Prairie State Wire

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Welfare Employee Licensure Board met Jan. 29.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Open Session

Board Members Present

Shea Kamp

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro

Mariann Jordan

Tina Ruiz

Alnita Myles

Giesela Grumbach

Carolyn Riddle

Anne Elizabeth Glassgow

Board Members Absent

N/A

Others Present

Shelia Riley, CWEL Office

Jennifer Cleveland, IIDCFS, OLS

Others Absent

N/A

Open Session

Welcome/Introduction

Shea Kamp called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Carolyn Riddle, Anne Elizabeth Glassgow, and Jennifer Cleveland joined the meeting at 10:03.

CWEL Board Member Rededication

In response to earlier Board member inquiries, Shelia Riley reaffirmed the importance of members attending meetings and the important role that each representative fulfills in the Board’s decision-making process and reiterated information provided to all Board members during the Board Member Orientation.

Shelia Riley stated that Board membership requires a significant time commitment, scheduling flexibility, and responsibility. The CWEL Board has the exclusive statutory authority to make final adverse licensure decisions. The determination of whether a licensee has engaged in conduct which may violate IDCFS Rule 412.50 is a consequential decision which has a wide-ranging impact on the licensee, employer, public, children and families served by the Department, and the social work/child welfare profession in Illinois. Families have the right to receive quality services from qualified direct services workers acting on IDCFS’ behalf. IDCFS Client Rights and Responsibilities also further provide that families have the right to know the qualifications of staff who provide direct services to them. At a minimum, IDCFS-involved families have a right to expect that IDCFS will only vest their care in the hands of workers who have not engaged in conduct which may violate IDCFS Rule 412.50. The Board’s decisions have an even more heightened importance when you consider that the Board’s decisions determine not only a licensee’s employability with a single employer but a licensee’s employability with all child welfare direct services employers in Illinois.

Shelia Riley further emphasized that the Board must continually exercise its unique authority responsibly and judiciously, i.e., in a manner which demonstrates reason and good judgment in decision-making. This inherently requires that each Board member fulfill their statutory representative responsibilities as a Board member reflected in IDCFS Rule 412 and the Children and Family Services Act, Sections 5c and 5d. The purpose of the statutory requirements that the Board be comprised of three (3) different representative categories-- public/private not-for-profit sector, accredited university faculty, and general public- and Board membership reflect a reasonable representation from different geographical areas in the State are to promote a diversity of perspectives and opinions to inform the consequential decisions made by the Board. The statutory intent, however, cannot be achieved in the absence of each Board member regularly and consistently attending meetings and providing input into the decision-making process. Board member attendance is also important for another reason: a quorum of Board members is required for the Board to transact business. This includes both Quarterly and Ad hoc meetings, which was explained to everyone during the interview process. Everyone’s voice is essential.

It is expected that scheduling conflicts and emergencies will inevitably occur sometimes. Life happens. However, it is hoped that absences are the exception, not the norm. The CWEL Board needs the input and participation of each and every member.

Tina Ruiz inquired whether there was a limit on the number of absences. Shelia Riley responded that the Children and Family Services Act and IDCFS Rule 412 do not identify a specific number of absences allowed or prohibited but they both provide that the Director may remove a memberfor good cause, which includes unjustified absences and the failure to meet other Board member responsibilities.

Carolyn Riddle shared that she has scheduling conflicts, particularly with ad hoc meetings, during the first quarter 2025 because of pre-existing work obligations but she expects that her schedule will return to normal after mid-March 2025. After further discussion, it was agreed that Carolyn Riddle would remain on the Board, attend as many meetings as possible during the time period in question, and provide an update on her status in mid-March 2025.

The Board then discussed several options to increase participation/attendance at ad hoc meetings. After further discussion, the Board agreed that it would pilot scheduling a standing ad hoc meeting once a month in advance, starting in February 2025, and consider scheduling Board meetings later in the afternoon to determine if those options increased participation/attendance at ad hoc meetings. After discussion, the Board agreed that the next ad hoc Board meeting would be held on 2/27/2025, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the 11/13/2024 meeting Open Session were introduced. Mariann Jordan moved to accept the Minutes. Shea Kamp seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. Minutes from the 11/13/2024 meeting Open Session are approved.

Minutes from the 11/13/2024 meeting Closed Session were introduced. Anne Elizabeth Glassgow moved to accept the Minutes. Giesela Grumbach seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. Minutes from the 11/13/2024 meeting Closed Session are approved.

Minutes from the 12/2/2024 meeting Open Session were introduced. Shea Kamp moved to accept the Minutes. Mariann Jordan seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. Minutes from the 12/2/2024 meeting Open Session are approved. A Closed Session was not convened on 12/2/2024.

Minutes from the 12/9/2024 meeting Open Session were introduced. Mariann Jordan moved to accept the Minutes. Anne Elizabeth Glassgow seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. Minutes from the 12/9/2024 meeting Open Session are approved.

Minutes from the 12/9/2024 meeting Closed Session were introduced. Mariann Jordan moved to accept the Minutes. Tina Ruiz seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. Minutes from the 12/9/2024 meeting Closed Session are approved.

