Ann McCabe to Join Illinois Commerce Commission

CHICAGO - March 16, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced his appointment of Ann McCabe to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Today's action is the latest in a series of appointments Governor Quinn will make as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, economic development, and increasing efficiency and accountability in all areas of state government.

"Ann McCabe brings a wide range of experience to the commission, and I am confident her strong leadership will enhance the essential regulatory and consumer protections the ICC provides every day," Governor Quinn said. "I look forward to Ann using her extensive expertise to make sure Illinois consumers of all sizes have reliable, safe and affordable public utility services."

McCabe has 30 years of experience dealing with energy and environmental policy in government and the non-profit and private sectors. She is currently a principal in her own consulting firm where she has analyzed policies and regulations affecting fuels and refineries in Illinois, Indiana and across the Midwest. She previously served as Midwest regional director for The Climate Registry and assisted the city of Chicago with presenting its Climate Action Plan to the business community.

"It's an honor to be appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission, and I would like to thank Governor Quinn," Ms. McCabe said. "I look forward to helping ensure that Illinois balances the needs and interests of consumers and businesses across the state."

Additionally, McCabe previously served as partner and treasurer of Policy Solutions Ltd, where she worked on environmental and energy-related projects for corporations, trade associations, non-profits and foundations. She also managed policy and regulatory issues for BP (formerly Amoco). Her prior Illinois government experience includes serving as a budget analyst responsible for the Department of Natural Resources, an assistant to an ICC commissioner and associate director of Illinois' Washington D.C. office, where she developed positions on amendments to the federal Clean Air Act.

McCabe is a board member of the Illinois Environmental Council and a founding member of the Foresight Sustainable Business Alliance, as well as a past president of Chicago Women in Government Relations. She has a bachelor's degree from Williams College and a master's degree in public policy from the Harris School at the University of Chicago.

The Illinois Commerce Commission acts as a bridge between consumers and Illinois' utility companies, seeking an appropriate balance between the interests of consumers and service providers in order to ensure adequate, efficient, reliable, safe and low-cost public utility services for all citizens of Illinois.

 

 

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New Appointees to Bring Fresh Leadership to Vital Economic Engine

CHICAGO - March 6, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today continued his efforts to grow our economy by announcing four new appointments to the Illinois Medical District Commission (IMDC), which oversees the largest urban medical district in the country. Jennifer Woodard, James Clewlow, Meredith O'Connor and Blake Sercye will join the board that also includes two appointees designated by the mayor of Chicago and one designated by the president of the Cook County Board.

"Cutting-edge, health-related fields, such as biotechnology, are important economic engines in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "For Illinois and the city of Chicago to remain at the forefront of these fields, we need to have leaders who will spur job creation and economic development by providing the vision and oversight necessary to identifying opportunities and investments that will benefit everyone."

The IMDC, formally established in 1941, develops and manages the 560-acre Illinois Medical District (IMD) in Chicago, which has 20,000 employees working in hospitals, health clinics, research labs and the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) - the nation's largest medical school, and the state's largest biotechnology complex. The IMD supports 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, while generating $3.3 billion in economic activity and more than $100 million in state and local taxes. The IMD is funded through property sales and lease proceeds and cannot levy taxes.

 

Jennifer Woodard is associate vice chancellor in the Office of External Affairs at UIC. During her 14 years at UIC, Woodard has lead numerous initiatives focused on bringing support to the academic, research and service missions of the campus. Prior to joining UIC, she practiced law, specializing in corporate and international corporate matters. She has served on several non-profit arts and service organization boards, including Chicago Opera Theater, El Valor and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. She holds degrees in English literature and history from the University of North Dakota and a juris doctorate from the Northwestern University School of Law.

