SSAC/Outreach, Engagement, Equity, and Policy Commitee Agenda and Minutes - 08/10/22

AGENDA

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  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Public Participation*
  3. Refine Charge Statement
    1. The Committees of the Social Services Advisory Council (SSAC) will identify shared priorities related to the coordination, improvement, and innovation of Illinois Department of Human Services offices and services. Specifically, The Outreach, Engagement, Equity, and Policy Committee will:
      1. Ensure IDHS is informed by grassroots and community voices
        1. Establish grassroots stakeholders "sounding boards" for IDHS to listen to and learn from: develop town halls yearly or quarterly throughout the state networks
      2. Bring to the SSAC community concerns, interests, and goals to IDHS, SSAC colleagues, and policymakers
      3. Identify promising practices in engaging community voices from community organizations and other States
      4. Collaborate to increase public understanding of IDHS services and supports
        1. Recommend strategies to clarify important IDHS benefits, eligibility requirements, and how to access them
      5. Recommend strategies to improve equitable access to services and supports especially for hard-to-reach populations
      6. Recommend new and/or changes to rules, policies, programs, and initiatives
      7. Consider bills and policy issues being debated in the ILGA that may be of significant interest to the purpose of the SSAC
        1. Provide research or analysis to inform debate on the above issues or bills
        2. Develop related recommendations on the state budget for the Department
      8. Raise equity, racial justice, diversity, and inclusion issues of concern to the leadership team of IDHS
      9. Consider how local DHS offices are utilized as hubs to engage people into services.
      10. Develop mechanism to incorporate budget or policy needs from other committees.
      11. Contribute to review of State Medicaid Plan by Health & Wellness Committee
  4. Role / Purpose of Committee
    1. Common priorities from February SSAC meeting
      1. Investment, support, and expansion of community-based services/orgs/partners
      2. Competitive employment
      3. Enhanced technologies
      4. Build out crisis care continuum to close gaps
      5. Elevate the role of those with lived expertise
      6. Person centered services
      7. Prioritizing at-risk/minority communities/stakeholders
      8. Independent living solutions
      9. Telehealth
      10. Racial equity - training
      11. Feedback loop
      12. Staff retention
      13. Wages
    2. Common challenges from February SSAC meeting
      1. Staffing crisis-address what positions need to be licensed and certified.
      2. Increased demand
      3. Capacity
      4. COVID - uncertainty of timing, students in schools being sent home, virtual site visits
  5. Selection of Committee Chair
  6. IDHS Support Staff
  7. Future Objectives
  8. Housekeeping
  9. Adjournment

*If you would like to submit a public comment, please email your comment to Katlyn.Smith@Illinois.gov by 8:00 AM, Wednesday, August 10, 2022.