African American Advisory Council Newsletter Spring 2006

AAACAfrican American Advisory Council Newsletter Spring 2006

thth Annual Conference April 20 & 21 “Investing in the Well-Being of Our Daughters Today, Tomorrow and Forever” 2 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 From the Chairperson AAAC remained active during the past year

Michael D. Burns, AAAC Chairperson ince it has been a while since our and I really enjoyed my time with Matt last newsletter, I want to mention & Perry. It was our intent to inform the Ssome of the activities that took public on the many positive services and place in 2005. interventions that staff provide for the I want to share some of the high- community. We thank WVON for pro- lights of the 2005 African American viding an avenue to showcase the AAAC Advisory Council’s Conference. As a contributions to DCFS and its mission of result of staff’s continued support, this providing safety for children. event was once again deemed a success. This past June we held our Conference Chair, Frances Elbert monthly meeting in East St. Louis. We and first time co-chair Jackie Bright did always receive a very warm welcome an excellent job in planning this affair from the staff in East St. Louis, and we along with the conference planning com- thank them for the annual luncheon dis- mittee. We are grateful for the support cussion. By the way, the discussion was provided by Training, Hispanic Advisory highlighted by the great food provided Committee, and Communications. We by staff. were pleased to host this event in the Council member Vendetta African American Community. Dennis did a great job in getting staff to Even thought it was a shortened participate in the meeting to discuss con- event the Harold Washington Cultural cerns of employees from the Region. Center was able to accommodate the Vendetta now has some help as we had a more than 500 participants. As a result, new member from Southern Region to Michael D. Burns, AAAC we were able to invite people from the join the Council in December. We are Chairperson community thus allowing great network- pleased to welcome Sonia Phillips to the ing with many AAAC. We will continue to work with social service staff regarding issues that they bring to It was our intent to inform providers, com- our attention. We also had a follow-up munity resi- meeting in East St. Louis in October, and the public on the many posi- dents and con- we have collaborated with Affirmative sumers of social Action on some of the issues identified tive services and interven- services. We by staff. thank you for We also held a meeting for the tions that staff provide for the your under- Central Region in Champaign last standing and October where we began a discussion community. the many posi- with representative from Illinois State in tive comments looking at better permanency outcomes about hosting for African American youth. On-going the conference discussions with Director Samuels, in the heart of Deputy Directors Arthur Bishop and the African Gailyn Thomas along with Central American Regional Administrator, Robert Community. Blackwell are taking place. AAAC mem- The participation of WVON radio station bers, Lolita Dumas and ex officio mem- was just outstanding. Some of the key ber Oscar Gipson continue to work hard interviewees on the Cliff Kelly and the in the Central Region. Jere Moore per- Matt & Perry Show were DCFS staff formed an outstanding job in leading the along with private agency providers. efforts to address permanency issues for Vice Chairperson, Frances Elbert was elated with her interview by Mr. Kelly, Continued on page 12 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 3

AfricanAAAC American Advisory Council Newsletter Spring 2006 Contents

Page

2006 Conference Review 4-7

Cook North Celebrates ‘Herstory’ 8

Protecting Our Children 8

Celebrating ‘Juneteenth’ 9

Healthy Kids, Teens, Adults 10, 11

Recommended Reading from the AAAC 16 4 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 Uniting Community Theme of 13th Annual Conference

Jacqueline Bright, Co-Chair Conference Planning Committee n April 28, 2005, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ African OAmerican Advisory Council held its 13th Annual Institute at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in the heart of the African American community. The goal of the Institute was to establish working resolutions that will empower the African American community with supports needed for families to take responsibility for their youth’s safety, permanency, and well being. The Institute encom- passed both State and Community agencies that serve African American families. The theme, “Uniting Networks to Better Serve the African American Community” was chosen to address the gaps that exist between the community and service providers. The discussion in each session focused on ideas that would enhance relationships with the community; improve permanency, safety, and well being for African American youth. The community often perceives the status of today’s Black youth as being woefully neglected and overlooked by helping professionals. There is also a disproportionate number of black youth that are Third Ward Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman addresses the incarcerated in the juvenile justice system, failing in 2005 AAAC conference attendees with energy and school, and disenfranchised from employment enthusiasm. opportunities. As a Council, we decided to address the aforementioned issues by bringing together several entities within the community that can support our youth and the families we serve. Through networking and group sessions, we were able to The theme “Uniting Networks to Better Serve the African create a forum that addressed American Community” was chosen to address the gaps that the issues. exist between the community and service providers. In the state of Illinois, African American children and youth are represented in foster and residential care at a higher percent- age than the overall population. The greater increase in substitute care is attributed to the disproportionate provision of quality services in the African AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 5

