^{The Direct Service Child Welfare Employee Licensure Board}

Responsibilities

Illinois statute established a nine-member Child Welfare Employee License Board to hold the final decision-making authority on suspension, revocation or reinstatement of all Child Welfare Employee Licenses.

The CWEL program provides staff to the Board through the Office on Training and Work Force Development.  The Office of Inspector General, the Office of Legal Services and the Administrative Hearings Unit provide expert advisers to the Board.  The Board also holds authority to design and recommend refinement of the rules governing the whole licensure program to the Department Director.

The Board is represented in review of all incoming licensure complaints and participates in determining whether to initiate an investigation into the matter presented.

Terms of Appointment to the Board

No one person may serve longer than six consecutive years.  Board appointment terms are staggered so that three members will serve for one more years, three members will serve for two more years and three will serve for three years.  Board members are appointed to three year terms by the IDCFS Director.

Board Composition

The Child Welfare Employee Licensing Board has nine member representatives.  These are:

n        Five professionals licensed within their respective professions, with at least two from the not-for-profit sector and one from the public sector

n        Two faculty members of an accredited university with child welfare experience

n        Two members of the general public who clearly represent consumer interest

   Members of the Direct Services Child Welfare Employee Licensing Board                                                    (January 1, 2004)