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Collaboration Makes Difference for Children

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Dr. Jeanne Howard and
Dr. Doris Houston

Dr. Jeanne Howard and Dr. Doris Houston of the School of Social Work’s Center for Adoption Studies received a grant from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) as part of a region-wide effort to increase permanency for children in the child welfare system and to reduce over-representation of children of color. Center staff conducted focus groups of stake holders and analyzed permanency achievement data to examine outcomes for children in foster care and identify barriers to family stability and permanency. This project is part of a collaborative partnership that includes IDCFS, The Illinois African American Family Commission, and the Illinois African American Advisory Council. A particular concern of the project partners is the much greater risk that African American children face. For example, while approximately eight percent of children in central Illinois are African American, nearly 42 percent of the children in foster care are African American.

Results from Howard and Houston’s study were presented at the Central Region Permanency Enhancement Project Symposium on March 14. Illinois State University was the host site for the conference. “We've long known that children who 'graduate' from foster care are at great risk for poverty, early parenthood, incarceration, and homelessness,” said Howard. “We must do a better job of achieving permanency for these children.” “The conference is the first step,” added Houston. “The after-conference work involves community stakeholders in setting goals and evaluating progress.”

The presentation was also broadcast to seven videoconferencing sites throughout the Central Region, including Champaign, Peoria, Springfield, and Rock Island. The Symposium brought together key stakeholders, including DCFS and private child welfare agency staff; advocates; judges, states attorneys, guardians ad litem and private attorneys; birth, adoptive and foster parents; and local community representatives to identify and address permanency issues affecting children and families.

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