Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Community Action Agency Board met Sept. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. CALL TO ORDER

A. Roll Call

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Karen Hoffman	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Gina Meeks	City of Rockford	Alderman	Present
Michael Chamberlain	City of Rockford		Excused
Gina Delrose	City of Rockford		Present
Dorothy Redd	City of Rockford		Present
Jeremiah Griffin	City of Rockford		Late	12:21 PM
Laura Snyder	City of Rockford		Present
Steve Booth	City of Rockford		Absent
Tiana McCall	City of Rockford		Late	12:44 PM
Mary Yoho	City of Rockford		Present
Markayla Herbert	City of Rockford		Present
Mary Cacioppi	City of Rockford		Present

2. Attendance

RESULT: DISCUSSED

II. ACTION ON MINUTES

1. Approval of Minutes July 25, 2023

i. Motioned: Karen Hoffman.

ii. Seconded: Gina DelRose

RESULT: APPROVED [8 TO 0] AYES: Hoffman, Meeks, Delrose, Redd, Snyder, Yoho, Herbert, Cacioppi ABSENT: Steve Booth EXCUSED: Michael Chamberlain AWAY: Jeremiah Griffin, Tiana McCall

III. PROGRAMMATIC REPORT COMMUNITY SERVICES

1. Programmatic Report Community Services

a. CSBG

i. The demand for services continues to be great. Appointments for assistance fill up within 15 minutes. On average the three (3) CSBG Advocates are seeing six (6) clients a day spending roughly 45 minutes to an hour with each assessment in order to provide as many wrap-around services as possible. Additionally, our Intake Specialist is receiving 30-40 calls a day, along with returning calls to complete 10-12 Intakes.

ii. 2023 CSBG Modification has been submitted with the following changes: Please note that funds were reallocated between Work Programs.

1. Skills Training (WP 01.011). Increase in Direct Client Assistance from $47,500 to $52,000. Increase from 25 to 30 participants. Reason: Increase in demand for Skills Training.

2. Housing Payment Assistance (WP 04.011) CSBG funds used as a match for you in the ESG Rapid Rehousing. Increase in Direct Client Assistance from $22,000 to $57,000. Funds were used to assist 31 ESG Rapid Rehousing single adults or families to remain housed.

3. Utility Assistance (WP 04.031). Increase in Direct Client Assistance from $18,500 to $21,500. Decrease from 45 participants/households to 25. Reason: Decrease in participants due to higher utility cost. Funds are used to restore services to disconnected households.

4. Housing Placement (WP 04.041). Decrease in Direct Client Assistance from $165,000 to $100,000. Decrease from 300 participants/households to 100. Reason: Using IDHS Homeless Prevention funds and BRP funds to keep individuals/households housed.

A. $745,000 From IDHS so plan on using that first.

5. Housing Maintenance & Improvements-Life Safety (WP 04.051). Increase in Direct Client Assistance from $19,500 to $30,590. No change in number of participants (22). Reason: Increase cost in services and products.

6. Case Management (WP 07.011). Work program discontinued/eliminated. Decrease in Direct Client Assistance from $6,000 to $0. Decrease in 25 high-risk youth from 25 to 0. Decrease DCFS families from 35 to 0. Reason: To date, no CSBG funds have been used for this. Additionally, high-risk youth and DCFS families can utilize other CSBG work programs.

A. No need to have two programs with the same category

7. Eligibility Determination (WP 07.021). Increase in Direct Client Assistance from $20,000 to $60, 787. Decrease from 280 participants to 90. Reason: Higher cost for services (auto repair, auto insurance, auto payment, bus tickets to relocate back with family (homeless persons only), etc.

c. Questions

i. Karen Hoffman: What skills are we Paying for in the Skills training?

1. CNA or Medical, CDL for Truck Driving, CDA for Headstart, or skill that will pay a livable wage.

ii. Karen Hoffman: How are we getting the information out? 1. Through word of mouth, internet, flyers, and partners such as PVC and Workforce connection.

iii. Dorothy Redd: Can anyone in Winnebago apply for these programs?

