421 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD  
WHEATON, IL 60187  
DU PAGE COUNTY  
Human Services  
www.dupagecounty.gov  
Final Summary  
Tuesday, December 5, 2023  
1. CALL TO ORDER  
9:30 AM  
Room 3500A  
9:30 AM meeting was called to order by Chair Greg Schwarze at 9:30 AM.  
2.  
ROLL CALL  
Other Board members present: Member Lucy Evans, Member Patty Gustin, and Member Yeena  
Yoo.  
Staff in attendance: Renee Zerante (State's Attorney Office), Keith Jorstad (Finance), Gina  
Strafford-Ahmed and Julie Hamlin (Community Services).  
Childress, DeSart, Galassi, Garcia, LaPlante, and Schwarze  
PRESENT  
3.  
4.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
No public comments were offered.  
CHAIR REMARKS - CHAIR SCHWARZE  
Chair Schwarze stated there was a large fire in one building at a West Chicago apartment  
complex on Saturday, December 2. This was the second fire in a year in this complex. This fire  
displaced about 100 residents, all 24 units in the building are uninhabitable. State Senator Karina  
Villa, from West Chicago, has led a coordination to help those in need. DuPage County’s Office  
of Homeland Security Emergency Management and Community Services are involved in relief  
efforts, as well. County Board District 6 members Jim Zay, Sheila Rutledge, and I have been in  
multiple Zoom meetings and will continue to monitor this closely. There will be a multi-agency  
resource event Wednesday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. at St. Andrews  
Church in West Chicago, in which our Community Services staff will participate with bi-lingual  
staff.  
Chair Schwarze added that he has notified agencies involved that we may have resources to  
provide food.  
The committee discussed agencies involved. Mary Keating stated Peoples Resource Center has a  
large food pantry in West Chicago, and they are involved in the coordination. The Salvation  
Army is involved in assistance. WeGo Together for Kids took specific clothing donations and do  
not need clothing any longer. They are only seeking financial donations. Pointe del Pueblo, a  
branch of the Wheaton Bible Church are providing toys.  
Chair Schwarze mentioned that St. Vincent DePaul, Catholic Charities, ICNA Relief, Animal  
Services, and the Red Cross are all assisting. Member DeSart asked if there is one entity in  
charge, and who would be the primary contact? Mary Keating replied that it is a widely  
coordinated effort. There are multiple agencies involved.  
Gina Strafford-Ahmed stated they are assessing individual households for assistance from the  
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). We can potentially assist with security deposits, rent  
assistance, and furniture. We will have to determine if residents are insured. If they relocate to  
another county, we can’t support them, but we do have an avenue for that. Although CSBG  
funds can help, the challenge will be to find available units, particularly three to four bedrooms,  
and in the current school district.  
Member LaPlante stated the fire was discussed at the Environmental Committee. Kay from  
Scarce is going to visit the area and take an inventory of needs and let county board members  
know.  
The committee discussed the possible cause of the fire, ownership, and liability. They inquired  
about the rental prices and if these were subsidized units. Ms. Keating replied that some  
residents may have vouchers from DHA, but the building was not subsidized housing.  
Member Yoo referred to the small loans through FEMA offered to victims of the Oak Brook  
Terrace fire last year and if the same would apply here. Mary answered that if so, the assistance  
would not be immediate.  
Chair Schwarze announced the Human Services Committee meeting on January 2, 2024, will be  
cancelled, as are most other committee meetings scheduled for January 2. He previously  
discussed this with Mary Keating and Janelle Chadwick for consent.  
However, the Community Development Commission (CDC) meeting will need to be held on  
January 2. Mary Keating stated the CDC is a 12-person committee. Seven people will have to be  
physically present to meet the quorum. Two municipal members and two DuPage County CDC  
board members have committed to attend. Ms. Keating explained the January meeting is the  
most important meeting of the year for the CDC Executive Committee, approving the projects  
for the year. Members DeSart and County Board Member Evans volunteered if needed. Mary  
asked Julie Hamlin to get a firm commitment from members regarding attendance.  
Chair Schwarze wished all Happy Holidays and expressed his appreciation to all the committee  
members, Mary Keating, and Janelle Chadwick, for all they have accomplished in 2023.  
5.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
5.A.  
24-0053  
Human Services Committee - Regular Meeting - November 21, 2023  
APPROVED  
Dawn DeSart  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
6.  
7.  
LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS  
6.A. Length of Service Award - Lisa Gonzalez - 15 Years - Community Services  
COMMUNITY SERVICES - MARY KEATING  
7.A.  
FI-R-0001-24  
Acceptance and appropriation of additional funding for the Illinois Department of Human  
Services (IDHS) Supportive Housing Grant PY24, Agreement No. FCSBH00352,  
Company 5000, Accounting Unit 1760, from $137,747 to $154,180 - an increase of  
$16,433. (Community Services)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Dawn DeSart  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Michael Childress  
SECONDER:  
7.B.  
HS-P-0003-24  
Awarding Resolution issued to Optimum Management Resources, to provide technical  
assistance and consultation services to the DuPage County Homeless Continuum of Care  
(CoC), for Community Services, for the period of January 1, 2024 through December 31,  
2024, for a contract total amount not to exceed $34,860. (Community Services)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Michael Childress  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
8.  
DUPAGE CARE CENTER - JANELLE CHADWICK  
8.A.  
FI-R-0004-24  
Acceptance and appropriation of the DuPage Care Center Foundation - Foundation  
Coordinator Grant PY24, Company 5000, Accounting Unit 2120, in the amount of  
$30,128. (DuPage Care Center)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Michael Childress  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
8.B.  
FI-R-0005-24  
Acceptance of an extension of the DuPage Care Center Foundation - Foundation  
Coordinator Grant PY23 to January 31, 2024, Company 5000 - Accounting Unit 2120.  
(DuPage Care Center)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Michael Childress  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Dawn DeSart  
SECONDER:  
8.C.  
HS-P-0001-24  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Professional Medical &  
Surgical Supply, to furnish and deliver examination gloves, for the DuPage Care Center,  
for the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, for a total contract not to  
exceed $63,380.10; per bid #23-102-DCC. (ARPA ITEM)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
8.D.  
HS-P-0002-24  
Recommendation for the approval of a contract purchase order to Music Speaks, LLC, for  
music therapy services for the residents at the DuPage Care Center, for the period January  
12, 2024 through January 11, 2025, for a contract total not to exceed $58,701; under RFP  
renewal #21-087-CARE, second of three (3) one (1) - year optional renewals. (DPCC  
Foundation funded)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Lynn LaPlante  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Michael Childress  
SECONDER:  
9.  
INFORMATIONAL  
9.A.  
24-0054  
GPN 061-23 DuPage Care Center Foundation Coordinator Grant PY24 $30,128.  
(DuPage Care Center)  
APPROVED AND SENT TO FINANCE  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Kari Galassi  
SECONDER:  
10.  
RESIDENCY WAIVERS - JANELLE CHADWICK  
No residency waivers were offered.  
11.  
DUPAGE CARE CENTER UPDATE - JANELLE CHADWICK  
Janelle Chadwick, Administrator of the DuPage Care Center, stated there is one unit, 3 Center,  
on covid outbreak with one active case of covid. All other staff and residents have been tested,  
with no additional cases.  
The employee breakfast will be held on Wednesday, December 20, from 6:30 a.m. through 9:30  
a.m. Ms. Chadwick asked for volunteers to assist serving staff, stating they can just show up at  
whatever time they have available.  
Ms. Chadwick announced she had a presentation planned for the construction update of the Care  
Center. The resident cabinetry is due to be installed next week and Ms. Chadwick would like to  
include the additional slide for more impact, so she is rescheduling the presentation until the  
following Human Services meeting.  
12.  
COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE - MARY KEATING  
Mary Keating, Director of Community Services, announced that Julie Hamlin has been promoted  
to Community Development Administrator. Julie is a tremendous asset to the county and the  
department. Julie is taking leadership at the national level, joining the National Association for  
County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) board. Prior to this she was the  
Education Committee Chair of NACCED. Julie has embraced the mission of the work done  
through Community Development.  
Ms. Keating added we are finally getting funds from the state for the 211 service. We received an  
agreement December 4, which will be presented at the Finance and County Board committees  
on December 12 for approval.. The first agreement is for $90,000, the second agreement is for  
$102,000. Both agreements provide similar functions. Some of the funds will be used to expand  
our marketing and initiate 211 text services.  
13.  
14.  
OLD BUSINESS  
No old business was discussed.  
NEW BUSINESS  
No new business was discussed.  
15.  
ADJOURNMENT  
There being no further business, Chair Schwarze requested a motion to adjourn. The meeting  
was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.  
ADJOURNED  
Lynn LaPlante  
Paula Garcia  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER: