Agenda and Minutes - Pillar 5 subcommittee meeting, May 12, 2023

Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security

Subcommittee: Pillar 5 Support Trusted Community Based Providers to Serve the Needs of those In Deep Poverty

Second Quarter Meeting

Friday, May 12, 2023, 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Recording

Purpose

The Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security has developed strategies, as outlined in the Strategic Plan and are organized under five action pillars, to improve the economic mobility of those living in deep poverty. The strategic pillars are geared towards reducing deep poverty in Illinois by 50% by 2026; eliminate child poverty in the State by 2031; Eliminate all poverty in the State by 2036. The Commission has launched working committees to drive strategic initiatives under each of the five strategic pillars. This subcommittee will work on identifying and realizing actionable goals around Pillar 5 strategies.

Pillar 5 Strategies:

  • Support our Caregiving Workforce by Ensuring Equitable Wages and Develop Meaningful Supports for Unpaid Caregivers
  • Provide Community Based Providers with Consistent and Equitable Access to State Funding that Adequately Keeps Pace with Rising Costs

Members

Appointment Member Affiliation
Chair Albert Llorens Vice President, Board of Directors, Illinois Education Association
Commission Member Senator Dale Fowler Illinois State Senator
Commission Member Jason Mckinnies Senior Pastor, Southern Illinois Worship Center
Commission Member Dr. Charles A. Montorio-Archer President and CEO, One Hope United
Commission Member Juan Calderon Chief Operating Officer, The Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Commission Member Senator Kimberly Lightford Illinois State Senator
IWGP Member Jennifer Hebel Special Assistant for Research, Illinois Department on Aging
Public Member Meredith Byers UniServ Director, Illinois Education Association
Public Member Jennifer Gentile Deputy Director, Bureau of Clinical Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities
Public Member Becky Salazar Egyptian Area Agency on Aging
Public Member Lauren Wright Executive Director, Illinois Partners for Human Services
Public Member Deborah Ward-Mitchell Assistant Director, Infant Care Center District 205, National Education Association
Public Member Johnny Ramos

Administrator: Kari Branham, IDHS Special Projects Administrator

IDHS SMEs:

  1. Lesley Schwartz, Bureau Chief, Early Childhood Development, DEC
  2. Francisco Alvarado - DRS-Administrator of Operations
  3. Letitia Doe - DRS-ICRE Roosevelt-Superintendent
  4. Phillis Johnson Haywood - DRS-Vocational Rehab Counselor

Agenda

  1. Introductions/Welcome Roll Call
  2. Public Comment - subject to written comment in advance
  3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 9, 2023
  4. Group Development of Specific Action Goals
  5. Next Steps and Adjournment

Meeting Minutes

Subcommittee members in attendance:

  1. Dr. Charles Montorio-Archer - acting Chair, Poverty Commission member
  2. Pastor Jason McKinnies - Poverty Commission member
  3. Juan Calderon - Poverty Commission member
  4. Lauren Wright - subcommittee public member

Administrator: Kari Branham, IDHS Special Projects Administrator

Guests:

  1. Lesley Schwartz - Bureau Chief, Early Childhood Development, IDHS-DEC
  2. Francisco Alvarado - DRS-Administrator of Operations
  3. Letitia Doe - DRS-ICRE Roosevelt-Superintendent
  4. Phillis Johnson Haywood - DRS-Vocational Rehab Counselor
  5. Matthew Rodriguez - facilitator; Equity Imperative
  1. Introductions/Welcome/Roll Call - Chair Montorio gave a short welcome and led the introductions of the attendees by giving a short information about themselves and TV show they are currently watching.
  2. Public Comment - Subject to written comment in advance, none received.
  3. Approval of Previous Minutes, February 9, 2023 - quorum was not attained. Thus, the approval of previous minutes was postponed for the next meeting.
  4. Group Development of Specific Action Goals - Mr. Rodriguez led and facilitated the development of specific action goals using the SMART goals framework.
    • He shared a working document with the group where they wrote their suggested goals in relation to Pillar 3. He also asked members to put their names next to their area of focus or the goal that they want to be involved with.
    • Member Lauren Wright stated that it should be recognized that the whole wokforce system is structurally and systemically underfunded. Specifically, she said that there is a need to identify the frontline health and human service workers who are directly meeting the needs of those living in deep poverty and how the lives of these workers be made better, more manageable to allow them to stay in their work; and so providers are not caught in the loop of endless turnover and vacancy rates which ultimately affects people living in deep poverty because of inconsistency in who is providing their services.
    • Chair Montorio added that to sustain the workforce, there is a need to establish a continuous percentage increase for the COLA adjustments, maybe as a national standard or local state standard.
    • Chair Montorio also raised the benefit of having an ongoing space for stakeholder engagement, for people with lived experiences and others where they can provide their inputs whether to identify needs, potential solution and other important information.
    • Mr. Rodriguez observed that there are three names written beside a particular goal that IDHS SME, Phillis Johnson Haywood. He said would be encouraging the subcommittee to consider the goal with the most combination and connection with others to be a priority area to focus on.
    • Ms. Haywood explained the goal which is to bring awareness to the STEP program which provides funding for children who have been diagnosed with disabilities to attend community colleges free of charge. She mentioned there are a lot of students who shy away from attending colleges after high school so bringing more awareness to the program will help answer the educational gap.
  5. Next Steps and Adjournment
    • Chair Montorio, Mr. Rodriguez and Kari will meet to discuss the output of the meeting and to distill the recommended goals.
    • Mr. Alvarado moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Chair Montorio. The meeting was adjourned at 10:59 AM.