And it is 8 35.

And I call the Lake County Health and Community Services Committee meeting to order.

In addition to being available to attend in-person remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda.

This meeting is being recorded through Zoom.

Do we have anyone attending?

No.

Okay.

But per county board rules in the open meetings act attendance via remote means is permitted for qualifying reasons as long as the majority of the of the committee members are physically present.

I don't believe we have anyone coming in remotely today.

If member Kasman will join me in the Pledge of Allegiance along with the rest of the committee.

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States in America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

All right.

Oh, can we have a roll call members, please?

Um, would you like me to go through all or just the people that are here?

Umberg is on her way.

Um, member Casbin.

Here.

Member Cunningham.

Here.

Member Dan Forth.

Member Kniesnik.

Member Maine.

Chair Park.

Here.

We do have a quorum.

We do have a quorum.

Excellent.

All right.

Then we'll just start with the regular agenda as is written.

Any public comment today?

Or is I'm sorry, any addenda to the agenda.

There's no addenda to the agenda.

Public comments.

No public comment today.

No chair's remarks.

Any unfinished business.

No unfinished business.

All right.

New business is the consent agenda.

8.1 is committee action approving the health and community services committee joint budget hearing minutes from October 21, 2025.

May have motion.

Motion by Member Cunningham.

Second by member Kasbin.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

8.2 is committee action approving the health and community service committee minutes.

That was in the oh, I got both.

Sorry, 8.1.

That's right.

All right.

Moving along.

Um I should have read both.

Sorry.

Uh 8.3 is a joint resolution approving an emergency appropriation of $6,148 for fiscal year 2025 and accepting additional funding from the Illinois Department of Public Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant.

I have a motion.

Motion by Vice Chair Cunningham, second by member Kasbin.

Welcome, Director Chris Hoff.

Good morning.

Uh yes, this is additional funds for the public health emergency response uh preparedness grant.

Uh, it's a grant we've had for many years.

Uh the state uh held back some funds given the federal uncertainty and released those later in the year after the budget was approved.

So I'm just looking for an emergency appropriation to accept those funds.

Excellent.

No questions from the committee.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion passes 8.4 is a joint resolution approving an emergency appropriation of $61,000, 8008 61, 841 dollars for fiscal year 2025 again, accepting additional funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Cities Readiness Initiative grant.

I have a motion.

Motion by member Kasmin, second by Vice Chair Cunningham.

Uh similar story with this one, Cities Readiness Initiative, similar grant we've had for a number of years.

The state um held back some amount of that given the federal uncertainty around grants.

They released those funds later in the year.

So an emergency appropriation to accept uh the balance of the grant award.

Any questions?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The motion passes 8.5.

Is joint resolution approving emergency appropriation of $2,951 for fiscal year 2025 and accepting additional funding from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, intensive placement stabilization grant.

Motion by Vice Chair Cunningham, second by member Kasbend.

Uh, this is when we budgeted for got a little bit more money than we expected beyond the initial grant award.

And so this is emergency appropriation to accept about $3,000 more for this.

Excellent.

Any questions from the committee?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

I know the general comments on these on these three items.

I just think you know, we had a lot of conversation uh during the budget with the state's attorney's office about hey, these grants don't align with our fiscal year.

And I made the point then that someone make it again.

You can see that all these grants that the health department gets start July 1 go through June 30.

So that whole idea that, oh my gosh, somebody else's granting schedule does not align with our fiscal year, happens all the time.

And I think 8.4, Director Hoff said, hey, stayed held back, and now the money's there.

So we have all these things in place in process, and it's been we've been doing it for decades.

So I just want to point that out that we're able to deal with this.

That's awesome.

Thank you, Member Maine.

Any other comments?

All right.

We'll move on from here.

Thank you, Director Hoff.

All right.

We will now move on to workforce development.

8.6 is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with Symbol Training Institute, Skokie, Illinois, in the amount to not to exceed 340,000 to be funded under the workforce innovation and opportunities act for manufacturing sector training, employment services, and job placement assistance.

Welcome.

Good morning.

Oh, I'm sorry, motion.

Motion by uh Vice Chair uh Cunningham, second by member Maine.

Welcome.

It says Damar Harris was going to be joining us on this one, but it looks like he's going to be joining us on the future one.

All right.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Good morning, Jennifer Sereno, Director of Workforce Development.

I'm joined by Ashante Ross, our training manager.

She is the lead on this project.

Um during the budget hearing, we talked about how we're doing some changes with our business practices to maximize our grant funds for the full length of our grant funds.

Our grant fund term goes for two years.

So by awarding contracts, we're able to use the full two years of that grant cycle.

Um our funding requires us to spend or obligate 80% in the first year of the funding.

So with the contracts, we're able to obligate that and use the full two years.

If we were just to go on transactions, we would have to spend the money within one year.

So we're able to expend extend our grant funding this way.

So with this contract agreement with Symbol, this is to expand capacity for manufacturing.

And so this is classroom manufacturing.

It's to meet the needs of manufacturers in the region.

Umstanding training provider.

Um, and through this agreement, they're going to be offering CNC training, which is a 16-week training, and industrial maintenance, which is a 17-week training, and it's going to result in NIMS credential.

Um they have proposed to serve 34 job candidates, job seekers through this program.

And what this is different than the way that we typically work with Symbol is they are responsible to work with us on recruitment, enrollment, career coaching and planning, orientation, training, and job search.

So they're responsible for the whole life cycle of the job seeker and the student.

Whereas if we were to work with them on a transactional basis, we're responsible for the life cycle.

They're responsible for just the training.

So it's a change in business practice and it puts more accountability on both us and the training provider.

Excellent.

I had anything else?

I just had one question.

Um do we generally know, Dr.

Director Sereno, the uh placement rates after completion of these programs?

They're close to 80%.

Close to 80%.

And so the that's great, but then the other 20% then will what happens?

Do they they just on their own or do you think that's the thing?

Um typically they find employment and can't come commit to a full-time training.

Um, the training provider does provide um evening hours and weekend hours, but it depending on the type of work that they go into, that might not be realistic.

So um, we do try to work with them to continue the training, but sometimes they do have to drop out of the training.

Okay, so it tends to be more of the there they have they drop out for personal reasons versus them not being able to find an opportunity post post-training.

Right, yeah.

Once if they do complete the training, we are very successful in placing them, especially these types of training because they are in demand on industrial maintenance.

Employers are coming into the training site, meeting them before they complete the training, sometimes making offers before they complete training.

So once they complete the training, we do find a lot of success in the individuals landing employment within those fields that they're training in.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Questions from the committee?

I think we're in comment.

Programs are very weapon gets a great program that helps people that I know of.

So we should be happy that we have a WICF board.

I think I would board is better than any county in the Illinois.

That's a good that's a great and your staff.

Very excited to do for this specific program.

I'm really excited to see this.

None?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

Thank you.

All right.

We'll move to 8.7, which is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with United Way of Lake County, Green, Illinois, in the amount not to exceed 100,000 to be funded under the workforce innovation and opportunity act to expand parent mentoring models through school district partnerships.

Welcome.

Oh, motion.

I keep doing this.

Motion by Member Cunningham, second by member Cadman.

Now welcome.

I am joined by Jeff Hubert.

He is the manager of our business services team, and he is the lead on this project.

Let me just state by this is an award-winning project.

The state of Illinois recognize this for the collaborative effort with workforce development, OSIS, United Way, and the school districts here in Lake County.

It's been an ongoing project, and with this additional partnership and funding, they're able to expand this to additional schools.

They're in eight, they're in six of the elementary schools.

They're going to be expanding to a seventh Walkegan Elementary School.

They engage 56 mentors.

These are parent teacher mentors.

So these are paraprofessionals.

And they're retaining 48 to actively work in the high schools.

Through this grant funding, they're able to hire a full-time staff person that'll help expand this program to additional schools.

They have had requests from other school districts as well.

So they're going to be researching that during the life of this grant cycle.

We are assisting individuals to going from being parent mentors in the classroom to paraprofessionals.

And then we're also working with Waqegan High School in delivering an apprenticeship program per paraprofessionals to educators.

So it's creating that pipeline of talent with meeting the education shortage right now.

Through this program as a whole, they target to work with about 1,100 students.

