AGENDA and MINUTES- Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security Meeting, July 29, 2024

Illinois Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security

Bi-annual meeting

Monday, July 29, 2024, 1:00-2:30 PM

Recording

 *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 Priya Khatkhate thru email at Priya.Khatkhate@illinois.gov by 8:30am July 29, 2024.

Commission members:

Administrator/s:

1. Priya Khatkhate - Chief Policy Officer, IDHS

Guests:

1. Andre Jordan - Director, IDHS-Office of Legislative Affairs
2. Taneka Jennings - Deputy Director, IDHS-Office of Legislative Affairs
3. Matthew Rodriguez - Institute of Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP)
4. Nancy Toure - (IRRPP)
5. Kaitlin Devaney - IRRPP
6. Crystal Bush - UniServ Director, Illinois Education Association; Pillar 4 Subcommittee Chair
7. Lauren Wright - Executive Director, Illinois Partners for Human Services; Pillar 5 Subcommittee Chair
8. Carrie Thomas - IWGP member; Illinois Department of Employment Security
9. Dakarai Howard - Illinois Department of Agriculture
10. Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat - Children's Advocates
11. Glenda Corbett - Illinois Department on Aging
12. Janice Phillips - IWGP member; Illinois Department of Public Health
13. Jeremy Rosen - Pillar 3 and 4 subcommittee member; Shriver Center on Poverty Law
14. Elizabeth Vogt - IWGP member; Illinois Department on Aging
15. Marc Staley - IWGP member; Governor's Office of Management and Budget
16. Margaret Decker - Illinois Department of Labor
17. Mitch Lifson - Children's Advocates
18. Audra Wilson - Pillars 1 and 3 subcommittee member; Shriver Center on Poverty Law

Agenda:

1. Welcome/Roll Call/Introduction of New Co-Chair (5 min)
   1. Introduction of new Co-Chair
      • Jill Calkins - President/CEO, Tri-County Opportunities Council
   2. Introduction of new members
      1. Representative Kimberly du Buclet, 5th district
      2. Hon. Freddrenna Lyle, Appellate Court Justice
      3. Hon. Kevin Lee, Associate Judge, Cook County Circuit Court
      4. Ric Estrada, President and CEO, Metropolitan Family Services
2. Public Comment - Subject to written comment in advance (2 min)
3. Housekeeping (3 min)
   • Required State Trainings
4. Approval of December 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes (5 min)
5. Preview of FY24 Poverty Commission Report (10 min)
6. Discussion of broader Federal and State landscape (15 min)
   • Spring Session Legislative Roundup - Dir. Andre Jordan and Deputy Dir. Taneka Jennings
7. Response and Considerations for FY25 (25 min)
   1. Pillar 5: Support Trusted Community-Based Providers to Serve the Needs of those in Deep Poverty (Lauren Wright)
   2. Pillar 1: Ensure Illinois is the Best in Nation for Raising Families (Sophie Milam)
   3. Pillar 2: Stabilize Homes and Communities (Sen. Dale Fowler)
   4. Pillar 3: Ensure Just and Equitable Access to Economic Security Programs (Sophie Milam)
   5. Pillar 4: Address Barriers to Paid Work, Education, and Advancement (Crystal Bush)
8. Next Steps and Adjournment (5 min)
   • Proposed next meeting:

