhood
Collaboration on systems change with child and family serving agencies and organizations statewide
Assistance with embedding the protective factors approach in the child welfare system
Parent engagement
Strengthening Families Illinois’ work breaks into four key areas:
Early Childhood Learning Networks – Localized groups (6 to 10 – sometimes more depending on region) of early education programs (HS, PreK, Free Standing Centers, Family DayCare, etc) / family serving programs committed to embedding Strengthening Families in their program and practice. They all commit to completing the SFI Self-assessment (Every three years) and developing an action plan (every year) to address practice. Each program works to embed practice, strengthen collaboration with child welfare, and strengthen parent engagement. There are training topics developed to help reinforce practice shift and the learning network meets monthly for peer support / learning and further reinforcement.
Collaboration on Systems Level Change – This relates to SFI’s work with partners/partner organizations. There are over 40 partner organizations that are working with SFI and are committed to embedding components of Strengthening Families and the Protective Factors into their organizations. Examples of this include our CCRR Collaboration. Essentially it is helping to ensure that the Protective Factors and Strengthening Families is included as we talk about serving families.
Assist DCFS – DCFS has taken on Strengthening Families unlike any system across the country and are working to embed the Protective Factors and the approach throughout their entire system – and how they approach all aspects of their child welfare work . SFI has been playing a role in assisting those efforts.
Parent Engagement – SFI is working directly to engage parents in Strengthening their own families and Protective Factors through Love Is Not Enough Campaign, Love is Not Enough Parent Cafes, Parent Café adaptations (Foster Parent, Teen, for example), Awaken to Your Potential Leadership Team, a statewide force of parents committed to Strong Families and Communities.

4. IL DCFS CHILD WELFARE / EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES
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
These are DCFS goals they are achieving by Embedding the Protective Factors throughout the system.

5. Head Start Collaboration Strengthening Families Illinois
KEY IMPLEMENTATIONS
Procedure Rule 314
School Readiness Team
SFI Learning Networks
Caseworker Training
Head Start Collaboration
Strengthening Families Illinois
“Learning Network” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program.

6. SCHOOL READINESS
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
“Learning Network” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program.

7. LEARNING NETWORK SCOPE OF WORK
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” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program.

8. SFI LEARNING NETWORKS Hubs: (continued on next slide)
Carole Robertson Center for Learning / Chicago – Internal & external network
IL Action for Children / Preschool for All / South Suburban School Districts / South Cook
Childcare Network of Evanston / Evanston / Cook North
Tom Thumb Community Childcare Center (Children’s Home & Aid) / N. Kane County
Two Rivers Head Start (5 counties northern region) – Internal network
Crittenton Centers / Peoria / Central Region
“Learning Network” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program.

9. EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING NETWORK HUBS (cont.)
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
“Learning Network” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program. 9

10. Learning Collaboratives across state CASEWORKER TRAINING
Strength based trauma informed practice
Protective Factors training
Role of early childhood programs in keeping families strong / partnership opportunities
CASEWORKER TRAINING
“Learning Network” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program.

11. HEAD START COLLABORATION
Agreements with all Head Start grantee agencies
Cross-training for child welfare and Head Start staff
Head Start slots for wards
HEAD START COLLABORATION
“Learning Network” is group of early childhood centers or programs (including school-based and family daycare) working to embed the protective factors and a family-centered approach in their early childhood programs. They do this because they recognize that collaborating with Strengthening Families assist them with achieving the quality standards of their funders – including Head Start, Preschool for All, NAEYC accreditation. Programs participating in a learning network do a self-assessment every three years, develop an action plan, train their staff, and participate in network meetings. They also attend an annual professional development day & commit to working collaboratively with DCFS with families involved in the child welfare system that participate in their program.

12. 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
TO THE GROUP
- Notice the Protective Factors on the Left – These were the ones on the logic model.
- SFI worked with an Ad Agency (Social marketing) to reframe the Protective Factors into everyday language – what it really meant to talk about the protective factors. Usually when people talk about their friends, they don’t refer to them as “Social Connections”. “Concrete Support” – what does it really mean – It means, help when you need it! And everybody goes through that.
- With these translations in place, there were focus groups conducted with parent leaders around the state.
- Ultimately these led to… (GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE)

13. RESOURCES FOR PARENTS / PROVIDERS
Love Is Not Enough Parent Cafés
Café Talk
Awaken To Your Potential Leadership Training
Café Training
TO THE GROUP:
These are some highlights of how SFI is working directly with parents in Illinois
the SFI Parent Leadership Team.
Starts by filling out a recruitment form - Parents check off what they are interested in and SFI can contact them via or phone
Quarterly “Confab” meetings for networking, training – sharing ideas with the Strengthening Families initiative.
Different levels of membership – Some have work opportunities – such as being a Parent Café Host or Facilitator.
If you are on facebook, SFI as an online community as well.
Parent Cafes
- We just talked about those – SFI is working with a number of partners that are offering them. Members of the Parent Leadership Team that are trained are contacted to deliver the cafes.
Awaken To Your Potential Leadership Training
- Helps parents grow as an individual, as a parent and as a community leader hours of training.
Parent Café Training Institute and Hosting Training
- Different ways to receive training on how to deliver parent cafes.
For parents and/or parent/professional teams.
When are these taking place? When they are scheduled, they are added to an online calendar available at or
(Go ON TO NEXT SLIDE)

14. NEW RESOURCES Publications:
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
Talk about specific scope of work with your R&R
AVAILABLE AT or

15. NEW RESOURCES Online: www.bestrongfamilies.com
Keep Your Family Strong Community on Facebook
Updated strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org
Online:
Talk about specific scope of work with your R&R

16. SFI ON THE WEB / Social Media
Facebook: Keep Your Family Strong Online Community
MORE TO COME!
These are our primary websites.

17. CONTACT: 312/421-5200 Kathy Goetz Wolf, Executive Director
Guy Schingoethe, Assistant Director
312/ , x125
Contact information for specific members of the SFI Team.
There are 18 SFI team members working on the initiative – some full time, may part time, primarily on a consultant basis.
For General information / connection to the initiative contact Kathy Goetz Wolf or Guy Schingoethe (They can also connect you with specific members of the team located / covering specific regions. )
For Parent Engagement information – Letechia Holmes
For Materials / Resource orders – Ashley Schaff