And some of the measurements that United Way has demonstrated 70% increase and improved performance of the students in the classroom.

25% of the parent mentors go into a ladders of opportunity coaching, and that's where it helps them gain the skills to then become paraprofessionals.

And it also engages the community as a whole, addressing that need, not only in the schools to assist young people with literacy in the schools, but also bringing the community into the school, the parents into the schools.

So parent engagement is a huge opportunity to increase again that behavior of the students, but also the literacy within the classroom.

Excellent.

Member Kasbin.

Thank you so much for bringing this to us.

And schools felt like you just felt like you were a little bit of an island and had to problem solve for your own district.

And that I think that I mean it was tough for our school, but it's makes it very inequitable for the schools that are um less well funded.

And I think this is a great way.

And it it is difficult to find school personnel these days, particularly paraprofessionals.

And it's hard if you're not trained for that to do that training.

And so I think it's very exciting to see this come forward to see the community really embracing around school districts because really that is the future of the county.

That's the future of the state.

And I'm I'm just it's wonderful to see innovative programs like this come in and make such a significant difference in student outcomes.

So yay.

Excellent.

Member, member Maine and then uh Chair Hart.

Thank you.

Um I have some specific questions and then perhaps some some general comments.

So this is really interesting.

Um I I was just wondering when I looked at some of the documents.

So it seems a paraprof, unlike teachers or most teacher certifications, paraprofessional is K12 is K 12, whereas teacher certificate usually get endorsements for a grade range.

Is that is that correct?

I I was just thinking in those supporting documents, there was information on the average teacher salary in Lake County, K 12 national.

I think having some inform, and maybe I missed it, uh salaries for the paraprofessionals would be helpful.

And I just also think that giving teacher salary K 12 average is not really a helpful metric because it's so different if you're teaching high school versus the other one.

So it seems to me better to do, you know, the elementary and and the other, just for an understanding of that.

So has this come through here?

And I've just missed it.

Okay, so I do have um a question a little bit for you, but also for this board, and it's really meant process wise, not about any one individual.

So we know that the chair appoints um county board members to serve on on many boards, and they know to recuse themselves and things like that.

But there is a lot of crossover between the workforce development board and united way board.

In fact, there's employees of workforce development that serve on the United Way Board, and that's not captured in our ethics or anything like that.

Um again, I'm not saying that anyone's done anything wrong, but if you look at those boards, there's a number of crossovers, and I just feel like that should be captured in some way.

And I just wonder what your process was because again, you've got board members who serve on both boards as well as employees of workforce who serve on the United Way board.

I can tell you employees that serve on the United Way Board were not part of this process, the evaluation process, and also board members that do sit on the board and also the executive director of United Waste sits on the workforce board.

Right.

They recuse themselves from voting on these items.

Yeah.

Do you see what I'm saying about again, not that anyone's done anything wrong, but in this particular instance, there are a lot.

There's a lot of crossover.

And I just wonder if that's something we would want to capture in some way, just to show that we are above board.

There, there's like three or four people at least who are serve on both boards.

Just a comment.

Yeah, thank you.

So um, I think that's really interesting.

And you know, we could put it on there, but it sounds like you've got a recusal process.

So my only thought, I mean, it is really interesting, right?

And I don't, I'm trying to think about our ethics policy, and we have an ethics policy for our appointees.

Um, but they are recusing themselves.

And what I don't want to get into is um sort of adding something or capturing it on an agenda, because then we'd likely then have to capture hey, here's all the people who serve on child advocacy center or Visit Lake County or all the things Vice Chair Cunningham serves on, right?

Those would all have to be captured.

So, but I think that that's really good that you guys have taken note of it and those folks have recused themselves in there.

But thank you for bringing that up.

Okay.

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting adding something on the agenda, but I think I I didn't mean the agenda, I meant is there, I was just looking at our ethics at the vendor disclosure form.

And it's oh if I could, I'm gonna put my purchasing hat back on.

Yeah.

Um, part of the purchasing processes were done through request for proposal.

And when you are requested to be part of the review team, you actually have to fill out a purchasing disclosure form.

And in it asks those questions.

Do you have any conflicts of interest?

Um, and we go through the ethics process with them and let them know, and that's where the recusal happens.

