SSAC Outreach, Engagement, Equity, and Policy Committee Agenda and Minutes 05/24/23

Quarterly Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 2:00 pm

WebEx Video Conference

Join by phone 1-415-655-0002

Meeting number (access code): 2463 804 8901

  1. Introductions/Welcome Roll Call
  2. Public Comment
  3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: January 25, 2023
  4. Co-Chair Vacancy
  5. Group Development of Committee Priorities for FY2024
  6. Next Steps and Adjournment

Members of the public are invited to attend. For those who would like to make public comment, we request that those comments be submitted in advance of the meeting to Kari Branham by email at Kari.Branham2@illinois.gov. Please send all comments to Kari Branham by 8:30 am, Wednesday, May 24, 2023.

Meeting Minutes

Committee Members in Attendance: Quiwana Bell, Westside Health Authority; Christa Hamilton, Centers for New Horizons; Niya Kelly, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Jeremy Rosen, Shriver Center on Poverty Law; Itedal Shalabi, Arab American Family Services

Committee Members Not in Attendance: Sherrie Crabb, Barbara Harris, Gloria Yen

IDHS Staff in Attendance: Kari Branham, Special Projects Administrator; Laura Carrillo, Private Secretary; Shelby Weishaar, Administrative Assistant 

Meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Kelly at 2:10 PM.

  1. Introductions/Welcome Roll Call
    • Instead of roll call, attendance recorded based on the participants in the video.
  2. Public Comment - none received ahead of today's meeting
  3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: January 25, 2023
    • Member Hamilton moves to approve and Chair Bell seconds. Unanimously approved.
  4. Co-Chair Vacancy
    • Member Shalabi motioned to select member Christa Hamilton as co-chair and Chair Kelly seconded. Unanimously approved.
  5. Group Development of Committee Priorities for FY2024
    • Committee charge shared and reviewed.
    • Member Bell recommends focusing on one actionable goal to present at the full SSAC meeting in June.
    • Member Shalabi recommends focusing on DHS' communication policy. She provided an example of the elderly population not being aware of the SNAP benefits decreasing.
    • Committee is asking for the DHS Communications Policy to be shared with them prior to next meeting that will include someone from DHS.
    • Member Shalabi requests someone from DHS to go through the policy with them. This committee can then look at gaps and provide recommendations on how to improve.
    • New Co-Chair Hamilton wants another meeting before the in-person June 22. Chair Kelly will not be able to attend next meeting.
  6. Next Steps and Adjournment
    • Review communication policy document once sent. Will meet in June to review and prepare for the presentation on June 22.
    • Member Shalabi motions to adjourn and Chair Kelly seconded. Adjourned at 2:38PM.