James Clewlow has served as chief investment officer for CenterPoint since January of 2005, after serving as senior vice president of investments. He joined CenterPoint in 1997 and oversees investment activity for the company. Mr. Clewlow has been involved in industrial real estate since graduating from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1985. He worked for CBRE as an industrial real estate broker for 11 years serving the Chicago area and joined CenterPoint in an acquisitions capacity. Mr. Clewlow received his master's degree in business administration from Kellogg's Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Meredith O'Connor is the managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle's Midwest Region. Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, O'Connor was the deputy director of business development at World Business Chicago (WBC), a public-private economic development corporation comprised of more than 20 top executives from many of Chicago's leading companies. She spent more than 10 years as deputy commissioner with the city of Chicago where she founded a new unit in the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to advocate for science and technology-based economic development. She also held several other city positions, including assistant to the mayor and was appointed as the youngest-ever assistant sergeant at arms for the Chicago City Council. Ms. O'Connor holds a master's of business administration in finance from Loyola University's Graduate School of Business.

Blake P. Sercye is an associate in the litigation department at Jenner & Block.  Prior to joining the firm, Sercye handled family law, sealing and expungement matters as a PILI Fellow at the Chicago Legal Clinic in the city's Austin neighborhood. He serves on the board of directors for the Umoja Student Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that provides tutoring and college preparatory counseling for inner city high school students. He is also a member of Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School's Young Leader's Council, the Chicago Westside Branch of the NAACP and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Sercye earned his juris doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a member of The University of Chicago Legal Forum and the Black Law Students Association. He received a bachelor's degree in politics with honors from Princeton University.

 

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Andrew Boron to Lead Department of Insurance

CHICAGO - January 27, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a top appointment to his executive cabinet by naming Andrew Boron as director of the Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI). Today's action is the latest in a series of appointments Governor Quinn will make as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, economic development and increasing efficiency and accountability in all areas of state government.

"Andrew Boron brings a wide range of experience to the Department of Insurance, and I am confident his strong leadership will enhance the essential regulatory and consumer protections DOI provides," Governor Quinn said. "I want to thank the acting directors for their excellent work while we conducted this nationwide search."

In addition to its regulatory obligations, DOI was instrumental in last year's workers' compensation overhaul, expected to save businesses $500 million a year, while protecting essential protections for injured workers. The agency is also instrumental in implementing the Affordable Care Act, and will manage the state's health insurance exchange.

Mr. Boron brings a career of insurance, governmental and private sector experience to DOI. He returns to state government after working as vice president and counsel at the ACE Group, where he served as primary liaison to the Departments of Insurance in nine states, including Illinois. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Illinois Toll Highway Authority between 2009 and 2010. Boron began his career at CNA Financial, serving as counsel and then director of state government relations.

Mr. Boron holds a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin and a juris doctorate from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1998. Boron is married and has two children.

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Federal Funding Award to Advance K-12 Reforms, Improve Student Achievement and Boost Science Technology Engineering, Math (STEM) Learning Across Illinois

CHICAGO - December 23, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced Illinois earned a $42.8 million federal grant under the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top (RTTT) program to help bolster Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education across the state and other work to close the achievement gap. Half of those funds- about $21 million -will go directly to the state's local districts that agree to accelerate education reform. Illinois is one of seven states in the nation to be awarded a portion of the $200 million in federal funds, which will be distributed through the 2013-14 school year to benefit K-12 students.

"The best long-term economic tool is a good education," Governor Quinn said. "As Illinois continues to pursue a strong education reform agenda, this grant allows us to continue to reach for improved scores, higher graduation rates and a system that produces graduates who are well prepared for the 21st century job market."

"Education in Illinois is undergoing a sea change aimed to ensure new generations of students become better prepared for college and careers," said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. "These federal funds will help support the many efforts under way so that children across the state will have greater access to a quality education."

Illinois applied for the grant and was declared eligible for funds as one of nine finalists in the second round of RTTT. The grant application reflects the priorities of the previous two RTTT applications and ongoing work under the state's current reform agenda, which includes implementing the new rigorous Common Core Learning Standards in Math and English Language Arts, advancing teacher and principal effectiveness and providing educators with data that can better inform and improve classroom instruction. Among the initiatives is advancing STEM programs of study and developing a system of induction and mentoring for STEM educators.

