Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
FFY 2011 Annual Progress and Services Report
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Collaborating with Strengthening Families learning networks within their assigned
DCFS region in planning and participating in local efforts related to the Department’s
School Readiness Service Program
IDCFS and Head Start/ Early Head Start Grantee Agencies (48-Statewide) have a “Joint
Collaborative Agreement”. The formal implementation of the Statewide Agreement began in
2007. Prior agreements were region specific. All Head Start and Early Head Start Grantee
Agencies were afforded the opportunity to review and make comments for modification for the
current (MOU).
The current “Memorandum of Understanding (2010-2011)” highlights the following:
Recruitment, Enrollment & Information Sharing
Educational Stability for Children in Care
Transition Procedures
Case Conference
Operationalization of the Joint Cooperative Agreement
Preventing Child Abuse/Neglect
Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (Mandated Reporting)
Collaboration
Confidentiality
As a result of IDCFS and the Joint Head Start/ Early Head Start Collaborative Agreement,
“Suite Talks” has emerged. “Suite Talks” is a cross training with Head Start/ Early Head
Start and child welfare professionals that is designed to enhance communication between early
childhood and child welfare practitioners. These cross trainings have been held/ and are
presently being planned as listed below:
Cook Central (2009 & 2010)
Cook North (2009 & 2010)
Cook South (2009 & 2010)
Southern (2010) (4-Sessions)
Central (2011) (3-Sub Regions)(9-12 Sessions)
After participating in “Suite Talks” attendees:
Understand the basic elements of the “Collaborative Agreement” to enhance working
relationships and foster collaborative strategies to improve program performance and
outcomes for children, families and communities
Become more familiar with respective roles and responsibilities in enrolling and
sustaining participation of child welfare-involved children and families in Head Start/
Early Head Start programs.
Have an increased understanding of child welfare-involved children and families in an
effort to enhance collaboration and improve service delivery outcomes
Become better prepared and have necessary information that they need to fully
collaborate with each other to benefit children and families.
The Division of Service Intervention (School Readiness) in conjunction with Strengthening
Families Illinois, host every other month the “Early Learning Family Strengthening Work
