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 commu- nity. The goal of the Institute was to establish working resolutions that will empower the African American community with supports needed for fam- ilies 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 cho- sen to address the gaps that exist between the com- munity and service providers. The discussion in each session focused on ideas that would enhance relationships with the community; improve perma- nency, 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 sev- eral entities within the community that can support our youth and the families we serve. Through net- working 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 represent- ed in foster and residential care at a higher percent- age than the overall population. The greater increase in substitute care is attributed to the disproportion- ate 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 profes- sionals 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