Heidi E. Mueller i Director, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services | Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Heidi E. Mueller i Director, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services | Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Latino Advisory Council met May 21.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
| Members In‐Person | Members Virtual | DCFS Guest In‐Person | DCFS Guest Virtual |
| Evelyn Martinez ─ Chair | Maria Gallegos ‐ Scribe | Jacqueline Dimmick (AH) | Gladys Boyt‐Lopez |
| Lorena Hernandez – Chair‐ Elect | Moises Jimenez | David Martin (NYAP) | Candy Flores‐Brown |
| Damaris Acevedo ─ Past Chair | Rosa Molina Lassalle | Margaret Mitchell (NYAP) | Josue Gutierrez |
| Jose J. Lopez ─ Liaison | Beatriz Ramirez | Griselda Parra (Casa Central) | Kara Hamilton |
| Norma Machay – Ex Officio | Jose Alex Medina | ||
| Guadalupe Toledo | Members Not Excused | Angela Moncada | |
| Coty E. Corcoles | Lesby Ortega‐Melgar | ||
| Members Excused | Juan J. Maldonado | Maria Paredes | |
| John Holtkamp | Tarcisio Ornelas | Maribel Rodriguez | |
| Enoch Smith |
Roll call took place and quorum was established.
II. Meeting Minutes
April meeting minutes were tabled for next meeting.
III. Committee Reports and Updates
a. Committee’s:
‐ Child Safety, Risk Reduction, and Permanency – Committee Chair: Lorena Hernandez, Members: Moises Jimenez, John Holtkamp, Angela Moncada, Beatriz Ramirez, and Yeni Rojas (DCFS SALUD Group)
Lorena Hernandez reported the committee is meeting on weekly basis establishing questionnaire for mentorship program. There were 17 replies from interested individuals wanting to be mentors. The next step is currently working on specific questions for interested mentors. For example, how many years with the Department, education level, Bargaining (union) or Merit Comp position(none‐union), county, etc. Emails are being resend asking if they are still interest in being a mentor or mentee, those interested can email DCFS.Mentoring@illinois.gov
‐ Data Analysis, Disproportionality, and Staffing – Committee Chair: John Holtkamp, Members: Maria Gallegos, Moises Jimenez and Guadalupe Toledo.
No meeting took place last month
‐ Strategic Communications – Committee Chair: Evelyn Martinez, Members: John Holtkamp, Jose Alex Medina, Julia Monzon and Beatriz Ramirez.
Evelyn Martinez reported no meeting took place last month. However, with reference to NOTICIAS the newsletter is currently on hold per DCFS Office of Communication until further notice. The intent is to be available for distribution by May 30th the Latino Professional Development Day. Julia Monzon, Statewide Manger, Preventive Services (DCFS Family Advocacy Centers), past LAC member is helping to develop a welcome letter template for new bilingual DCFS staff but still work in progress.
‐ Child Welfare Contributing Agencies (CWCA): Committee Chair: Damaris Acevedo, Members: Jacqueline Dimmick, Maria Gallegos, Juan Maldonado, Celina Orozco, and Tarciscio Ornelas.
Per Damaris Acevedo, no meeting took place last month.
b. Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Jose J. Lopez, Chief of Office of Latino Services, DCFS.
The contracts are being finalized to allow CWCA bilingual supervisors to receive bilingual pay for this fiscal year (FY25). Licensing workers are also being added to be paid bilingual pay. There have been meetings concerning the 2025 Hispanic Employment Plan Report FY2024 completed by Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS) in collaboration with state agencies. There are concerns regarding recruitment and a concern about the plan calling for only needing two Hispanic SPSAs and PSAs, not sure how those numbers were reported to CMS.
The Latino Unity Days which took place May 7th through 8th in Springfield was a success. On the first day of the conference, it had over 500 registered participants while the second day had over 800 registered participants. Prior to COVID, attendance was around 700 or so. Save the Date for September 18th in Chicago, The Illinois Latino Caucus Foundation, 2025 Raíces Public Policy Conference.
Meetings are taking place for the Human Rights report and Affirmative Action reports. The Youth Advisory Affinity Group (YAAG), The Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) committees are made up of youth in care going over issues and voicing to the department how to make things better for them. This year the State of Illinois Disability Survey was not requested by the Illinois Human Rights. However, the division of DEI, DCFS plans to still send it out to all staff as usual every year.
Recruitment and outreach efforts will be taking place in collaboration with OES at the following events this summer: Puerto Rican Fest, Fiesta del Sol, Boricua Bandera, Elote Fest, Lake County Fair, and Will County Fair to name a few.
c. Language Access – John Holtkamp, SPSA, Special Projects, Office of Strategy and Performance/DCFS
There are concerns about undocumented foster parents and ITIN. The Department shows interest in looking at what other states are doing to address undocumented foster parents. The KIND Act was passed and will take effect July 1st, 2025, but there are concerns about fictive kin and relative foster parents ability to continue to foster due to backgrounds check.
The Chair Motion for LAC Executive committee to create a statement letter for the Department’s director to address concerns stemming from KIND ACT taking effect on July 1st. No abstention, all in favor, no objection and motion carried unanimously
IV. Old Business
a. LAC Bylaws – This has been postponed till June 18th meeting for discussion. Will create an Ad Hoc committee not just made up of executive members but also all members of LAC.
b. LAC Professional Development Day – The agenda is pending to be approved by the division of DEI, Deputy Director. This is the 1st virtual event for the DCFS 9th Annual Professional Development Day. A Link will be sent to registered participants a day before the event to their email address by an Aurora University IT staff. In the interim the agenda continues to be a work in progress.
c. Recruitment of LAC members There are several prospective LAC members to be considered for membership. Nomination letters will be emailed to each of the following individuals for consideration. Discussion took place to identify prospective members from regions not being represented as well.
V. New Business
a. Latino Family Institute Day Planning – Aurora University has agreed to host us on October 17, 2025, in person. Damaris Acevedo, past chair, will be heading the planning of this event. More specifics to follow.
b. LAC Logo – this has been put aside for next meeting
c. In‐Person meeting locations – June 18th, 2025, 9:30am – 12:00pm, location to be TBD
VI. Open Forum
‐ DNET, under DEI tab does notshow page for LAC, itstates “showing it is not found”. However, it doesshow on the DCFS website.
‐ David Martin from NYAP shared Triple Program is now taking referrals for investigations, intact and placement units to be aware about.
VII. Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned by Chair‐Elect at 12:28 p.m.
https://dcfs.illinois.gov/about-us/impact-public-policy/lac.html
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