The University of Illinois Springfield Innovation Hub, UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership and the Community Health Roundtable will host a Zoom public webinar titled “COVID-19 Vaccine: The Journey to Immunity” at noon on Friday.
The roundtable will feature public health and health care panelists discussing the COVID-19 vaccine and answering questions around the safety and efficacy of each vaccine, allocation and distribution.
Additionally, panelists will discuss COVID-19’s impact on specific populations and how the impact has determined vaccine prioritization, along with giving some understanding of when herd immunity will be reached.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on Jan. 12, 2021.
Showing posts with label Center for State Policy and Leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Center for State Policy and Leadership. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Thursday, April 30, 2020
New executive director of the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership named
The new executive director of the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership (CSPL) has been named.
Molly Lamb, of Chatham, will start in the role on Monday, June 1, pending formal approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Lamb has worked for UIS from the Illinois Department of Public Health for 11 years. She most recently served as the deputy director of IDPH’s Office of Health Protection. She started as an emergency response coordinator for the Logan County Health Department and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Land Community College.
UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership promotes evidence-based policy and practice in the public sector. The center’s mission is carried out through research that informs public decisions and understanding; internships, training programs, and applied problem-solving that strengthens public leadership; and journalism that educates and engages citizens in public affairs.
This story appeared on WCIA on Apirl 29, 2020.
Read the entire article online.
Molly Lamb, of Chatham, will start in the role on Monday, June 1, pending formal approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Lamb has worked for UIS from the Illinois Department of Public Health for 11 years. She most recently served as the deputy director of IDPH’s Office of Health Protection. She started as an emergency response coordinator for the Logan County Health Department and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at Lincoln Land Community College.
UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership promotes evidence-based policy and practice in the public sector. The center’s mission is carried out through research that informs public decisions and understanding; internships, training programs, and applied problem-solving that strengthens public leadership; and journalism that educates and engages citizens in public affairs.
This story appeared on WCIA on Apirl 29, 2020.
Read the entire article online.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
People in the News: David Racine
David Racine, executive director of the Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois Springfield, recently received the annual Rail Splitter Award at the UIS Department of Public Administration’s 2020 annual Spring Rail Splitter banquet and awards ceremony.
The award honors Racine’s work in public administration at the center where he oversees the university’s public affairs organization, which includes the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Policy Studies/Survey Research Office, the Institute for Illinois Public Finance, NPR Illinois, the Graduate Public Service Internship Program, the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program, the Office of Electronic Media, Innovate Springfield, the Illinois Innocence Project and the Child Protection Training Academy.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on April 25, 2020.
Read the entire article online.
The award honors Racine’s work in public administration at the center where he oversees the university’s public affairs organization, which includes the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Policy Studies/Survey Research Office, the Institute for Illinois Public Finance, NPR Illinois, the Graduate Public Service Internship Program, the Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program, the Office of Electronic Media, Innovate Springfield, the Illinois Innocence Project and the Child Protection Training Academy.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on April 25, 2020.
Read the entire article online.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
DCFS simulation gives inside look at challenges investigators face
Imagine knocking on a door of parents accused of abusing their children and asking them tough questions.
This is what investigators do on a daily basis.
"It can be a very draining job, mentally, emotionally and physically,” said Susan Evans, executive director of Child Protection Training Academy.
One of the jobs that the Department of Children and Family Services is tasked with is making sure children are safe. In order to do this job, DCFS investigators have to enter the homes of people accused of horrible crimes.
Reporter Ana Espinosa was given the opportunity to participate in the training that DCFS investigators must complete.
UIS instructors and former investigators are monitoring every moment from another room while actors recreate the fear and anxiety of losing their children. Usually, an investigator is alone with parents that can be influenced by drugs or alcohol because these investigators can’t call ahead and let families know they are going to be there. An investigator must ask parents difficult and personal questions about allegations of abuse or neglect.
"We want to err on the side of the child,” Evans said. “We want to keep children safe. But, it is inherently complex and it’s something that is very difficult to describe unless you have experienced it."
Before ever walking into the training, Espinosa spent hours reading policies and procedures just like investigators-in-training. "You can study the laws and procedures that you have been doing but then to put them into practice professionally but with intention,” Evans said. “You know, that’s why we do simulation." But there are no step-by-step instructions on how to act in these situations.
More than 600 DCFS investigators have been through this training.
This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on May 20, 2019.