Consideration of Applicant Interviews for the Public/Private Not For Profit Vacancy Announcement 9/10/2024-10/10/2024

The applications and resumes received in response to the CWEL Board Public/Private Not For Profit vacancy announcement 9/10/2024-10/10/2024 were before the Board on 11/13/2024 and tabled to give the Board an opportunity to further review the application materials. An interim Board meeting was held on 12/2/2024 solely to review the applications. There were eight (8) applicants and all of the applications and resumes received were forwarded to the Board. The Office of Learning and Professional Development (OLPD) did not make eligibility determinations or otherwise remove any applicant from consideration. All of the applications and resumes received were timely. Copies of the applications, Announcement, and a chart reflecting each applicant’s area of employment and the date the application materials were received were provided to the Board on 11/6/2024 and 12/2/2024. The Board selected four (4) applicants to be interviewed on 12/2/2024: Lynette Berry-Weston, Daniel Hoffman, Sherlicia Grizzard, and Janelle Holloway. Mr. Hoffman was interviewed on 1/7/2025. Mss. Berry-Weston, Grizzard, and Holloway were interviewed on 1/9/2025.

The candidates are before the Board today for further review based on the interviews and the Board’s determination of next steps. The Board has the options of (1) selecting a candidate to fill the vacancy or (2) requesting that the vacancy announcement be re-posted to fill the Public/Private Not For Profit vacancy.

As a reminder, Public/Private Not For Profit representatives must be (1) a licensed professional from the field of human services; (2) with a human services, juris doctor, medical, public administration, or other relevant human services degree; (3) be currently employed in the public or private not for profit sector and (4) be in good standing within their profession pursuant to IDCFS Rule 412.30 c) and the Children and Family Services Act, 20 ILCS 505/5d (b).

The Board then reviewed and discussed the interviews and each candidates’ application materials. There was also a discussion of the need for Board members to have flexible availability to prepare for and attend meetings and be free of actual and potential conflicts of interests based on their position.

After further discussion, the Board requested that the CWEL Office initiate the approval process for Lynette Berry-Weston to be appointed by the IDCFS Director to fill the Public/Private Not For Profit vacancy.

Alnita Myles moved to request that the CWEL Office initiate the approval process for Lynette Berry-Weston to be appointed by the IDCFS Director to fill the Public/Private Not For Profit vacancy. Giesela Grumbach seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. The CWEL Office will initiate the approval process for Lynette Berry-Weston to be appointed by the IDCFS Director to fill the Public/Private Not For Profit vacancy.

Jennifer Cleveland left the meeting at 10:40 a.m.

Stakeholder Outreach

Shelia Riley stated that Board members have previously discussed the need to educate employers, administrators, and licensees about IDCFS Rule 412 licensure action requirements and IDCFS’ and private agency’s responsibility to report misconduct and check the licensure status of applicants. IDCFS Rule 412.40 b) requires that:

b) The Department and POS agencies shall: 2) verify the license status of job applicants/newly hired direct child welfare service employees with OCWEL prior to assigning a caseload to the employee and 3) report licensure violations by direct child welfare service employees to OCWEL . . . .

Shelia Riley further stated that the CWEL Office annually attends CWAC and internal IDCFS meetings to discuss the same. Other options under consideration include:

• Posting a notice on the CWEL landing page in the LDC

• Annual reminders posted as Announcements on the D-Net

• Adding the notice to the IDCFS public-facing website

• Creating and distributing a CWEL Board brochure

Shelia Riley added that fillable versions of various CWEL action forms are being created, including the CWEL Complaint form.

Board members then discussed ideas to engage stakeholders. Tina Ruiz discussed the possibility of agency leaders hosting CWEL Office guest presentations, to which Shelia Riley agreed to participate. After further discussion, the Board agreed to continue the outreach and revisit the subject in the future. All ideas and feedback are welcomed.

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro joined the meeting at 11:02 a.m.

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro shared her insights about the challenges faced by private agencies in consistently reporting possible IDCFS Rule 412 violations to the CWEL Office. She discussed common themes that permeate the CWAC Work Force Development meetings and identified several operational challenges, which include the changing workforce and each agency having a different process to report CWEL-related issues involving direct services staff, as well as different internal investigation and disciplinary processes. In contrast, IDCFS has a well-established disciplinary process that embeds reporting employees who engage in misconduct to the CWEL Office.

Shea Kamp moved for the meeting to go into Closed Session. Motion seconded by Mariann Jordan. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote: Unanimous. Motion carried. Meeting went into Closed Session at 11:09 a.m..

Meeting is Closed. The Closed Session is being recorded pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2.06 (a) and (c).

Return to Open Session

Shea Kamp moved for the meeting to return to Open Session. Alnita Myles seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. The meeting returned to Open Session at 12:03 p.m.

Adjournment

Shea Kamp moved for the meeting to adjourn. Alnita Myles seconded the motion. The motion was properly moved and seconded. Vote was taken: Unanimous. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.

https://dcfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dcfs/documents/about-us/impact-public-policy/documents/cwel/cwel-minutes-012925.pdf