SB0176 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 10245 KTG 15571 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB0176

Introduced 2/9/2021, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 505/35.7

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Requires the Inspector General of the Department of Children and Family Services to develop Error Reduction Training (rather than Error Reduction Implementation Plans) to remedy patterns of errors or problematic practices that compromise or threaten the safety of children as identified in the DCFS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) death or serious injury investigations, Child Death Review Teams recommendations, or by the Director of the Department. Provides that the Error Reduction Training shall include both classroom and web-based trainings; and that the Inspector General's Office shall develop the curricula, provide for the initial training presentations, and collaborate with, and as needed, use the Child Protection Training Academy simulation model. Provides that initial trainings shall include, but not be limited to, strengthening critical thinking, decision-making, interviewing, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as practice reviews and recertifications. Requires the Department's Division of Quality Enhancement to identify outcome measures and track compliance with the training curriculum following the initial training roll-out by the Office of the Inspector General. Contains provisions concerning quarterly reports; related duties of the Department's Office of Learning and Professional Development; semi-annual public reports detailing the substance of any Error Reduction Training and other matters; OIG evaluations and reviews on the instructional integrity of the training; and other matters.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Children and Family Services Act is amended by changing Section 35.7 as follows:

(20 ILCS 505/35.7)

Sec. 35.7. Error Reduction Training Implementations Plans; Inspector General.

(a) The Inspector General of the Department of Children and Family Services shall develop Error Reduction Training Implementation Plans, as necessary, to remedy patterns of errors or problematic practices that compromise or threaten the safety of children as identified in the DCFS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) death or serious injury investigations, and Child Death Review Teams recommendations, or by the Director of the Department. The Error Reduction Training Implementation Plans shall include both classroom and web-based trainings. The Inspector General's Office shall develop the curricula, provide for the initial training presentations, and collaborate with, and as needed, use the Child Protection Training Academy simulation model. Initial trainings shall include, but not be limited to, strengthening critical thinking, decision-making, interviewing, analytical, and problem-solving skills, as well as practice reviews and recertifications. Following the initial training roll-out by the OIG, the Department's Division of Quality Enhancement shall identify outcome measures and track compliance with the training curriculum. Each quarter, the Department's Division of Quality Enhancement shall prepare a report detailing compliance with the Error Reduction Training and alert the Director to staffing needs or other needs to accomplish the goals of the Error Reduction Training. The report shall be transmitted to the Director, the OIG, and all management staff involved in the Error Reduction Training. The Department's Office of Learning and Professional Development shall work with the Inspector General to implement trainings and continue to provide ongoing trainings on the identified topic for Department staff as well as for the employees of the Department's private agency partners. The Department's Office of Learning and Professional Development shall work to ensure adherence to the Error Reduction Training, and shall maintain systems to continue reform efforts in an ongoing manner. training and on-site components. The Inspector General shall submit proposed Error Reduction Implementation Plans to the Director for review. The Director may approve the plans submitted, or approve plans amended by the Office of the Inspector General, taking into consideration policies and procedures that govern the function and performance of any affected frontline staff. The Director shall document the basis for disapproval of any submitted or amended plan. The Department shall deploy Error Reduction Safety Teams to implement the Error Reduction Implementation Plans. The Error Reduction Safety Teams shall be composed of Quality Assurance and Division of Training staff to implement hands-on training and Error Reduction Implementation Plans. The teams shall work in the offices of the Department or of agencies, or both, as required by the Error Reduction Implementation Plans, and shall work to ensure that systems are in place to continue reform efforts after the departure of the teams. The Director shall develop a method to ensure consistent compliance with any Error Reduction Training Implementation Plans, the provisions of which shall be incorporated into the plan.

(b) The Department's Division of Quality Enhancement, in collaboration with the OIG, Quality Assurance shall prepare public reports semi-annually annually detailing the following: the substance of any Error Reduction Training Implementation Plan approved; any deviations from the Error Reduction Training models Plan; whether adequate staff was available to perform functions necessary to the Error Reduction Training Implementation Plan, including identification and reporting of any staff needs; other problems noted or barriers to implementing the Error Reduction Training Implementation Plan; and recommendations for additional training, amendments to rules and procedures, or other systemic reform identified by either the OIG or the Office of Learning and Professional Development or as identified from staff training evaluations and feedback. the teams. Quality Assurance shall work with affected frontline staff to implement provisions of the approved Error Reduction Implementation Plans related to staff function and performance.

(c) The OIG shall serve as subject matter experts regarding training content and may, when necessary, review, evaluate, and provide direction for the instructional integrity of the training and the delivery method of the content being used for the purposes of either preservice or service training of staff. The Error Reduction Teams shall implement training and reform protocols through incubating change in each region, Department office, or purchase of service office, as required. The teams shall administer hands-on assistance, supervision, and management while ensuring that the office, region, or agency develops the skills and systems necessary to incorporate changes on a permanent basis. For each Error Reduction Implementation Plan, the Team shall determine whether adequate staff is available to fulfill the Error Reduction Implementation Plan, provide case-by-case supervision to ensure that the plan is implemented, and ensure that management puts systems in place to enable the reforms to continue. Error Reduction Teams shall work with affected frontline staff to ensure that provisions of the approved Error Reduction Implementation Plans relating to staff functions and performance are achieved to effect necessary reforms.

(d) The OIG shall develop and submit new Error Reduction Trainings Implementation Plans as necessary. To implement each Error Reduction Training Implementation Plan, as approved by the Director, the OIG shall work with the Office of Learning and Professional Development and the Division of Quality Enhancement. Quality Assurance members of the Error Reduction Teams designated by the Department. The teams shall be comprised of staff from Quality Assurance and Training. Training shall work with the OIG and with the child death review teams to develop a curriculum to address errors identified that compromise the safety of children. Following the training roll-out, the Teams shall work on-site in identified offices. The Teams shall review and supervise all work relevant to the Error Reduction Implementation Plan. Quality Assurance shall identify outcome measures and track compliance with the training curriculum. Each quarter, Quality Assurance shall prepare a report detailing compliance with the Error Reduction Implementation Plan and alert the Director to staffing needs or other needs to accomplish the goals of the Error Reduction Implementation Plan. The report shall be transmitted to the Director, the OIG, and all management staff involved in the Error Reduction Implementation Plan.

(e) The Director shall review semi-annual quarterly Quality Enhancement Assurance reports and determine adherence to the Error Reduction Training Implementation Plan using criteria and standards developed by the Department. The Director, or his or her designee, shall meet, at a minimum, semi-annually, and when necessary quarterly with Quality Enhancement, OIG, and all management staff involved in the Error Reduction Training to discuss the reports and may adjust the content of the Error Reduction Trainings.

(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)