March 11th, 2025 IICEI Workforce Workgroup - Agenda and Meeting Reports

IICEI Workforce Workgroup

  • March 11th, 2025
  • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
  • Join Via Zoom
  • Meeting ID: 874 9687 0486
  • Password: 153469
  • Dial by your location: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Agenda

  1. Welcome
  2. Ground Rules and Expectations
    1. Review of norms
    2. Approval of minutes
  3. Transition Advisory Committee Discussion
    1. Co-Design Proposal
    2. Workgroup Feedback on Proposal
    3. Workgroup Participation as Project Proceeds
    4. Summary of Workgroup Efforts to Date
  4. Recruitment Strategy Discussion (time permitting)
    1. Grow Your Own
    2. Public Awareness
    3. Compensation, Loan Forgiveness, and Other Financial Incentives
  5. Next Steps
  6. Public Comment

Attendees

Participant Name Attended
Amanda Albright Yes
Talibah Moore No
Autumn Bruere Yes
Antonio Borjas Yes
Susan Connor Yes
Tracy Cooper Yes
Jen Crick Yes
Amy Betz for Rob Derry Yes
Chelsea Guillen Yes
Mindy Ely Yes
Kesha Harris Yes
Katie Jacobs Yes
Zareen Kamal Yes
Jenny Masterson Yes
Rachel Mika Yes
Carol Muhammad Yes
Stephanie O'Donnell Yes
Monica Patrick Yes
Makenzie Pettit Yes
Amy Santos No
Delreen Schmidt-Lenz Yes
Lisa Seymour Yes
Ellen Shwatal Yes
Ashley Stoffel Yes
Nicole Van Hise Yes

Minutes

I. Welcome

II. Ground Rules and Expectations

  • Review of norms
  • Approval of minutes: Motion to approve by Amanda Albright, seconded by Dr. Tracy Cooper and Antonio Borjas. No one opposed.

III. Transition Advisory Committee Discussion 

- Co-Design Proposal:

  • Ann Whalen joined the group to present information on the Committee's co-design proposal. She stated that it was a teaming framework, and they are trying to design the system with and for families and providers.
  • It is not a one size fits all approach so it may look different across the state.
  • She stated that they want the voices of those living the experiences to be represented in the work. It was also stated that they are committed to centering/designing with families in mind. She stated that part of the aim is to make sure that they are thinking about diversity. Feedback has been received that even more areas of diversity should be included in the updated draft.
  • She provided a padlet for workgroup members to share their feedback.
  • Workgroup members asked questions throughout the presentation.
  • A workgroup member shared her recent experience as a provider in Southern Illinois. There is an urgency to making the kinds of changes that have already been recommended. Ms. Whalen stated that she appreciated her sharing her experience and noted that they are trying to be strategic with state money in this tight fiscal year.
  • While there is a recognition that funding can't be promised, what are the plans to address the current workforce crisis while determining what the next iteration of the program could look like?

- Workgroup Participation as Project Proceeds

  • The group wanted to know how they can be involved in future aspects of planning outside of padlets and the monthly updates mentioned in the plan
  • The group wondered about the possibility of meeting with the TAC since so much work and so many discussions have already occurred
  • A scheduled quarterly meeting like this one would be great to continue sharing progress on these goals
  • A suggestion was made to consider a family workgroup as well as a provider workgroup in the proposal
  • Time impacts providers' availability for workgroup participation. Providers can get updates from listening in on the TAC meetings, but it would be more helpful to be engaged in meaningful discussion and problem solving.
  • Given this strong, diverse workgroup of EI stakeholder, increased communication between this workgroup and TAC is felt to be important for sharing our work and recommendations.
  • The past efforts of the workforce workgroup were shared with Ms. Whalen so she could understand where the group has been focusing their efforts. Benny thanked workgroup members for everything they have done so far as this will make a difference.

IV. Next Steps

* Next steps will include providing feedback on the co-design, discussing concerns, and determining how information might be shared between the workgroup and the TAC moving forward

V. Public Comment

* No public comment

Next meeting April 8th, 2025 at 1:00 pm.