Accelerating Change

Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice, & Innovation

Brightpoint created the Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice & Innovation in 2013 as the center of gravity where the agency’s practice and strategy experience, insights into innovative programming, and focus on policy and advocacy combine to accelerate change.  

We utilize the collective voices, skills, and wisdom of our staff, volunteers, and advocacy partners to actively engage our lawmakers, rule makers, and supporters by providing education and information to ensure sound public policies on behalf of children and families.

We Aim To

Advance

Advance state and federal public policies that remove barriers and create opportunities for children and families.

Improve

Improve the quality of services – inside and outside of Brightpoint – available to vulnerable children and families.

Incubate

Incubate innovative practices to improve out-comes and inform public policies.

Advocacy

Through our Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice and Innovation, Brightpoint utilizes the collective voices, skills and wisdom of our staff, volunteers and advocacy partners to actively engage our law-makers, rule makers, and supporters by providing education and information to ensure sounds public policies on behalf of children and families.

Legislative Accomplishments

Since its founding, The Ahlquist Center has advocated for policy and systems changes and collaborated with partners to transform children, family, and youth services across Illinois. In recent years, we have placed a focus on the intersection of child welfare and early care and education, supporting family in meeting their basic needs, and economic opportunity for all.

Championed:

Public Act 102-1029 Pilot Program Additional Resources for families in Extended Family Support Program 

Expands the resources available to families caring for their relative children through DCFS’ Extended Family Support Program to ensure they don’t enter foster care. The resources include home visiting, parent mentors, and wrap-around case management services. We’re excited about this pilot program as it is directly related to our Blueprint for Impact and provides opportunity for the state to invest more in prevention-focused programs to keep children from entering foster care. 

Public Act 100-0818 Youth Budget Commission and Fiscal Scan 

This bill created a yearly fiscal scan of public funding to services to youth ages eight to 25 and established the Youth Budget Commission to oversee the development of the fiscal scan and to make policy and program recommendations to the General Assembly. 

Public Act 100-0860 Child Care Assistance for Intact Families  

This bill provides families with children ages zero to five with an indicated case of abuse and neglect access to free- or low-cost child care through the Child Care Assistance Program while they are in the DCFS Intact Family Services program. Families retain their access to child care for six months after leaving the Intact program. Allowing families in the child welfare system to access subsidized child care aligns Illinois with the vast majority of states. 

In Collaboration:

Public Act 102-0700: Expanded Earned Income Credit 

Permanently expands the Earned Income Credit in Illinois including more Illinoisans in its eligibility and increasing the credit amount to a 20 percent match of the federal credit. Brightpoint worked closely with the Illinois Cost-of- Living Refund Coalition to achieve this monumental change. 

Public Act 100-0860: Child Care for Young Children Involved in the Child Welfare System 

Provides families with children ages zero to five and at risk of entering foster care access to free- or low-cost child care through the Child Care Assistance Program while they are in the DCFS Intact Family Services program. Families retain their access to child care for six months after leaving the Intact program to provide ongoing support. Brightpoint worked closely with Start Early, Illinois Action for Children, and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless on this legislation.  

Testimonies

As part of our advocacy work, The Ahlquist Center and Brightpoint staff are always honored to testify before our elected officials on legislation and issues impacting our children, youth, and families.

2023

October 30th, 2023 – ISBE Budget Testimony

April 26th, 2023 Testimony Before Senate Appropriations Health And Human Services Commitee On SB1294 Creating A Diaper Allowance For Illinois Families

March 8th, 2023 Testimony Before House Human Services Committee On HB1347 Creating A Diaper Allowance For Illinois Families

March 22nd, 2023 Testimony Before House Human Services Appropriations Committee On DHS Budget

March 22nd, 2023 Testimony Before Senate Early Childhood Committee And House Child Care Access And Availability Committee On Home Visiting Programs In Illinois

2022

February 8th, 2022 Testimony Before Senate Health Committee On SB3747 Expanding CCAP To Cover More Child Welfare Involved Families

February 8th, 2022 Testimony Before Senate Health Committee On SB3853 Increasing Services To Families Receiving Extended Family Support Services

February 9th, 2022 Testimony Before Senate Revenue Committee On SB4057 Reducing The Tax On Diapers And Baby Wipes

February 15th, 2022 Testimony To House Human Services Appropriations Committee On HB4242 Expanding CCAP To Cover More Child Welfare Involved Families

February 24th, 2022 Testimony Before House Human Services Appropriations Committee On DHS Budget

March 11th, 2022 Testimony Before Senate Human Services Commi

October 24th, 2022 ISBE Budget Testimony

Learn More

The Ahlquist Agenda Podcast

Get an inside look at the policies and practices shaping the field and our work on key issues to advance change in the public sector to reimage systems and support children, youth, and families on their journey to thrive.   

Youth Budget Commission

The Youth Budget Commission brings together a diverse group of youth and young adult policy and practice professionals appointed by the Governor to examine the impact of the State’s budget on youth across Illinois. 

Our Projects

Brightpoint, through its Ahlquist Center for Policy, Practice, & Innovation, works with state government and partner organizations to develop and implement programs to enrich the lives of youth and families. 

 

Coming Soon! 

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