Public Act 101-0569
 
SB1889 EnrolledLRB101 08050 RJF 53112 b

    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 adding Section 21.2a as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 505/21.2a new)
    Sec. 21.2a. The Department of Children and Family Services'
Child Protection Training Academy.
    (a) Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares all
of the following:
        (1) The Department of Children and Family Services
    collaborated with the University of Illinois at
    Springfield to develop the Child Protection Training
    Academy in 2015.
        (2) The Child Protection Training Academy represents
    an innovative approach to training frontline child
    protection investigators using experiential learning
    through simulations. Simulations provide a safe learning
    environment that bridges the gap between policy and
    practice, increases worker engagement, and accelerates
    learning.
        (3) Research indicates that traditional classroom
    training results in less than a 15% transfer of knowledge
    once in the field.
    (b) Subject to appropriation, the training efforts of the
Child Protection Training Academy shall include, but not be
limited to, the following:
        (1) The continued development of simulation training
    for all child protection investigators, including those
    newly hired and seasoned investigators.
        (2) The continued development and implementation of
    simulation training for investigation, intact, and
    permanency supervisors.
        (3) The development of simulation training for intact
    and permanency workers both in the Department and at
    private agencies.
        (4) The development of simulation-based training
    curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child
    abuse or neglect for mandated reporters.
        (5) The development of simulation-based training for
    multidisciplinary teams in partnership with the
    Department, including, but not limited to, the use of mock
    medical and mock forensic facilities.
        (6) Cultural competency training for investigative
    staff that provides tools and other supports to ensure that
    a child welfare provider's response to and engagement with
    families and children of color are: (i) conducted or
    provided in a manner that is responsive to the beliefs,
    interpersonal styles, attitudes, language, and behaviors
    of the individuals who are receiving services; and (ii)
    conducted or provided in a manner that has the greatest
    likelihood of ensuring maximum success of or participation
    in the child welfare program or services being provided.
        (7) Laboratory training facilities that may include,
    but not be limited to, mock houses, mock courtrooms, mock
    medical facilities, and mock forensic interview rooms that
    allow for simulated, interactive, and intensive training.
        (8) Minimum standards of competence that staff shall be
    required to demonstrate prior to receiving Child Welfare
    Employee Licensure certification from the Department.
    (c) By July 1, 2020, the Department of Children and Family
Services may adopt procedures for the administration of the
Child Protection Training Academy that not only establish
statewide competence, assessment, and training standards for
persons providing child welfare services, but that also ensure
that persons who provide child welfare services have the
knowledge, skills, professionalism, and abilities to make
decisions that keep children safe and secure. The Department
shall continue to arrange for an independent evaluation of the
Child Protection Training Academy through June 2021, inclusive
of the first 5 years of operation. Nothing in this Section
prohibits the Department from administering simulation
training with other entities outside of the University of
Illinois at Springfield. The Department may contract with any
entity to provide all aspects of child welfare training.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.