Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Statewide Citizens Committee on Abuse/Neglect Met April 21.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
Call to Order – Cynthia Savage-Brown, Chair
I. Introductions/Roll Call- called to order at 9:35 am.
The following members were attending via Web-ex: Present (13): Nancie Brown, Mary Bennett, Veatrice Crawford, Mary Jane Forney, Cynthia Savage, Diane Scruggs, Jackie Sharp, Alice Staley, Joe Hemphill, Judi Bradley, Dr. Shauna McGuire, and Jaclin Davis, Delilah Nelson, Mary Hardy Hall (technical difficulties). Absent (5): Dr. Alicen McGowan, Elaine Bailey Johnson, Commander James Davis, Denise McCaffrey and Ann Deuel.
DCFS Staff: Kara Hamilton(Associate Deputy Director, External Communications and Advisory Groups), Lindsay Hyman (SCAN Liaison)
A quorum of members, 13 out of 18, were in attendance. This meeting was held virtually through WebEx in compliance with changes to the Open Meetings Act in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
II. Approval of the Minutes (December & February) - the December minutes were reviewed. Mary Jane Forney motioned to approve the December minutes, Mary Bennett seconded. All members were in favor, none opposed, and the motion passed.
The February minutes were reviewed. Discussion was had in group about minute taking during meetings. This will be discussed later during meeting. There are no changes to the February minutes. Mary Bennett made the motion to approve the February minutes, Judi Bradley seconded. All members were in favor of passing the motion, none opposed, and the motion passed.
III. Old Business
A. DCFS Legislative Updates- Megan Jorgensen
Megan Jorgensen sent LEG report. Not enough time to review. Members will review and send back comments, questions by 4/30/21 (email reminder needs to be sent); Lindsay will check with legal on status of current bills.
B. Committee Membership-Update
Veatrice gave updates- working towards a more diverse committee, she has contacted Saint John’s Hospital in Springfield, neonatal unit. Veatrice was able to communicate with Dr. Dabrowski (pediatrician) he was willing to assist in providing input, but was not able to commit to attending meetings due to his schedule. Diane said Dr. Dabrowski could give input to the panel, but not specifically be a member; Mary Hardy Hall mentioned she may have a contact Diane suggested as a last resort that legislation be amended to remove neonatal language to state a pediatrician. May need to petition Director; send question to legal to find out the process to get on legislative agenda, best time to do it, show history of attempts.
Committee Profile-group to send comments by end of month, present to group as aggregate data-Diane said wording could be changed to involvement with Dept instead of lived experience- Diane will send changes-then out to committee; Cynthia will format the doc to be fillable; Glenna Kniss to be invited to join online; does not meet criteria; Kara needs members to provide when they first joined SCAN, Diane will send dates to Kara, members can verify in next week or 2.
C. Training
Mandated Reporter Training (Update)– Update (Ethics, Harassment and Discrimination Prevention)- Lindsay will work to set up presenter; members encouraged to take online training; annual trainings should be completed within 30 days of coming on; Diane recommended this be in the bylaws (Kara will get clarification)
ii. CRC Speaker – Child Death Review Team Update- review their annual report & recommendations made and intersect with them (Aug meeting)
D. Annual Policy Review-Update- Need to be tweaked; Vea asked Diane to work on Recommendation #1-Procedure 300-SCAN will be made aware of 300 trainings, have out to the committee for comment by 4/30
Recommendation #2-SCAN member should become member of steering committee; impact on daily operations program areas (Nancie liked Vea’s summary) Recomm #3- SCAN Member should be involved in Family First prevention initiatives Recommendation by Shauna to correct Sunshine reporting website; difficult to navigate, violations not laid out; have child care workers take Shaken baby training prior to starting work
E. Children’s Justice Taskforce Meeting Update – Maybe combine Human Trafficking recommendations with Children’s Justice
IV. New Business
ID cards- Kara Hamilton provided information that the ID cards that were previously issued violate statute and will not be reissued- tracking history of cards was difficult-working on alternatives
Letter to Director- Committee needs to sign off on letter to Director regarding a secretary
V. Announcements
Cynthia stepping down as chair in June 2021; Lindsay will work on nominations/voting on new chair
VI. Public Comments – None.
https://www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/aboutus/policy/Documents/SCCAN/SCCAN_Minutes_042121.pdf
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