Commission on Family Services — Skokie, IL
Date: 2021-03-03

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda
 March 3, 2021
 7:00 pm


 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting is being held virtually. Members of the public who wish to
 comment as to an item on the published agenda must submit their statement or question in writing to
 Michael Charley with the Skokie Health Department and all properly submitted statements or questions will
 be presented and read during the relevant portion of the meeting. Written comments also may be
 submitted by email to citizencomments@skokie.org by mail to Village of Skokie, Attn: Michael Charley with
 the Skokie Health Department, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie, Illinois, 60077; or via the Village’s drop box
 located by the public entry to Village Hall


I. Call to Order
 Statement to be read by Chairman Harold Primack:

 Until further notice, meetings of the Commission on Family Services will be held electronically, with a
 majority of members participating via remote access in order to comply with the State of Illinois
 Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. Members of the public who wish to comment as to an item on
 the published agenda must submit their statement or question in writing to Michael Charley with the
 Skokie Health Department, and all properly submitted statements or questions will be presented and
 read during the relevant portion of the meeting.

 Written comments also may be submitted by email to citizencomments@skokie.org by mail to Village
 of Skokie, Attn: Michael Charley –Director of Health and Human Services, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie,
 Illinois, 60077; or via the Village’s drop box located by the public entry to Village Hall.

II. Approval of Minutes: No minutes to approve

III. Welcome and Opening Remarks (Chair Harold Primack)

IV. Introductions (All)

V. Reports:
 A. Mike Charley, Director Health and Human Services
 B. Brian McHugh, Human Services Social Worker

VI. Old Business (None)

VII. New Business
 A. Produce Initiative
 B. Boomers and Beyond Senior Resource Fair
 C. New Initiative Suggestions

VIII. Citizen Comments (See information at top of page)

IX. Adjournment.

 Next Meeting: April 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
 Village Hall-Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Minutes
 March 3, 2021
 7:00 pm

Present: Harold Primark (Chair), Yolanda Bender, Bonnie Eckstein, Wendy Katzhelson, Jaime Garcia, Jo
Hammerman, Laila Iqbal, Shajan Jose, Heather O’Donnell, Arnie Oskin, Nicole Perry, Michael Stiehl, Trustee Edie
Sutker, Melissa Versch, Mike Charley (Staff), Brian McHugh (Staff)

Absent: Rebecca Abraham, Matthew Mackellar, Edward McCarron, Joshua Orlan, Annie Shear, Phillip Shefren,

I. Call to Order @ 7:00 PM

II. Approval of Minutes: No minutes to approve

III. Welcome and Opening Remarks (Chair Harold Primack): Primack communicated that it has been a year
 since the last meeting. Meetings were suspended due to COVID-19. Primack read the commission’s
 mission, reminded the attendees that this commission meets the first Wednesday of the month.
 Primack provided some background on things that this commission has done in the past. The Boomers
 and Beyond has been help twice annually, the last event was held in 2019. Education program on
 various topics have been sponsored by this commission. Each summer this commission has assisted
 with the “Produce Initiative” where produce is collected at the Skokie Farmers’ Market and donated to
 the Niles Township food pantry. In 2019, 4,000 pounds of produce was collected/donated.

 One of the connections that this commission has is with the Family Engagement Skokie Resilient
 Community Collaborative (SRCC), later Nicole Perry will provide additional information on this. Primack
 expressed his sorrow for the passing of Angelo Melitello a past commissioner, passed away December
 27, 2020.

IV. Approval of Agenda: Agenda was approved

V. Introductions: Each commissioner introduced themselves. How long a resident of Skokie, how long on
 commission and tell the commission a little bit about themselves.

VI. Reports:
 A. Mike Charley, Director Health and Human Services: Charley Presented Health and Human
 Services updates. Charley communicated that in the fall of 2020 Human Services was
 consolidated with the Health Department into the new “Health and Human Services
 Department”. Human Services continues to offer all the previously offered programs such as
 Social Service referral/linkage, the STAR program, Assist a Family, Benefit Access, SHIP,
 mediation and well-being visits to homebound residents. Charley presented information on the
 Village’s COVID-19 response including COVID-19 case data and an update that the Village has
 32,000+ residents registered on the Village’s vaccine pre-registration list an that approximately
 9,486 doses of vaccine had been administered to-date. Charley communicated that the Village
 is currently administering the Moderna vaccine.

 B. Brian McHugh, Human Services Social Worker: No Updates

 C. Skokie Resilience Coalition Collaborative (SRCC) Nicole Perry presented. Group put together 2 ½
 years ago and included several school districts, mental health organizations and some public
 health community organizations. The SRCC was established to help educate and train and deal
 with the problem of Adverse Childhood Events (ACES) in Skokie. SRCC has been meeting with an
 ACES group from the State. Last met in March of 2020. Back in March, SRCC was going to
 participate in a three-day ACES interface training. Training was finished up just prior to COVID-
 19 shutting down everything. The goal was then to take the training out in the community to
 help those organizations understand the impact of ACES. The SRCC received funding from the
 Skokie Communities Foundation to sponsor the training and present to the community. There
 have been 12 presentations to 1,200 persons in Skokie. If the commission knows groups that
 would like ACES training (30 persons trained to train), please let Nicole Perry know.

VII. Old Business: None

VIII. New Business
 A. Produce Initiative: Harold Primack communicated that it is his hope that it will be safe to be
 back at the Farmers’ Market so that surplus produce can be collected for the Niles Township
 Food Pantry. Wendy Katznelson agreed that this is an important initiative.

 B. Boomers and Beyond Senior Resource Fair: Harold Primack communicated that due to COVID-19
 that this event will not be offered in 2021. Charley suggested that in lieu of an in-person event
 to consider offering a virtual event. Harold communicated that due to the amount of COVID-19
 work being done by the Health and Human Services Department that now may not be a good
 time to use staff resources to plan for an event. Melissa Versch responded that as an employee
 of the Northshore Senior Center, she does not feel there should be an in-person fair, if there can
 be a virtual fair the Northshore Senior Center can assist with the virtual fair. Harold suggested
 that we consider a Zoom opportunity with Seniors.

 C. New Initiative Suggestions: Harold Primack communicated that in the next few months the
 commission consider revisioning the commission to ensure that the commission is meeting the
 needs of the community. He suggested that this be investigated and discussed at future
 meetings. He asked that commissioners email him, Mike Charley or Brian McHugh with any
 ideas.

IX. Citizen Comments (See information at top of page)

X. Adjournment @ 8:18 PM

 Next Meeting: April 7, 2021, 7:00 p.m.
 Village Hall-Board of Health Members – Virtual via Zoom Meetings