AGENDA and MINUTES - Pillar 3 subcommittee meeting August 2, 2024

Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security

Subcommittee on Pillar 3: Ensure Just and Equitable Access to Economic Security Programs

Meeting Agenda and Minutes

Friday, August 2, 2024, 11:00 AM - 12:00 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. Please send all comments by 8:30am on August 2, 2024.

Agenda:

1. Welcome/Roll Call
   • Introduction of new members
2. Public Comment - subject to written comment in advance
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 23, 2024 and May 10, 2024
4. Special Presentation: Data Sharing
5. Special Presentation: WIC Outreach
6. Development/Review of FY25 Goals
7. Next Steps
8. Adjournment

Minutes

Subcommittee Members in attendance:

1. Sophie Milam - Chair
2. Kimberly Tate - Representing Senator Kimberly Lightford, Commission member
3. Marc Staley - IWGP member
4. Carrie Thomas - IWGP member
5. Meredith Byers - public member
6. Meegan Dugan Adell - public member
7. David Wortman - public member
8. Donna Henry - public member
9. Elizabeth Ojeda-Jimenez - public member

Administrator: Priya Khatkhate, IDHS-Chief Policy Officer

Facilitators/Guests:

1. Matthew Rodriguez - Institute of Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP)
2. Kaitlin Devaney - IRRPP
3. Nancy Toure - IRRPP
4. Adrian Angel - DCEO
5. Jamie McCoy - Associate Director, Office of Integrated Eligibility Support (IES), IDHS-FCS
6. Jeff Peddycoart - Assistant Bureau Chief, Family Nutrition Bureau, IDHS-FCS

Proceedings:

1. Welcome/Roll Call - members and guests introduced themselves in the chat
2. Public Comment - subject to written comment in advance; none received.
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 23, 2024 and May 10, 2024 - Chair Milam moved to approve the February 23rd and May 10th meeting minutes seconded by Ms. Adell. The group unanimously approved the February 23rd and May 10th meeting minutes.
4. Special Presentation: Data Sharing - Jeff Peddycoart/Jamie McCoy
   • Mr. Peddycoart has worked on the DHFS Enterprise Data Warehouse where Medicaid data is stored as well as vital records data.
   • He's also helped on data matching with WIC and the Family Case Management Program to show outcomes relative to Medicaid enrolment for things like infant mortality, low birth weight and others.
   • Per Ms. McCoy, the SNAP and WIC process has been undergoing with the HFS team called HHSi2. HFS has the medical data that could be shared with WIC, they would need to approve the use of the information and verify the information with CMS.
   • There is a long-term plan for the ABE application to include other benefits and perform a sort of "warm handshake" to other areas such as WIC or housing or other programs that are willing to participate in ABE. The goal is to enable a person to apply through ABE and prompt them, for example, "it looks like you maybe eligible for WIC, would you like us to send your information to the WIC program and have them reach out to you?".
   • Currently, there's a program that's been developed, the IES benefit eligibility API that Illinois Tollway is taking advantage of. Tollway has an application for the I-PASS program (free transmitter and reduced toll rates) that in real time, it queries the IES eligibility API and through a confirmation of the applicant, they give their permission and electronic signature to query the data at IDHS to see if they meet the eligibility requirement of having to be in the SNAP or cash program in the month of their application for I-PASS. IES only provides a "yes" or "no" answer whether an individual is receiving benefits.
   • If other programs have the IT ability to transition their system to API, if part of the eligibility criteria is to be an active participant (receiving SNAP or medical or cash), the API can be customized which is what DHS is trying to do for the SIFH initiative.
   • IES has finally starting to get the staff capacity it needed for a long time. In the last year, FNS brought additional staff to clean up and catch up on the activities involved in the initial phase of going live of the API. Federal partners are expected to support the expansion of the M and O Team in the next federal fiscal year to be able to finish all the cleanup activities. This will get the IES team to a point where managing the system is a priority and as legislative needs come up, they will be able to address them in a timely manner and continue to build out enhancements to the system.
   • Another barrier is the technology being used which is three of four versions behind as well as the whole process of upgrading each version at a time to make certain that it's stable. However, there's a plan which has been in place for a long time, the Tech Refresh which is expected to be completed in November. IES will have brand new servers, brand new tech stacks that will help in expanding into the newer technologies.
   • With regards to data sharing between IES and WIC, the WIC system has to be prepared to receive data on SNAP for example, and from Ms. McCoy's knowledge, the WIC system is not in a situation where it could receive that type of data.
   • According to Mr. Peddycoart, iWIC has been without a provider of maintenance and operation (M&O) for about 18 months but a new contractor should arrive in October. But there is a whole 18 months or more backlog of things to fix and to make the system compliant with federal funders to keep it up and going. The new contractor could integrate SNAP or Medicaid data for potential enrollees, but funders would have to approve the work and funding.
   • Currently, only SNAP and medical can be applied for at ABE. Aside from WIC, other benefits that are not included (could be included) are childcare assistance, housing, employment and training, LIHEAP, etc.
   • Some of the challenges and barriers on the WIC side are staffing (DoIT is not able to fully support because they have other jobs and so outside vendor is needed), funding/procurement, and administrative barriers that come with federal funding.
   • On the positive side, Ms. Cully mentioned opportunities such as they have been successful in applying for other grant opportunities. They have received funds through the FNS Process Technology Improvement Grant, SNAP ARPA funds and System Improvements. They've also recently learned about the Digital Equity and Inclusion Programming. Illinois is doing a lot of good stuff and has experts such as Ms. McCoy and Ms. Kasey Reagan who are great assets of the state.
5. Special Presentation: WIC Outreach - Chair Milam
   • WIC participation lags behind other states
   • Participation decreased during COVID
   • Participation is high among eligible infants but drops considerably when children reach their 1st birthday and continues to drop until they age out of the program.
   • No recent participation rate from USDA yet but caseloads have been on the rise
   • IDHS and the Commission to End Hunger collaborated on a research survey to figure out the decrease in participation; 400 WIC agency staff were surveyed across the state; a follow up survey was also conducted.
   • WIC misperceptions: WIC is a formula program only for infants; WIC only offers food; only moms can enroll kids in WIC.
   • Most WIC agencies didn't have a dedicated marketing role on their staff and no funding for outreach; 80% of agencies have a marketing budget of $500 or less
   • Strategic goals derived from the survey:
     1. Provide WIC agencies the materials that they need for doing outreach to families or building partnerships with other community organizations as well as materials that address the misperceptions.
     2. Celebrate different family types thru use of picture on the different outreach materials.
     3. Emphasize the value of WIC at different life stages.
   • IDHS's WIC team headed by Stephanie Bess has started doing MOUs with Illinois Head Start to make partnering easier. Starting FY25, WIC agencies are now required to have an MOU with local head starts.
   • Up to 15 communities will be selected for further print material investments and local advertising support based on level of need and strength of plan.
   • New WIC website to launch later in August, it is currently live for the Summer EBT Program
   • Agencies wanted to have the materials in other languages but there was no budget for it so a 2-3 pages WIC flyer with all the information in 8 languages was created that WIC agencies can download and upload to their website or print and share in their community.
   • There will also be social media contents with newsletter and WIC 101 videos
   • Conversations with Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics have been done on how they can push the newsletter contents thru their networks.
   • IDHS' WIC team is working to launch the WIC with Me Clinic Campaign in FY25 which aims to train staff on best practices and help eligible participants know what to expect during clinic visits.
   • Illinois WIC secured a grant from USDA to implement a statewide secure texting option that can facilitate secure document uploads, appointment reminders and other administrative business for both clinic and client.
   • Illinois WIC and the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago secured a USDA Modernization funding for a two-year Mobile WIC Grocery pilot that will enable WIC families in Chicago's west side to access WIC-approved foods.
   • Meegan has heard about pop up grocery efforts in Chicago that could be useful information; she will track the info and share with Chair Milam.
   • GFCD also started a similar collaboration with IDHS on SNAP and started a survey among local SNAP office staff across the state.
6. Update on Tax Credit - Meegan Dugan Adell, Director, New America Chicago
   • New America Chicago has been working with COFI, IDHS, IDOR and New Practice Lab to try to identify ways that data could be shared across state departments to facilitate people who are getting benefits having access to tax credits they might be eligible for but aren't receiving.
   • A MOU has been signed between New America and IDHS; waiting on MOU with IDOR to be signed.
   • Hired two designers for the project that will start next month
   • More interviews with parents will be done across the state as well as design workshops and staff from each state department
7. Adjournment - Chair Milam moved to adjourn the meeting seconded by Dir. Staley. The group unanimously agreed to adjourn at 12:01 PM.