AAAC Council members Diane Cottrell (above photo) and Gregory Smith at the 2005 Conference. At right, Praise Dancer Ashley McFall of Trinity United Church of Christ, performs. In top right photo, Council members Cottrell (from left), State Sen. Mattie Hunter, Cretora Barnett and Council Chairman Michael Burns gather. In photo at bottom right, Associate Deputy Director of Operations and AAAC Council Member Valerie Davis served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

American community, compared to the vide a safe environment for Community. allocation of services in predominately children/families, and decrease the over- Providing the necessary financial Caucasian communities. A large majority representation of African Americans in assistance to families is a critical compo- of the population in substitute care are the child welfare system. nent needed to maintain families. adolescents. Numerous studies have Through collaboration and par- Representatives from the TANF Program shown that the adolescent population ticipation of community-based agencies, outlined the criteria needed for families engages in delinquent behavior and are a full day of networking and disseminat- to qualify for this type of assistance. often at risk for developing criminal ing information created an opportunity They also provided child welfare profes- behavior. for the community and agency professionals guidelines needed to assist bio- Specifically, research has identi- sionals to further assess the problems, logical families with the financial transi- fied two areas of concern that tion involved with reunification. determine both disproportion- Participants were informed of ate placements in substitute The AAAC Institute focused on the the following: care and problematic behavior • The caregiver of the child, of youth: efforts made by the Illinois qualifies for TANF – (qualifi- • Underutilization of or access Department of Children and Family cation for TANF for care to services in the community givers.) • Disproportional rates of poor Services African American • In crisis situations, immediate prevention and child service Advisory Council to bridge the gap services offered outcomes (e.g. well being In order of priority, the indicators such as education- that exists by uniting community four most important eligibility al achievement and health based agencies (both public and criteria for TANF recipients are: care services). • Benefit by referrals for The AAAC Institute private). resources focused on the efforts made by • Education and training pro- the Illinois Department of Children and and make recommendations to the grams Family Services African American agency providers. • Substance Abuse treatment programs Advisory Council to bridge the gap that Conference Discussion • Access services through local day care exists by uniting community based agen- Panel discussions and breakout sessions facilities or child care agencies. cies (both public and private). The coun- ensued that covered the following topics: There was also further discus- cil hoped this process would provide Department of Human Services: Making a sion regarding a need for childcare serv- families in the community with the Positive Connection: Reunifying and knowledge and resources needed to pro- Maintaining Families within the Continued on page 6 6 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 13th Annual Conference Continued from page 5 by informing them of supportive services that would enhance ices for relative caregivers. The eligibility requirements are as the academic performance. (Alternatives such as evening class- follows: es for high school students are an integral component for case • Employed grandparents or other relatives caring for the planning, given certain challenges faced by some youth during child (without parent). normal classroom hours.) For child welfare specialists, it is • TANF provides childcare for caregivers (regardless of imperative that parental visits and visits by caseworkers occur income. The local office determines eligibility.) to discuss the child/youth’s academic progress with teachers and school personnel. There is also a need for open communi- Mental Health: Advocating for Community Services for Children ty forums that will address standardized testing, programs for and Youth Who Are At Risk for Behavioral and Emotional Disorders a preparation, and clarification regarding the federal mandate Existing financial and cultural barriers often prevent for testing. Forums should also explain to families the differ- or delay the provision of mental health services in the African ence between truancy and expulsion, the process of main- American community. Representatives from the Bobby Wright streaming children/youth into regular classrooms, and com- Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center discussed the fol- munity based behavior intervention programs. lowing holistic approach Maintaining Positive Family that engages African and Community Connections American families to Integrating the youth back into During and After become receptive to mental Incarceration health services: child the community is a holistic A major concern in Welfare workers should the African American com- engage families with posi- process that should include the munity is the increase of tive reinforcement. Change caseworkers, probation/parole incarceration of youth. in behavior through com- Research indicates a large munication will prevent officers, caretakers, and family number of adolescents bias opinions about mental engage in some form of health treatment. The vehi- members. delinquent activity. Often cle for changing negative when youth are incarcerat- behaviors is through educa- ed, caseworkers and family tion and communication. Through the process of collaboration members experience systemic barriers when attempting to between the child welfare agencies and other community navigate through the Correctional facilities to secure informa- based agencies, informational resources can be developed to tion regarding the youth’s well-being, and discharge planning. help individuals recognize when to seek mental health servic- Following a discussion convened by representatives from the es. Interagency agreements are necessary to identify resources Department of Corrections, there was evidence of significant that will empower families to gain access to financial resources gaps in practice issues from both Departments- Department of needed to utilize mental health services. Correction (DOC) and Department and Children and Family Services (DCFS) as it relates to casework monitoring, service Chicago Public Schools and the State Board of Education: Available provision, and discharge planning. Community-Based Programs to Enhance the Academic Performance The participants felt there was a lack of communica- of Children and Youth tion regarding discharge planning and procedure. Specifically, Studies have shown that the family and community most of the participants were unaware of the requirement for a factors are associated with the level of academic achievement. DOC representative to visit the identified residential place- Grade retention can also result in poor employment outcomes ment facility prior to the youth’s discharge. DCFS staff felt that during early adulthood. The Chicago Board of Education and insufficient placement resources impedes discharge planning, the State Board of Education are committed to serving children and has created a significant barrier in casework practice. and families in the African American community. Practices Integrating the youth back into the community is a currently exist that focus on strengthening families and holistic process that should include the caseworkers, proba- improving the academic standards/developmental stages of tion/parole officers, caretakers, and family members. However children and youth. Establishing and maintaining ongoing caseworkers felt that exposing the youth to the same environ- communication with DCFS and area school districts is neces- ment that resulted in their incarceration presented serious safe- sary to better assess the educational needs of our children and ty and well being issues. youth. There is a need for caseworkers to better understand Reconnecting the youth to family members or care- the system and become proactive to the educational needs of givers also at times imposed risk in situations where there is a children in substitute care. prior history of abuse/neglect. Casework staff also felt chal- The educational providers stressed the “No Child Left lenged in their efforts to identify available resources for youth Behind” initiative as a means to engage families and children that have restrictions placed upon them for house arrest (elec- AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 7

