Interagency Working Group on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security

As part of the Intergenerational Poverty Act (IPA) passed in the spring of 2020, the Interagency Working Group on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security (IWGP) was created to advance the work of the Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security by studying systems that perpetuate poverty, improve interagency coordination, and implement policies and programs that break the cycle of poverty.

Guiding Principles:

  • Engage and listen to those with lived experience
  • Employ an equity lens (gender, race, geography, age, ability, etc.)
  • Focus on systemic change to both reduce and prevent poverty
  • Promote asset-based instead of deficit-based social supports
  • Ensure policies are data-informed and evidence-based
  • Leverage innovation and social impact
  • Cultivate collaboration across the public and private sectors
  • Evaluate impact and adapt strategies as needed

Goals:

  • Work with the Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security to:
    • Reduce deep poverty in this State by 50 percent by 2026;
    • Eliminate child poverty in this State by 2031; and
    • Eliminate all poverty in this State by 2036.
  • Accomplish this by:
    • Understanding the root causes of intergenerational poverty and economic insecurity, including contributing social, economic, and cultural factors;
    • Assisting the Commission in the development of a strategic plan, including sharing data and information; and
    • Implementing the strategic plan adopted by the Commission.

Membership

Statutory members:

Name Organization
Elizabeth Vogt, Chief of Staff Illinois Department on Aging
Tyler Bohannon, Legislative Affairs Bureau Chief Illinois Department of Agriculture
Isabel Velez-Diez, Deputy Director of Policy Development, Planning, & Research Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Alyssa Williams, Assistant Director Illinois Department of Corrections
Jennifer Saba, Chief Education Officer Illinois State Board of Education
Dulce Quintero, Secretary (IWGP Chairperson) Illinois Department of Human Services
Anna Koeppel, Legislative and Policy Director Illinois Department of Labor
Marc Staley, Deputy Director Illinois Governor's Office of Management and Budget
Dr. Janice Phillips, Assistant Director Illinois Department of Public Health

Invited members:

Name Organization
Emily Mueller, Assistant Director of Policy and Research Illinois Housing Development Authority
Carrie Thomas, Deputy Director for Business Services Illinois Department of Employment Security
Dana Kelly, Chief of Staff Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Meetings

Reports

IDHS Administrative Support