What Is The Alabama Association of Child Care Agencies (AACCA) Doing?

1. TRAINING: We have offered training opportunities to our member agencies in the past. 1. An example of administrative training provided was a half-day seminar on personnel issues. 2. We are planning to develop a good, highly professional training opportunity for front-line staff and for Agency Board Development. 3. We provide ongoing information to our members on available training opportunities in Alabama and nationally.



2. STRATEGIC PLANNING : Almost three years ago, we began a Strategic Planning process that involves vision, mission, and values refinement as well as committees to work with the following goals: 1. Strengthen AACCA's Administration and Membership (including staffing needs, membership focus determination, funding sources evaluation and determination, improved communications) 2. Coordination of the Strategic Planning process itself. 3. Funding Advocacy (including written reports and positions, government education, and legislation, activating board members, defining needs and measuring outcomes). 4. Partnership with all foster care and prevention providers, including those with placement authority. 5. Participating in Development of Standards and Outcome Measurements.



3. ANNUAL MEETINGS AND LUNCHEON: We conduct an Annual Luncheon and Meeting with after-dinner speaker and presentation of the Flora Boyd Award, an honor with a plaque and financial reward. This honor is designed to recognize excellence on the part of those who actually take care of the children through our agencies day-in-and-day-out. We are discussing a second award that could potentially be given to foster parents.



4. LEGISLATION AND STATE GOVERNMENT: 1. In 1998, AACCA advocated for and contributed to development of the Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee for Children in State Care. This Committee conducted forums across the state to hear from communities as to the primary issues in Child Welfare. 2. We produced a report for that Committee entitled Continuum of Child Care Proposal and Cost of Care Data. This document gave detailed cost information compared to rates for care and compared rates to those of six other southeastern states. It also presented a proposal for development of a methodology to determine fair-and-equitable rates for care. 3. AACCA then worked with Legislators to frame a Levels-of-Care Bill that passed the Senate before 4. then-Governor Siegelman appointed the Foster Care Advisory Group (FCAG) to make recommendations on development of fair-and-equitable rates and proper outcomes for children. This Committee was appointed by the Governor as an alternative offered when he asked us and sponsoring Legislators to withdraw our legislation. AACCA sat on the Committee until report and final recommendations were approved by the DHR Board and forwarded to the Governor. 5. One of the results of this report was formation of a DHR contract with an outside organization (Hornby/Zellar) to study rates and recommend a system to obtain fair and equitable rates. The study was completed and a system was recommended to DHR, but it has not yet been implemented. AACCA continues to advocate for action on the rate matter, proper outcomes, and related individual assessments - all addressed in the original FCAG Report and Recommendations.



5. RETREATS: AACCA retreats are filled with timely topics, qualified presenters, and great locations at reasonable rates. Also, the Annual Meeting and Luncheon includes notable after-dinner speakers and presentation of the Flora Boyd Award, a great honor and financial reward which is designed to recognize excellence on the part of those who actually take care of the children through AACCA agencies day-in-and-day-out.