AGENDA
November 18, 2021; 1:30 PM
WebEx Video Conference: https://illinois.webex.com/illinois/j.php?MTID=m41a8933a00d6c90a13015c3352b4aeef
Join by Phone: (312) 535-8110
Access Code: 2453 237 7717
- Welcome and IDHS Updates
- Public Participation *
- Approval of Meeting Minutes: August 17, 2021
- Committee Updates
- Discussion: Committees in 2021
- Special Updates - Council Members (issues, updates, questions, or bright spots)
- Housekeeping
- IDHS Senior Immigration Fellow, Ruth Lopez-McCarthy
- Breakout Sessions - Immigration in Illinois
- 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, November 18, 2021.
Meeting Minutes
Council Members in Attendance: Dayo Adenekan, CILA Corporation; Adam Ballard, AARP Illinois; Quiwana Bell, Chair, Westside Health Authority; Mary Camper, Habilitative Systems; Sherrie Crabb, Arrowleaf; Christa Hamilton, Centers for New Horizons; Angie Hampton, Vice Chair, Egyptian Health Department; Mike Inman, Mayor of Macomb; Taneka Jennings, HANA Center; Niya Kelly, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Yesenia Lopez, Cook County Commissioner; 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; Gillian Darlow, Polk Bros. Foundation; Maria Ferrera, DePaul University; AJ French, Gift of Voice; Ireta Gasner, Start Early; Barbara Harris, Center for Community Academic Success Partnerships
IDHS Staff in Attendance: Director David Albert; Director Kirstin Chernawsky; Chief of Staff Ryan Croke; Homelessness Chief Christine Haley; Director David T. Jones; Director Andre Jordan; Ruth Lopez-McCarthy; Director Rahnee Patrick; Assistant Secretary Dulce Quintero; Katlyn Smith
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Quiwana Bell at 1:32 PM.
Welcome & IDHS Updates
Chairperson Quiwana Bell welcomed attendees and explained the meeting is 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 IDHS personnel updates:
- Kirstin Chernawsky - Director, Division of Early Childhood.
- Christine Haley - State Homelessness Chief. Christine's work will be Statewide, working with IDHS, the Governor's Office, and other State agencies to end homelessness in Illinois.
- Brittany Hendricks - Chief People Officer
- Christopher Patterson - Assistant Secretary for Violence Prevention. Chris will help advance the work of IDHS, working closely with other State agencies to bring the Reimagine Public Safety Act and IDHS's Office of Firearm Violence Prevention to fruition.
Public Participation
None received.
Approval of Meeting Minutes: August 17, 2021
Motion to approve the August 17, 2021, Meeting Minutes by Yesenia Lopez, seconded by Bela Moté. The Council voted unanimously to approve.
Committee Updates
The following chairs provided updates regarding their committee meetings:
- Jodi Martin, Crisis Planning, Emergency Response, and Recovery
- Dr. Dan Lustig & Debbie Pavick, Health and Behavioral Health
- Bela Moté & Sergio Obregón, Service Coordination, Quality Improvement, and Innovation
Discussion: Committees in 2021
Chairperson Bell opened discussion regarding the committees of the Council. In discussion of the committees, members discussed attendance, committee membership, and vision - agreeing that further clarification is needed regarding the vision for each committee.
Chairperson Bell recommended the Executive Committee meet before the next council meeting to clarify deliverables and vision for the Committees; the Council agreed.
Special Updates
Vice Chairperson Hampton opened the floor to any SSAC members to provide updates, offer questions, or highlight bright spots.
- Yesenia Lopez - highlighted the work being done at the University of Illinois in social/emotional learning, funded by IDHS
- Sylvia Puente - shared information regarding a webinar called the "Lost Years of Life Due to COVID," as it impacts both Black and Latino communities
- Itedal Shalabi - hopes to push the category for Arab Americans through for all Agencies in the State
- Sergio Obregón - working to ensure all Chicago Public School students who are eligible for Medicaid have coverage; currently 90% of those eligible have coverage
- Dulce Ortiz - workforce continues to be an issue; cannot compete with big-box stores.
- Angie Hampton - bright spot on IDHS/SUPR Contract Manager
Housekeeping
Katlyn Smith reminded the Council members of the required trainings for 2021 and informed members they would receive invitations for 2022 meetings soon. She also asked Council members to consider an amendment to the bylaws to account for the 11 members who have appointments expiring in January 2022.
IDHS Senior Immigration Fellow, Ruth Lopez-McCarthy
Ruth Lopez-McCarthy, Senior Immigration Fellow for the State of Illinois, shared a brief presentation regarding the work she does in the Welcoming Illinois Office on behalf of the State.
Breakout Sessions - Immigration in Illinois
Members of the Council divided into groups to discuss the follow questions, as feedback to help inform the work of the Welcoming Illinois Office:
- What ideas do you have that can make Illinois a more welcoming state of immigrants and refugees?
- What do you think the priorities should be for cross-agency work?
- What resources/training/other do you think you need to participate productively in this work?
Adjournment
Motion by Sylvia Puente, seconded by Dulce Ortiz to adjourn. The Council unanimously voted to adjourn at 3:33 PM.
