The Health & Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, December 5, 2005, @ 6:00p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Marlene Allen, Eileen Dubin, Sally DeFauw, Ruth Anne Tobias and Julia Fullerton.  Mr. Johnson was absent.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

            Moved by Ms. DeFauw, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended minutes from November 2005.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

            Moved by Ms. DeFauw seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

RESULTS OF GRANT SURVEY

            Chairman Rosemier said that out of 30 letters that he sent out he received 20 responses.  He will summarize the results and present them to the committee at a later date.   He then proceeded to discuss some of the answers that the agencies made to the survey on various questions.  Most of the agencies said that their survival depends on the grant monies that they receive.  When asked what role do you see the County doing?  Two of the agencies said that they could use all the help that they could get.  Four said that they felt letters of support would be helpful.

With regard to the last question, several respondents said that the County could help by acting as fiscal agent for federal grants.  Ms. Olson said that her department and the Health Department get federal grants.  Chairman Rosemier asked Ms. Olson if the County is the pass through for those?  Ms. Olson said, yes, well we are the recipients, since they are County departments, the County is the recipient.

            Chairman Rosemier also said that Nancy Castle teaches a course whereby her students assist local agencies in grant writing and that he would likely be asking her if her students could be assigned to work with our respondents. 

            Again, Chairman Rosemier said that he would submit his summary regarding the summary in January 2006.

            Ms. Dubin said that since we are hiring the federal consultants, can they help to get this started?  Ms. Olson said yes, and if agencies are filing a grant, they sometimes will use the City of DeKalb’s lobbyists and ask them, whom they should be sending letters to and who sits on what committee? 

            Ms. Olson said that there is a training consortium that she belongs to that consists of a group of social service providers and funders who have talked about joint training needs.  They have worked with Kishwaukee College, N.I.U. or brining in an outside group.  Let’s say about five agencies need the same type of training.  They provide the coordination factor.  The agencies all pool together to get that training.  They will bring a person here locally to train and all the agencies will pay for this service.  They usually meet once a month.

MS. MICKI CHULICK, DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY COORDINATED CHILD CARE (4C’S)

            Ms. Micki Chulick, Director of the Community Coordinated Child Care, said that there are about 180 licensed childcare services in  DeKalb County and that 4C’s serves six (6) counties.  A person, in the State of Illinois, has to have a license from DCFS if they baby-sit three or more unrelated children. If they are caring for less than three children including their own under age 12, licensing is not required and they are not monitored by DCFS.  Child Care Centers mus also be licensed by DCFS unless specifically exempted. 

In their annual report the committee can see that Title 20 is the financial assistance for parents with children who cannot afford to pay for daycare.   Mr. Rosemier said that out of the social service agencies that the committee has invited over the last year, KEC visited with us and brought two letters from two young single-mothers who cannot afford daycare for their children and continue their education.  Ms. Chulick said that they receive $750,000 in grants and through fund-raising that is available a year for childcare.  The reimbursement  rate is still very low in DeKalb County, at $24.34 a day for pre-school while the average cost of daycare is $28.53 per day.  Most providers are accepting the reimbursement rate.  Parents are assessed a portion of the reimbursement rate based on a sliding scale.   

They are the 7^th highest rate in the nation for what we charge parents.  When a parent comes in and says that they cannot pay, they probably can’t pay.  Some providers require that the parental portion be paid while others are more forgiving.  They worked really hard to get the rates charged to the parents reduced.  Ms. Olson said, in other words, if we lined up child care subsidies by state, we are 7^th from the bottom in the percentage that we subsidize of the costs.

Ms. Chulick further explained that her agency employs 40 employees for all the 6 counties and that 8 of the employees speak Spanish.  They have Spanish classes now too. 

The Childcare Food program is for six counties.  Each provider buys their own foods.  4C’s has nutritionists look at their menus and then they (the clients) pay for their food.  4C’s reimburses for 2 meals and a snack a day, which helps to hold down on the costs. She pays them a reimbursement that comes down from the Department of Agriculture. 

They also have a childcare referral service.  People call them and they help them find childcare services that are best for their child.  There is a fee for this service, around $30.00.  Most of the parents usually pay $10, $20 or $30 and there is no collection, it is an honor thing.  Her agency usually collects about 92% of the monies owed them. 

They have a mobile library that goes to the home providers.  They have a van that is loaded with equipment and books. 

Ms. Chulick also mentioned that grandparents that are taking care of grandchildren can get childcare money through grants.  If both grandparents work and they need someone to watch a grandchild, 4C’s could fund that childcare.

Ms. Chulick also said that the actual cost for daycare of infants (under 15 months) is $39.00 and the people are getting a reimbursement rate of $33.00 a day.  If a person makes $2400 a month and you have one child in daycare, you will pay $49.00 a week and the State will pay the rest of the amount. 

They have just hired a full-time employees to help children with emotional issues.  This is a pilot program.  There are only 9 pilot programs in the State of Illinois.

Ms. Chulick said that she is a big fan of professional development.  They encourage people to go back for classes.  They have some people in their agency that do not have degrees.  The State has a program that called Great Start and it attracts teachers of early childhood programs.  They are paying the teachers stipends who are willing to remain in the program.  They also need to show that they have increased their professional development.  They then are eligible to receive bonuses and they are there.  It is budgeted for $20 million and they will go over spend it this year.  They will close applications in January.   The bonuses come twice a year, said Ms. Chulick.

Ms. Chulick said that there was a study done on the economic impact on the State of Illinois if there was no daycare for one day and people were not able to work that day, there would be a $400 million dollar loss for the State of Illinois for one day.  The industry generates about $2.12 billion a year, which is more than the State receives from spectator sports.  They employ 46,000 full-time people in the State.  There are 450,000 children in day care each day.  They serve 20,000 of them in our County.

Chairman Rosemier asked Ms. Chulick what the County can do for them?  Ms. Chulick said that the County can listen to them, realize and know how important their service is to the county and be available to them if they need help with money. 

            Chairman Rosemier and the committee thanked Ms. Chulick for a wonderful report.

MS. MARY OLSON, DEKALB COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

            Ms. Olson passed out her annual report for 2004 and said that her department is basically run on a shoestring.  She uses the report as a public relations source for her clients.

            She also shared with the committee her 3^rd Quarter Report and the clients served.  She explained that the Block Grant is the largest amount of funds that they receive annually.  Currently the amount due them for next year’s budget is still not settled. 

            Her administrative board makes decisions on work programs and it is made up of :  three sections of our community; client’s representatives; private sector; and elected officials.  There are five (5) people who sit on the board for each category.

            Chairman Rosemier asked if her board would be willing to sit down with this committee and visit with them in January or February 2006?  Ms. Olson said that February may be possible in the morning since her board meets then @ 9:30a.m.  Ms. Olson will let him know.

            Chairman Rosemier said that at next month’s meeting he will bring the summary of his survey  and also the committee will evaluate the committee.  He has invited Lloyd Pletsch from Experience Works for the meeting along with Jackie Lofton, once again, he will try to get her to come.

            Ms. Olson said that there is a group of major “funders” in the County want a community assessment done of the county.  The question is how is it going to be funded?  She may be coming to this committee to ask to use some of the senior tax dollars for the senior services portion only of the assessment.    This would be a very little portion of the funding for this assessment.

ADJOURNMENT

            Moved by Ms. Tobias, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                                                                                                                            ___________________________________________  

Chairman Robert Rosemier

_________________________________________  

Mary C. Supple, Secretary