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Note: These minutes are not official until approved by the Health and Human Services
Committee at a subsequent meeting. Please refer to the meeting minutes
when these minutes are approved to obtain any changes to these minutes.

The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, November 4, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Building's Conference Room East.  Chairman DeFauw called the meeting to order. Those Members present were Mr. Johnson, Mr. Metzger and Mr. Tyson. Mr. Emerson and Mr. Whelan were absent. Others present were Donna Moulton, Amanda Christensen, Anthony Cvek and Theresa Aubele.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Tyson, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from October 7, 2013.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
It was moved by Mr. Metzger, seconded by Mr. Johnson, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION ANNUAL REPORT
DeKalb County Regional Office of Education Superintendent, Amanda Christensen, was present to deliver her annual report to the Committee. The report detailed the department's mission statement, staffing and duties, along with the ROE's community outreach and additional community / school activities. Ms. Christensen highlighted that they organize and run the DeKalb County Spelling Bee at Kishwaukee Collage that is sponsored by Shaw Media. The champion of the Spelling Bee wins a trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Spelling Bee.

Ms. Christensen shared that the Illinois State Board of Education changed everything July 1, 2013. They got rid of two of their old information systems that ROE uses and one that educators use to combine them into one system. She informed the committee that the new system went up July 1st and went down July 2nd and did not go back up until the day after Labor Day. Because of the program being down so long the department is unable to retrieve data that they were used to being able to obtain.

Some statistics that Ms. Christensen gave was that during the 2012-2013 school year the ROE processed 149 new and 7 duplicate certificates, and 44 endorsements and passed out over $10,000 in registration fees. The ROE also maintains a database of all substitute teachers in DeKalb County and 470 teachers served this 2012-2013 school year.

The ROE is also the licensed fingerprinting vender in the area. They not only fingerprint anyone who goes into the school but also print healthcare workers, school volunteers, and county jail volunteers. Because they are the only licensed fingerprinting vender in the area they will also be the location in the future for people to come to get fingerprinted for conceal carry permits, which the ROE has been trained on and obtained the proper procedures for already.
During the 2012-2013 school year, DeKalb County Truancy Intervention Program provided service to 233 truants and 106 chronic truants and 45 potential dropouts in DeKalb County. Ms. Christensen also shared that during the 2012-2013 school year, 319 homeless youth were served in DeKalb County.
Ms. Christensen also covered GED testing, certification of bus drivers, building inspection, professional activities and fund distribution. You can find the full Regional Office of Education Annual Report covering July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 attached to these minutes.

FEED 'EM SOUP
Theresa Aubele from the Feed 'Em Soup organization came to speak to the Committee on what they do and offer to the public. She explained that Feed 'Em Soup started in January of 2010 with a group of friends that saw a need in the community and put together some soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to serve to about 50 residents. The last two years increased by serving meals every two weeks and now this year Feed 'Em Soup is serving meals every Wednesday evening to an average of 300 residents.

Feed 'Em Soup is located at 122 S. First Street in DeKalb and their community kitchen is open every Wednesday from 5pm – 7pm. They operate on a "donate-what-you-can" basis. Most of the guests eat for free. Some donate a dollar or two and others are able to leave a donation large enough to cover the food cost for multiple tables. Ms. Aubele also shared it is a restaurant style atmosphere and all residents are welcome.

Ms. Aubele explained the different areas they have at their facility that include their community kitchen, clothing closet, hope gallery and Lexi's Kids Corner. Ms. Aubele is the Director of Lexi's Corner and it is a program that runs on meal days and is open to children of all ages and is free of charge. Each program follows a particular theme and features a story and an art project, science experiment, game or other activity.

Ms. Aubele also shared different ways people can get involved with the organization which included donating and volunteering. There are many opportunities to volunteer that include helping on Wednesday evenings, meal preparation during the week, helping with fundraisers and many more. She also gave a briefing on upcoming events that Feed 'Em Soup is hosting.

Chairman DeFauw asked Ms. Aubele how the organization is supported. She answered that Feed 'Em Soup is supported by private donations, grants and fundraisers. They receive no funding from the State of Illinois or the Federal Government.

Mr. Tyson shared with the Committee that he has been taking residents to Feed 'Em Soup for a long time and shared how much he is in support of the organization and encouraged the other Committee Members to visit and consider donating to the clothing closet.

Mr. Metzger asked if their website has a wish list set up for items and food donations. Ms. Aubele answered that all of that information was provided on their website along with food facts and upcoming events and information on various programs. The website is www.feedemsoup.org and they also have a Facebook page.

Lastly Ms. Aubele shared that Feed 'Em Soup is in the running for an RK Dixon $15,000 Office Makeover. She shared that there is a link on their Facebook Page to vote.

The Committee thanked Theresa Aubele and Amanda Christensen for their presentations.

ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Tyson, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

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Sally DeFauw, Chairman

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Tasha Stogsdill, Recording Secretary