Commission on Family Services — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-03-06

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda – Skokie Village Hall
 Mar. 6, 2024
 7:00 pm


I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda

II. Guest Speaker: Alyssa Robbins, Manager, Outreach & Community Education, JCFS

III. Approval of Feb. 7, 2023 Minutes

IV. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack

 A. New Commissioner: Erin Ryan

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

VI. Old Business:
 A. Seniors Subcommittee update

 B. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee update

 C. Disabilities Subcommittee - Town Hall Meeting update

 D. Update Commission pamphlet

VII. New Business:
 A. Date for dinner meeting
 B. Dates for food and clothes drives
 C. New subcommittee

VIII. Public Comments:

IX. Adjournment.


 Next Meeting: April 3, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda – Skokie Village Hall
 Mar. 6, 2024
 7:00 pm
Present: Commissioners Harold Primack (Chair), Marjorie Goran, Hilary Hunter, Shajan Jose (Vice Chair), Linda
Lara, Peggy Molina, Arnie Oskin, Melissa Ponce, Erin Ryan (NC), Naadirah Shapley-Wells, Annie Shear, Phillip
Shefren, London Summerville, Melissa Versch (Staff Liaison)

Absent: Commissioners Michelle Friedman, Jo Hammerman, Laila Iqbal, Daniel Mann, Valerie Riley, Nancy
Schwartz, Daniel Stalilonis, Trustee Edie Sue Sutker

I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda
 Meeting called to order at 7:03pm. Agenda approved by consent.

II. Guest Speaker: Alyssa Robbins, Manager, Outreach & Community Education, JCFS
 Alyssa shared information about clinical services offered through JCFS, including individual, family and
 group therapy. As an example of her work, Alyssa presented on “Sexuality Pizza,” a model for
 comprehensive sexuality education. She also shared information about upcoming JCFS events, including
 “Tuned In” on March 17 and the Clothesline Project in partnership with YWCA.

III. Approval of Feb. 7, 2023 Minutes
 Approved by consent.

IV. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack
 A. New Commissioner: Erin Ryan
 B. Turning Point held their annual town hall meeting on March 1. It included local politicians and
 focused on mental health issues. They discussed topics related to mental health. Medicaid and Medicare
 don’t sufficiently cover many mental health services. There is a shortage of mental health care
 providers. Ways to promote people into the field include increasing wage, preventing burnout, funding
 programs at colleges, forgiving student loans. They talked about BEACON, a portal for Illinois youth and
 families in crisis. Questions were asked about a portal for adults and seniors, as well as services for
 immigrants. There was discussion about the 988 hotline, which is an alternative to 911 for mental health
 issues. The Co-Responder Team and Niles Township Respite Center were praised.

 All commissioners should have gotten an invitation for the Village reception. Be sure to respond to Vicky
 Varga.

 An email was sent out to the commission with a request for picking up donated food from Trader Joe’s
 in Evanston to take to the Niles Township Food Pantry.

V. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch
 Melissa V passed around a printout of contact information for Commissioners to update.

 The Village has recently partnered with Northwest Housing to help administer the Skokie Home
 Improvement Program. The Program is for low-income homeowners who want to make home
 improvements but need a little financial help. A loan up to $12,000 is provided at zero interest. The
 longer you live in your home, the less you have to pay back.
VI. Old Business:
 A. Seniors Subcommittee update
 Nothing to report at this time. Harold recommended looking at the AARP Livable Communities resources
 for information.

 B. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee update
 London reported that the subcommittee is planning another diaper drive around mothers day.
 The goal is to expand publicity and collection sites. Faith communities may be a good resource. Harold
 suggested reaching out to Early Childhood Alliance in the future.

 C. Disabilities Subcommittee - Town Hall Meeting update
 Phil reported that the subcommittee is preparing for the Town Hall Meeting taking place on
 April 14. There is a need for volunteers to be computer notetakers. If anyone is interested in
 volunteering, they can reach out to Melissa V. There will be a training for volunteers on April 1. Flyers
 are printed and people are encouraged to share the information.

 The goal of the meeting is to get feedback from individuals with disabilities about what makes
 them feel welcome in a community, what is working well and what can be improved. From this basic
 information, there may be follow up methods to gather information in other ways.

 D. Update Commission pamphlet
 Last year, the commission printed 1000 brochures to share information about the commission
 initiatives. Arnie volunteered to work with Melissa to update the brochure for 2024. It may be helpful
 for subcommittees to provide a few short sentences about initiatives, especially regarding the diaper
 drive and town hall meeting.

 The commission needs to decide whether and how to participate in upcoming events. The Skokie
 Festival of Cultures is May 18 and 19. Arnie reached out to Meredith Gioia with the Communications
 Department regarding interest in volunteering for the event so that the commission can hand out
 material. Melissa P shared that last year’s event was very busy, it’s a good way to talk with people.
 Melissa V suggested waiting to hear back from the Communications Department before sending out a
 signup sheet for volunteers.

 Arnie reported that planning for the Fourth of July is underway. Harold reported that in the past, the
 commission had a car that was driven in the parade. Last year, Family Services joined with the
 Beautification Commission on their float. More people are needed from the commission. A
 consideration is to join the Human Relations Commission. There should also be consideration about if
 there is a good “return on investment” by participating.

 Next month there will be a request for volunteers for the two activities to see if there is enough interest.

VII. New Business:
 A. Date for dinner meeting
 The suggested date is June 5 due to scheduling conflicts. Shajan volunteered to help with the dinner
 order.
 B. Dates for food and clothes drives
 Melissa V reported that she spoke with the coordinator for the farmers market to schedule the donation
 drive dates for the last Sunday of the month, with an exception in August. The drive collects gently used
 clothing for the Niles Township clothing closet and nonperishable food and toiletries for the Niles
 Township Food Pantry. This is in addition to weekly produce collection from the farmers.

 A recently published update on the Environmental Sustainability Plan mentioned the produce collected
 at the farmers market for the food pantry. By collecting produce, the commission is helping to keep food
 local and accessible.

 London volunteered to help setup the Signup Genius for volunteers needed for the farmers market
 collections. It was recommended that it be sent out in May.

 Diapers will be added to the list of needed items. Melissa V will be ordering bags for produce collection.
 The banner is in “okay” condition. A new banner may be needed. Dates should not be printed on the
 banner so that it can be used in future years. A suggestion was made to include a QR code on the
 banner, though not everyone knows how to use a QR code. Dates will be included on the brochure.

 C. New subcommittee
 There may be a need for a new subcommittee. One possibility is to divide an existing subcommittee, or
 to create a new one with a new focus. The Open Meetings Act restricts the number of commissioners
 who can meet outside of public meetings. This is something that can be a later discussion.

VIII. Public Comments:
 None.

IX. Adjournment.
 Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15pm.


 Next Meeting: April 3, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall