421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD

WHEATON, IL 60187

DU PAGE COUNTY

Human Services

www.dupagecounty.gov

Final Summary

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

9:30 AM

Room 3500A

CALL TO ORDER

9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Greg Schwarze at 9:30 AM.

ROLL CALL

Other Board members present: Member Lucy Evans and Member Patty Gustin (remote)

Staff in Attendance: Renee Zerante (State's Attorney Office), Joan Olson (Chief

Communications Officer), Evan Shields (Public Information Officer), Nickon Etminan and Brian

Rovik (Procurement), Anita Rajagopal (DuPage Care Center Assistant Administrator), Victoria

Kappas, Natasha Belli, and Gina Strafford-Ahmed (Community Services Administrators), and

Mary Keating (Director of Community Services).

Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze

PRESENT

PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comments were offered.

CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE

Chair Schwarze stated that on January 17, 2024, in cooperation with the DuPage Foundation,

DuPage County will announce the opening of round four of the DuPage Community

Transformational Partnership Grant. This grant will provide for transformational intervention in

the areas of food insecurity, housing instability, mental health and substance use disorders.

DuPage County will deliver a press release on Thursday, January 18. Please share with members

of your district and on social media.

Members discussed the partnership grant, and a broader reach of agencies. Chair Schwarze

replied there are only so many large organizations that can qualify for funding and recommended

members canvas their district to inform agencies of the grant. Mary Keating responded that

Giving DuPage has an email blast, and there is also a 211-email blast, reaching between 300 to

500 people. The DuPage Foundation notifies their entire database, which includes hundreds of

nonprofits. The grant information is also sent out through our Homeless Continuum of Care. Ms.

Keating emphasized the recipients must serve a larger area and their program must be serving

one of the four areas; food insecurity, housing instability, mental health, or substance use

disorders.

Members asked about obtaining information regarding who has applied and why agencies were

rejected. Ms. Keating recommended members contact Barb Szczepaniak, Vice President of

Programs at the DuPage Foundation. Chair Schwarze added that he will bring up the concerns

when he attends the first meeting at the DuPage Foundation with Vice Chair Paula Garcia.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.A.

24-0372

Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, December 5, 2023

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING

6.A.

HS-R-0004-24

Authorizing execution of the intergovernmental agreement between PACE Suburban Bus

and DuPage County Community Services for the Senior Transportation Grant Program -

$126,500. (Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Dawn DeSart

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

6.B.

HS-P-0011-24

Awarding resolution issued to Teen Parent Connection, to provide car seats, booster

seats, diapers, formula, wipes, and car seat safety training to low income residents of

DuPage County, for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, for a

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) sub-grantee total of $40,000. (Community

Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Dawn DeSart

RESULT:

MOVER:

Paula Garcia

SECONDER:

6.C.

HS-P-0012-24

Awarding resolution issued to Catholic Charities to provide shelter, case management,

and financial assistance to situationally homeless residents and at risk of homelessness

residents of DuPage County for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31,

2024. The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) sub-grantee agreement also

provides financial support for the Back to School Fair, for a contract total of $65,000.

(Community Services)

APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Lynn LaPlante

SECONDER:

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION - MARY KEATING

7.A.

HS-R-0005-24

2024 Annual Action Plan, DuPage County Consortium – FIRST READING - Acceptance

of the 2024 Annual Action Plan Element (Public Comment Period) of the 2020-2024

Consolidated Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) HOME

investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs to

qualify and receive the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant

funds.

APPROVED AT COMMITTEE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

7.B.

HS-R-0006-24

Recommendation for Approval of a Third Modification to a HOME Investment

Partnerships Act (HOME) Agreement with DuPage Habitat for Humanity, Inc, Project

Number HM09-03 – Clarifying the Recapture Requirements as well as HOME

Affordability Period for Homeownership Assistance.

APPROVED AT COMMITTEE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Michael Childress

SECONDER:

7.C.

HS-R-0007-24

Recommendation for Approval of a of HOME Investment Partnerships Act (HOME)

Funds Agreement with DuPage Pads, Project Number HM21-02b – Tenant Based Rental

Assistance – in the Amount of $100,000 under FY2021, with an Additional $100,000 in

FY2024 funds contingent upon Approval by DuPage County Board and the Department

of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the 2024 Action Plan Element of the

2020-2024 Consolidated Plan as well as receipt of the FY2024 HOME allocation.

APPROVED AT COMMITTEE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

7.D.

HS-R-0008-24

Recommendation for Approval to Subordinate two Community Development Block

Grant (CDBG) Liens with Serenity House Foundation (now known as Advance Resource

Recovery Corporation), Projects CD19-07 and CD22-07, to St. Charles Bank & Trust

Company (SCBT).

APPROVED AT COMMITTEE

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

BUDGET TRANSFERS

8.A.