Watch the entire story online.
"It can be a very draining job, mentally, emotionally and physically,” said Susan Evans, executive director of Child Protection Training Academy.
One of the jobs that the Department of Children and Family Services is tasked with is making sure children are safe. In order to do this job, DCFS investigators have to enter the homes of people accused of horrible crimes.
Reporter Ana Espinosa was given the opportunity to participate in the training that DCFS investigators must complete.
UIS instructors and former investigators are monitoring every moment from another room while actors recreate the fear and anxiety of losing their children. Usually, an investigator is alone with parents that can be influenced by drugs or alcohol because these investigators can’t call ahead and let families know they are going to be there. An investigator must ask parents difficult and personal questions about allegations of abuse or neglect.
"We want to err on the side of the child,” Evans said. “We want to keep children safe. But, it is inherently complex and it’s something that is very difficult to describe unless you have experienced it."
Before ever walking into the training, Espinosa spent hours reading policies and procedures just like investigators-in-training. "You can study the laws and procedures that you have been doing but then to put them into practice professionally but with intention,” Evans said. “You know, that’s why we do simulation." But there are no step-by-step instructions on how to act in these situations.
More than 600 DCFS investigators have been through this training.
This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on May 20, 2019.
Watch the entire story online.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
C-SPAN bus makes stop at University of Illinois Springfield Wednesday
A bus aimed at educating communities about Washington D.C. came to the University of Illinois Springfield Wednesday.
The C-SPAN Bus is traveling to all 50 U.S. capitals with a goal to teach about Congress, the White House, legislative processes and more.
Students could also see what it was like to do a live interview, experience a 360-degree video station and take selfies in a D.C. - themed area.
This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on September 19, 2018.
Watch the story online.
The C-SPAN Bus is traveling to all 50 U.S. capitals with a goal to teach about Congress, the White House, legislative processes and more.
Students could also see what it was like to do a live interview, experience a 360-degree video station and take selfies in a D.C. - themed area.
This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on September 19, 2018.
Watch the story online.
Monday, September 17, 2018
C-SPAN bus coming to Springfield next week
A 45-foot customized C-SPAN bus will be in Springfield Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the public affairs channel’s “50 Capitals Tour.”
The tour began in September 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in November.
At each capital city, the bus is opening its doors and also gathering viewpoints on politics.
On Tuesday, the bus will be open to the public from 9:30 to 11 a.m. outside the Statehouse on Capitol Avenue, near Second Street.
Earlier that day, state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, will be interviewed aboard the bus for the channel’s “Washington Journal” program.
The bus also will be at Springfield High School in the afternoon.
On Wednesday, the bus will be open to the public while parked near the Student Union at the University of Illinois Springfield from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bus will be at Grant Middle School earlier in the day.
The bus is equipped with a TV production studio, a smart TV and classroom area for conversations with students and teachers, and a D.C.-themed selfie station where visitors can share their bus experiences through social media.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 14, 2018.
Read the entire article online.
The tour began in September 2017 and is scheduled to be completed in November.
At each capital city, the bus is opening its doors and also gathering viewpoints on politics.
On Tuesday, the bus will be open to the public from 9:30 to 11 a.m. outside the Statehouse on Capitol Avenue, near Second Street.
Earlier that day, state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, will be interviewed aboard the bus for the channel’s “Washington Journal” program.
The bus also will be at Springfield High School in the afternoon.
On Wednesday, the bus will be open to the public while parked near the Student Union at the University of Illinois Springfield from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bus will be at Grant Middle School earlier in the day.
The bus is equipped with a TV production studio, a smart TV and classroom area for conversations with students and teachers, and a D.C.-themed selfie station where visitors can share their bus experiences through social media.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 14, 2018.
Read the entire article online.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Local business mood improved in fall economic survey
Sangamon County employers are more optimistic on sales and job growth in the first survey taken since the state budget deadlock ended, though expectations for the overall economy have changed little since the fall of 2016.
State government finances remained a top concern among nearly 60 percent of 233 employers who responded to the fall 2017 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey.
The survey was released Tuesday during the annual economic outlook breakfast of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, held at the University of Illinois Springfield.
One-third of respondents said they expect the local economy to improve in the next year, about the same percentage as a year ago.
More than half, 55 percent, said they expect improved sales and revenue in the coming year compared to 46 percent in the fall of 2016.
Job growth was expected by 32 percent, compared with 27 percent last year.
