Illinois ‘Forward Together’ Initiative to Improve Child Welfare in Illinois
The Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is alerting healthcare professionals about the Department’s “Forward Together” initiative launching in July, which is part of the state’s effort to transform child welfare practices through stronger engagement, prevention, and early intervention practices. In a recent letter to medical professionals, the Department said that beginning in July DCFS Child Protection Staff will implement the evidence-based SAFE Model statewide and begin engaging with families through a new process called “Family Safety Review.” 

The letter emphasized that this change does not alter healthcare providers’ legal obligations as mandated reporters. DCFS said that if medical professionals, in their professional capacity, have reasonable cause to believe a child may be abused or neglected, they should continue to report to the DCFS Hotline as required by law. Click here for more information about the Forward Together initiative and the SAFE Model, and how this transition will impact medical professionals.

Training Opportunity: Behavioral Health Workforce Center Supervision Trainings
The Illinois Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery’s Behavioral Health Workforce Center is offering a series of free monthly supervision trainings. Click here for more information about these virtual, interactive sessions, which will be facilitated by Melanie Kinley, BA, CADC, and will provide a supportive space for structured learning, practical skill building, and professional growth. Each training includes free CEUs and focuses on a key supervision topic, giving participants tools they may apply immediately in their daily work.
 
Trainings will be from 9 a.m.-noon CT on the following dates and topics:
 
June 11: The Clinical Side of Supervision, click here
June 23: Leading Well: How to Care for Yourself as a Supervisor, click here
July 16: Blending Strengths-Based Practice with Situational Leadership, click here
July 30: Crucial Conversation in Supervision, click here
 
For additional details or more information about CEUs, please contact BHWC Initiative Coordinator Meredith Lee, LCSW, at melee@uic.edu.

Annual Minority Health Conference: Call for Workshop, Poster Abstracts
The 15th Annual Minority Health Conference is now accepting workshop and poster abstracts. Public health professionals, providers, students, community partners and others are invited to submit proposals that align with this year’s theme, “Community Over Chaos: The Next 15 Years of Health Equity in Illinois.” Selected presenters must attend the conference in person. 
 
The workshop abstracts are due July 10 and poster abstracts are due Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. CT. 
 
Click here to visit the conference page for information about registration, the conference schedule and to submit an abstract. 

CDC Call: What Clinicians Should Know About Ebola Bundibugyo Virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responding to an outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. CDC said the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low, but as with other high-consequence infectious diseases, clinicians are often the first to diagnose an outbreak.  

During a Thursday, May 29 CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call from 1-2 p.m. CT you can learn more about this outbreak, the history and ecology of Bundibugyo virus, what U.S. clinicians should know about preparing for, diagnosing, and managing patients with suspect or confirmed Ebola disease, and how to prevent Ebola viruses from spreading. A few minutes before the webinar begins, please click here to join. The slide set will be available on the day of the call on the COCA Call webpage under “webinar.”
 
If you are unable to attend the live session of this COCA Call, the closed-captioned video and transcript will be available on the COCA Call webpage approximately one week after the live session. Continuing Education (CE) will not be offered for this COCA Call.