Services Committee ILLINOIS COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. AGENDA July 10, Welcome and Introductions

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1 AGENDA July 10, Welcome and Introductions 2. Approval of 5/15/14 meeting minutes 3. Revised FY15 Committee Meeting Schedule 4. FY14 Updates 5. FY15 RFCP Revisions Update 6. Rainbow House Funding Review and Update 7. Consideration of Subcommittees Childcare and TANF 8. Trends and Issues 9. Other Business 1

2 ATTENDANCE July 10, 2014 COMMITTEE MEMBER VOTING DELEGATES AGENCY/LOCATION PRESENT ABSENT Jennifer Gabrenya, Co-Chair Family Shelter Service, Wheaton Ruth Carter, Co-Chair HOPE of Ogle County, Rochelle Cathy McClanahan The Women s Center, Carbondale Kathy Richardson Senna Adjabeng Phyllis Todd Crystal Bass-White Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center, Galesburg Mid Central Community Action Agency, Neville House, Bloomington Fulton Mason Crisis Service, Canton Neopolitan Lighthouse, Chicago Diane Mayfield WIRC Victim Services, Macomb Alisa Neary Mutual Ground, Inc., Aurora Estela Melgoza Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Chicago Teri Ducy Dove, Inc, Decatur Amirrah Abou-Youssef Guardian Angel Community Services, Joliet Althea Pendergast Hope of ECI, Charleston Sue Swanson VOICES, Freeport Mary Ellen Schaid Safe Passage, DeKalb Becky Winstead Remedies, Rockford Rosa Hernandez-Warner Harbor House, Kankakee Angela Bertoni Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc., Springfield Yesenia Maldonado Between Friends, Chicago Katie Sissors Harmon Courage Connection, Champaign Theresa Dubois Family Rescue, Inc., Chicago COMMITTEE MEMBERS NONVOTING DELEGATES PRESENT ABSENT STAFF CONTACT(S) PRESENT ABSENT Andrea Wilson 2

3 Kelly Goodall Summer Abutaha GUESTS GUEST AGENCY/LOCATION PRESENT Arab American Family Services, Bridgeview 3

4 MINUTES The meeting was convened at 10:02 AM. It was determined that a quorum was present. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES Gabrenya presented the 5/15/14 minutes for approval. No changes were noted. McClanahan made a motion to approve the minutes. Pendergast seconded the motion. None opposed. None abstained. Motion carried. REVISED FY15 MEETING SCHEDULE/MINUTE ASSIGNMENTS Committee reviewed the FY15 schedule and minutes assignments. The November 2014 meeting will be in person but date and location is TBD. Wilson noted that the 2/19/15 and 5/21/15 meetings were changed from what was previously discussed at the last services committee meeting (meeting changes are highlighted on schedule that was sent out). Mayfield volunteered to take the minutes on 5/21/15. The dial in information is listed at the bottom of the schedule that was ed out to the group by Wilson. FY14 UPDATES Wilson reported that FY14 VOCA/VAWA close out information was sent out and is due back 8/8/14. Program and fiscal reports can be submitted electronically. Wilson reported that she has reviewed funded programs spending of funds through May and no programs are off track that receive VAWA funding. Five VOCA Adult programs are off track by 5/6% and one is significantly behind in spending down funds. Five VOCA Child programs are behind about 6% in spending down funds and two are more significantly behind. ICADV will be working with programs that are more significantly behind in spending down. Wilson reported this is quite an improvement from previous years. FY15 RFCP REVISIONS UPDATE Wilson reported that FY15 award letters will go out today. Letters will include award amounts, any requests for revisions, and reporting requirements. Revisions will be due on 8/7/14. July and August fiscal reports will be due in September when workbooks are made available. RAINBOW HOUSE FUNDING REVIEW AND UPDATE Wilson reported that the had an emergency meeting via to discuss the concern with Rainbow House in Chicago who has outstanding tax debt. At the time of the meeting, ICADV had not received requested information (exact amount owed to IRS) from Rainbow House. The committee took a vote and per ICADV policies, the group approved (18 yes votes) for Rainbow House s FY14 funds to be suspended and FY15 funding not to be made available until the tax issue has been resolved. Andrea reported that since this time, she has spoken to the Executive Director whom stated they are working on a payment plan with the IRS. It was also noted that ICJIA is not providing Rainbow House with a contract for FY15 until the issue has been resolved. The Co-Chairs sent a letter to the Executive Director of Rainbow requesting the following information: Documentation of amount owed Documentation of payment plan 4

5 Documentation of acceptance of payment plan by the IRS Wilson also reported she is requesting payroll summaries for FY14 from Rainbow House. The Executive Director of Rainbow House reported to Wilson that she had a meeting with the IRS on 7/9/14 and would follow up with Wilson today, 7/10/14. DHS is also not releasing FY15 funding to Rainbow House. A question was posed if they are continuing providing services. Wilson reported that they are, however, it is not certain for how much longer. If Rainbow House follows up with requested information, they may receive all the funding that is owed to them. CONSIDERATION OF SUBCOMMITTEES CHILDCARE AND TANF At the last meeting, there was discussion around forming subcommittees for childcare and TANF issues. Very helpful information was received by Swanson regarding training childcare providers on domestic violence. Sue reported she is willing to put together information on access to childcare for DV providers in their various regions. The groups decided to pursue information on training childcare providers as well as ensuring agencies have information regarding access to childcare resources for their clients through Child Care Resource. Swanson, Melgoza, Abutaha, Pendergast, Maldonado, and Mount (from Todd s program in Canton) volunteered to participate on the childcare subcommittee. The Subcommittee will report to the Services Committee on their progress. Wilson reported she can attend the meetings if needed. Summer volunteered to get the meetings started if Wilson could send her everyone s contact information; Wilson will do so. Goodall reported she can help with the TANF subcommittee. It was discussed that the focus of the subcommittee will be on gathering stories from clients who have encountered problems with accessing TANF benefits as well as how DHS TANF and DV providers can best work together to ensure clients are able to access benefits they are entitled to. Carter and Todd volunteered to be on the TANF subcommittee. Mayfield noted she or someone from her program might participate. She wants to check with her advocacy staff first. Because some people were not on the call this morning, this information can be sent out with the minutes to see if anyone else is interested in being on the TANF subcommittee. TRENDS AND ISSUES Members discussed the low number of children agencies are seeing in shelter. Adjabeng reported they are seeing more young children accessing their services and in order to increase their child numbers, they have a Youth Advocate who is focusing on Theraplay. She also reported that through parental services, this will also have a direct benefit for clients children. Other agencies reported that they run groups with mothers and their children together, which has been beneficial for clients served. Winstead reported recent concerns with DCFS, such as female victims being ordered to attend partner abuse groups and also children being removed from their homes due to domestic violence. She added that she is trying to set a meeting with Nisha Patel, DCFS Domestic Violence Liaison. Wilson reported that Vickie Smith, ICADV Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, has been working to try to set up a meeting 5

6 with the Director at DCFS in order to discuss concerns agencies are facing. Another issue that was reported is advocates being subpoenaed to testify at DCFS hearings and non-offending mothers losing custody of their children due to domestic violence in the household. Pendergast reported she was told by DCFS that it is their protocol to consider it neglect if the non-offending mother does not leave the abusive relationship in a timely manner, citing a court case, Julie Q. The committee discussed their concerns about all of the reported issues. DuBois requested we leave this topic on the agenda for further discussion which the committee agreed to do. Mayfield asked if anyone has had to testify in court for a reduction of bond hearing. No one has. She will be doing so this afternoon regarding an abuser whom her program has had frequent contact with over the years. She will be explaining why victims may not leave abusive relationships right away. OTHER BUSINESS Guardian Angel Community Services will be moving from their current location in Joliet to another location in Joliet which will allow them to increase their shelter beds from 20 to 30. ADJOURNMENT Todd moved to adjourn the meeting. Bertoni seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 11:01am. NET MEETING Date: 9/11/14 Location: Conference Call, 10:00 am Noon, , Next Meeting Agenda Topics: The meeting was adjourned at 11:01 AM. 6