Minutes

1. Welcome/Roll Call/Introduction of New Co-Chair - led by Administrator Khatkhate; out of 15 active members, nine were present. Quorum was declared.
   1. Introduction of new Co-Chair
      • Jill Calkins - President/CEO, Tri-County Opportunities Council
   2. Introduction of new members
      1. Representative Kimberly du Buclet, 5th district
      2. Hon. Freddrenna Lyle, Appellate Court Justice
      3. Hon. Kevin Lee, Associate Judge, 4th district of the Cook County Circuit Court in Maywood
      4. Ric Estrada, President and CEO, Metropolitan Family Services
   3. Guests introduced themselves in the chat.
2. Public Comment - Subject to written comment in advance; none received.
3. Housekeeping
   • Required State Trainings - Administrator Khatkhate reminded members of the annual mandatory state trainings. Len sends monthly reminders and any issues or questions can be sent to Len and Administrator Khatkhate.
4. Approval of December 7, 2023 Meeting Minutes - Commission member Senator Fowler moved to approved the December 7, 2023 minutes seconded by Commission member Mr. Al Llorens. Commission member Mr. Ric Estrada abstained stating that he wasn't with the Commission at the time of the meeting. The group approved the December 7, 2023 meeting minutes.
5. Preview of FY24 Poverty Commission Report - Report will be coming out soon, a draft will be sent to members for review and approval prior to publishing hopefully in the early fall. New IRRPP member, Ms. Kaitlin Devaney shared the data highlights that will be included in the report:
   • OneNet Slides
   • 2nd slide: top table shows most recent Census data; bottom table shows data from the previous Commission report (2020 Census data).
   • 2nd slide shows that the number of people with low income dropped but the number of people in extreme poverty level and poverty level increased.
   • The drop in the number of people with low income does not necessarily mean a positive change but it could also be a shift in the other way. * 3rd slide: table on the left shows the updated data and the table on the right shows the 2020 data.
   • 3rd slide shows that there was a lot of change not in the percentage of families experiencing extreme poverty but in the actual counties experiencing extreme poverty. There is some shift in areas of Illinois that have the high percentage of families experiencing extreme poverty.
   • Ms. Devaney will send the data to Admin Khatkhate.
   • Commission member Al Lorens if there are any available data on migration pattern in relation to the shift in numbers, where did people migrated to, where were they received. For example, how many from low income went to poverty or from low income to extreme poverty.
   • The data is not available. The data available on hand are the total numbers in each category, but there is no way to determine who went where.
   • Mr. Matthew Rodriguez raised that the data being compared are from 2019 to 2022. He pointed out the 2019 is pre-COVID and 2022 is post COVID where there were extreme investments on removing people experiencing poverty; a lot of effort was given in terms of guaranteed income, tax credits and others.
   • Mr. Llorens additionally asked, since COVID is mentioned, how many people died and fell off the poverty tracking during COVID. 
   • IDPH and other agencies might be able to help in getting COVID data particularly COVID deaths.
   • Mr. Rodriguez also raised that the Commission was only established in 2020 and data is limited.
6. Response and Considerations for FY25 - There are five pillars outlined in the Strategic Plan into which the work is organized to reach the overarching goals of eliminating poverty. The five pillar subcommittees prepared draft goals for FY25 and if the Commission members think of adopting them, Admin Khatkhate asked them to assume that there will be refinements in the language to make sure the goals are actionable and meet the overall goals of the Commission.
   1. Pillar 1: Ensure Illinois is the Best in Nation for Raising Families (chair: Sophie Milam)
      • Working collaboratively with Pillar 4 subcommittee to support advocacy efforts to increase the number of high quality affordable childcare opportunities across the state.
      • Support implementation of legislation State Child Tax Credit approved in 2024 and develop an advocacy strategy for federal expansion.
      • Increase school meal access by advocating for state legislation to eliminate the reduced-price meal co-pay for breakfasts and lunch for low-income children.
      • Increase WIC retention by disseminating marketing and awareness campaign materials through Poverty Commission members (social media, newsletter content) and develop an advocacy strategy for federal appropriations.
   2. Pillar 2: Stabilize Homes and Communities (chair: Sen. Dale Fowler)
      • Continuing to support the work and strategies in "Home Illinois: Illinois' Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness".
      • Advocating for additional funding at the state and federal levels for permanent supportive housing services and housing subsidies for high-risk populations including people experiencing chronic homelessness, justice-involved individuals, youth leaving foster care, people with disabilities and those with serious mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders.
      • Prioritizing support of programs informed and driven by groups within the communities they serve with lived expertise.
      • Stabilizing and improving housing for older adults and those with disabilities, including investing in emergency home repairs and accessibility grants so those individuals may remain in their homes.
   3. Pillar 3: Ensure Just and Equitable Access to Economic Security Programs (chair: Sophie Milam)
      • Convene people across agencies to develop a plan, including identification of barriers and a timeline as to how to achieve the eventual goal of a streamlined application for benefits.
      • Map existing efforts in this space to identify opportunities to accelerate or support, for example, data mapping from SNAP/Medicaid and WIC and collecting data about EITC/CTC eligibility in ABE and sending letter to families to notify them of their likely eligibility.
      • Increase WIC, SNAP and Summer EBT retention by disseminating marketing and awareness campaign materials through Poverty Commission members (social media, newsletter content).
      • Host a webinar/convening for organizations and state legislators to share learnings on guaranteed income pilots. 
   4. Pillar 4: Address Barriers to Paid Work, Education, and Advancement (chair: Crystal Bush)
      1. Continue and expand on an in-depth analysis of existing universal and affordable pre-K programs to determine any gaps that may exist.
