AGENDA
May 1, 2020; 11:00 AM
WebEx Video Conference: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/j.php?MTID=m39079b5b163060df3f62b336e628704d
Join by Phone: (312) 535-8110
Access Code: 289 817 013
- Welcome & Introductions
- Public Participation *
- Approval of Meeting Minutes: January 24, 2020 Meeting
- Budget Principles
- PPE
- Local Offices
- 24/7 Facilities
- IDHS Resources
- Required Trainings
- Selection of Chair
- Questions + Answers
- Adjourn
* If you would like to submit a public comment, please email your comment to Katlyn.halstead@illinois.gov by 8:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 2020.
MEETING MINUTES
Council Members in Attendance: Dayo Adenekan, CILA Corporation; Adam Ballard, Access Living; Quiwana Bell, Westside Health Authority; Mary Camper, Habilitative Systems; Carlene Cardosi, Rosecrance; Keri Clark, Union County; Sherrie Crabb, IL Partners for Human Service; Ireta Gasner, Ounce of Prevention Fund; Angie Hampton, Egyptian Health Department; Taneka Jennings, HANA Center; Niya Kelly, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Yesenia Lopez, Cook County Commissioner; Dr. Dan Lustig, Haymarket Center; Bela Mote, Carole Robertson Center for Learning; Sergio Obregon, Chicago Public Schools Children and Benefits Management Unit Liaison; Debbie Pavick, Thresholds; Sylvia Puente, Latino Policy Forum; Frances Reyes, The Center for Prevention of Abuse; Jeremy Rosen, Shriver Center on Poverty Law; Itedal Shalabi, Arab American Family Services; Loren Simmons, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago; Maria Whelan, Illinois Action for Children; Michele Worobiec, TASC; Gloria Yen, University YMCA
Council Members Absent: Gillian Darlow, Polk Bros. Foundation; Maria Ferrera, DePaul University; Mike Inman, Mayor of Macomb; Dulce Ortiz, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center
IDHS Staff in Attendance: Tamatha Blair, Director Tiffany Blair, Chief of Staff Ryan Croke, Katlyn Halstead, Secretary Grace Hou, Director Andre Jordan, Sarah Myerscough-Mueller, Director Rahnee Patrick, Assistant Secretary Dulce Quintero, General Counsel John Schomberg, Director Tim Verry
The meeting was called to order by IDHS Secretary Grace Hou at 11:03 AM. Secretary Hou welcomed all attendees and led introductions.
Welcome & Introductions
Secretary Hou spoke about COVID-19, about HHS agencies and providers being at the center of the crisis, and about IDHS's goal of overcommunicating, referring to DHS.Illinois.gov/CV as a resource. She spoke about the impact of COVID-19 on clients, caseloads, and staff and on continuing to focus on saving lives moving forward.
Selection of a Chairperson
IDHS General Counsel John Schomberg outlined the process for selecting a chair. He confirmed the self-nominations of Quiwana Bell and Sergio Obregon. Kerri Clark nominated Angie Hampton, who accepted the nomination. The candidates each spoke and votes were submitted by email. The voting was as follows, with Quiwana Bell being selected as Chair:
Quiwana Bell - Total Votes - 13: Dayo Adenekan, Adam Ballard, Quiwana Bell, Mary Camper, Gillian Darlow, Ireta Gasner, Niya Kelly, Dr. Dan Lustig, Bela Mote, Sylvia Puente, Jeremy Rosen, Itedal Shalabi, Gloria Yen.
Angie Hampton - Total Votes - 6: Keri Clark, Sherrie Crabb, Angie Hampton, Mayor Mike Inman, Fran Reyes, Michele Worobiec.
Sergio Obregon - Total Votes - 4: Carlene Cardosi, Taneka Jennings, Sergio Obregon, Loren Simmons
The Council and Staff discussed the potential future selection of a vice chair.
Public Participation
None received
Approval of 01/24/20 Meeting Minutes
Motion by Maria Whelan to approve, seconded by Itedal Shalabi. The council unanimously voted to approve the meeting minutes.
Budget Principles
The Council and Staff discussed retention payments, maximizing the use of federal dollars and preservation of State dollars (and ensuring no double payments) through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, and the challenges of the FY21 budget.
PPE
The Council and Staff discussed Personal Protective Equipment and the struggles for both the State and providers. IDHS is in daily communication with IEMA, trying to secure resources for community providers and IDHS facilities.
Local Offices
Staff summarized that the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Local Offices (LOs) moved entirely to virtual work. The Division of Family and Community Services (FCS) LOs remain closed to the public, but some offices remain open for those staff who cannot work remotely (93% of staff are working remotely). FCS has regained processing speed and is back up to pre-COVID-19 levels. Applications for SNAP have increased: before the pandemic, average of 2,000 applications per week, now receiving, on average, 8,000 applications per week.
IDHS Resources
Staff stated that IDHS has endeavored to make as many resources available online as possible. You can visit www.DHS.Illinois.Gov/CV to see a chronology of information available to the public, stakeholders, staff, etc. We've recently posted detailed information regarding the Coronavirus cases across our footprint - you can see on a daily basis what the status is for our staff, residents, and patients.
Staff discussed that IDHS has developed a "one-stop" location for the public - "Help is Here." Please visit www.DHS.Illinois.Gov/HelpIsHere, to see housing, food, mental health, and various other resources. Customers can also call (833) 2FIND HELP, a new central helpline created in late March that has been used by 11,000 callers since its inception.
Staff also discussed the Call4Calm program, established by the Divisions of Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. You can text TALK or HABLAR to 552020; within 24 hours, the texter will receive a call from a mental health professional.
Staff also discussed working with the Governor's Office on how to more deeply serve those potentially falling through the cracks of the federal response, e.g. undocumented persons.
Required Trainings
If you have not yet completed your training, Katlyn Halstead will follow up with you.
Adjournment
Sylvia Puente made a motion, seconded by Maria Whelan to adjourn the meeting. The council members unanimously voted to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 11:47 AM.