24-0373

Budget Transfer to transfer funds for overtime incurred and paid for with Federal funding

of the Aging Case Coordination Unit Seniors' grant which was not originally budgeted for

in FY23 from 5000-1660/50000 to 5000-1660/50010, $1,180. (Community Services)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

8.B.

24-0374

Budget Transfer to transfer funds to cover employee benefit payments in the LIHEAP

Program that exceeded original budget during the year FY23, $1,000, from

5000-1420/50000 to 5000-1420/51000. (Community Services)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

8.C.

24-0375

Budget Transfer to move overtime funds from 5000-1435/50010 to regular salaries

5000-1435/50000 for the LIHWAP Grant program as less overtime was worked than

anticipated for FY23, $3,000. (Community Services)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Lynn LaPlante

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

8.D.

24-0376

Budget Transfer to transfer funds for benefit payouts from the U.S. Treasury Emergency

Rent Assistance fund from unused overtime budget 5000-1770/50010 to benefit

payments 5000-1770/51000, not budgeted for in FY23, $1,320. (Community Services)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

TRAVEL

9.A.

24-0377

Travel Request for Community Services Director to attend the NACCED CDBG Hill

Briefing and Legislative Conference, and NACo Legislative Conference in Washington

D.C. from February 7, 2024 through February 13, 2024. Expenses to include registration,

transportation, lodging, miscellaneous expenses (parking, mileage, etc.), and per diems,

for approximate total of $3,638.50. CDBG grant funded. (Community Services)

APPROVED AT COMMITTEE

Dawn DeSart

RESULT:

MOVER:

Kari Galassi

SECONDER:

10.

CONSENT ITEMS

10.A.

24-0378

Change Order to close P.O. 5957-0001 SERV issued to DuPage Federation on Human

Services Reform in the amount of $23,427.74. Contract expired on October 10, 2023.

(Community Services)

APPROVED

Paula Garcia

Kari Galassi

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

11.

INFORMATIONAL

Motion to Combine Items

Member DeSart moved and Member Garcia seconded a motion to combine items 11.A. through

11.D. The motion was approved on voice vote, all "ayes".

11.A.

24-0379

GPN 001-24 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) PY24, Illinois Department of

Commerce and Economic Opportunity, US Department of Health & Human Services

$1,196,614. (Community Services)

11.B.

11.C.

11.D.

24-0380

GPN 003-24 Community Development Block Grant PY24, U.S. Department of Housing

and Urban Development $3,663,480. (Community Services)

24-0381

GPN 004-24 HOME Investment Partnership Program FY24 U.S. Department of Housing

and Urban Development $1,860,190. (Community Services)

24-0382

GPN 005-24 Emergency Solutions Grant FY24, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development $288,247. (Community Services)

APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA

Dawn DeSart

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYES:

Kari Galassi

Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze

12.

RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK

Anita Rajagopal stated there are currently 14 male beds and over 20 female beds available at the

DuPage Care Center. Six of the beds have been offered to DuPage County residents, so there will

be no displacement of residents by acceptance of this individual to the Care Center.

APPROVED

Dawn DeSart

Paula Garcia

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

13.

DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK

Anita Rajagopal, Assistant Administrator to the DuPage Care Center stated there are currently no

units on isolation due to Covid-19. The Care Center is still following masking protocols. They

monitor hospital re-admissions related to covid to determine what protocol they will follow.

DuPage County is currently at a medium level, higher than surrounding counties. The Care

Center often takes a more conservative approach to the state guidance, including additional

masking.

Ms. Rajagopal gave an update on the remodel at the Care Center, stating the floors have all been

laid, bathroom tiling and painting in resident rooms has been completed. Cabinets are being

installed, and the front lobby’s installation of the nursing station cabinets is complete. Tours are

available to County Board members. The remodel of the 4N unit should be completed in

mid-March. They will need approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

before occupancy is allowed.

The Valentine Balloon Fundraiser will be in February. The Care Center will be seeking the

County Board members’ support.

14.

COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING

Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, offered a statistic from the 2023 Annual Report,

stating the Community Services’ outreach team was at 129 different events in 2023, reaching

over 6000 people. Community Services was able to obtain these numbers through ARPA

funding, allowing Community Services to hire a specific person to reach out to communities in

need.

Mary Keating introduced Victoria Kappas, the Administrator of the Family Center to discuss the

impact of the new daytime security staff, approved by the 2024 county budget. Ms. Kappas

thanked the committee for the new security guard, stating that the presence has been amazing,

both for de-escalation of volatile situations and the comfort of staff having them present.

Two judges from juvenile court have reached out to the Family Center to establish services at a

neutral site for the foster parent/biological parent dynamics for child exchange and/or to obtain

information through reports. Ms. Kappas concluded that this is another untapped referral source

and another way to serve children in DuPage County. She will keep the committee updated with

numbers as the program develops.

15.

OLD BUSINESS

No old business was discussed.