Prairie State Wire

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

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

Welcome/Introduction - Rebecca Thomas/Tiffany Johnson 

Welcome to Central Region/Updates - Heather Dehm/Rebecca Woodard 

Approval of April/May 2024 minutes - Council 

Election Results - Harriet Kersh 

Start of Gift Card roll out - Council 

Office of Caregiver and Parent Support - Michelle Grove 

Update from the Guardian (via WebEx) - David Fox

Legislation Update - Asia Gentry and Courtney Hayes 

Licensing Update - Carrie Long

LUNCH 

Council Reports: 

*Improvement to Child Welfare System 

*CWAC - Harriet Kersh/Mary Savage 

*IFAPA - Arrelda Hall 

Regional Reports: 

*Northern Region Report - Johnnie Pentenburg

*Central Region Report - John Spears 

*Cook North - Arrelda Hall 

*Southern Region - Tory Beaty 

*Cook South - Arrelda Hall 

*Cook Central - Arrelda Hall 

Workgroup Report 

*Day Care - Rebecca Thomas 

Committee Reports: 

*Training Committee - Harriet Kersh 

*Foster Parent Support Specialist - Arrelda Hall 

*Policy & Legislative - Tiffany Johnson/ Carina Santa Maria 

*Permanency - Susan McConnell 

*Nomination Committee 

*FP Law and Grievance Procedure - Bridget Couture 

*Health Care - John Spears 

*Hospitality and Public Relations - Erin Janssens 

*Membership - John Spears

*Respite - Tiffany Johnson 

*Training and Development - Melissa Smith 

*Adolescent Issues - Erin Janssens 

*Foster Parent Law - Tiffany Johnson 

*Bylaws - Arrelda Hali 

Public Comment 

Stakeholder Comments 

Closing Council Discussion 

Adjourn 

Next Meeting - 9/20/24 

https://dcfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/loving-homes/foster-care/documents/swfcac-agenda-071924.pdf