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 The
Illinois African-American Family Commission (Commission) was formerly
known as the African-American Family Commission. The
African-American Family Commission was created by Governor Jim Edgar in
1994 to assist the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
(IDCFS) in developing and implementing programs relevant to
African-American families.
In August 2004,
Public
Act 093-0867 expanded the scope of the Commission. The purpose of the
Illinois African-American Family Commission is to guide the efforts of and
collaborate with various state agencies, including but not limited to: the
Department on Aging, the Department of Children and Family Services, the
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Corrections,
the Department of Human Services, the Department of Public Aid, the Department
of Public Health, the Department of Transportation, and others to improve and
expand existing human services and educational and community development
programs for African-Americans.
The Commission is a
fifteen-member statewide commission whose members are appointed by the Governor
of Illinois. The Commission is comprised of community leaders, child
welfare professionals, ministers, parents, business leaders, educators and
community activists dedicated to enhancing the welfare of children and families.
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Selected
Historical Timeline
The
Beginnings 1993 - 1994
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The
African-American Family Policy and Family Preservation Task Force (AAFPTF)
convenes focus groups throughout the state of Illinois to discuss the needs
of African-American families and the effects of the social welfare system on
housing, jobs, drugs and crime.
-
Presentation made by
AAFPTF at the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Annual Meeting, which
included a recommendation for an African-American Family Commission.
-
Request for an
African-American Family Commission discussed with the Director of the
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) and the
Executive Assistant to the Governor.
-
African-American Family
Commission created on October 3, 1994, by Executive Order Number Seven
signed by Governor Edgar.
-
First African-American Family
Commission (AAFC) meeting held November 16, 1994.
Early
Implementation 1995 - 1996
-
First
Annual Retreat held in Chicago to establish roles and functions, which
included Advocates, Institution Builders, Policy Developers, Research
Strategists, Program Analysts, Model Builders and Standard & Value
Bearers.
-
Family Preservation Program
Initiative launched to develop non-traditional programs serving
African-Americans. Eighteen community-based organizations participated.
-
Home of Relative Seminar held
in
Chicago
to discuss issues surrounding the placement of children with relative
caregivers.
-
Managed Care Conference held
to educate participants about managed care and prepare providers and
clinicians for work in a managed care environment.
-
CHILD WATCH program developed
to increase the community's awareness of child abuse and neglect, and
provide a proactive response to children entering the child welfare system.
-
Provided legislative analysis
on several bills and administrative rules that included juvenile justice,
substance abuse and child welfare issues.
-
Met
with representatives of the Chicago Public School System to discuss the
Living and
Learning
Centers. This meeting resulted in preventing the implementation of a program, which
would have unnecessarily removed children from their homes.
The Commission advocated for comprehensive family centered community-based
programs.
-
Advised
IDCFS on using wards as subjects in "The Project on Human
Development in Chicago Neighborhoods: Violence Initiative.”
-
Participated
on several IDCFS committees including the Inter-Agency Authority on
Residential Facilities for Children, Front Door Redesign, and Family
Centered Services.
-
Convened
focus groups with human service providers to discuss the creation of the
Illinois Department of Human Services.
-
Assisted
IDCFS in designing the "Request for Proposal to Evaluate the
Subsidized Guardianship Project (SGP)." AAFC advocated for hiring
individuals receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and for
contracting with community‑based organizations to conduct the research
related to the evaluation of the project.
Formative
Years 1997 - 2000
-
Submitted
recommendations for the State Plan for TANF recipients.
-
Submitted
recommendations regarding the reorganization of services for the Department
of Human Services.
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Continued
child abuse and neglect prevention education presentations and public
service announcements for the CHILD WATCH program. Also, developed CHILD
WATCH clusters on the west and south sides of
Chicago and Cook County South Suburban area.
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Developed
a research proposal to measure the impact of welfare reform on the child
welfare system.
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Planned
and assisted IDCFS with the Subsidized Guardianship Research Demonstration
Bidders Conference.
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Provided
seminars for child welfare providers regarding Performance-Based Contracting
and Accreditation.
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Assisted
the Illinois Department of Public Health in evaluating sexual assault
services.
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Conducted
Welfare Reform Impact Analysis.
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Presented
the Commission's first “State of the African-American Family Symposium”.
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Co-sponsored
with the Illinois Child Care Association a National Child Welfare Summit
focusing on legal and legislative options to address the impact of the
Interethnic Placement Act, Multiethnic Placement Act and the Adoption and
Safe Families Act.
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Submitted
recommendations to IDCFS for strengthening the child welfare system.
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In
conjunction with members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, assembled
a Blue Ribbon Panel of judges and lawyers to review proposed legislation to
expunge criminal records of individuals convicted of non-child endangerment
crimes.
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Held
the first annual awards ceremony and reception recognizing the “Foster
Parent of the Year.”
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Reviewed
proposed child welfare legislation and administrative rules regarding
definition of child abuse and neglect, expulsion and suspension of public
school students, and secure childcare facilities.
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Advocated
for the Congressional Black Caucus to include subsidized guardianship as a
reimbursable permanency option
under
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.
-
Continued
to serve on several IDCFS workgroups including Infrastructure, Child Welfare
Advisory Committee, Adoption Advisory Group, etc.
Progressive
Years 2001 - 2004
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Presented
at the Congressional
Black Caucus Town Hearing and Annual Conferences on Subsidized Guardianship September 2001.
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Founded
the African American Family Research Institute in 2001.
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Received
Funding to Conduct a Child Well-being Study in October 2001.
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Executive
Order Reauthorized by Governor George Ryan in March 2002.
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New
Commissioners Appointed in 2002.
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Consulted
with the Children and
Family
Research
Center
,
School
of
Social Work
, at the
University
of
Illinois
at
Urbana
,
Champaign on the 426 Outcome Training Demonstrations in July 2002.
-
Testified
at the
Illinois House Hearings on Automatic Expungement of Misdemeanor Convictions, Advocacy
Office and Troubled Youth in 2002.
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Conducted
an Orientation for New Commissioners in October 2002.
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Convened
the Commissioner’s Retreat in
Chicago in February 2003.
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Hosted
the “Children and Family Forum” in July 2003.
-
Continued
to Participate in the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative
Conference and
Child
Welfare
Town Meetings September in 2004.
-
Testified
at the Illinois House Juvenile Justice Committee Hearing on the Improvement
of
Illinois ’ Juvenile Expungement Laws in October 2003.
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Testified
at the
Illinois Senate Education Committee Hearing on High School Dropouts in January 2004.
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Released
the Social and Economic Profile of African-Americans In
Illinois
in March 2004.
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Convened the
Second
"State
of the African-American Family Symposium” in April 2004.
-
Conducted
a Pilot Study on High School Dropout in
Chicago in June 2004.
-
African-American
Family Commission reconstituted as the Illinois African-American Family
Commission under Public Act 093-0867 in August 2004.
-
Conducted
Commissioners Retreat in 2004.
Transformation
Years 2005 - Present
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