Commission on Family Services — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-03-05

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda – Skokie Police Dept. Headquarters
 March. 5, 2025
 7:00 pm


I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda

II. Approval February 2025 Minutes

III.  Guest Speaker: Fatima Rasoul, Community Engagement Specialist, HIAS Immigration
and Citizenship

IV. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack

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

VI. Old Business:
 A. Village events:
 1. Festival of Cultures, May 17 & 18
 2. Skokie Pride Event – June, TDB
 3. Juneteenth Celebration – June, TBD

 B. Seniors Subcommittee – Report on senior’s resource fair, Live Well Age Well
 Skokie.

 C. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee – Report on Mother’s Day diaper drive

 D. Disabilities Subcommittee – Report. ADA 35th Anniversary, ADA compliance,
 Emergency Preparedness

VII. New Business:
 A. Dinner meeting in April?

 B. Requirements for subcommittee meetings.

VIII. Public Comments:

IX. Adjournment.


 Next Meeting: April 2, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall


 If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Melissa Versch, Health and Human Services
 Division at (847) 933-8233 or melissa.versch@skokie.org.

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Minutes – Skokie Police Dept. Headquarters
 March. 5, 2025
 7:00 pm

Present: Harold Primack (Chair), Commissioners Michelle Friedman, Marjorie Goran, Hilary Hunter, Shajan Jose
(Vice Chair), Peggy Molina, Arnie Oskin, Annie Shear, Daniel Stalilonis, London Summerville, Melissa Versch (Staff
Liaison)

Absent: Commissioners Sharon Cohen, Jo Hammerman, Linda Lara, Naadirah Muhammad (Shapley-Wells),
Melissa Ponce, Valerie Riley, Erin Ryan, Nancy Schwartz, Phillip Shefren, Trustee Edie Sue Sutker


I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda
 Meeting called to order at 7:04pm. Agenda approved by consent.

II. Approval February 2025 Minutes
 Approved by consent.

III.  Guest Speaker: Fatima Rasoul, Community Engagement Specialist, HIAS Immigration
and Citizenship
 Presentation: “HIAS Immigration & Citizenship: Ways to Engage in Refugee Resettlement Work “

IV. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack
 Chair Harold Primack acknowledged risks to funding at federal and local levels, including programs like
 Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, housing, and disability assistance programs. The
 focus of the Commission will remain on the community. Chair Primack has shared the Commission’s
 advocacy efforts with mayoral candidates.

 Commissioners discussed potential cuts to seniors and people with disabilities. A suggestion was made
 to reach out to state and federal representatives, especially to advocate for organizations serving
 Medicaid recipients, special education, and veterans.

V. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch
 Melissa Versch shared that the Health and Human Services Department is watching to see how any cuts
 may affect Medicaid and services, like the food pantry. Commissioners discussed concern about support
 to farmers and food pantries. The Commission can focus on the needs of the community, and initiatives
 like the Diaper Drive will be important.

VI. Old Business:
 A. Village events:
 1. Festival of Cultures, May 17 & 18, 11am – 6pm
 2. Skokie Pride Event – June 22, 1pm-4pm
 3. Juneteenth Celebration – June 14, 1pm-5pm
 Commissioners are requested to volunteer for upcoming events and to help promote commission
 activities. Melissa Versch reported that the Human Relations Commission is willing to partner with the
 Commission on Family Services for the Pride event. Versch will follow up about whether the Commission
 can partner with the Village for the Festival of Cultures, and possibly Juneteenth events.

 B. Seniors Subcommittee – Report on senior’s resource fair, Live Well Age Well
 Skokie.
 The Senior Resource Fair Planning Committee has approved a new name and logo for Live Well Age Well
 Skokie, formerly called Boomers and Beyond. The Advocate Health Care van has been confirmed to
 provide health screenings. Vice Chair Shajan Jose is checking to see if the Lion’s Club is available to
 provide vision screenings. A Save the Date email is being sent to the vendors from the 2023 event.

 C. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee – Report on Mother’s Day diaper drive
 London Summerville reported that a Diaper Drive is being planned for May 2-11. The subcommittee is
 partnering with community organizations for promotional activities, including using digital signage at the
 Niles Township office.

 D. Disabilities Subcommittee – Report. ADA 35th Anniversary, ADA compliance,
 Emergency Preparedness
 Michelle Friedman reported that the subcommittee has concerns about follow up on recommendations
 of the Village to conduct an ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition, especially regarding unknown budgeting
 for next fiscal year. Commissioners discussed barriers, including lack of staff time and budget challenges.
 Advocacy efforts may include providing a written statement of concerns to Village staff and requesting
 progress with new electorates. Hilary Hunter suggested setting up a forum for local candidates, though
 time constraints would be an issue for commissioners. Arnie Oskin suggested that a replacement trustee
 be appointed to the Commission.

 Commissioners discussed the possibility of assisting with emergency planning for people with
 disabilities, including Smart911, which is utilized by emergency responders. The Medical Reserve Corps
 will be holding a meeting regarding emergency planning for people with disabilities, which
 commissioners are invited to.

VII. New Business:
 A. Dinner meeting in April?
 The Commission usually has dinner catered for one meeting each year. A recommendation was made to
 hold the dinner meeting in June as a wrap-up before the summer break.

 B. Requirements for subcommittee meetings.
 All commissions and boards are reminded that the Commission is a public body and subject to
 requirements of the Open Meetings Act, including that meetings must be posted ahead of time, held in
 an accessible location, usually a Village-owned facility, and that a quorum must be present to make
 decisions. Anytime there is a majority of a quorum gathered, commission business should not be
 discussed unless the gathering is following Open Meetings Act guidelines.

VIII. Public Comments:
 None.

IX. Adjournment.
 Meeting adjourned at 8:39pm.
Next Meeting: April 2, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
 at Skokie Village Hall