Social Services Advisory Council Agenda and Minutes - 06/22/23

AGENDA

Thursday, June 22, 2023; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

In-Person Strategic Planning Meeting

IDHS Chicago Office, 401 S. Clinton Street, 7th Floor Conference Room,

Chicago, IL 60607

Webex Video Conference

Join by Phone: 1-312-535-8110 Access Code: 2633 325 7921

  1. Welcome & Introductions
  2. IDHS Updates
    1. Budget
    2. New Personnel
    3. Legislative Initiatives
    4. Program Updates
    5. SSAC Membership and Vacancies Update
  3. Public Comment*
  4. Approval of Meeting Minutes/Roll Call: April 6, 2023
  5. Subcommittee Updates
  6. Discussion & Approval of Committee Charge/Actionable Goals
  7. Group Discussion
    1. Behavior Health Equity
    2. Violence Prevention Services
    3. Asylum Seekers
  8. Breakout Session - Regional Conversations & Summary
  9. FY2024 Strategic Planning
    1. Workplan
    2. Meeting Calendar
  10. Housekeeping
  11. Adjournment

* If you would like to submit a public comment, please email your comment to Kari.Branham2@Illinois.gov by 8:00 AM on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

MEETING MINUTES

Council Members in Attendance: Dayo Adenekan, CILA Corporation; Quiwana Bell, Chair, Westside Health Authority; Mary Camper, Habilitative Systems; Sherrie Crabb, Arrowleaf (Webex) ; AJ French, Gift of Voice; Christa Hamilton, UCAN; Angie Hampton, Vice Chair, Egyptian Health Department; Mike Inman, Mayor of Macomb (Webex); Bela Mote, Carole Robertson Center for Learning (Webex); Sylvia Dulce Ortiz, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center; Debbie Pavick, Thresholds; Jeremy Rosen, Shriver Center on Poverty Law (Webex); Loren Simmons, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; Sandy Tiania, Health Care Service Corporation (Webex)

Committee Members Not in Attendance: Carlene Cardosi, Rosencrance; Maria Joy Ferrera, DePaul University School of Social Work; Ireta Gasner, Start Early; Barbara Harris, Center for Community Academic Success Partnerships (CCASP); Niya Kelly, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Yesenia Lopez, Cook County Commissioner Alma Anaya; Dan Lustig, Haymarket Center; Jodi Martin, Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County/Prairie Central; Sylvia Puente, Latino Policy Forum; Frances Reyes, The Center for Prevention of Abuse; Itedal Shalabi, Arab American Family Services;

IDHS Staff in Attendance: Secretary Grace B. Hou; Dr. David Albert, Kari Branham, Kirstin Chernawsky, Laura Garcia, Michelle Jenkins, Taneka Jennings, Chief David Jones, Hina Mahmood, Sarah Myerscough-Mueller, Rahnee Patrick, Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Tim Verry, Shelby Weishaar, Emerson Wells

Meeting was called to order by Chair Quiwana Bell at 9:07 AM

  1. Welcome & Introductions
    1. Chair Quiwana Bell welcomed the Council members, IDHS staff, ASL interpreters and guests to the meeting.
    2. Icebreaker
  2. IDHS Updates
    1. Budget
      1. 14.2% increase in funding for DHS
    2.  New Personnel
    3. Legislative Initiatives
      1. Legislative Director Jenkins and Assistant Director Jennings provided updates.
    4. Program Updates
    5. SSAC Membership and Vacancies Update
      1. We currently have 5 vacancies as statute is 30 members Will be reaching out to members regarding their desire to serve.
  3. Public Comment
    1. Public comment submitted by Elvina Stegall CEO Lakar Enterprise regarding DHS SUPR payments to providers.
  4. Approval of Meeting Minutes/Roll Call: April 6, 2023
    1. Member Mary Camper motioned to approve, and Member Dulce Ortiz seconded.
    2. The council voted unanimously to approve.
  5. Subcommittee Updates
    1. Member attendance and responses to DHS Liaisons are necessary.
    2. Health & Wellness Committee Charge
      1. Secretary Hou recommends possible committee assistance with TGNB health equity program.
      2. Secretary Hou recommends collaboration on Dignity and Pay Act.
      3. As DHS works on projects, they can bring them to the committee for assistance.
    3. Outreach, Engagement, Equity, and Policy Committee Charge
      1. Focusing on outreach and engagement with a focus on communication. How IDHS can better communicate with customers.
      2. Asking for IDHS Leadership to attend a subcommittee meeting to discuss communications policies.
      3. Secretary Hou welcomes the committee to work with DHS Communications and the Office of Hispanic and Latino Affairs.
      4. DHS is actively working on communications regarding Medicaid redeterminations.
    4. Response, Recovery, and Innovation Committee Charge
      1. Working to develop a defined One Stop Shop.
      2. Data collection methods and standardized survey for clients and providers.
      3. Address struggles that providers are experiencing.
  6. Discussion & Approval of Committee Charge/Actionable Goals
    1. Chair Bell proposes to use the SSAC meetings to have a committee report out. So, every time subcommittees meet with DHS, we should have a conversation on issues and actionable steps that SSAC proposes, and DHS gives feedback.
    2. Chair Bell expressed that the DHS liaisons have been inconsistent in the past and not always able to answer questions as they arise.
    3. Member French asks HW Committee to reconsider one of their goals. Mental Health First Aid can have an adverse impact. She asks for further consideration to WRAP. It teaches people to examine their own health and wellness. HW Committee is currently brainstorming and will keep this in mind.
    4. Sec Hou would like SSAC to invite DHS Directors to relevant subcommittee meetings.
    5. DHS/Secretary Hou can begin sharing information between these quarterly meetings to open additional communication on projects/happenings as they are occurring or coming up.
    6. We need to prioritize what we communicate between IDHS and SSAC. Subcommittees should have a focus point on what they want to present to DHS at the SSAC quarterly meetings for DHS to properly respond.
    7. One Stop Shop is the highest priority in the FSC strategic plan. Feedback from the Committees will be helpful to FCS. DRS has been working for over a year with FSC for referrals between their divisions to begin this effort.
    8. Member asked a question regarding members who do not attend, will they be released from the council or remain? Kari and Chair Bell will check into bylaws for member attendance.
    9. Motion to approve all Committee Charges by Member Mary Camper and seconded by Member Debbie Pavick seconded. The council voted unanimously to approve the charges.
    10. Actionable goals will still require updating.
  7. Group Discussion
    1. Behavior Health Equity
      1. Presentation by Chief David Jones
      2. Discussion regarding progress on collaboration between internal DHS Divisions and DHS with DPH and HFS.
    2. Violence Prevention Services
      1. RPSA presentation by Senior Policy Advisor LaTanya Law
    3. Asylum Seekers
      1. Presentation by Associate Secretary Kirstin Chernawsky and Senior Policy Advisor Emerson Wells
  8. Breakout Session - Regional Conversations & Summary
    1. This agenda item was tabled due to time restraints.
  9. FY2024 Strategic Planning
    1. Workplan
    2. Meeting Calendar
    3. This agenda item was tabled due to time restraints.
  10. Housekeeping
    1. Reminder to complete training. 
    2. Will allow more time for agenda items at the next meeting and ask for feedback regarding meeting times.
  11. Adjournment
    1. Member French motioned to adjourn and seconded by Member Camper. Unanimously approved. The council adjourned at 12:05 pm.