Commission on Family Services — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-05-01

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda – Skokie Village Hall
 May 1, 2024
 7:30 pm


I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda

II. Approval of April 3, 2024 Minutes

III. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack

IV. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch

V. Old Business:
 A. Seniors Subcommittee - Update

 B. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee – Diaper drive update

 C. Disabilities Subcommittee - Town Hall Meeting report

 D. Commission pamphlet - Update

 E. Produce Initiate and food and clothes drives
  June 30, July 28, August 18, Sept 29, Oct 27

 F. Festival of Cultures and 4th of July events – Update

 G. National Night Out – August 6, 2024 4pm – 7pm

 H. Dinner meeting, June 5 - Update

VI. New Business:

VII. Public Comments:

VIII. Adjournment.


 Next Meeting: June 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Minutes – Skokie Village Hall
 May 1, 2024
 7:30 pm

Present: Commissioners Harold Primack (Chair), Marjorie Goran, Hilary Hunter, Laila
Iqbal, Shajan Jose (Vice Chair), Daniel Mann, Peggy Molina, Arnie Oskin, Melissa
Ponce, Erin Ryan, Nancy Schwartz, Annie Shear, Phillip Shefren, Daniel Stalilonis,
London Summerville, Melissa Versch (Staff Liaison)

Absent: Commissioners Michelle Friedman, Jo Hammerman, Linda Lara, Valerie Riley,
Naadirah Shapley-Wells, Trustee Edie Sue Sutker


I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda
 Approved by consent.

II. Approval of April 3, 2024 Minutes
 Approved as corrected.

III. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack
 The Chair and Staff Liaison attended the Village budget meeting this evening.
 The commission’s accomplishments from the last year were shared with the
 Board of Trustees, as well as plans for the upcoming year. A flier was shared
 which listed accomplishments and showed photos from the commission’s events.

IV. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch
 In April, Health and Human Services welcomed Sher, a new grants manager and
 data analyst. The previous staff member in the position presented to the
 Commission about the IPLAN, which focuses on affordable housing, access to
 prenatal care, and access to mental health care.

 Health and Human Services participates in many collaborative efforts in the
 community, including a Hoarding Task Force. Recently, the task force completed
 an updated Hoarding Task Force Guide, which is helpful for professionals and
 consumers. The Guide and a shortened one-page version is currently published
 on the CJE website.


V. Old Business:
 A. Seniors Subcommittee - Update
 Harold reported that the next Boomers and Beyond Senior Resource Fair is
 scheduled for November 2025. This fall 2024, the planning committee will
 commence. Commissioners are welcome to participate.

 The subcommittee may consider other initiatives with partner organizations, and
 think about ways to extend what the commission is already doing.
B. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee – Diaper drive update
London reported that the Diaper Drive starts next week. It is in the e-newsletter
this week and next week. Already nineteen packages of diapers have been sold
through the Amazon Wish List. There are four public drop-off locations. Faith
groups will also be collecting. A new flier was created, which can be handed out
and shared. Those who have volunteered to pick up from collection sites are
asked to report back to London with the number of diapers.

A commissioner shared that there is currently state legislation working to make
diapers accessible to low-income families and at-risk families.

C. Disabilities Subcommittee - Town Hall Meeting report
Phil shared that Michelle was unable to attend the May Commission meeting as
she was invited to share information about planning the Town Hall meeting with
another group.

The Town Hall meeting took place on April 14. Twenty-one registered
participants showed up. Participants represented a diverse group of people,
including parents of people with disabilities. Michelle welcomed the group, as did
the Mayor. A number of people on the Commission attended - thank you to all
who came. The data will be collected and analyzed by the library, then shared
with the commission.

Compliments were given to Michelle who had the idea and resources to drive the
Town Hall Meeting planning. The next part will be hardest - taking the
recommendations and implementing them. The event was excellent and well-
organized.

D. Commission pamphlet - Update
Arnie reported that the commission’s pamphlet has been updated with donation
drive dates, information about the diaper drive and town hall, and list of
commissioners. Photos have been incorporated to illustrate past events. Draft
brochures were passed around for review and will be emailed.

E. Produce Initiate and food & clothes drives
  June 30, July 28, August 18, Sept 29, Oct 27
London setup SignUp Genius events for volunteers to help with the weekly
produce collection and monthly donation drives. Commissioners are encouraged
to help out. The signup will be sent to St. Paul and student groups.

F. Festival of Cultures and 4th of July events – Update
Melissa has the schedule of volunteers who will be help at the Village table for
Festival of Cultures. A signup was passed around for additional volunteers. In
previous years, the event has been a good way to share information about the
farmers market and senior resource fair. The brochures will be at the event.
 For the Fourth of July parade, the commission shared a float with the
 Beautification Commission and passed out candy and brochures. Harold talked
 with the Chair of the Beautification Commission who is willing to share the float
 again this year. We’ll send out a sign-up for the parade.

 G. National Night Out – August 6, 2024 4pm – 7pm
 Health and Human Services plans to have a table at the National Night Out event
 on August 6.

 H. Dinner meeting, June 5 – Update
 Shajan will place an order with Grecian Kitchen for the dinner meeting. The order
 will be placed for 15 people, including a vegetarian option.

VI. New Business:
 Hilary reported that she met someone at the Town Hall meeting who shared
 information about a conference for families with children with disabilities. Hilary
 shared information about the commission with her. She is very knowledgeable
 and may be interested in joining the commission.

 Hilary also reported that she has started a new job working with an organization
 that serves the homeless. As part of orientation, there have been many trainings
 that might be of interest to commissioners. Hilary will check if she can share the
 trainings with the commission.

 In the fall, Hilary may present to the commission information about her position.
 Several commissioners attended a housing forum and are interested in the topic
 of affordable housing.

 London mentioned that she is in touch with a refugee family who is looking for a
 sewing machine. If anyone has an old sewing machine, please reach out to
 London.

VII. Public Comments:
 None.

VIII. Adjournment at 8:17pm.


 Next Meeting:
 June 5, 2024, 7:00p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall