Commission on Family Services

Commission on Family Services Meeting Minutes – Skokie Village Hall Sept 4, 2024 7:00 pm Present: Commissioners Harold Primack (Chair), Michelle Friedman, Marjorie Goran, Jo Hammerman, Hilary Hunter, Shajan Jose (Vice Chair), Linda Lara, Daniel Mann, Peggy Molina, Naadirah Muhammad (Shapley-Wells), Arnie Oskin, Melissa Ponce, Nancy Schwartz, Annie Shear, Phillip Shefren, Daniel Stalilonis, London Summerville, Melissa Versch (Staff Liaison) Absent: Commissioners Laila Iqbal, Valerie Riley, Erin Ryan, Trustee Edie Sue Sutker I. Call to Order: Approval of Agenda Call to order at 7:01 pm. Agenda approved with requested addition of How to Join the Commission under New Business. II. Approval of June 5, 2024 Minutes Approved with corrections. III. Chair’s Report: Harold Primack Thank you to commissioners who participated in the produce initiative and clothes drive. We’ll hear from subcommittee members on updates. Commissioners were invited to do introductions and briefly shared how they spent their summer. IV. Health and Human Service Report: Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch Health and Human Services will be hosting flu shot clinics on October 1 from 10am - 2pm, and October 8 from 3pm - 7pm at Oakton Community Center. The clinics are open to all Skokie residents, regardless of insurance. The Commission received a Thank you note from Niles Township Clothing Closet for the clothing donations which are needed to stock up before the school year. V. Old Business: A. Seniors Subcommittee - Report Jo H reported that planning is just getting started for the next Boomers and Beyond event to take place in 2025. The subcommittee will reach out to community partners who were part of the previous steering committee. Satisfaction survey results will help tweak the plans used for the event that took place November 2023. Harold encouraged commissioners to take part in the planning of the event. B. At-Risk Youth and Families Subcommittee – Report London reported that the last Mother’s Day Diaper Drive was successful and the subcommittee plans to do it again next May. Approximately 15,000 diapers were collected and donated to the Niles Township Food Pantry. The subcommittee is open to ideas for new initiatives. Melissa V shared that September 23-29 is Diaper Need Awareness Week. C. Disabilities Subcommittee - Report Melissa V shared Town Hall Meeting Data which has been analyzed by the library. For the event, three questions were asked to prompt small-group discussion: What makes you feel  welcomed? What barriers or challenges have you faced? What are your recommendations? From all responses, the library identified categories within each of the three questions. The subcommittee met with the library during this process to provide feedback on categorization. Top categories identified from the first question were Being Seen and Heard, Safe and Accessible Spaces, Community Resources, Kindness and Interaction. Top categories on question two include: General Accessibility, Commuting and Transportation, Pedestrian Safety, Recreation and Leisure, Inclusion. Top categories for question number three include Listen to People with Disabilities and Easy Access to Information. Michelle F discussed that the Town Hall meeting data contains limitations, including that participants were a small sample of the disability community. To learn more, members of the subcommittee met with Evanston Park District and the City of Highland Park to find out how those municipalities collected information and set priorities. Each has recently conducted an ADA Self-Assessment, which can involve reaching out to community members to obtain feedback. Both were complimentary of the process and shared that the process helps meet the needs of the community. In a meeting with the Mayor and ADA Coordinator, it was suggested that the Village of Skokie conduct a self-assessment, in compliance with the ADA. A benefit of reviewing and making improvements is that universal design benefits all people, from mothers to seniors. Discussion emphasized that it is important to include people with disabilities and experts in the process. Next steps include providing administration with information about how to initiate an evaluation and transition plan. D. Produce Initiative and food and clothes drives  Sept 29, Oct 27 Over 2600 lbs of fresh produce have been collected from vendors at the farmers market, 160 lbs of non-perishable goods and 165 bags of clothing have been donated at the monthly donation drives. Donated shoes and kids Halloween costumes are accepted. All clothing items are taken to the Niles Township Clothing Closet at St. Paul Lutheran Church. VI. New Business: A. Due to Rosh Hashanah, the Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 2 will be moved to Tuesday, October 1. There may be a speaker from the Progress Center for Independent Living. B. Hilary shared that when she joined the Commission, she attended a meeting, submitted an application, was interviewed by the Mayor’s office and was appointed at a Board meeting. When her neighbor applied, she did not get a response. Hilary would like to see more consistency with the process and agreed to talk with the Staff Liaison for follow up. VII. Public Comments: None. VIII. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 8:13 pm. Next Meeting: October 1 2024, 7:00 p.m. at Skokie Village Hall