      2. Expand the in-depth analysis to include before, after school and other childcare programs for school age children up to and including the age of 13 to determine gaps that exist which hinder employment for those who work evening, weekend and/or overnight jobs.
         1. Establish partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including community organizations, policymakers, and employers to gather insights and build support for potential policy reforms; and
         2. Combine this research with the information gathered from the map of childcare availability/affordability to inform the advocacy strategy to improve the state's offerings of childcare services.
      3. Begin to address legal barriers that hinder access to paid work, education and other advancements.
         • Establish partnerships with relevant stakeholders including bar associations, legal aid organizations and others to determine gaps in legal service access to all Illinoisians and build support for advocacy in this area.
      4. Continue exploration of available apprentices and other programs that mitigate barriers to paid work, education and advancement.
   5. Pillar 5: Support Trusted Community-Based Providers to Serve the Needs of those in Deep Poverty (chair: Lauren Wright)
      1. Explore the work to advocate for appropriations to financially support the caregiving workforce in addition to securing cost-of-living increases for caregiving providers.
         • Additionally, continue the effort to build an integrated network of trusted community providers by researching best practices around how best to add value when outreach to entities (specifically to those servicing people experiencing deep poverty) happens to ensure "engagement, practice sharing and dissemination of opportunities" to operationalize what is meant by building an "integrated network".
      2. Revisit the goals of the Human Services Equitable Pay Act, work to narrow the scope, identify problem areas and ensure more clear alignment to the broader Commission to try again in FY2025.
      3. Draw on the research to design an advocacy strategy to improve the state's disbursement practices increasing the amount of funds accessed by families experiencing poverty.
         • Guest, Mr. Dakarai Howard clarified if Pillar 4's 3rd goal also has emphasis on supporting transitional job programs for people who have formally been incarcerated. Admin Khatkhate confirmed it as reentry work which DHS has been doing specifically under the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention.
         • Mr. Rodriguez noticed that there is no reference to TANF on Pillar 1 goals though there's budget that have been secured for it. Could the subcommittee be a part of studying how TANF funds have been successfully utilized and use that information to inform an advocacy strategy on how best to ensure that the money is getting to the families who need it.
         • Mr. Rosen shared that the state has a lot of control on the TANF fund which is a combination of federal and state funding. Shriver's focus is making sure the program puts as much as cash assistance into people's hands with the fewest restrictions possible though there are a set of long-standing policies that sometimes contribute to eligible families not receiving assistance as well as other challenges that create barriers for families. Shriver is interested in barrier removal to make the program to look more like the former AFDC program where there were very few restrictions on people's ability to receive cash if they meet income and other requirements. 
         • Mr. Llorens asked if there is a list of agencies working around the state providing supports to people in poverty. Admin Khatkhate shared that there is a DHS list of community-based organizations funded by DHS and the list is being combined with the Illinois Partners' list. The list could be used to look into the shift in the counties with high poverty rates as mentioned earlier in the meeting.
         • Senator Fowler moved to adopt the FY25 pillar goals as presented seconded by Mr. Estrada. The group unanimously approved the FY25 pillar goals as presented.
7. Discussion of broader Federal and State landscape
   1. Poverty in Illinois - Audra Wilson/Jeremy Rosen
      • There is a significant impact on the number shifts by the COVID pandemic.
      • Poverty and child poverty rose significantly since 1967.
      • There was a temporary positive impact on child poverty with the federal tax credit issued during the pandemic and other pandemic-related benefits and Shriver Center has been uplifting and advocating these not only in Illinois but around the country.
      • In 2021, with the federal pandemic relief, the economic security programs have driven the poverty rate down to 8% but as it expired, the rate went back up to 12.4% in 2022.
      • The House of Representative at the federal government passed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act early in January 2024. The bill will expand the child tax credit and will help about 16 million children and lift about half a million or more children above the poverty line in 2025. 
      • In Illinois, the state's first Child Tax credit was passed. Qualifying families will receive up to $300 credit on the next tax season and the money will reach about 800,000 children in the state in low to middle-income households. This also applies to families with children younger than 12 y/o that earn less than $60,000 a year and is tied to the earned income tax credit.
      • The $300 is for the first year and will double in the subsequent years up to roughly maximum of $600 for certain families. * There is also interest in potentially exploring guaranteed income as a sort of the next frontier for economic policy that would lift families out of poverty and meet the Commission's goal.
      • There are preliminary conversations that are happening around guaranteed income and its potential role at the state level.
      • Chicago is getting ready to relaunch a Guarantee Income Pilot under a new administration making some enhancements and some tweaks.
      • Shriver's Center is monitoring the program very carefully and trying to expand as best as possible because per data, it has been of measurable help to families not just in supplementing general and daily needs but allowing them to start saving money. 
      • Mr. Llorens reiterated that if the Commission may not hit the deadlines at 100% completion, it is still important to highlight small victories and show to show the commitment and accountability of the Commission to the goals.
   2. Spring Session Legislative Roundup - Dir. Andre Jordan and Deputy Dir. Taneka Jennings
      1. Spring 2024 Legislative Wins