"These federal funds will help support Illinois' ongoing work to implement new practices in the classroom during the next several years that aim to improve student learning and close the achievement gap," said Illinois State Board of Education Chairman Gery J. Chico. "An investment in education and our long-term reforms is an investment in children's well being and our state's economic future."

Other projects to be funded include the oversight and delivery of professional development to help align district curriculum to the new Common Core Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Math and high quality student assessments that can be used to measure student growth and be incorporated into educator evaluations.

Funds will also be used to bolster ongoing development of a data system that supports personalized learning and access to high quality resources. Specifically, Illinois has been selected to be one of the first states to implement the Shared Learning Infrastructure, a multi-state collaborative to develop a next-generation technology system that will enable teachers to easily find high-quality and highly-customizable curriculum and classroom resources aligned to the Common Core Standards.

The six other states awarded funds under the third Race to the Top Competition are: Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. To learn more about the Race to the Top and Illinois' plan for the $42.8 million, please visit http://www.isbe.net/racetothetop/PDF/phase3_app.pdf .

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CHICAGO - December 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement praising a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) rule that will dramatically decrease the amount of harmful mercury released into the air:

 

"High levels of mercury pose serious health risks, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure clean, healthy air for generations. I would like to thank President Obama and the USEPA for their mercury and air toxics standards rule.

 

"In Illinois, we have seen the benefits of enacting stringent requirements for reducing mercury emissions over the last several years. As a result, thousands of pounds of harmful mercury emissions have been kept out of our air. The President's action will protect millions of Americans from these dangerous emissions just like we have been doing in Illinois."

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New Research Facility will Support Innovation and Create 200 High-tech Illinois Jobs

BATAVIA - December 16, 2011. Officials from the administration of Governor Pat Quinn today announced $20 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding for the design and construction of a new accelerator research facility at Fermilab. Ground was broken today on the new facility, which will be part of Fermilab's Illinois Accelerator Research Center (IARC) complex. The complex will be a state-of-the-art facility for research, development and industrialization of particle accelerator technology, creating 200 high-tech jobs.

"In Illinois we understand the importance of investing in cutting-edge technologies, which not only boosts our economy, but also secures our role as a major competitor in the global marketplace," Governor Quinn said. "The best minds in the world are right here, and today we are investing in our future by ensuring that the latest groundbreaking particle research activities will continue to come from Illinois."

The IARC project is being funded jointly by the state of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science (DOE). Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), $20 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding was awarded to Fermilab for the design and construction of a new building that will form part of the IARC complex. The DOE is also providing $13 million to Fermilab to refurbish an existing heavy industrial building that will be incorporated into the complex, adding 36,000 square feet of specialized work space.

"The IARC facility will help fuel innovation by developing advanced technologies, strengthening ties with industry and training the scientists of tomorrow," said William Brinkman, the director of the DOE's Office of Science. "The Department of Energy welcomes the opportunity to partner with the state of Illinois and looks forward to seeing IARC come to fruition."

On behalf of Governor Quinn, DCEO Director Warren Ribley joined DOE and Fermilab officials today at the IARC groundbreaking ceremony to announce funding from the Governor's capital program for the project.

"The IARC facility positions Illinois at the forefront of the world-wide effort to develop cutting-edge accelerator technologies," said Director Ribley. "It also reinforces the Quinn Administration's commitment to supporting innovation in Illinois, as well as the creation of 200 high-tech jobs in addition to construction jobs."

The IARC is expected to create 200 new high-tech jobs and will be located in the heart of the industrial area of the Fermilab campus in Batavia. The facility will provide 42,000 square feet of technical, office and educational space for scientists and engineers from Fermilab, DOE's Argonne National Laboratory, local universities and industrial partners. The IARC complex will help develop private industry partnerships for the commercial and industrial application of accelerator technology for energy and the environment, medicine, industry, national security and discovery science. The IARC will also offer unique advanced educational opportunities to a new generation of Illinois engineers and scientists and will help attract top scientists from around the world.

"A focused effort and strengthened partnerships between government and industry is required for the United States to remain competitive in accelerator science and technology," said Fermilab Director Pier Oddone. "IARC will greatly enhance accelerator research and innovation at Fermilab and strengthen our capability to host new international projects. We will also broaden our economic impact on Illinois by working with industry and universities on advanced R&D with many commercial and scientific applications."

Today's particle accelerators address many of the challenges confronting the U.S. in the areas of sustainable energy, a cleaner environment, economic security, health care and national defense. The accelerators of tomorrow have the potential to make still greater contributions. The IARC will be utilized as incubator space for emerging accelerator technologies, providing a central point for cutting-edge accelerator research and industrialization.

"This is an exciting project for the state. It links our research capability with businesses in Illinois and will help boost innovation while bringing much needed jobs to Illinoisans," said State Rep. Mike Fortner (R-West Chicago).

As part of his continued commitment to boosting innovation in Illinois, Governor Quinn launched the Illinois Innovation Council (www.IllinoisInnovation.com) in February to ensure the state remains on the cutting-edge in the global economy. The council is actively working to promote the role and importance of innovation in economic development and quality of life; convene and partner with academic, business and governments to evaluate and recommend initiatives to improve support for innovation, and align public and private resources.

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Welcome Home Heroes Offers Up to $10,000 Plus Federal Tax Credit to

Help Servicemembers and Veterans Purchase Their Own Home

CHICAGO - December 14, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today launched the Welcome Home Heroes program to promote homeownership for Illinois Veterans, active military personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members. The financing package is available statewide, and provides a forgivable grant up to $10,000 toward the purchase of a new home, as well as an additional mortgage tax credit up to $20,000 over the life of the loan. Welcome Home Heroes will make homeownership even more affordable for thousands of military families and create more than 400 jobs throughout Illinois.

"The Welcome Home Heroes program honors and celebrates those who safeguard our freedom by providing them with an affordable path to homeownership," Governor Quinn said. "Our servicemembers returning home from overseas deserve our help as they put down roots in their community and begin building a civilian life with their families."

 

Welcome Home Heroes is open to all qualified Illinois Veterans. Active military personnel, reservists and Illinois National Guard members must be first-time buyers. The Welcome Home Heroes homebuyer financing package includes a forgivable $10,000 grant for down-payment and closing cost assistance, an affordable interest rate (4 percent as of today) for a secure 30-year fixed rate mortgage, and a mortgage credit certificate worth up to approximately $20,000 for the life of the loan.

"Welcome Home Heroes furthers Governor Quinn's commitment to sustaining affordable homeownership opportunities available through the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)," said IHDA Executive Director Mary Kenney. "IHDA has helped nearly 60,000 low- to moderate-income families buy a home, and now we can help even more families attain homeownership."

Welcome Home Heroes is funded through $5 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital funds and $5 million from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In addition to creating homeownership opportunities, the Welcome Home Heroes financing package will stimulate statewide economic activity. The $10 million investment will generate an estimated:

  • 405 full-time jobs
  • $16.7 million from real estate-related industries
  • More than $5.3 million in economic activity for the state
  • Additional $10.6 million in other statewide spending

"Many National Guard, Reserve and active-duty Soldiers come back from deployment and face hard times," said Maj. Gen. William L. Enyart, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "Programs such as this homeownership initiative will go a long way toward helping these men and women achieve the American dream. They fought for it and they deserve it."

"As Veterans transition to civilian life, the Welcome Home Heroes homebuyer package assists those who want to find a safe and affordable way to buy a home," said Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Erica Borggren.

 

Welcome Home Heroes program builds on IHDA's existing affordable home loan program, SmartMove, also available through IHDA's lenders. Income thresholds and purchase price limits apply. Administered by the IHDA, the package applies to 1-2 unit residential properties that are located in the State of Illinois and are purchased as a primary residence.

Interested Veterans, servicemembers and their families can contact a lender in their area to apply. The Welcome Home Heroes application is free. A list of lenders is available at www.ihda.org/homeowner/heroes.htm.