So the department works with us to identify who should be on the review panel.

Um, and we've had um people who've been on it and see who then because you don't know who's going to apply when you first examine this.

We need you to fill out a purchasing disclosure form to move forward.

We're not going to let you see the proposals until you can identify that you don't have a conflict of interest.

And so those are signed in return.

So if that helps you, that is the process in which we identify and identify who needs to be recruits from the process.

And that is great, and that certainly is one part of it.

We could talk later.

I think if you go through that just in this instance, there are so many people, it could be a little bit of a red flag for people not understanding.

We have these processes, but they're they're not upfront.

I I don't mean we're hiding them.

Do you know what I'm saying that somebody else wouldn't see it?

Yeah.

I totally understand.

If I might respond and then just have my comment.

Um, I think that's a that's a good point.

It does sound though, like that work is happening at whatever department level, right?

Not just on not just on workforce.

And so if somebody had a concern, your minutes would reflect those recusals.

Yes, right?

Correct.

But I I think that's a really good point that you're bringing up.

Yeah.

We we can talk, but I was thinking like a vote or something that we would see like there we don't see your vote.

We don't see the workforce development board vote on this item that shows those recruits recusals.

Yeah.

And I think it's appropriate to ask those questions.

And I think probably the same is true for some of those other boards, right?

Um, my follow-up, and I apologize because I maybe I missed it and I I didn't read through every single piece here.

So help me understand.

So you've got these parent mentors.

So you have a child marry in class and her parent applies.

Can you just take me through as though you're an individual and how that how that would work?

Sure.

Uh United Way does a uh recruitment process.

They have some information sessions where they send information out to all the parents in the district.

Uh, those parents that are interested attend that information session and they're selected through uh that process there.

So they do a lot of outreach.

Okay, and then so then that training occurs of them being a when you a parent mentor, so they're in the classroom, kind of like how there's some professionals in the classrooms, right?

Helping specific children or whatever.

Yep, there's a lot of different things.

So these are kids there.

Okay, so they're kind of in the classroom, and then they're getting training throughout the program.

Yep.

And that training leads them to hopefully a pair of professional.

Yeah, hopefully to full-time employment, and then maybe even further on.

So great.

Okay.

Other higher positions.

And then they get that uh certification through workforce.

Yep.

Okay, okay.

And is that a well united way through um uh state organization that actually gives that parent mentor um certificate?

Sorry, how about the paraprofessional certification?

That is through that's a state.

Okay, so that's a state program, not through like CLC or whatever.

Okay, and then from there, um hopefully some may decide to continue and become a teacher or whatever, and that would be through CLC, maybe, or whatever.

I don't know if that's a two-year or for like two to three years.

Uh, our model that we use with Joaquin High School, it's two to three years.

Okay.

They can get three different certifications as well as a master's.

Oh, great.

Okay, well, thank you.

This is a terrific program.

And then my my last question, you said it's an award-winning program.

Um, who who gave you that designation?

So it's the Illinois Workforce Investment Board.

Okay.

Um, they recognize two collaborative initiatives each year, and we're this program was recognized last year.

Oh, great.

So I'm very sorry that I I don't I don't recollect that, but uh, but that's really great news.

And I don't know if you guys put out a press release on that or not, but um anyway, it's terrific.

We put out some information, yeah.

Probably not enough.

Okay, yeah.

All right, thank you very much.

Thank you, Chair.

Yeah, thank you.

I am I'm excited for this program, and I I might look into it myself here.

So um any other questions?

No, okay.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, any opposed?

Motion passes.

All right, thank you so much.

8.8 is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with Deloitte Consulting of Chicago, Illinois in the amount not to exceed 100,000 to be funded on the work under the workforce innovation and opportunity act to assist workforce development in improving services to the individual and employer customer through an artificial intelligence lens.

Welcome.

Well, oops, I got it.

It's the third time in a row.

All right.

Here we are.

Thank you so much.

I have a motion by member Cunningham, second by Member Kasman.

Now welcome.

I'm joined by Eric Nordstrom.

He is the project lead on this one.

So this is a workforce development initiative.

And it's about how does AI impact the workplace today?

And how can we as professionals better coach our the job seekers regarding AI and what they need to be aware of?

And then also, how can we better coach employers regarding AI and how to integrate it within their workplace?

It was a bid process.

We had 16 proposals, so a wide response.

And Deloitte was the one that was chosen.

And what they have proposed is to look at in a six-month time frame, provide a report to us, doing some research, understanding it in the industries in Lake County a little bit more, giving us that information.

And then working closely with our team members, our professionals on train the trainer modules, as well as providing access to their AI academy.

It's helping ground individuals in AI that are working in this space so they're better prepared to work with the job seekers.

So think of a job seeker, all of this information out there on AI.

How do I use it to write my resume?

Giving guidance there.

How do I use it to prepare for an interview?

How are employers using it to screen applications and resumes?

So being better informed and educated to better inform and educate not only our job seekers, but our employers included in this is also some office hours for small businesses to connect with Deloitte directly, giving them a couple of hours to understand again how AI can be or is integrated in their workplace.

Just some statistics really quick.

Boston Consulting Group just published a report on how prepared our US states for the AI economy.

And they talked about a four-part playbook in being prepared.

Workforce is the first part of that playbook.

And they quoted some data data here with 40% of all work hours are expected to be impacted by AI in the future.

60% of talent needing upskilling over the next two to five years in AI.

And then Lightcast data shows that jobs that integrate AI within them and involved with AI pay up to 20% more.

And when we're talking about preparing our workforce with AI, we're talking about starting to teach the skills, expand training for employees, create access points, offer specialized training, align upskilling with capital investment.

And that's what we're trying going to be accomplishing through this partnership with Deloitte.

Excellent.

Questions from committee.

Member Kasman.

Thanks.

I'm excited to see this.

Um this is a situation that's moving faster, almost faster than we could possibly take it on.

So I'm excited to see that you're engaged in this.

Correct.

One of the things that we want to make sure was built into this was ethical use of AI.

Um so that while, you know, whether it's workforce staff, employers in the community, or just members of the community, job seekers who come through our doors on a day-to-day basis, whoever's partaking of this and is receiving those resources, in addition to kind of the just the practical level of AI knowledge, you know, how to use it in the workplace.

It's the ethical use of it is going to be integrated as part of that as well.

So that you know, people are using it responsibly because, like you said, it is something that's very quickly evolving.

Um, and so knowing the ways that it can be used, but also the ways that it should be used, um, was really really important to putting this together.

Great.

I'm so glad to hear that.

Thank you.

Okay, so another question from the committee.

Member Hart.

Thank you.

Um, I think this is just really great, and I'm so glad you all are doing this.

Uh, unfortunately, I have a friend who is uh searching for a job, and she has found um AI to be extremely helpful, helpful in preparing for her interviews.

I mean, there's so much that you can do, and it continues to coach you in your answers, and then really looking at hey, what is this uh position looking for?

What is your resume?

If you upload the resume, what you know, what do people think you're a good fit for?

Um, it's been fascinating.

So, and she's in it.

And then there's these master AI programs, and it just sounds terrific.

So, thank you for doing this.

I think it's really great for uh for people to use and start to embrace.

I know I find it terrifying, but what are you gonna do?

It's here.

So anyway, so thank you.

Yeah, I just had a couple questions.

So is the ultimate goal then of the program to help the workforce development staff help prepare folks on how to use AI to better in their job seeking.

Is that is that is that the ultimate benefit?

Like who what is the deliverables?

Who's it supporting ultimately?

Um, I would say that's part of it.

The the term that I've used a lot over the course of this process is kind of like a teach amanda fish.

So the there's the the kind of knowledge delivery that we'll be getting where it's going to equip workforce staff to then be able to kind of from the point of the success successful completion of this initiative forward to be able to impart that kind of practical level of AI knowledge to job seekers, just like up to this point.

We teach them about resume building and interview techniques, common questions to to take with them into an interview.

And so it's kind of the plan is to integrate AI into that um that knowledge that we impart to them.

Okay.

Because I mean ultimately you're gonna have people coming in all the time, right?

So it's going to have to be part of like how do we support everyone understanding any new job seeker three months from now, six months from now, how to incorporate AI into presenting them, you know, building their resumes, understanding how to research all of that, how to prompt.

I'm assuming prompting itself is you know part of the curriculum that needs to happen.

So okay, awesome.

Any other questions?

Well, we look for I I personally really looking forward if we can get a report at the end of it just to understand how how this ultimately what we learned and found out and of course what this looks like.

That'd be great.

All right.

Any other questions?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

Excellent.

I think now we're going to get to 8.9, which is a director's report from Director Sereno.

Um, I just have a couple of items I want to do a quick update on.

I keep bringing back to CIA, the Climate Equitable Jobs Act Initiative that was launched in January.

Um, to date, we've had 18 and 50, 815 individuals interested in that program.

We've completed 12 cohorts, 138 participants completed the bridge program.

So that is employability skills, OSHA 10 training, first aid, CPR, clean energy basics.

Um, a hundred and three of those individuals reside in the R3 zones and asked the question last time.

That's the restore, reinvest, and renew communities.

And those are communities that are identified based on their rates of gun injuries, child poverty, unemployment, incarceration.

Um, so we are serving the most underserved through this project.

13 have completed the energy audit, five have completed the HVAC training at CLC, 28 completed the building home inspection.

Um, and total about 700,000 in funds were dispersed to assist with um housing, food insecurity, reinstating licenses, legal fees, and some other additional supportive services as well as stipends.

Why this is important is because every day our team is recognizing how this is changing lives and how this is assisting individuals to get back on track by supporting them financially during those four weeks and then supporting them financially during the training programs.

Um, Isaiah, uh for an example is one gentleman that completed the program.

He came into the job center immediately after being released from prison.

And today he is working in an internship.

He completed the bridge program, the four-week program, and right now he's in an internship, applying his skills and getting prepared to go into full-time employment, just as an example.

Another key component of this, we talk about a different way of doing business and some of our contingency, not relying heavily on federal funds.

These are all state funds, and this is a partnership with the College of Lake County.

And this is important because this demonstrates between the two partnerships, workforce development is delivering workforce development.

CLC is delivering training.

And together we've been able to accomplish this through our partnership in growing this program.

We've never grown a program like this with CLC.

That's awesome.

I I think um member main, is that is that it, Director Strain?

Um CJ, yes.

Yeah.

Did you have a question?

Yes.

Could you tell us of those people who've completed the training programs?

How many have employment?

There is about 28 individuals, but I don't have where they're employed.

So it's not a large number.

Many are still percentage.

You have a percentage.

So 28 of the 130 that completed the bridge program.

Um I don't have that data, and I don't have the data on how many are still in training.

Electric vehicle maintenance is another training program that several are in.

So I will complete that data set for you.

Thank you.

Chair Hart.

Thank you so much for this update.

Um, so you said there was like 12 people went into HVAC, like they got training at CLC.

Correct.

So then they can actually go and work for a company, start their own company.

All right, that's awesome.

And then there was 28 people, I think it was building in home inspection.

So they can work with uh realtors or some contractors.

Yes.

Okay, that's really good.

And then 13 for energy audit.

Yeah, can you tell me what that means?

That's more again, it's very specific.

So it would be working for a contractor, or it would be uh starting your own business in energy auditing.

Um this is part of the challenge with this program that we have seen is that the employment is growing.

It's not that high demand today.

We know it's going to be in high demand.

So what we're doing with these individuals is putting them in jobs in internships that will lead to the transition them into those jobs when they're available.

Got it.

So uh one of the things I was interested in is sort of solar panel installation.

Would any of these things help them get a job in that?

Yes, it would.

And solar panel installation is one of the areas that we did not work with CLC on right now because there was not a demand.

So if there's a demand in Lake County in the region for that, then we could pivot with CLC and institute that through this program.

See, so there's not really a demand at this time.

Right.

Okay.

But I think when we talked before, there wasn't a different location.

There were more there's more demand for it.

Yes.

So out west and southwest as well.

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Yes.

Any other questions?

All right.

And just one last update with CLC, a partnership with CLC.

You hear about the Lake County ecosystem often, and it's the ecosystem with workforce development, College of Lake County, Lake County Partners and Regional Office of Education.

We are getting ready to put out to start a study, a landscape study that helps to find the assets in Lake County around creating access for college and career pathways for not only high school students, young adults, but also the adult learner.

