Commission on Family Services — Skokie, IL
Date: 2022-02-02

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Agenda - Virtual
 February 2, 2022
 7:00 pm


 Due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, 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, brian.mchugh@skokie.org and all properly submitted statements or questions will be
 presented to the Board of Health members and be made part of the record. Written comments also may be
 submitted by email to publiccomments@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

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of December 1, 2021 Minutes: Commissioner Jo Hammerman

IV. Welcome and Opening Remarks, Chair Harold Primack

V. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison: Brian McHugh

VI. Speaker: Commissioner Mike Stiehl: Skokie Demographic Trends 2020 Census

VII. Old Business
 A. Creation of Subcommittees

VIII. New Business
 A. March and April Commission meetings

IX. Citizen Comments:

X. Adjournment.

 Next Meeting: March 2, 7:00 p.m.
 Virtual or In Person TBD

Commission on Family Services
 Meeting Minutes
 February 2, 2022

Present: Commissioners Harold Primack (Chair), Yolanda Bender, Bonnie Eckstein, Marjorie
Goran, Jo Hammerman, Shajan Jose (Vice-Chair), Wendy Katznelson, Daniel Mann, Brian
McHugh (Human Services Liaison), Heather O’Donnell, Joshua Orlan, Arnold Oskin, Nichole
Perry, Annie Shear, Phillip Shefren, Mike Stiehl, Edie Sue Sutker, Melissa Versch.

Absent: Commissioners Jaime Garcia, Laila Iqbal, Valerie Riley

I. Call to order at 7:00pm

II. Approval of agenda: Agenda was approved. Harold requested adding Food Drive at the
 Farmer’s Market under New Business.

III. Approval of Minutes: The December 1, 2021 minutes were approved after noting a
 spelling correction from “Assistant” to “Assistance” pertaining to Ruth Orme-Johnson’s
 title.

IV. Welcome and Opening Remarks: Harold noted that Nancy Schwartz is a new
 Commissioner and will be invited to the next meeting. At the February 7th Village Board
 meeting all Commissioners will be re-appointed for the next year.

V. Health and Human Service Report: Brian McHugh:
 1. Covid vaccinations are being given on Tuesdays and Thursdays by the Village.
 Cases are going down.
 2. Tax season starts in March and the Village will be taking appointments.
 3. The Co-Responder Program is doing well with over 100 calls and over 130 follow
 up calls last month.
 4. The Social Worker position is moving along with applicant interviews in March.


VI. Speaker: Commissioner Mike Stiehl gave a presentation, “Changes in the
Village of Skokie: 2010 to 2020”. The presentation addressed seven general areas -
Population/Demographics, Households/Families, Education, Citizenship, Employment,
Housing, and Disabilities. A copy of the presentation and an excel spreadsheet are attached.
 Questions:
 1. With the increase in preschool age children, is it anticipated that there will there be
 an increase in kindergarteners? Yes, also there’s an increase in grandparents caring
 for young children and both parents working.
 2. Will this trend continue to a ect other educational levels? Maybe, but the limiting
 factor could be housing.
 3. Can you clarify 2020 vs. 2019 in the data presented? 2019 references the American
 Community Survey data (a yearly self selected survey), and the 2020/2010 years
 references the Federal Census (every ten years, less detailed, used for
 apportionment, funding, etc.)
 4. Since the data shows more people living alone, are they older adults? And if so are
 they potentially in need of services? Yes, and more info is needed.
 5. What about the mental health needs of these people? And especially in Covid with
 the accompanying isolation? Brian said that the Village developed a data base of
 vulnerable seniors at the beginning of the pandemic to do outreach; and it is
 ongoing thanks to the Social Work Intern.




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 VII. Old Business:
 A. Creation of Subcommittees - Harold suggests that they be small, 3-5 people in order
 to stay in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, and proposes three
 subcommittees - Seniors, People with Disabilities, and At Risk Youth and Families. Past
 initiatives have addressed some of these areas, i.e., Boomers and Beyond, and the
 Produce Initiative. Whoever is interested please email Harold your preference by
 next week.

 VIII. New Business:
 A. Harold suggests the March meeting be the same format although whether in-person
 or zoom TBD based on Covid status. He suggests that the April meeting be a dinner
 meeting as in the past when dinner has been ordered from a local restaurant and the
 Commissioners split the cost.
 B. The Commission has received a request from Skokie Farmer’s Market, Marketing
 Manager, Jennifer Engel, asking if the Commission would organize a food drive at the
 market. This would run once a month from 9:00-12:00. Volunteers would
 be needed to sta it. Harold would use Sign Up Genius to coordinate volunteers.
 Commissioner Katznelson asked if the sign up emails could be staggered so as not to
 ll all slots for volunteers at the beginning, as people’s schedules change and this
 would accommodate last minute sign ups and changes. Commissioner O’Donnell
 volunteered to take leadership of this initiative. It was suggested there be a coat/
 clothing drive also. St. Paul’s Church has a clothes closet available for people in need of
 clothing. They especially need donations of kid’s clothing and diapers. Commissioner
 Mann re-iterated that there is a great need for diapers and perhaps the Commission
 could assist in this area.
 C. Harold suggested ending the meetings with a “Good and Welfare” report, to report
 any good news. Commissioner Oskin reported the Teen Link has been a great help to
 his family for snow shoveling. It was noted that the cost may be prohibitive for some
 seniors, so perhaps the Commission could look into less expensive options.

 IX. Citizen Comments: None.

 X. Adjournment at 8:15pm.

 Next meeting: March 2, 2022
 7:00pm




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