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CHICAGO - December 13, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement regarding today's passage of the Economic Growth and Tax Reform Package:

"Before veto session, we brought the leaders to the table with the goal of delivering economic growth and tax reform for both hard-working families and employers. The package that is on the way to my desk is a win for workers and a win for employers in Illinois.

"At its core, this package is about jobs. By doubling the Earned Income Tax Credit, we are supporting job creation and putting more money in the pockets of everyday working people, which allows them to spend those dollars at local businesses in their communities. Improving the value of the standard personal exemption is an effective tool that benefits all taxpayers and also makes our tax code more fair. The Research and Development Tax Credit and other small business tax credits included in this package will help spur job creation, investment and economic development all over the state.

"Investing in working families and employers is a good investment for Illinois. This package is the result of a bipartisan effort and diligent work by many. I commend the Senate, Senate President John Cullerton, Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Sen. Toi Hutchinson for their hard work to pass a package that will provide much-needed relief to working families in Illinois and help employers put more people back to work."

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Federal TIGER Grant Program Funding Will Support Three Illinois Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 12, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Jerry Costello (D-IL), Mayors Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Tom Hoechst of Alton today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $44,288,000 in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant funding for three Illinois projects in the Chicagoland area and Alton. The grants represent approximately 8 percent of total funding available through the program.

Today's announcement follows Governor Quinn's recent trip to Washington D.C. to meet with the state congressional delegation where they discussed avenues where Illinois and the federal government can work more closely together to benefit the state's 13 million residents.

"This investment is just one of the many results of the outstanding cooperation between local, state, and the federal government that will keep Illinois strong," said Governor Quinn. "This funding will strengthen our state's transportation system that is vital to growing our economy and creating jobs. I want to thank Sen. Durbin and Rep. Costello for their continued leadership in Washington on behalf of Illinois."

"Two years ago, I worked in the Senate to develop the TIGER grant program which gives local communities and mayors the ability to apply directly to the federal government to fund projects that they identify as having a positive economic impact on their community," said Durbin. "Illinois has benefitted greatly from the TIGER grant program due to the hard work of local officials and organizations in close coordination with the state and federal government. These investments will create hundreds of good-paying jobs across our state."

"This is an important regional and national project that will make our transportation system more efficient and fully leverage the impact of high speed rail," said Costello. "Linking together all of our modes - rail, highways, waterways and aviation - is critical for economic development and job creation. The City of Alton and the entire bi-state region is perfectly located to be a transportation hub and this funding will further these goals. I have worked closely with city officials and Secretary LaHood on this project, and I will continue to support efforts to modernize our transportation infrastructure."

The following projects will receive funding under today's announcement:

$13,850,000 - Multimodal Transportation Center in Alton, Illinois

Today's TIGER grant funding for the Madison County Transit Board of Trustees and the City of Alton will help create a Multimodal Transportation Center in conjunction with the new High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail station in Alton, Illinois. The project will support a major expansion of eco-tourism to the Mississippi River region as well as a $72 million public-private investment in the planned Wadlow Town Centre redevelopment project on Homer Adams Parkway.

"I couldn't be more thrilled with the news that the City of Alton and Madison County Transit will receive a TIGER grant for a new multimodal facility," said Alton Mayor Tom Hoechst. "This facility will make taking the new 110 mph Amtrak service more convenient for citizens while spurring economic activity around the area."

The $13,850,000 will help provide roadway and pedestrian access to the new Amtrak station and for construction of the multimodal and related infrastructure. It will also allow Madison County Transit to improve connectivity through the region including Southern Illinois University Edwardsville which attracts more than one-third of its 14,000-student body from metro Chicago and other cities along the high-speed rail corridor.

$20,000,000 - Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line/Chicago Bike Share Program

Today's TIGER grant funding for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will help complete a project to repair 3.6 miles of track on the CTA's Blue Line between Damen Avenue and Belmont Avenue finishing all track improvements between Chicago's Downtown Loop and O'Hare International Airport. The TIGER grant will also help jumpstart Chicago's planned bike-sharing program. This project targets deteriorated track in the remaining area of the Blue Line between the Loop and O'Hare Airport which has not yet been completed. It will alleviate CTA maintenance and operating costs, improve the deteriorated infrastructure and allow for shorter headways between trains. The bike-share program will give Chicagoans access to bike-share facilities at and around CTA bus and rail stations, giving travelers another option to get to their final destination.