“There’s a gradual improvement in overall expectations for the economy. It’s still not robust, but it’s an improvement over what we had been seeing,” said executive director David Racine at the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership.
The UIS office conducts the spring and fall survey for the Springfield chamber.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on November 14, 2017.
Read the entire article online.
State government finances remained a top concern among nearly 60 percent of 233 employers who responded to the fall 2017 Sangamon County Economic Outlook Survey.
The survey was released Tuesday during the annual economic outlook breakfast of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, held at the University of Illinois Springfield.
One-third of respondents said they expect the local economy to improve in the next year, about the same percentage as a year ago.
More than half, 55 percent, said they expect improved sales and revenue in the coming year compared to 46 percent in the fall of 2016.
Job growth was expected by 32 percent, compared with 27 percent last year.
“There’s a gradual improvement in overall expectations for the economy. It’s still not robust, but it’s an improvement over what we had been seeing,” said executive director David Racine at the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership.
The UIS office conducts the spring and fall survey for the Springfield chamber.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on November 14, 2017.
Read the entire article online.
Monday, September 25, 2017
Citizens weigh in on the community
When you want to learn about the perceptions and values found within a community, from what is working to what can be improved upon, you go straight to the citizens themselves.
That’s the goal with the Sangamon County Citizen Survey, which was recently updated and released for the third time in five years.
The extensive survey started as a joint project between the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, the Citizens Club of Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s Center for State Policy and Leadership and the United Way of Central Illinois to gather data about the community’s education, economy, well-being and more.
The project currently measures eight different indicators, including health, economy, education, culture and recreation, government and civic participation, social well-being and public safety, environment and infrastructure.
This year’s survey asked many of the same questions as previous surveys, said Matt Case, interim director for the Survey Research Office at the University of Illinois Springfield — although there was a focus on education in 2015 and economy and infrastructure in 2017.
“We ask the same questions each year because this allows us to track changes over time, which is important considering the data is being used to address issues locally,” he said.
The survey has now become a reference point to guide leaders on current issues, as well as a learning tool to equip the community with comprehensive data for future decision making. From the Community Foundation’s vantage point, the survey is being utilized to understand various community needs as it pertains to grantmaking and innovation.
Several trends that emerged this year intrigued Case and fellow survey coordinators, including local economics.
“I was surprised by the discrepancy in the way individuals viewed local business conditions versus how they viewed their personal financial situation,” he noted. “Just 20 percent of respondents say they are ‘worse off’ financially compared to 12 months ago,′ but 46 percent say that local business conditions are ‘worse off’ compared to 12 months ago.′ “To me this says that individuals, while not necessarily affected by recent events such as the state budget impasse themselves, do view the local economy as being affected.”
Looking ahead, the Citizen Survey provides local leaders and organizations like the Community Foundation with a starting point to work toward potential solutions for concerns or problems.
“I hope that community leaders will use the data to help develop programs to address these issues. I believe the quality of the data is excellent, and I think that the results should be used to look at how programs are developed locally,” Case said.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 23, 2017.
Read the entire article online.
That’s the goal with the Sangamon County Citizen Survey, which was recently updated and released for the third time in five years.
The extensive survey started as a joint project between the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, the Citizens Club of Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s Center for State Policy and Leadership and the United Way of Central Illinois to gather data about the community’s education, economy, well-being and more.
The project currently measures eight different indicators, including health, economy, education, culture and recreation, government and civic participation, social well-being and public safety, environment and infrastructure.
This year’s survey asked many of the same questions as previous surveys, said Matt Case, interim director for the Survey Research Office at the University of Illinois Springfield — although there was a focus on education in 2015 and economy and infrastructure in 2017.
“We ask the same questions each year because this allows us to track changes over time, which is important considering the data is being used to address issues locally,” he said.
The survey has now become a reference point to guide leaders on current issues, as well as a learning tool to equip the community with comprehensive data for future decision making. From the Community Foundation’s vantage point, the survey is being utilized to understand various community needs as it pertains to grantmaking and innovation.
Several trends that emerged this year intrigued Case and fellow survey coordinators, including local economics.
“I was surprised by the discrepancy in the way individuals viewed local business conditions versus how they viewed their personal financial situation,” he noted. “Just 20 percent of respondents say they are ‘worse off’ financially compared to 12 months ago,′ but 46 percent say that local business conditions are ‘worse off’ compared to 12 months ago.′ “To me this says that individuals, while not necessarily affected by recent events such as the state budget impasse themselves, do view the local economy as being affected.”
