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 |
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
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