"Chicago is a city on the move," said Mayor Emanuel. "Revitalizing and modernizing our infrastructure is critical to creating jobs, maintaining our competitiveness, and enhancing the quality of life of residents throughout the city.  I want to thank Senator Durbin, Representative Luis Gutierrez and the Illinois delegation for their support and recognizing that this TIGER grant will help ensure we provide a solid foundation for the city's future."

Chicago is the only city in America that provides direct rail transit to two major airports. Together, O'Hare and Midway International Airports are the economic engine of the Chicago region, generating 540,000 jobs and $45 billion dollars annually in economic activity. There are more than 1,500 Department of Aviation employees at both airports and about 45,000 airport employees. There are 85 million annual passengers traveling through O'Hare and Midway with 1.13 million annual flights. Many of these employees and passengers take the Blue Line to and from the airports.

The Chicago bike-sharing program partially funded by this TIGER grant will improve the long-term efficiency, reliability, and cost competitiveness in the movement of people. Chicago's bike-share program will foster sustainability by enhancing the public transportation options that support and encourage the development of existing communities. It will also improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Chicago bike-sharing system will improve the environmental sustainability of the Chicago transportation network by improving air quality. Users are expected to take an estimated 2.66 million trips in the first full year of operations and will travel an estimated 3.8 million miles.

$10,438,000 - Illinois Route 83 (Reconstruction of 2 Mile Span)

Today's TIGER Grant funding for the Illinois Department of Transportation will help reconstruct two miles of Illinois Route 83 between Kedzie Avenue and Western Avenue / Dixie Highway with two travel lanes in each direction separated by a median to accommodate left turn lanes. The project, along with the planned interchange between Interstates 57 and 294, will reduce congestion, improve the flow of goods and services throughout the region and create about 135 construction jobs.

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Richard Calica Brings Years of Leadership, Social Work Experience to DCFS

CHICAGO - November 23, 2011. Governor Quinn today announced the appointment of Richard Calica as director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) beginning Dec. 15. Calica is a lifelong social worker with extensive leadership experience in serving children and families throughout the state. A national authority in child welfare and licensed clinical social worker, Calica offers broad expertise in family preservation and support.

"We are committed to ensuring that the children of Illinois have the support and protection they need to become healthy, productive and responsible adults," Governor Quinn said. "Richard Calica's decades of experience in caring for neglected and abused children bolster our efforts towards building a better future for all Illinois children."

"All children deserve the opportunity to grow up in a healthy environment with strong support systems," Richard Calica said. "It is my highest priority to ensure the safety of our children and I am honored to accept this new mission to help and protect children who are abused and neglected."

Richard Calica currently leads the Chicago-based Juvenile Protective Association as executive director, a position he has held for 33 years. In addition to having maintained a private Clinical Social Work practice, Calica has served on the faculty of the Institute for Clinical Social Work and at the Loyola University of Chicago School of Social Work.

Calica served as chairman of the Governor's Task Force on Family Preservation from 1993-1994 under Governor Jim Edgar and currently serves as chair of the DCFS Risk Assessment Advisory Committee. He previously worked at mental health centers and as an instructor at the University of Chicago School Of Social Administration. Calica currently serves on numerous committees related to social work and child welfare.

Calica holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Chicago and completed a post graduate fellowship in clinical social work at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center Division of Psychiatry. He acquired his bachelor's degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. He is a past president of the Child Care Association of Illinois and has served as a consultant for numerous leading child welfare organizations.

DCFS and its private sector partners have safely reduced the number of children in foster care from more than 52,000 in 1997 to less than 15,500 today. The department focus on strengthening families is central to maintaining the safety of youth in state care and the health of the communities they come from. For more information about DCFS, please visit www.state.il.us/dcfs/index.shtml.

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