Looking ahead, the Citizen Survey provides local leaders and organizations like the Community Foundation with a starting point to work toward potential solutions for concerns or problems.
“I hope that community leaders will use the data to help develop programs to address these issues. I believe the quality of the data is excellent, and I think that the results should be used to look at how programs are developed locally,” Case said.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on September 23, 2017.
Read the entire article online.
Friday, May 26, 2017
UIS and ALPLM cut partnership on Lincoln Papers
The following statement was sent to Newschannel 20 by Chris Wills with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum:
"The Papers of Abraham Lincoln is an important part of ALPLM’s work, designed to promote a deeper understanding of the rich legacy of the 16th president. As we address numerous issues in completing the project, the ALPLM will not be renewing its agreement with the University of Illinois at Springfield. The agreement will expire by its own terms on June 30.
We thank UIS for its assistance in years past, and look forward to finding other ways to partner in the future.
Questions about the status of the UIS employees assigned to the Papers of Abraham Lincoln can only be answered by the university.
The ALPLM is actively taking steps to ensure the Papers fulfills its vital mission of finding, organizing and sharing the words that Abraham Lincoln wrote and read.
More details, including a staffing plan, will be announced soon."
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on May 26, 2017.
Read the story online.
"The Papers of Abraham Lincoln is an important part of ALPLM’s work, designed to promote a deeper understanding of the rich legacy of the 16th president. As we address numerous issues in completing the project, the ALPLM will not be renewing its agreement with the University of Illinois at Springfield. The agreement will expire by its own terms on June 30.
We thank UIS for its assistance in years past, and look forward to finding other ways to partner in the future.
Questions about the status of the UIS employees assigned to the Papers of Abraham Lincoln can only be answered by the university.
The ALPLM is actively taking steps to ensure the Papers fulfills its vital mission of finding, organizing and sharing the words that Abraham Lincoln wrote and read.
More details, including a staffing plan, will be announced soon."
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on May 26, 2017.
Read the story online.
Monday, March 27, 2017
United Way: 30 minutes to improve our community
Four years ago, the University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy & Leadership, the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, The Citizen's Club of Springfield and United Way announced we were conducting the first-ever Sangamon County Citizen Survey.
The initial survey was designed to focus on nine areas affecting quality of life, with subsequent surveys to focus on each of these areas. The survey is in an effort to help us better understand the issues affecting Sangamon County residents and provides a wealth of information concerning education, environment, social well-being, public safety, economy, infrastructure, culture and recreation plus government and civic participation.
Feedback and participation in these local surveys provide organizations with data and information needed to identify and address our community's greatest challenges. The survey also provided a benchmark from which we can measure changes within these areas and adjust strategies accordingly.
In a few weeks, the UIS Center for State Policy & Leadership will begin conducting the 2017 Sangamon County Citizen Survey. This year's survey will have a greater focus on economic and infrastructure issues, including employment, the local business environment, taxes, transportation and utilities.
This year's survey will be conducted by mail to allow participants more time to consider responses and complete at their convenience.
Results of the 2017 Sangamon County Community Survey will be available in late-July with a formal presentation of results at a Citizen's Club of Springfield meeting on July 28.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on March 25, 2017.
Read the entire article online.
The initial survey was designed to focus on nine areas affecting quality of life, with subsequent surveys to focus on each of these areas. The survey is in an effort to help us better understand the issues affecting Sangamon County residents and provides a wealth of information concerning education, environment, social well-being, public safety, economy, infrastructure, culture and recreation plus government and civic participation.
Feedback and participation in these local surveys provide organizations with data and information needed to identify and address our community's greatest challenges. The survey also provided a benchmark from which we can measure changes within these areas and adjust strategies accordingly.
In a few weeks, the UIS Center for State Policy & Leadership will begin conducting the 2017 Sangamon County Citizen Survey. This year's survey will have a greater focus on economic and infrastructure issues, including employment, the local business environment, taxes, transportation and utilities.
This year's survey will be conducted by mail to allow participants more time to consider responses and complete at their convenience.
Results of the 2017 Sangamon County Community Survey will be available in late-July with a formal presentation of results at a Citizen's Club of Springfield meeting on July 28.
This story appeared in The State Journal-Register on March 25, 2017.
