SSAC - Outreach, Engagement, Equity and Policy Committee Agenda 05.10.24

Social Services Advisory Council Outreach, Engagement, Equity, and Policy Committee Meeting

May 10, 2024

11:00 AM

WebEx Video Conference

Join by Phone: 312-535-8110

Access Code: 2631 218 2610

1. Welcome
2. Public Participation *
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 26, 2024
4. Housekeeping
5. Introduce New Members
6. Agenda Requests for 2024
7. Presentation on Transgender Nonbinary Program from Caronina Grimble, Director of Office of Strategy, Equity, and Transformation
8. Adjournment

* If you would like to submit a public comment, please email your comment to Clare.Fisher@illinois.gov by 8:00 AM on Friday, May 10, 2024.

Minutes

1. I. Welcome
   1. Members in Attendance: 
      1. Niya Kelly
      2. Drea Hall
      3. Christa Hamilton
      4. Jose Marco-Paredes
      5. Maralea Negron
      6. Itedal Shalabi
      7. Lauren Wright
      8. Tony Woods
   2. DHS Staff in Attendance
      1. Clare Fisher
      2. Caronina Grimble
2. Public Participation *
   1. None received
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 26, 2024
   1. Motion to approve from Christa Hamilton. Seconded by Maralea Negron.
4. Housekeeping
   1. Introduce New Members
      1. The Committee welcomed new member Andrea Hall.
      2. The rest of the members introduced themselves.
   2. Agenda Requests for 2024
      1. Jose Marco Paredes shared that he is interested in understanding the DHS budget. How can we ensure that there is equity in terms of grants, communities served. Are there any equity measures, criteria that already exist, do we need to create some?
      2. Maralea Negron: Second the budget agenda item. Would also appreciate a review of the budget once it has been approved by the legislature.
      3. Maralea Negron: Language access and cultural humility
      4. Itedal Shalabi: Who does the contracts within DHS? How do people get connected to contacts? How do they get connected to interpreters?
      5. Itedal Shalabi: Interested in hearing from the Department on Aging, how are they responding to changes in the elderly community
      6. Itedal Shalabi: How to assist women in community to become child care providers and access to child care application
5. Presentation on Transgender Nonbinary Program from Caronina Grimble, Director of Office of Strategy, Equity, and Transformation
   1. Caronina Grimble shared the process to collect community input, the establishment of the Transgender Nonbinary Program, and the integration of $3M into the state budget to support provision of gender affirming care, mental health supports, etc.
   2. Niya Kelly asked if there is any way that the SSAC can be supportive of this work.
      1. Caronina Grimble: We are starting to develop a "feedback loop" and it would be great if the individuals on this committee could serve as resources to provide feedback through this process as we work on developing it
   3. Niya Kelly asked if DHS is working with DHR to inform LGBTQ+ people of their rights.
      1. Caronina Grimble: I will look into it. Director Bennett is a great leader and we would love to partner with him.
6. Adjournment
   1. Motion to adjourn from Itedal Shalabi. Seconded by Drea Hall.