Prairie State Wire

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Latino Advisory Council met Oct. 15.

Here is the agenda provided by the council:

I. Welcome and Roll Call (9:30 am ─ 9:45 am)

II. Review/Approval of Minutes *September (9:45 am – 10:00 am)

III. Reports and Updates (10:00 am ─ 10:45 am)

a. Committees *Approx. 10-15 min. each

─ Child Safety, Risk Reduction and Permanency (Pause): Lorena Hernandez, John Holtkamp, Moises Jimenez, Jose Alex Medina, Lesby Ortega-Melgar, Angela Moncada, Candy Flores-Brown

─ Data Analysis, Disproportionality, and Staffing: John Holtkamp, Maria Gallegos, Moises Jimenez, Guadalupe Toledo

─ Strategic Communications: Evelyn Martinez, John Holtkamp, Julia Monzon, Jose Alex Medina, Beatriz Ramirez

─ Child Welfare Contributing Agencies: Damaris Acevedo, Maria Gallegos, Tarcisio Ornelas, Celina Orozco, Juan Maldonado, Jacqueline Dimmick

b. Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ─ Jose J. Lopez, Chief of Office of Latino Services/DCFS

c. Language Access ─ John Holtkamp, SPSA, Special Projects, Office of Strategy and Performance/DCFS

d. Ad hoc Committee ─ LAC bylaws

IV. Old Business (10:45 am ─ 11:30 am)

a. Family Institute Day Planning- October 17th

b. LAC Position Paper and KIND Act update

c. LAC Logo update

d. Joint Council Update (6/23/2025)

V. New Business (11:30 am ─ 11:45 am)

a. Nominations/Elections- Candy Flores-Brown

VI. Open Forum (11:45 am - 12:00 pm)

VII. Adjournment

November 19, 2025, 9:30 am ─ 12:00 pm

https://dcfs.illinois.gov/events/lac/20251015-lac.html