The 2005 AAAC Conference Awardees for Outstanding Achievement, DCFS Child Welfare Specialists Stephanie LeCoure (left) and Doris Paul display their awards.

Uniting Community Theme of Conference tronic monitoring). It is necessary to prepare the youth to reintegrate into the community by identifying community advocacy programs that will support the youth and their family members.

Recommendations The general theme that permeated throughout each workshop was a need for more enhanced communication processes among both public and private agencies. The areas of communication should focus primarily on ways to address the concerns of African American families. Programs should support the community relative to their needs. Some of the examples recommended by participants were: • Services that will improve education for children and youth (i.e. evening classes, testing preparation for students) • Awareness of mental health services • Identifying cultural barriers that will remove stigmas associated with such services. • Develop more community advocacy programs for youth discharged from Corrections. • Engaging families to empower themselves • Offering more advocacy programs in the ven- DCFS’ Lucille Pearson (left) and Kathy Cook facilitating the day’s ues of community forums. activities 8 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 Cook North Celebrates ‘Herstory’

ook North held its 3rd Annual Black Heritage Kathy Cook, Chair Person Organizing Committee Month Celebration Luncheon on February 22, The luncheon was a finale to Month long pro- C2006. Over 70 people attended the luncheon. gram that involved several other activities that includ- The theme this year was "herstory", which ed trivia and treasure hunt. Entertainment at the focused on celebrating the lives and achievements of luncheon included praise dancers, fashion show, fun influential African American Women. games, poetry, music, and a bus ride skit (based on "Through out the month of February, we (the Rosa Parks’ experience). Catered lunch was served. committee) sent out Black history facts related to black In addition to the major event at 1911, staff at women. The committee chose one of these women to the Bradley office also had a luncheon on February 3, tell her story, we chose Mrs. Coretta Scott King", said 2006. Protecting Our Children Keeping kids safe is a shared responsibility by Gregory Smith, budget cuts, and PSA, Quality Assurance increase levels of poverty. ecently, I completed an “Outcome The changes Enhancement Review”(OER), as brought by welfare part of ongoing Child and Family R reform has created Service Review for the Illinois new demands on Department of Children and Family DCFS, and other Services (IDCFS), and several factors child protection sys- relating to the difficulties Child tems, and only Protection (CP) workers have in protect- recently have ing children from abuse and neglect reformers focused on grabbed my attention. the “front end”of the The nation struggles with the child protection sys- heartbreaking problems of child abuse tem, where critical decisions are made as privacy of family. and neglect. IDCFS, like other govern- it relates to family preservation, and the CPS have often been accused of ment agencies are charged with invest- emotional well being of highly vulnera- both “unwarranted interference in pri- ing and responding to allegations of ble children. vate life”and “irresponsible inaction” child abuse and neglect in a timely Oftentimes, it appears that Child when children are truly threatened. It is manor. Protective Services (CPS) is overmatched called “incompetent, confused, misman- Unfortunately, states often lack by the scope and complexity of its task. aged”, and staffed with under trained sufficient Federal funding to assist child However, even with widespread workers, an inadequate knowledge welfare agencies to adequately address problems related to substance abuse based. the needs of children at risk. Pressures among parents, family breakup, social However, because the lives of on the system have mounted steadily, in service budget cuts, and increase levels children are at stake, CPS cannot, and large part due to the widespread prob- of poverty, DCFS, CP workers are will not stop its work while the public lems related to substance abuse among expected to straddle two core values, the parents, family breakup, social service protection of children and respect for the Continued on page 12 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 9 ‘Juneteenth’ a time to celebrate past, future

Edited by Valerie Baker-Davis encouraging words about formal educa- tions. tion and self-improvement. Overtime, several factors, includ- uneteenth is the oldest known celebra- I n i t i a l l y, these festivities were ing cultural and economic forces, have tion of the end of the slavery period in held in Black Churches or rural areas led to the decline of Juneteenth celebra- Jthe United States. because of outward resistance of local tions across the country. Although President A b r a h a m o fficials who prevented use of public As African Americans get more Lincoln signed the Emancipation facilities. assimilated into mainstream culture, their Proclamation as an Executive Order into The earliest recorded purchases children are relied more on classroom law effective January 1, 1863, it took of land for Juneteenth Celebration were and textbooks, rather than the elders and another two years for it to reach Texas; in Emancipation Park in Houston (by community cultural events for African specifically on June 19th 1865, when a American history. Oral regiment of Union history, which was tradi- troops under the leader- tionally used to transmit ship of Major General history in the A f r i c a n Gordon Granger arrived American community at Galveston, Texas to during slavery and right enforce this law. after emancipation got Though late, the lost. news generated re a c- The Civil Rights tions that varied fro m movements of the 1960’s shock to jubilation. brought a resurgence of Many former slaves left ethnic identity for the plantations and ran African Americans and into the streets of Texas renewal of interest in the in celebration of their history of the A f r i c a n just announced fre e- Diaspora. Juneteenth dom. (Shortly after celebrations came to life this announcement again. Nowadays, two of many moved into new the largest Juneteenth territories as freedmen; celebrations occur in some remained under Milwaukee, Wis. and s h a re c ropping arrange- Minneapolis, Minn. ments; while others where the focus is upon sought family members sold in neighbor- R e v. Jack Yates) and Booker T. strides toward racial equality and eco- ing states and in the South.) Washington Park in Mexia. At one point, nomic parity. Henceforth, Juneteenth became as many as 20,000 African Americans, To d a y, Juneteenth celebrations symbolic celebration of the day of “free- attended the celebrations in Texas. To sab- continue as encouragement for self- dom”to descendants of former slaves. otage the celebrations, some white development, empowerment and self- Families would respect for gather to A f r i c a n s t rengthen fami- Today, Juneteenth celebrations continue as encour- A m e r i c a n s . ly ties. During agement for self-development, empowerment and Public institu- these gatherings, tions such as the they would pray self-respect for African Americans. Smithsonian, The for each other; Henry Ford engage in recre- landowners insisted on their labore r s Museum, and others have begun spon- ational activities such as baseball games, returning to work in the midst of the cel- soring Juneteenth events with the objec- entertainment activities, such as rodeos, ebrations. Hence, to ensure the success of tive of promoting and cultivating knowl- and nourish their souls with great barbe- the celebrations, most of the laborers took edge and appreciation of A f r i c a n ques. Often guest speakers or elders offer the day off, made food, and cash dona- American History and culture. 10 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 Get in Shape Work out an exercise plan with kids, teens

George Winters Jr. CWSII, Sacwis Project ata from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention show Dthat enrollment in daily Physical Education (PE) classes among High Schools nationally has significantly decreased from 42 percent in 1991 to below 25 percent currently. Only half of students at all grade levels are enrolled in any form of PE class. Unfortunately, one of the biggest misconceptions among many African American children and teenagers, of course including our foster children, is the perception that exercising or physical fitness training is very boring. For our children, many who are interested in exercising, often lack access to gymnasiums or private training facilities; therefore, they spend their free time watching television, playing video games, and eating foods that are not nutritional (children and teenagers love junk food; foster children are no excep- tion). Hence, it is very important for case workers to encourage foster parents to enroll children in extra curricular- physical fitness programs through schools, park districts, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, or other community sponsored program. Many programs are free or inexpensive. The benefit of providing and supporting young African American kids and teenagers with participation in organized sports are tremendous. most particularly African American chil- inclined to abstain from teenage preg- Physical fitness and organized dren, who participate in some form of nancy. sports provide children with a positive organized sports, cross training, Encouraging children and outlet for building self-esteem, sports- weightlifting and other forms of exercise, teenagers to participate in sports and manship, discipline, self- control, perse- perform at higher academic levels, tend physical exercising would be a great verance and developing healthy relation- to be drug/alcohol free, are goal orient- benefit to the whole family and in turn ships with peers, family and caregivers. ed, physically healthier, and more the community as a whole. Statistics show that minority and AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 11 For the Health of It! Special nutritional needs for African Americans

Robert Williams, PSA According to the Journal of the as opposed to a plate of ribs; have a long with all of the other battles American Society of Nephrology, African bowl of peach cobbler as opposed to and issues we fight within our Americans suffer from diabetic compli- two. community, we, as African cations such as visual impairment and 2. Exercise – a simple walking A amputations twice as often as plan would produce great results. It can Americans, must discuss, address, and educate our children on our health and Caucasians. (It has also been reported help you loose weight and help keep it well being needs. The African American that African Americans suffer kidney off; it can aid in lowering blood pressure, diet is often very high in sodium and failure at a rate three times higher than reduce tension, stress, and the risk of low in potassium (two major contribut- Caucasians.) Type 2 Diabetes. Walking can be a fami- ing factors to hypertension), and very Consequently, as we gear for ly affair or something that you and your often it does not include many fresh summer, we must heed the advice of friends can do while discussing your fruits and vegetables. many health professionals and our eld- next move to help a family or a child. In today’s fast paced environ- ers: 3. Relax – find the time to spend ment and “fast-food nation”it’s a strug- 1. Eat in moderation e.g., eat to with family and friends not discussing gle to get the optimal amount of nutri- satisfaction not to stuffiness; add more work and problems. Find time to catch ents in your diet. For many Americans, Greens to your plate and less macaroni up on your reading or just relax and and cheese, opt for the barbeque chicken enjoy being alive! Have a good summer.