1. Anyone in Boone or Winnebago Co can apply.

d. Homelessness

i. Continuing to work on HUD Notice of Funding Opportunity - Collaborative Homeless Services application for our area. $2.3 million in renewals; available bonus funds $220,672; available DV bonus funds $315,246; available funds for CoC planning grant $157,000

1. Own Carter: the DV Funding will need a price match. But this is the first time we have applied for this grant.

2. Gina Meeks: Can we get some funding from the Family Peace Center Through their grants?

F. We are trying to get that together.

3. Gina Delrose: Can they apply online?

F. Through locations like Family Peace Center.

ii. Completed 2nd interview 9/18/2023 for youth advocate, the offer was made to a candidate.

1. They did not accept the offer due to personal reasons.

iii. Preparing for Built For Zero Learning Session-9/20-9/22--- Rockford has been “invited” to several special sessions that we will be participating in and has been requested to speak to representatives from Denmark about our work.

1. Owen Carter: This is a conference where they actually work with you on the plan.

F. Rockford is top of the heap. Helps that we use a Coordinated Entry Program (Single Point of Entry) and a “By Name List”( list of Clients by name and who is working with them).

G. Working on having a poverty reduction plan

iv. Moving forward with new projects:

1. Mental Health Navigators and Transitional Housing project that was awarded by Winnebago County Mental Health Board,

2. Rapid Rehousing & Shelter Diversion Program through the State Of Illinois

3. Landlord engagement project funded through Community Solutions (Built for Zero)

v. Scheduled for DCFS monitoring in November.

e. LIHEAP:

i. Tichina, Valeria, and Chizya are new LIHEAP temps starting next week. Mary & Mirna will be training on LIHEAP for the next 2 weeks. We are adding some partner sites - most notably Northern IL Food Bank, YWCA, and Crusader Clinic Behavioral Health. Mary will continue with training and file verifications - primarily disconnected households. Mirna will begin file verifications - assisting Mary with disconnects when necessary- but primarily focusing on connected verifications.

ii. October will be the priority period of households with Seniors, Children under 6, and those receiving Disability. We are promoting October 6 as the first “call-in” day for the LIHEAP phone apt for the following week. Disconnected households in those priority periods can call every day starting October 2. iii. We have secured Providence Baptist, Northwest Community Center, and Brooke Rd United Methodist for Weekly outreach events beginning in January. We are still trying to nail down a Loves Park/Machesney Park location.

1. Owen Carter: Partner sites allow for other organizations, to take apps and submit them to us, Outreach allows us to go out and complete Applications in the field.

iv. Mary, McKinley, and Mirna attended a LIHEAP roundtable at the NICOR Business Office on 9/7.

v. Staff have been working on pre-applications and auto enrolls for households with Seniors. 406 are already pre-applied, and over 1000 letters are prepared to go out in the mail.

1. Owen Carter: 900 applications have been started.

vi. Training underway for 2024 Partner Sites. Three new temps started training this week - the 2023 LIHEAP apps are packed and ready to go to storage. The mass mailing for Seniors getting auto-enrolled has gone out. Pre-applications continue

vii. PIPP: Recertifications hit their peak, and are less frequent from now through October, but they will pick up again in November. McKinley worked with Anna and Vanessa on learning the recertification process - so now there are 4 trained people to assist him with recertifications and other assorted PIPP questions.

1. Ongoing PIPP recerts - Anna from Temp Staff is taking on most of these, with back-up from all Energy Full Time staff and one other Temp (Vanessa).

viii. Furnace Voucher Program: Patrick set up an informational meeting for contractors on Weds, 9/20 at City Hall. The program begins Oct 1 for the priority groups acknowledged in LIHEAP for October. McKinley will be Patrick’s verifier and backup for this program.

ix. Like Kits: we touched base with IACAA regarding this program, however, we still need to flesh out details of how we are compensated, and confirmation of customers receiving them.

1. We now have a copy of the contract and still need to meet to determine the strategy for the coming program year

f. Weatherization

i. Wx Bid opening was 9/6/23. We had 3 companies turn bids in. 1 for mechanical, 3 for architectural, and 3 for appliances.

1. Owen Carter: Currently sitting down with contractors for negotiations.

ii. The 2023 grant cycle for HHS and STATE end next week on the 30th and the 2024 will begin Oct 1st.

