Prairie State Wire

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Statewide Foster Care Advisory Council met Jan. 19.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

9:00 a.m. 

Welcome Rebecca Thomas, Chairperson

9:10 a.m. 

Welcome from the Northern Region Pedro Mendoza

Approval of minutes Council

October 20, 2023 minutes

November 17, 2023 minutes

9:30 a.m. 

Office of the State Guardian David Fox

10:00 a.m. 

Office of Caregiver and Parent Support Kim Willis

10:30 a.m. 

Illinois Department of Correction Sophie Manuel

10:45 a.m. 

Communicating with Foster Parents Rebecca Thomas

11:00 a.m. 

Office of Racial Equity Practice Dagene Brown

Northern Region Race Equity Administrator Keith Smith

NOON – LUNCH

1:00 p.m.

Implementation Plan Update Rebecca Thomas

1:50 p.m.

Legislative Update Kara Hamilton

2:00 p. m.

Council Reports:

*CWAC Harriet Kersh, Mary Savage,

Phyllis Summers

*IFAPA Arrelda Hall

Regional Reports:

*Northern Region Erin Nysather- Janssens,

Johnnie Pentenburg

*Cook Central Molly Hamilton

*Cook North/ Cook South Arrelda Hall

*Central Region John Spears

*Southern Region Amy Keller and Tori Beatty

Committee / Workgroup Reports:

*Adolescent Issues Committee/Workgroup Erin Janssens

*Bylaws Arrelda Hall

*Day Care Rebecca Thomas

*Foster Parent Law Workgroup Tiffany Johnson

*Foster Parent Support Arrelda Hall

*Healthcare John Spears

*Hospitality and Public Relations Erin Janssens

*Membership John Spears

*Permanency Susan McConnell

*Policy & Legislative Committee/Workgroup Carina Santa Maria, Tiffany Johnson

*Respite Tiffany Johnson

*Training Committee Harriet Kersh

**Nominations Committee Will be appointed at the April meeting

Public Comment

Stakeholder Comments

Closing Council Discussion / Agenda Items

Adjourn

Next Meeting: February16, 2024, Northern Region

https://dcfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/loving-homes/foster-care/documents/swfcac-agenda-011924.pdf