For each of these condi- tions, African-American Health and Healthy Living men and women have a Sheree Green-Hammond higher rate of death than Child Welfare Nurse Specialist do Caucasian men and Cook Central women. s social service professionals, we have committed ourselves to advocating for the strength and well- being of the communities we serve. However, we grabbing a hamburger, slice of pizza or A must make a difference in our lives so that we can influ- sugar-laden snack is often easier than ence others. We must lead by example. We must nurture finding a healthy food choice, but the and mentor each other. Overall good health is critical to consequences are increasing health con- living a lengthy and high quality life. cerns for African Americans due to high- We must always consciously work on achieving good calorie and high-fat diets. Green- health so that we can help the people we serve achieve the As we move toward summer Hammond same. (This includes advocating for good health systems in days and look forward to the picnics, the communities we service.) Currently morbidity and mortality resulting from barbeques, and vacations we, as African numerous illnesses, diseases and systemic/infrastructure problems dispropor- Americans, need to keep in mind that tionately affect the minority communities we serve. One's health status can be the three leading causes of death in the generally attributed to access to healthcare, genetics, environment and lifestyle. United States are coronary heart disease, As summer approaches, I urge each of you to pause and evaluate our stroke, and cancer. For each of these con- happiness. For some, happiness lies in looking and being more physically fit ditions, African-American men and and trim, through better nutrition, weight management, exercise, and stress women have a higher rate of death than reduction. do Caucasian men and women. We all want more out of life and have a desire for true happiness. The In addition to the three factors key to our happiness begins with a healthy body and mind. Everything we do cited above, one of the alarming health in life is made easier and better if we have healthy bodies to help us enjoy it. concerns within the African American What better way to jump start this new season than by giving ourselves the gift community is diabetes. African of the healthiest body we can have, whether that means losing weight, having Americans suffer from diabetes at a rate more energy, and improving well-being. two times higher than Caucasian men and women. 12 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 From the Commissioner: AAAC remained active during the past year

Continued from page 2 of his baseball team look up to him and producing these events. I cannot think he is likely to make a difference in their of other situations where these two African American Youth prior to her lives. Let us know about individuals Divisions have worked in accord with leaving the Department in January. The you know that are doing similar things each other on a project of this magni- Council truly misses Jere and we wish with young people, and we will mention tude. I think this is important because her much success in her new employ- their efforts in future articles. there have been too many instances ment. She represented the Council well During last summer I attended where turf control comes into play, cre- and displayed great leadership skills for resource fairs throughout the state where ating a division in service delivery the Department. the focus was to inform case managers instead of focusing on a unified process. Our annual meeting in Northern of DCFS and private agencies on The loser in that scenario becomes those Region took place last November where resources for families deflected from in need of services. we also received feedback from some involvement with the Department. The Hopefully the success of the staff concerns. Millie Tolliver and Jean LAN’s Education Initiative (reduction of fairs, chaired by Child Protection Woodhouse did an outstanding job truancy, suspension and expulsion of Associate Deputy Keith Langston, can organizing and preparing for this meet- youth from school) was also provided. serve as a model for developing other ing. Council members from Northern, The idea for these fairs originated from mechanisms for unity within the Central and Southern Regions formed a Deputy Director Gailyn Thomas. Department. As a result, we can concen- committee in 2004 that will continue to Committees in each of the six Regions trate on reunifying families more expedi- look at similar issues/concerns between did a superb job in planning the fairs. tiously, or have more timely successful the regions that they present to the Public and private providers responded permanencies. Council. We will be visiting each of the very well by sending staff to share I have given you some of the regions during the summer and fall. If resources. highlights of 2005 and another newslet- you would like to meet with the AAAC, What I found to be fascinating ter will be coming to you very soon with please contact your Council members for about these fairs was the joint effort updates on 2006. dates that we will be in your region. between the Division of Child Protection Over the years we have talked and Field Operations in planning and Peace about and advocated for mentoring of youth or coming actively involved with youth in your community through sports or other activities. This past sum- Protecting Our Children mer I became aware of an employee who was taking time from his extremely busy Continued from page 8 • what will it take to make lasting schedule to be involved with youth from improvements in the child protection his community. debates its mission, or while system? Deputy Director Erwin McEwen researchers discover which interven- Clearly, there are no easy or chose to spend some of his summer tion might help which families. inexpensive answers to any of these coaching a little league baseball team. This plane must be fixed while questions. Instead, the path toward Many of us have witnessed his great it flies through the air. We all must more effective protection for children leadership skills as the Deputy for the share responsibility for keeping chil- will require public debate over appro- Division of Monitoring and Quality dren safe. priate societal goals to eliminate child Assurance. He has utilized some of those Let examine key issues regard- mal-treatment. same skills to lead his team to champi- ing the shared responsibility for child It will demand a new empha- ons of the league in his first year as a protection: sis within CPS on prioritizing, deci- coach. • how should the role of CPS be sion-making, and creating partnerships I congratulate Erwin on his suc- framed with service providers. cess as a coach but more importantly for • how CPS efforts should be focused, Finally, it will take significant taking the time to get involved with • how CPS decision-making can be government resources to create and youth from his community. Erwin is a improved sustain a safety net for poor families tremendous advocate for the • what prevention and treatment and service system for troubled fami- “Fatherhood Initiative” where emphasis resources should broader service sys- lies. Meanwhile, we all should is placed on involving fathers in service tems offer to families to complement applause DCFS CP staff for a job well- planning and delivery. I see Erwin as the protections CPS provide to chil- done! leading by example. The young people dren AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 13 1911 Celebrates Black History Month

