Commission on Family Services — Skokie, IL
Date: 2023-06-07

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda – Skokie Village Hall
 June 7, 2023
 7:00 pm



I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda

II. Approval of May 3, 2023 Minutes

III. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack

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

V. Old Business:
 A. Boomers and Beyond 2023

 B. Farmers Market Produce Collection and Donation Drive

 C. Skokie Festival of Cultures

 D. Skokie July 4th Parade

 E. Subcommittee reports

 F. Commission publicity materials

 G. Future Commission Meeting Dates: Jun 7, Sept 6, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6, Jan 3 (?),
 Feb 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5

 H. Rules and Regulations

 I. Welcome Packet


VI. New Business:
 A. Subcommittee breakout session & Report

 B. Advisory Housing Commission



VII. Citizen Comments:


VIII. Adjournment.


 Next Meeting: Sept. 6, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Minutes – Skokie Village Hall
 June 7, 2023
 7:00 pm

Present: Commissioners Harold Primack (Chair), Michelle Friedman, Jo Hammerman, Shajan
Jose, Linda Lara, Daniel Mann, Peggy Molina, Arnie Oskin, Melissa Ponce, Nancy Schwartz,
Annie Shear, Phillip Shefren, Daniel Stalilonis, London Summerville, Melissa Versch (Staff
Liaison)

Absent: Commissioners Marjorie Goran, Laila Iqbal, Valerie Riley, Naadirah Shapley-Wells,
Trustee Edie Sue Sutker


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

II. Approval of May 3, 2023 Minutes
 Approved by consent.

III. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack
 This is the last commission meeting until September 6. Members of the
 Commission have been busy with several activities, which will be discussed
 under Old Business. Boomers and Beyond is ramping up. Farmers Market is also
 moving into high gear. The end of the month will be the start of the produce
 initiative and the donation drive. Thank you to London for setting up the Sign Up
 Genius. I will send out the link again, please sign up. The link can be sent to
 people outside of our commission. Melissa will be sending to the church and the
 teen volunteer program at the library. The mission is to promote the well-being of
 Skokie’s most vulnerable residents through outreach, advocacy and education.
 The farmers market collection is an extension of that.

IV. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch
 Health and Human Services has a new partnership with Advocate Healthcare
 System’s food pantry. They have provided shelf-stable bags of food that would
 last a single person about a week. If Human Services is meeting with people in
 the community who are food insecure, we can ask them to do a short
 questionnaire. If they do identify as food insecure we can hand them a bag right
 away. In two weeks, we gave out seven or eight bags.

 We have another new partnership with Impact Behavioral Health related to their
 employment services program. The program is expanded under a grant-funded
 project to individuals eligible for TANF or SNAP benefits. As we are meeting with
 people who are looking for work, we are able to refer to this program.

 Last thing, the Human Relations Commission is hosting a block party forum on
 Monday, June 12 at the library from 6:30 to 7:30pm. They do this every year as
 part of their initiative to issue block party of the year awards. To kick off the block
 party season, the forum will talk about best practices, how to apply for a permit
 and ideas for the party. A flier is being passed around.

V. Old Business:
 A. Boomers and Beyond 2023
 The planning committee met on May 17 and there is progress being made. The
 event is on November 3rd at the Oakton Community Center. Daniel and Jo have
 been on the Presentations and Program subcommittee.

 Jo reported that the subcommittee has been meeting about once per month.
 They have been connecting with Elvis from Advocate Community Outreach, who
 has been very helpful. Advocate is looking into offering two mobile health
 screening clinics for dental and screening services. We have speakers lined up
 and will be meeting with Logistics to look at the space at Oakton next week. We
 have two clinical social workers from CJE talking about winter blues, depression
 and mindfulness. We’ll have Police and Fire. The library will provide drop-in
 services for tech help. We are using an attorney from CJE who will talk about
 advance directives or legal matters. We’re talking with Dr. Gittleman from
 Advocate to be a keynote speaker. We have two clinical specialists from
 Advocate who will be at tables, one from the Older Adult program and one from
 memory care. The subcommittee will talk with Skokie Health Department to make
 sure there is no overlap.