         • Pillar	Initiative	Bill No.	Sponsor	Status
           1	FCS: Benefits Reporting Clean-Up	HB5084	Jimenez; Hunter	Signed into law
           2	DMH: CESSA Amendment	SB3648	Cassidy; Peters	Signed into law
           2	DMH/SUPR: DEI Omnibus	SB647	Lilly; Johnson	Passed both chambers
           2	DMH: Background Checks, Waivers	SB3661	Mussman; Murphy	Passed both chambers
           2	DDD: DDD Transformation	SB3753	LaPointe; Fine	Passed both chambers
           2	DHS OIG: Facility, Agency Reviews	SB0857	Fine; Katz Muhl	Passed both chambers

      2. FY25 Budget - IDHS All funds: $14.57 B
         1. As passed, $337.0M over FY25 request
            • GRF increases over Gov's Intro
              • $30.0M RPSA
              • $40.0M Home Illinois
              • $75.0M Youth Employment
              • $80.0M for DD DSP $1.00/hour effective 1/1/25 $5.0M Access to Justice
              • $12.3M Rape Victim Services
              • $10.0M for Department of Early Childhood
              • $0.6M for Domestic Violence 
              • $3.5M Pretrial Success Program
              • $1.0M New Americans - ICIRR
              • $80.7M in 3 lump sums (152 grantees)
                • $16.0M - 32 named grantees
                • $44.9M - 113 named grantees
                • $19.8M - 7 named grantees
            • $13.7M for an additional 12 named grantees
         2. FY24 GRF Supplemental of $335.7M
            • $60.0M TANF
            • $60.0M Home Services (orig. $71.0M)
            • $35.0M Welcoming Centers
            • $30.0M Childcare
      3. FY25 BIMP (impacting IDHS) - Highlights

         • Pillar	Division	Topic	Description
           1&5	DDD	DSP $1/hour wage increase	$0.75 of funds are to be provided as a direct increase to base wages and the remaining $0.25 are to be used flexibly for base wage increases
           1&5	DMH	Pretrial Success Act	Creates the Pretrial Success Act. Requires DHS, subject to appropriation, to make grants, totaling $3.5M, to organizations for community-based pretrial supports and services, including establishment of local advisory councils
           1&3	FCS	Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program	DHS is granted emergency rulemaking authority to implement federal program for children
           2	OPEH	Homelessness Prevention Act	Annual cap for grantee's administrative and case management costs increased from 15% to 20%
           2&5	FCS	Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services Grants	Eliminates 10% match requirement
           5	DRS	Homemaker rates	Increase of $1.56, to $29.63, to sustain $18 hourly wage for direct service workers

      4. FY25 Medicaid Omnibus (impacting IDHS) - Highlights

         • Pillar	Division	Topic	Description
           2	DDD	Telehealth implementation	Incorporates language to ensure choice and optional opt-in and pushes back implementation to January 1, 2025
           2&5	DDD	CILA medical absences	DHS shall provide 100% of per diem reimbursement to CILA providers for up to 20 days for any resident requiring a medical absence, in addition to the existing occupancy factor policy
           2&5	DMH	Psychiatric Evaluation and Medication Monitoring rates	IDHS shall implement a one-time increase to add-on rates, to $264.42 per hour

      5. Other legislative mandates - highlights

         • Pillar	Division	Bill No.	Title
           2&3	DMH	HB5094	Workforce Direct Care and Expansion Act
           3	DMH	SB0726	Interagency Children's Behavioral Health Services
           3	SUPR	SB3136	Family Recovery Plans Implementation Task Force
           3	OHLA	SB3762	Language Equity and Access Act
           3&5	DDD	HR0818	Medicaid Providers for Autism
           4&5	DEC	SB0001	Department of Early Childhood

      6. Spring 2024 Legislative Initiatives ongoing

         • Pillar	Initiative	Bill No.	Sponsor	Status
           2&5	DDD/DRS: Dignity in Pay	HB0793	Mah; Castro	Passed House 78-30-3
           2&5	DRS: Increase Asset Limits	HB5227	Moeller	Approps-HHS
           2&5	DMH: Fitness to Stand Trial	SB3444	Gillespie*	Assignments
           2	SUPR: Gambling Disorders	SB0327	Didech; Cunningham	Passed House Gaming Comm 15-0
           2	OCAPS: PMP Omnibus	SB3701	Ellman	Passed House Public Health Comm 5-3-0

           • *No longer with the General Assembly; needs a new sponsor
      7. Opportunities for Ongoing Advocacy & Other Considerations
         • Integrated shelter system
         • Guaranteed income pilots (evaluation, next steps)
         • Strengthening the human services workforce
         • Department of Early Childhood
         • FY26 Budget (loss of federal ARPA funding)
8. Next Steps
   • Proposed next meeting: in-person
     • In October
     • In a more central location such as Springfield
     • There is an opportunity to do site visits to make the meeting more interactive
     • Members can reach out to Admin Khatkhate to indicate if they would be willing to travel
     • Len will send out a poll to figure out dates
9. Adjournment
   • Mr. Llorens moved to adjourn the meeting seconded by Mr. Estrada. The group unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting at 2:30 PM.