Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Workforce Crisis Task Force met Feb. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the task force:

 

Attendee	Title/Agency	Present
Amanda Whitlock	Children's Home & Aid - Senior Vice President, Child Welfare & Behavioral Health Services
Anne Irving	AFSCME	X
Betsy Goulet (co-chair)	University of Illinois - Springfield & Child Protection Training Academy	X
Comisa Hamilton	DCFS - Licensing - Acting Deputy Director
Deja Luckett	Illinois Community College Board	X
Denice Murray	Ascension Advisory Services - Child Welfare	X
Heidi Farris	Illinois Board of Higher Education	X
Jason House	DCFS - Budget Office	X
Joe McDonald	DCFS - Finance - Acting CFO	-
Lisa Jones	Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity	X
Mark Stutrud	Lutheran Social Service - CEO	X
Paola Baldo	Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority - Research Analysis
Rep. Tony McCombie	Illinois State Representative 71st District
Rep. Dan Caulkins	Illinois State Representative 101st District	X
Rep. Dave Vella	Illinois State Representative 68th District
Rep. Maurice West	Illinois State Representative 67th District	Somol   Cameron
Sarah Daniels	Illinois Collaboration on Youth - Assistant Deputy Director	Ashley   Deckert
Sen. Craig Wilcox	Illinois State Senator 32nd District	X
Sen. Julie Morrison   (chair)	Illinois State Senator 29th District
Sen. Steve McClure	Illinois State Senator 50th District	X
Sarah Daniels	ICOY - Assistant Executive Director
Tami Fuller	Children and Family Research Center - University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign	X
Non-Members Present for Meeting
Ada Tong	DCFS - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion	X
Christopher Towers	DCFS - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion	X
Daniel Fitzgerald	DCFS - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion	X
Gwendolyn Payton	DCFS - Division of Licensing	X
Kimberly Bates	DCFS - Office of Employee Services	X
Jose Lopez	DCFS - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion	X
Simone Cameron	Legislative District Staff (Legislative office not noted)	X
Shontee Blankenship	DCFS - Division of Licensing	X
Kate Smith	DCFS - Legislative Programs Manager	X
Helena Buckner	DCFS - Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs	X
Glenda Lashley	DCFS - Special Assistant to the Director	X
Tracey King	DCFS - Deputy Chief of Staff	X

1) Welcome/Call to Order/ Roll Call

 

Kate Smith took roll (see above). DCFS participants introduced themselves.

2) DCFS Updates

• Recruitment: Kimberly Bates

o February 2022 total active headcount 2,951

o January 2022 new hires: 62 (46 direct services; 16 non-direct)

o Fiscal year 2022 Hires

▪ 341 employees

▪ Netting +128 employees

o Employment Requirements

▪ Child Protection: Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related human service field w/one year of directly related professional experience

▪ Child Welfare: Master’s degree in Social Work or directly related human service field or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work w/one year of directly related professional experience OR a Bachelor’s degree in a directly related human service field with two years of professional experience

▪ Discussion of expanding titles that would fall under “related human service field”

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Daniel Fitzgerald

o Draft report for bilingual needs assessment based on caseloads and census information 

▪ 30 bilingual staff (tentative)

• Child Protection14

• Supervisors: 1

• Child Welfare: 11

o Final report should be available by next meeting

• Private Sector: Jason House (slideshow presentation)

o DCFS Budget – Investment Trends Through FY23

▪ Investment in private agency salaries (caseworkers, supervisors, and childcare workers)

▪ FY22 $1,556,310,800; FY23 $1,806,420,100

o DCFS Caseload Trends FY17-23 Projected

▪ Intact Family Services: FY22 Est. 4,370; FY23 Proj. 4,570

▪ Youth Served: FY22 Est. 22,911; FY23 Proj. 23,453

▪ Investigations: FY22 Est. 97,400; FY23 Proj. 99,300

o Investments FY23 - Critical Investments in Workforce, Youth Services

▪ $87.1M – Jong Rate Workgroup with Community Based Providers:

• Salary Increases for Privat Caseworkers, Supervisors – 80% of AFSCME starting point with aim of 90%

• Child Care Workers – increase in pay $3/hr

• Additional Private Support Staff – funding new positions

• Increase Support for CBP Liability Insurance and Worker Benefits Packages

▪ $25.0M – Level of Care Support Services

▪ $13.2M – FY22 Workforce Crisis Response March 1, 2022 (within current appropriations):

• Caseworker and Supervisor Salary Increase for:

o Foster Care (CBP)

o Intact Family Services (CBP)

o Child Welfare Service Referrals (CBP)

• Child Care Workers in Residential Facilities:

o $3/hr increase, from $16.62 to $19.62 per hour

o Safety – Glenda Lashley

▪ Safety Workgroup meeting was held on 2/07/22

• Safety devices

o Panic button devices

o Physical protective equipment (body armor)

o Mace/ defensive spray

• Training

o In-person training

o Self defense training

• Assessing risk technique

• Co-responsive support

• Enhance safety measures at DCFS locations

o Enhance lighting/ security cameras

o 24/hr security at some locations

• Public perception

• Best practices in other states

3)Crisis Task Force Recommendations

• Next Steps to Address the Workforce Crisis

o Concrete recommendations from group in final report

▪ Group discussion on strategies/ideas

o To discuss preventative analytics 3/2/22

4) Adjournment

• Meeting was adjourned.

https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/aboutus/policy/Documents/dcfswfcrf/CW_Task_Force_Notes_021622.pdf