RESULT: DISCUSSED

IV. PROGRAMMATIC REPORT HEADSTART

1. Programmatic Report Headstart

I. Headstart Programmatic Report

i. We still have several positions available but have hired a new Family Services Team Leader Alka David and a new PACE Teacher, Genelle Smith.

1. Owen Carter: We have offered the Headstart director to Faniqua Hughes, who has accepted

ii. The new program year started on 8/15/23 and Head Start/RPS classes started on 9/5/23

iii. We are at 74% of enrollment, 530 of 714 slots are filled in both Head Start and Early Head Start. In the Early Head Start option, we currently have 45 openings. In Head Start we have 139 openings, we expect this to change quickly as we continue to receive new enrollments from RPS and collaboration sites.

Attached are the dashboards showing enrollment at all locations and funding sources.

RESULT: DISCUSSED

V. PROGRAMMATIC REPORT FISCAL

1. Programmatic Report Fiscal

I. Fiscal Report

i. Health and Human Services Award Dashboard (See Below)

ii. Water Assistance Program through the Water Department for households who are shut off, or stopped due to Covid, but are going to be brought back.

1. Will have staffing in the Water Department to help with clients.

iii. Notice for funding for Headstart of $8 million for Jan 1.

iv. Monitoring/Auditing

1. The Single Audit was completed and presented no findings.

2. The CSBG monitoring event is scheduled for October

17th-20th.

3. An IDHS monitoring event is pending confirmation the week of October 30

RESULT: DISCUSSED

VI. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT

i. We are looking at a government shutdown over budget. Hoping that it will be a short one.

1. We are in a decent position based on how much we have already pulled down. But unsure of how much Federal HHS promised to DECO.

2. Will continue to operate as much as we can.

VII. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

a. Gina Delrose:

i. Boone Co working to help domestic violence survivors had presentations at community events with booths from Remedies.

ii. Dave Vella State Senator, is very concerned with the lack of Daycare centers in Boone Co. 80% of children are not in daycare and this is causing strain on working families. Also worried that the daycare centers are not affordable. So working families, have to choose between the two.

b. Gina Meeks:

i. I have been out due to health reasons. But will be hosting a team for the Making Strides of Rockford on October 7th at 8 am at RVC.

c. Mary Cacioppi:

i. Poverty Reduction Survey, form a framework for helping to reduce poverty. Identified 10 steps (we are on step 4). Need additional members for committees, so please reach out if you would like to be a part of any committees. poverty-reduction-community-of-practice

d. Jeremiah Griffin:

i. Northwest neighborhood center had its grand opening.

ii. Seeing a lot of youth struggling with mental health. Need to be looked at

1. Owen Carter: Headstart is working with RPS through their Trauma care.

2. “Handle with Care” is another group looking into the mental health of youth.

iii. The Headstart policy council needs members so if people are interested they should reach out.

e. Karen Hoffman

i. Seniors are having similar troubles. Many are afraid to get out of their homes.

1. Mary Cacioppi: Spring Creek United Church of Christ, (4500 Spring Creek Road) Hosts a Senior Drop-In on Tuesdays from 1-4 p.m., and a Senior Exercise program from 9:30 - 10:30 am on Wednesdays.

ii. We need more affordable housing, especially since the level of poverty is any single person earning under $46k.

f. Laura Snyder

i. According to the Mayor, local food banks have had a 180% increase in applicants.

VIII. GUEST REPORT/ PRESENTATIONS

i. The city will be seeking input on the consolidated plan.

1. Dates and times 10-4 & 10-5 12 p.m. at Katie’s Cup and 5:30 at Crusader on West State.

IX. APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

1. Appointment of Ken Oliver to Board

1. Motioned: Laura Snyder

2. Second: Jeremiah Griffin

3. All Approve Motion Caries.

F. Ken’s information will be sent to the City Council for their approval.

RESULT: APPROVED [9 TO 0] AYES: Hoffman, Delrose, Redd, Griffin, Snyder, McCall, Yoho, Herbert, Cacioppi ABSENT: Steve Booth EXCUSED: Michael Chamberlain AWAY: Gina Meeks

X. NEW BUISNESS

i. No New Business at this time.

XI. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was closed at 1:15 PM

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