Erwin McEwen, Director

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Erwin McEwen, Director

The Future of IL DCFS: Supporting & Strengthening

Families

Erwin McEwen, Director

IDCFS Director, Erwin McEwenErwin.mcewen@illinois.gov

Project Director, Strengthening Families Illinois, Kathy Goetz Wolfkathygw@strengtheningfamiliesillinois.org

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Reform to Innovation in Illinois • Build on the Strengths of Previous Administrations

• Current Focus: Problem/Resolution Approach Strengthening Families Approach (Building Family Capacity)

Child Welfare Advisory Council (Gordon Johnson) Performance contracting (Jess McDonald) Trauma informed practice (Bryan Samuels)

Erwin McEwen, Director

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System Integration in Illinois System Integration in Illinois • Strengthening Families IllinoisStrengthening Families Illinois established in 2003 with established in 2003 with

the overarching framework to build:the overarching framework to build:

1.1. Parental ResilienceParental Resilience

2.2. Social ConnectionsSocial Connections

3.3. Knowledge of Parenting and Child DevelopmentKnowledge of Parenting and Child Development

4.4. Concrete Support in Times of NeedConcrete Support in Times of Need

5.5. Social and Emotional Competence of ChildrenSocial and Emotional Competence of Children

6.6. Healthy Parent-Child RelationshipsHealthy Parent-Child Relationships• Trauma Informed Practice ProgramTrauma Informed Practice Program infused throughout infused throughout

rules, assessments, services plans and case work rules, assessments, services plans and case work practicepractice

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Strengthening Families IllinoisConvened by IDCFS Since 2003• Early Childhood• Child Welfare• Cross System Change: Embedding Protective Factors• Parent Leadership

Erwin McEwen, Director

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SFI: Early Childhood• 8 Early Childhood Learning Networks (Each DCFS 8 Early Childhood Learning Networks (Each DCFS

Region) / Approx 107 Programs Participating Region) / Approx 107 Programs Participating Statewide Statewide

• 11,849 Children / 9536 Families Currently Served11,849 Children / 9536 Families Currently Served• Learning Network Priorities: Learning Network Priorities:

Embedding practice (Self-assessment, action plan, Embedding practice (Self-assessment, action plan, training, monthly peer to peer support) training, monthly peer to peer support)

Collaboration with child welfareCollaboration with child welfare Increase / strengthen parent engagement and Increase / strengthen parent engagement and

leadership within programsleadership within programs

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Early Learning and Family Support Workgroup (ELFS)Internal DCFS Workgroup Since 2004: Internal DCFS Workgroup Since 2004: • 3 to 5 Years Old – Revenue neutral policy change3 to 5 Years Old – Revenue neutral policy change• Birth to 3 - EI CAPTA ImplementationBirth to 3 - EI CAPTA Implementation

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Early Childhood / Child Welfare Collaboration • SFI Learning Networks • Head Start Collaborative Agreements• School Readiness Team

All DCFS wards 3 and above in quality early learning programs (Increased number of children of wards and intact families enrolled)

Liaisons with early childhood professionals in communities

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Cross System Change: Contributions of Partners to Embedding Protective Factors• ISBE includes Strengthening Families Illinois as a supplemental service ISBE includes Strengthening Families Illinois as a supplemental service

in Preschool for All Prevention Initiative RFPin Preschool for All Prevention Initiative RFP• DHS / All Our Kids (AOK) Early Childhood Networks add 2 new goals to DHS / All Our Kids (AOK) Early Childhood Networks add 2 new goals to

their strategic plan around parent engagementtheir strategic plan around parent engagement• IL Violence Prevention Authority develops new strategic plan with goal of IL Violence Prevention Authority develops new strategic plan with goal of

creating peaceful families and raising children to resist violencecreating peaceful families and raising children to resist violence• IL Children’s Mental Health Partnership FACES workgroup is rolling out IL Children’s Mental Health Partnership FACES workgroup is rolling out

an ambitious plan to promote parent leadership regionally. an ambitious plan to promote parent leadership regionally. • Early Childhood Family Engagement Committee developed and working Early Childhood Family Engagement Committee developed and working

to link collective efforts around family engagement focused on families to link collective efforts around family engagement focused on families with young children. with young children.

• Ounce of Prevention Fund added the protective factors framework and Ounce of Prevention Fund added the protective factors framework and Strengthening Families Illinois training to support their implementation of Strengthening Families Illinois training to support their implementation of a strength-based approach with CPS Prevention Initiative grantee a strength-based approach with CPS Prevention Initiative grantee providers.providers.

• Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (INCCRRA) has added family as a priority within strategic plan. (INCCRRA) has added family as a priority within strategic plan.

• C-4 Parenting Program has included the protective factors in its C-4 Parenting Program has included the protective factors in its evidence-based parenting curriculumevidence-based parenting curriculum

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Long Term VisionLong Term Vision• Child welfare – continuously define and refine

child welfare so that it becomes more closely aligned to child well-being (Don’t always achieve child well-being using best child welfare tools.)

• Broad-based community impact around: • school performance• school misconduct• youth violence• community violence• family well-being

• Requires all of us!

Erwin McEwen, Director

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Erwin McEwen, Director

Leading ChangeLeading Change• Establish a sense of urgencyEstablish a sense of urgency• Form a powerful guiding coalitionForm a powerful guiding coalition• Create a visionCreate a vision• Communicate the visionCommunicate the vision• Empower others to act on the visionEmpower others to act on the vision• Plan for and create short-term winsPlan for and create short-term wins• Consolidate improvements Consolidate improvements • Institutionalize new approachesInstitutionalize new approaches

Kotter, Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts FailHarvard Business Review on The Tests of a Leader (2007)