Read the entire article online.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
DCFS workers learn to spot child abuse at UIS training academy
A partnership between the University of Illinois Springfield and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is the first of its kind in the country, a university official says.
The state agency and university announced last week the launch of its Child Protection Training Academy, held on the UIS campus.
Susan Evans, recently named director of the Child Protection Training Academy, said the academy will greatly improve training for child welfare investigators, which has been behind the curve.
“Historically, the training has been didactic,” Evans said. “There has been some job shadowing, online webinars and then three to four weeks in the classroom.”
Evans is a 24-year veteran of DCFS who spent 14 years in the field as a child protective investigator and 10 years in the Office of Professional Development.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on November 1, 2016.
Read the story online.
The state agency and university announced last week the launch of its Child Protection Training Academy, held on the UIS campus.
Susan Evans, recently named director of the Child Protection Training Academy, said the academy will greatly improve training for child welfare investigators, which has been behind the curve.
“Historically, the training has been didactic,” Evans said. “There has been some job shadowing, online webinars and then three to four weeks in the classroom.”
Evans is a 24-year veteran of DCFS who spent 14 years in the field as a child protective investigator and 10 years in the Office of Professional Development.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on November 1, 2016.
Read the story online.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
UIS and Illinois DCFS partner to launch Child Protection Training Academy
Two organizations are coming together to improve child protection training for investigators of child abuse.
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership is partnering with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to launch a Child Protection Training Academy.
Currently, the academy has already trained nearly 130 new DCFS investigators, utilizing the Residential Simulation Lab and the mock courtroom on the UIS campus. Now, it will expand to include new curricula for supervisors, multidisciplinary team members and a training partnership with the SIU School of Medicine.
Susan Evans is a 24-year veteran of DCFS and the new director of the Academy. She says with a constantly changing landscape and complex cases; investigators need to be well-prepared. “Training is critical, and the investigators who have completed this new simulation training overwhelmingly expressed a desire for additional hours in the simulation labs, practicing the skulls they will need to be confident and competent in the field,” Evans explains.
The Academy was initially created by the Illinois General Assembly back in August 2015 with Public Act 99-0348.
"The lives of children depend on us, and resources like this training academy will help improve the overall quality of our investigations and better serve the most vulnerable," said DCFS Director George H. Sheldon.
This story appeared on WAND TV on October 25, 2016.
Read the entire article online.
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy and Leadership is partnering with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to launch a Child Protection Training Academy.
Currently, the academy has already trained nearly 130 new DCFS investigators, utilizing the Residential Simulation Lab and the mock courtroom on the UIS campus. Now, it will expand to include new curricula for supervisors, multidisciplinary team members and a training partnership with the SIU School of Medicine.
Susan Evans is a 24-year veteran of DCFS and the new director of the Academy. She says with a constantly changing landscape and complex cases; investigators need to be well-prepared. “Training is critical, and the investigators who have completed this new simulation training overwhelmingly expressed a desire for additional hours in the simulation labs, practicing the skulls they will need to be confident and competent in the field,” Evans explains.
The Academy was initially created by the Illinois General Assembly back in August 2015 with Public Act 99-0348.
"The lives of children depend on us, and resources like this training academy will help improve the overall quality of our investigations and better serve the most vulnerable," said DCFS Director George H. Sheldon.
This story appeared on WAND TV on October 25, 2016.
Read the entire article online.
Monday, August 22, 2016
City surveying residents on how Springfield should grow
Community leaders, city officials and residents often talk about one-way streets and downtown parking, a proposed second lake and westward expansion. The city this week is mailing short surveys to about 5,000 randomly selected residents on these and other issues facing Springfield.
The city and the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission will use the survey results to help guide a 20-year comprehensive plan. The plan, which was last completed in 2000, will focus on how land in Springfield should be used and developed.
The University of Illinois Springfield’s Survey Research Office helped design the survey and will gather the responses for the steering committee.
“We are hoping for about 500 responses, a 10 percent response rate,” said Juan Carlos Donoso, director of the research office. But he noted that it could be more, as others can access the survey online.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on August 22, 2016.
Read the story online.
The city and the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission will use the survey results to help guide a 20-year comprehensive plan. The plan, which was last completed in 2000, will focus on how land in Springfield should be used and developed.
The University of Illinois Springfield’s Survey Research Office helped design the survey and will gather the responses for the steering committee.