 Harold noted that Advocate should fill out a registration form and will not need to
 pay a registration fee.

 Melissa reported for the Vendors and Logistics subcommittee. An email was sent
 out to a list of potential exhibitors, provided by the Chamber of Commerce. There
 were over 100 organizations invited to become exhibitors. A variety of
 organizations were invited, including legislators, health care, legal, and financial
 services in the community. We do have the website set up for Boomers and
 Beyond with the basic information. Harold added that the Park District has the
 registration set up to accept payment.

 Harold is following up with the Chamber regarding a flier for the event. The flier
 can be posted to help get the word out. If anyone from the commission would like
 to join a Boomers and Beyond planning meeting they are welcome to join. The
 next meeting will be July 12 at 9:15am at the library.

 B. Farmers Market Produce Collection and Donation Drive
 Harold reiterated that the volunteer sign up is available for farmers market
 produce collection and donation drive. It is also a good way to publicize our work.

 C. Skokie Festival of Cultures
 Arnie reported that the brochure was completed and handed out at the Festival of
 Culture. There were at least 900 people during his shift on Sunday, a lot of
seniors and children. There was interest in Boomers and Beyond. The brochure
has a QR code for people to scan and get more information.

Melissa reported that the Director of Communications gives his thanks to the
commission for helping to staff the Village table at the event.

D. Skokie July 4th Parade
Arnie reported that there are at least 65 units registered in the parade. The
Commission on Family Services and Human Services Commission are expected,
as well as legislators and members of the Board of Trustees.

Michelle asked about security for the parade. Arnie reported there will be a
heightened level of security.

Harold added that the parade is another great way to publicize the commission
and pass out brochures. For those who want to join, meet at Oakton Community
College between 10:30 and 11am.

E. Subcommittee reports
Seniors Subcommittee: Nothing further to report.

People with Disabilities Subcommittee: Michelle reported that the subcommittee
is planning a town hall meeting. Michelle had reached out to the mayor’s office in
Chicago who reported that town hall meetings are more effective than a survey to
hear from the community to get an idea of who are the people of the disabled
community, what are their disabilities, how they feel we are doing as a
community for people with disabilities, what they need, and what they want or
think we can do better. We want to get input and involvement from organizations
in the community, including Keshet and JCFS. We would like to get together with
members of these organizations to help plan a town hall meeting. The event
would probably be in the spring.

Melissa asked what the subcommittee hopes to do with the information that is
provided. The subcommittee replied that depending on the information, it may
result in recommendations for services. We may find that parking is not sufficient
or that materials need to be more accessible. We need to find out what we could
be doing better. It’s good information for the agencies to know what is needed.

At Risk Youth Subcommittee: Harold sent an email about an Early Childhood
Alliance event in May that was very successful. As a subcommittee, maybe this
is something to collaborate on.


F. Commission publicity materials
Melissa and Arnie worked together to update the commission brochure.
 G. Future Commission Meeting Dates: Jun 7, Sept 6, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6,
 Jan 3 (?), Feb 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5
 Harold asked that everyone look at the future meeting dates to see if there are
 any conflicts. In the past, there was no January meeting. We can decide closer to
 the date about the January meeting.

 H. Rules and Regulations
 Harold had proposed at the last meeting that if we have guests attend the
 meeting, the comment period should be limited to 3 minutes. To clarify, that does
 not include guests invited to present.

 I. Welcome Packet
 At the last meeting, a welcome packet was mentioned. Melissa volunteered to
 put together information for new commissioners. Michelle suggested that it might
 be helpful to have an orientation session and binder with people’s contact
 information, Robert’s Rules of Order and more.


VI. New Business:
 A. Subcommittee breakout session & Report
 Item postponed due to time.

 B. Advisory Housing Commission
 In response to a request from the Mayor’s office, Harold sent an email to the
 commission asking for a representative for the Advisory Housing Commission.
 Melissa Ponce was recommended.


VII. Citizen Comments:
 None.

VIII. Adjournment at 8:11pm.


 Next Meeting: Sept. 6, 2023, 7:00
 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall