Agenda
May 20, 2021; 1:30 PM
WebEx Video Conference: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/j.php?MTID=md744b6fcc09f279757679a0583f63191
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- Welcome & IDHS Updates
- Public Participation *
- Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 25, 2021
- Committee Updates / Committee Discussion
- Special Updates
- Vaccination Update
- IDHS Legislative Update
- Breakout Sessions - Priorities of the SSAC
- Adjournment
* If you would like to submit a public comment, please email your comment to Katlyn.Halstead@illinois.gov by 8:00 AM on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Minutes
Council Members in Attendance: Dayo Adenekan, CILA Corporation; Adam Ballard, AARP Illinois; Quiwana Bell, Chair, Westside Health Authority; Mary Camper, Habilitative Systems; AJ French, Gift of Voice; Ireta Gasner, Start Early; Christa Hamilton, Centers for New Horizons; Angie Hampton, Vice Chair, Egyptian Health Department; Niya Kelly, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Dr. Dan Lustig, Haymarket Center; Jodi Martin, Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County/Prairie Central; Bela Motè, Carole Robertson Center for Learning; Sergio Obregón, Chicago Public Schools; Dulce Ortiz, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center; 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; Sandy Tiania, Health Care Service Corporation; Gloria Yen, University YMCA
Council Members not in Attendance: Carlene Cardosi, Rosecrance; Sherrie Crabb, Arrowleaf; Gillian Darlow, Polk Bros. Foundation; Maria Ferrera, DePaul University; Barbara Harris, Center for Community Academic Success Partnerships; Mike Inman, Mayor of Macomb Taneka Jennings, HANA Center; Yesenia Lopez, Cook County Commissioner
IDHS Staff in Attendance: Director David Albert, DMH; Chief of Staff Ryan Croke; Director Caronina Grimble, OSET; Katlyn Halstead; Secretary Grace Hou; Director David Jones, SUPR; Director Andre Jordan, Legislation; Senior Policy Advisor Dana Kelly, Director Marisa Kollias, Communications; Ruth Lopez-McCarthy, Senior Immigration Fellow; Adam Morrow, Office of the Budget; Director Rahnee Patrick, DRS; Beatriz Ponce de Leon, Division of Mental Health; Assistant Secretary Dulce Quintero; Director Tim Verry, FCS
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Quiwana Bell at 1:32 PM.
Welcome & IDHS Updates:
Chairperson Quiwana Bell welcomed the attendees and explained that the meeting will be recorded and roll call votes will be required for voting to comply with the Open Meeting Act.
Chief of Staff Ryan Croke provided the SSAC with staff updates within IDHS since the last meeting.
- Ruth Lopez McCarthy: Senior Immigration Fellow.
- Sarah Myerscough-Mueller: Chief of Staff for the Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Beatriz Ponce de Leon: Chief of Staff for the Division of Mental Health
- Alvin Schexnider: Chief People Officer in the Office of Human Resources
Chief of Staff Croke also updated the Council on the following programs:
- IDHS will continue to focus on youth and anti-violence programs going into the summer.
- IDHS is collaborating with the Illinois Housing Development Authority to provide outreach, legal assistance, case management, and emergency financial assistance through the IDHS Housing Help Program for tenants affected by COVID.
- GATA (Grants Accountability and Transparency Act) Training
- IDHS has created training and guidance to help support grassroots organizations in complying with GATA, including six sessions to provide a high-level overview of GATA and other trainings available on demand at any time.
Vaccination Update
Senior Policy Advisor Dana Kelly provided the SSAC with updates on COVID-19 vaccinations.
- IDHS has been distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to residents, patients, and staff at its seven developmental disability centers and seven psychiatric hospitals since early January. Achieved 82% vaccination rate among residents and patients, 50% vaccination rate among staff.
- Community vaccination efforts began in late January, focusing on long-term care facilities and CILAs; reaching close to 45 agencies where IDHS was able to provide COVID-19 vaccination clinics for staff and residents
- Since mid-March, opened COVID-19 vaccinations to the general community at State-operated facilities, resulting in 8,000 individuals being vaccinated, and 11,000 total vaccinations provided.
- IDHS and IDPH partnering with community-based organizations (CBO) to overcome language, transportation, and technology barriers for harder to reach populations.
- Partnering with CBOs to host vaccine events, IDHS would provide vaccine, vaccinators, and financial support for recruitment services.
- Additional specialized information to target vaccine hesitant populations is being prepared by IDHS and IDPH and should be available soon.
Public Participation
None received.
Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 25, 2021
Motion to approve the February 25, 2021, Meeting Minutes by Frances Reyes, seconded by Ireta Gasner. The Council voted unanimously to approve.
Committee Updates/Committee Discussion
Chairperson Bell reported that each of the recently established committees have met. Secretary Hou will select the Chair of each committee; those chairs, Vice Chairperson Hampton, and Chairperson Bell will make up the SSAC Executive Committee. Fran Reyes was introduced as the Chair of the Racial Equity and Racial Justice Committee and was asked to provide an update on the committee meeting. All other committees were asked to select a member to provide an update on each meeting.
- Racial Equity and Racial Justice Committee
- Legislative & Budget Committee
- Health and Behavioral Health Committee
- Crisis Planning, Emergency Response, and Recovery Committee
- Outreach and Community Engagement Committee
- Service Coordination, Quality Improvement, and Innovation Committee
Special Updates
Vice Chairperson Hampton opened the floor to any SSAC members to provide updates, offer questions, or highlight bright spots.
- Vice Chairperson Hampton: Encouraged by committee meetings. Monumental task ahead but enjoyed meeting with different providers across the state. Encouraged by declining COVID cases in her area but still focusing on reaching out to vaccine hesitant groups.
- AJ French: Expressed concern regarding legislation (SB 1970) overseeing behavioral mental health that has developed and moved forward without input from the mental health community. Director Jordan updated group on status of legislation.
- Dr. Lustig: Concerned about laws that are introduced that violate federal laws, particularly HB 2853. Chief of Staff Croke encouraged SSAC members to send concerns like these to IDHS.
IDHS Legislative Update
Director Jordan provided the following updates:
- Majority of IDHS legislative initiatives have passed one legislative chamber and are awaiting approval in the other.
- Initiatives that passed out of committee without opposition may be included in consent calendar.
- Most attention is now on legislation opposed by IDHS.
Breakout Sessions - Priorities of the SSAC
Chairperson Bell introduced the Council to the goals and parameters of the Breakout Sessions. Katlyn Halstead further outlined the questions to discuss in Breakout Sessions and sent the Council into their groups for 20 minutes.
- Group 1: COVID-19 Response (PPE, Food/Employment/Housing Insecurity, Mental Health)
- Group 2 - IDHS One-Stop Shop
- Group 3 - Racial Justice / Racial Equity / Healing
- Group 4 - Outreach & Engagement
Upon everyone returning from their Breakout Sessions, Chairperson Bell asked each group to highlight what they discussed.
Adjournment
Motion by Niya Kelly, seconded by Mary Camper to adjourn. The Council unanimously voted to adjourn at 3:26 PM.