“We are hoping for about 500 responses, a 10 percent response rate,” said Juan Carlos Donoso, director of the research office. But he noted that it could be more, as others can access the survey online.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on August 22, 2016.
Read the story online.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Challenging ‘junk science’ in arson case
A Naperville man is asking a judge to overturn his murder conviction on the grounds that the prosecution’s case was built on junk science.
William Amor spent the last 21 years behind bars for the death of his mother-in-law in a 1995 condo fire that investigators ruled as arson. His exoneration bid hinges on convincing the judge that new scientific research debunks old beliefs about how fire behaves.
The Illinois Innocence Project, based at the University of Illinois Springfield, took on Amor’s case and is working to get his conviction overturned.
The story was reported by the Illinois Times on May 19, 2016.
Read the article online.
William Amor spent the last 21 years behind bars for the death of his mother-in-law in a 1995 condo fire that investigators ruled as arson. His exoneration bid hinges on convincing the judge that new scientific research debunks old beliefs about how fire behaves.
The Illinois Innocence Project, based at the University of Illinois Springfield, took on Amor’s case and is working to get his conviction overturned.
The story was reported by the Illinois Times on May 19, 2016.
Read the article online.
Monday, May 9, 2016
New director named for UIS Survey Research Office
An associate at the Pew Research Center has been named director of the Survey Research Office at University of Illinois Springfield.
Juan Carlos Donoso succeeds Ashley Kirzinger in the research office, which is part of the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS.
Donoso most recently has worked as an associate researcher in the Religion and Public Life Project at Pew Research Center. Prior to joining the Pew Research Center, Donoso was a professor of political science and international relations at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. He also founded PRIME Consulting, a social science and survey firm, and worked as national research director for the National Electoral Council of Ecuador.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on May 7, 2016.
Read the story online.
Juan Carlos Donoso succeeds Ashley Kirzinger in the research office, which is part of the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS.
Donoso most recently has worked as an associate researcher in the Religion and Public Life Project at Pew Research Center. Prior to joining the Pew Research Center, Donoso was a professor of political science and international relations at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. He also founded PRIME Consulting, a social science and survey firm, and worked as national research director for the National Electoral Council of Ecuador.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on May 7, 2016.
Read the story online.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Training program at UIS aims to curb child abuse, neglect
The small, nondescript house with blistering gray paint on the north end of the University of Illinois Springfield campus holds at the same time both hope and horror.
Fortunately, the horror — in the form of child abuse and neglect — is fabricated and is used as a training tool for students, state Department of Children and Family Services investigators and first-responders.
The training at the Residential Simulation Lab House, as well as in a mock courtroom established in the campus television studio in the Public Affairs Center, offers hope that improved training will enable investigators to better curb child abuse and neglect.
The simulated training house and mock courtroom, part of a DCFS Child Protection Training Academy pilot program designed by the UIS State Center for Policy and Leadership, was dedicated Monday, although training began in February.
The house, vacant since 2010, was formerly a branch of the Sangamon Schools Credit Union, which closed that year because of a problem with the septic system.
Betsy Goulet, clinical assistant professor in the public administration graduate program and coordinator of the Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) program at UIS, said discussion with DCFS about establishing such a program began several years ago.
UIS Chancellor Susan Koch said the academy “is happening because of her (Goulet).”
Goulet said when she was studying for her PhD, she learned about the program, which simulates real-life situations, and went through the training. With training for child-protection investigators considered inadequate, she wanted to apply the simulation training to improve the skills of present-day investigators.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on April 26, 2016.
Read the full article online.
Fortunately, the horror — in the form of child abuse and neglect — is fabricated and is used as a training tool for students, state Department of Children and Family Services investigators and first-responders.
The training at the Residential Simulation Lab House, as well as in a mock courtroom established in the campus television studio in the Public Affairs Center, offers hope that improved training will enable investigators to better curb child abuse and neglect.
The simulated training house and mock courtroom, part of a DCFS Child Protection Training Academy pilot program designed by the UIS State Center for Policy and Leadership, was dedicated Monday, although training began in February.
The house, vacant since 2010, was formerly a branch of the Sangamon Schools Credit Union, which closed that year because of a problem with the septic system.
Betsy Goulet, clinical assistant professor in the public administration graduate program and coordinator of the Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) program at UIS, said discussion with DCFS about establishing such a program began several years ago.
UIS Chancellor Susan Koch said the academy “is happening because of her (Goulet).”