Mistress of Ceremonies PSA Hendiz Flynn portrays a pas- Yvonne Lewis senger on the bus during the performance. DCFS Child Welfare Specialist Yvonne Lewis (left) portrays Rosa Parks and her refusal to move to the back of the bus in a 2006 Black History Month performance at 1911 S. Indiana Ave.

DCFS Data Control Charles Jones created Models Linda Redd this impressive work of art commemorating (above) a DCFS CPM, and the achievements of African Americans Martha Saines, a DCFS PSA throughout history. display Afrocentric fashions during the 1911 S. Indiana Black History Month celebration 14 AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 2005 AAAC Conference

Bremen and Melody Campbell, DCFS attendees

Leslie Galloway, DCFS PSA 2005 Conference attendee

Panel Members. Rev. Richard Nelson (from left), Rev. Walter Matthews and DCFS Addie Hudson take part in a panel discussion at the 2005 conference. AAAC Newsletter • Spring 2006 15 2005 AAAC Conference

Keynote Speaker Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunger

Youth entertainer Praise Dancer at the 2005 AAAC Conference

DCFS Deputy Arthur Bishop, DCFS PSA Council Member Lawrence Kilonzo Recommended Reading from the AAAC

CHILDREN BOOKS SOCIAL WORK BOOKS

A South African Night by Rachel Isadora Tough Notes: A Healing William Morrow Children's ISBN: 0-688-11389-3 Call for Creating Exceptional Black Men Brent and Dad 1: Baseball by Mary West by Haki Madhubuti Genesis Press ISBN: 1-885478-42-9 Presents a positive African-American Father & Son relationship based on love, sharing and caring.

My Aunt Came Up by Pat Cummings Harper Festival ISBN: 0-694-01059-6 For toddlers learning the joy of mimicking Brothers on the Mend words and sounds. Ages 1-up by Ernest H. Johnson, PhD. Pocket Books KWANZAA Read Along Audio Tape by A. P. Understanding and Porter Carolrhonda Books Inc., Minneapolis Healing, Anger for African- American Men & Women PARENTING BOOKS

I'm Chocolate, You're Vanilla: Raising Healthy Black and Biracial Children in a Race Conscious World by Marguerite Wright Jossey Bass Inc. Developing Positive Self-Images & Discipline In Black Children by Jawanza Kunjufu “WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK African American KIDS SITTING TOGETHER IN THE Images, Chicago CAFETERIA?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D. Basic Books

KIDS TALK HAIR by Pamela Ferrell ISBN: 0-939183-03-X A hardcover book that gives full-color instruction on care from newborns to teenager's natural hair.