Goulet said when she was studying for her PhD, she learned about the program, which simulates real-life situations, and went through the training. With training for child-protection investigators considered inadequate, she wanted to apply the simulation training to improve the skills of present-day investigators.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on April 26, 2016.
Read the full article online.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
UIS opens training center for DCFS
In Illinois, advocates for child safety and welfare have been working to find innovative approaches to lower the rate of child abuse. The University of Illinois Springfield has found one.
The first statewide simulation lab for child abuse and neglect opened last week at the University of Illinois Springfield, helping new investigators learn how to pinpoint abuse.
In an interview with Illinois Times, George Sheldon, director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, discussed the drawbacks of not having experiential training prior to this program.
“One of the shortcomings of DCFS has been providing ongoing experiential training,” said Sheldon. “From my experience, 50 percent of cases involving a child who was allegedly abused get returned from administrative judges. This is due to investigators not asking the right questions.”
On Feb. 1, the University of Illinois Springfield opened the first Residential Simulation Lab (RSL) in Illinois to be used as a training site for state-certified DCFS investigators. Located on West Lake Shore Drive, at the entrance to the UIS campus, the house offers an innovative approach for investigators in training to practice real-life encounters and build their confidence before they enter the field.
In November 2015, Dr. Betsy Goulet, the child advocacy studies (CAST) coordinator at UIS and other administrators from the university held a fundraiser to promote the Residential Simulation Lab. On Feb. 3, the first group of investigators entered the lab, participating in their first simulation. In the lab, there are cameras in every room allowing participants awaiting their turn to see what is going on as each simulation takes place.
UIS chancellor Susan Koch praised the program as part of the school’s vision to “make a difference in the world.”
“That admirable ambition lies at the heart of this new program that is coming to life this year in a small, long-vacant house on the UIS campus that formerly housed the campus credit union,” Koch said.
The story was reported by the Illinois Times on February 11, 2016.
Read the article online.
The first statewide simulation lab for child abuse and neglect opened last week at the University of Illinois Springfield, helping new investigators learn how to pinpoint abuse.
In an interview with Illinois Times, George Sheldon, director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, discussed the drawbacks of not having experiential training prior to this program.
“One of the shortcomings of DCFS has been providing ongoing experiential training,” said Sheldon. “From my experience, 50 percent of cases involving a child who was allegedly abused get returned from administrative judges. This is due to investigators not asking the right questions.”
On Feb. 1, the University of Illinois Springfield opened the first Residential Simulation Lab (RSL) in Illinois to be used as a training site for state-certified DCFS investigators. Located on West Lake Shore Drive, at the entrance to the UIS campus, the house offers an innovative approach for investigators in training to practice real-life encounters and build their confidence before they enter the field.
In November 2015, Dr. Betsy Goulet, the child advocacy studies (CAST) coordinator at UIS and other administrators from the university held a fundraiser to promote the Residential Simulation Lab. On Feb. 3, the first group of investigators entered the lab, participating in their first simulation. In the lab, there are cameras in every room allowing participants awaiting their turn to see what is going on as each simulation takes place.
UIS chancellor Susan Koch praised the program as part of the school’s vision to “make a difference in the world.”
“That admirable ambition lies at the heart of this new program that is coming to life this year in a small, long-vacant house on the UIS campus that formerly housed the campus credit union,” Koch said.
The story was reported by the Illinois Times on February 11, 2016.
Read the article online.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Lincoln and voting rights topic of lectures Oct. 15 at UIS
Lincoln and voting rights is the topic at the 13th annual Lincoln Legacy Lectures, which will be Oct. 15 at the University of Illinois Springfield.
The event, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brookens Auditorium at UIS, is free and open to the public, with no reservation required.
Featured speakers are Michael Vorenberg, associate professor of history at Brown University, and Ronald Keith Gaddie, chair of the political science department at the University of Oklahoma. Vorenberg’s talk will involve a view of voting rights from the Civil War era. He is author of “Final Freedom: The Civil War, The Abolition of Slavery, and the Thirteenth Amendment,” which was published in 2004. Gaddie will discusss citizenship and voting rights in the modern era. He is co-author of “The Triumph of Voting Rights in the South,” published in 2009, and another University of Oklahoma Press book, to be released in 2016: “The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act.”
The lecture series is designed to bring nationally known scholars to Springfield to discuss topics that engaged Abraham Lincoln and the citizens of his era and are still timely today. A lead sponsor of the series is the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership.
This article appeared online in The State Journal-Register on October 6, 2015.
Read the entire article here.
The event, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Brookens Auditorium at UIS, is free and open to the public, with no reservation required.
Featured speakers are Michael Vorenberg, associate professor of history at Brown University, and Ronald Keith Gaddie, chair of the political science department at the University of Oklahoma. Vorenberg’s talk will involve a view of voting rights from the Civil War era. He is author of “Final Freedom: The Civil War, The Abolition of Slavery, and the Thirteenth Amendment,” which was published in 2004. Gaddie will discusss citizenship and voting rights in the modern era. He is co-author of “The Triumph of Voting Rights in the South,” published in 2009, and another University of Oklahoma Press book, to be released in 2016: “The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act.”
The lecture series is designed to bring nationally known scholars to Springfield to discuss topics that engaged Abraham Lincoln and the citizens of his era and are still timely today. A lead sponsor of the series is the UIS Center for State Policy and Leadership.
This article appeared online in The State Journal-Register on October 6, 2015.
Read the entire article here.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Local employer optimism highest since the recession
A survey released Thursday finds Sangamon County employers are more optimistic on the future of the local economy than at anytime since the end of the recession.
As if to confirm the results, a separate report Thursday put Springfield unemployment at a seven-year low of 5.3 percent in March.
The University of Illinois Springfield survey of expectations in the coming year of nearly 250 private, government and not-for-profit organizations found more optimism on employment, sales, capital investments and the overall health of the local economy. The telephone survey, which also is done in the fall, was conducted from March 5 to March 26.
Optimism was highest since the spring-fall surveys began in 2008, a year after the national recession ended, said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research. Kirzinger said employer expectations continued to fall through 2009 before starting a gradual improvement, only to drop again in the fall of 2012.
"This is the first big uptick," Kirzinger said.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on April 24, 2015.
Read the article online
As if to confirm the results, a separate report Thursday put Springfield unemployment at a seven-year low of 5.3 percent in March.
The University of Illinois Springfield survey of expectations in the coming year of nearly 250 private, government and not-for-profit organizations found more optimism on employment, sales, capital investments and the overall health of the local economy. The telephone survey, which also is done in the fall, was conducted from March 5 to March 26.
Optimism was highest since the spring-fall surveys began in 2008, a year after the national recession ended, said Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research. Kirzinger said employer expectations continued to fall through 2009 before starting a gradual improvement, only to drop again in the fall of 2012.
"This is the first big uptick," Kirzinger said.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on April 24, 2015.
Read the article online
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Second survey in UIS series to focus on education
The second in a series of surveys conducted every two years of residents in Sangamon County will focus on education.
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy & Leadership, the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln and the United Way of Central Illinois have partnered to conduct the 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey.
The survey was first conducted in 2013 and is planned every two years for the next eight years.
Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, said the overall survey was designed to focus on nine areas of quality of life, but each iteration from here on out will also go more in depth on one topic.
Organizers chose education based on findings from the 2013 survey that showed residents believe education plays an important role in improving Sangamon County, she said.
“We’re trying to dissect the 'why' aspect,” Kirzinger said. “Why do Sangamon County residents care, and what about education do they want us to play close attention to?”
The survey combines a traditional telephone poll with a survey of cell-phone users. The final sample will include more than 500 randomly selected county residents and takes about 20 minutes to complete.
The story was published by The State Journal-Register on April 22, 2015.
Read the full article online
The University of Illinois Springfield Center for State Policy & Leadership, the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln and the United Way of Central Illinois have partnered to conduct the 2015 Sangamon County Citizen Survey.
The survey was first conducted in 2013 and is planned every two years for the next eight years.
Ashley Kirzinger, director of the UIS Survey Research Office, said the overall survey was designed to focus on nine areas of quality of life, but each iteration from here on out will also go more in depth on one topic.
Organizers chose education based on findings from the 2013 survey that showed residents believe education plays an important role in improving Sangamon County, she said.
“We’re trying to dissect the 'why' aspect,” Kirzinger said. “Why do Sangamon County residents care, and what about education do they want us to play close attention to?”
The survey combines a traditional telephone poll with a survey of cell-phone users. The final sample will include more than 500 randomly selected county residents and takes about 20 minutes to complete.
The story was published by The State Journal-Register on April 22, 2015.
Read the full article online
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