So we're starting with the landscape study.

So that should be initiated initiated in January, and we should have a report by September.

And then from there, we'll take the recommendations as what do we do as a collective impact to increase that access and make sure that more students have access to quality career pathways.

I you know, I just remembered one thing, um, Director Sereno that I wanted to bring up as part of the C.

I don't know yet.

Um keep reading more and more about um and I know that the College of Lake County has been doing this like thermal energy, right?

Like using other forms like heat under the ground, geothermal.

Geothermal, right?

And more homes looking to install geothermal in their home.

I've looked at it, it's a bit I don't know if I'm ready yet.

But um, I think that's something that's gonna potentially be growing.

I don't know if CLC is going to be offering any programs, but something we should consider because it looks like it's gonna be the next kind of technology that you know, hopefully, as the prices go down, it can take off.

So I know that there's uh steering committee at the state level.

Oh, discussing that.

Okay.

Excellent.

Member Maine.

Yeah, I was just thinking with all of these programs.

Do you offer or with CLC, do they offer um remedial math and working on math?

Okay, good.

Because you can't get those jobs, and the schools aren't doing it.

The schools, they're coming out of grade school, they're coming out of high school, they're getting to college, and they can't do math.

And it's eliminating them from so many professions, and it doesn't matter where.

So adults nationwide, yeah.

Adult ed has instituted, and they have for a while where it's articulated to an occupation.

Okay.

So you're learning math for that particular industry occupation as well.

So it's helping increase the skill.

Yeah, which is and applying it at the same time.

Yeah, which is mixed results.

Right.

I I've done that of when you make it too focused.

You think, oh, they're really gonna get it, but then people can't necessarily step back and apply it more broadly.

And the and that industry changes and they're used to thinking of it one way and they're not able, their skills are not as transferable.

They don't have the the stronger math skills.

We've seen that with just like pre-health stuff.

They need that stronger math skill and then have some problems to apply it when you just do the focused.

So anyway, but I'm glad that they've got that going.

Because it's holding so many people back.

Thank you.

Chair Hart.

Thank you.

How do you guys work with coalition to reduce recidivism?

Can you please remind me?

I have Damar.

Oh, great.

Hey, Damar.

Oh, hello.

Great question.

Um, so our workforce development board department, we have allocated one staff member.

You met them today, Jeff Hubert, actually sits on the coalition to reduce recidivism.

So we are part of their weekly meetings, their executive committee.

Um, also um, with that, when the coalition of reduced recidivism works with their clients through a lot of their programs, we have a referral process where those individuals that complete some of their weekly tasks and activities that refer to the job center, and then our job center team starts working with them on their employment and training plan.

Great.

We also uh with the coalition to reduce recidivism, the summer program that this county board approves each year of around last year, I think was around $365,000.

Um, we partner with the coalition to reduce recidivism on a capstone, where with Jennifer Everett, our previous program manager, we'll work with the coalition to reduce recidivism on an empowerment capstone um event.

Um, and that is where the coalition will bring in community partners, the college of A County, um, and then other non-for-profits to talk about career pathways to those young adults at the end of the summer work program that the county funds.

Um, so we are very integrated in regards to our resources, um, what workforce development offers through its programming, anyone that might have a background, uh, whether it's a misdemeanor or a felony, we offer uh the coalition to reduce recidivism resources to address some of those things that we might not be familiar with.

Great, thank you.

And would they potentially participate in the item with the symbol training institute out of Skogie?

Great question.

So from there, uh, when they do refer individuals back to the job center, that's where we do that assessment.

So um, if the coalition to reduce recidivism reduced recidivism is referring an individual to the job center, we'll look at that individual's background, their skill sets, and then there will be an opportunity where that person, if they're interested in manufacturing or industrial maintenance, we will then make that appropriate referral to assemble training institute.

Great.

Thank you.

That's awesome.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, Director Sereno.

We'll now move on to our community development portion of the agenda.

8.10 is a joint resolution approving the second amendment to the program year 2025, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Action Plan.

Can I have a motion?

Motion by Member Cunningham, second by Member Kunisnik.

Welcome, Dominic.

Good morning, committee.

We are seeking approval um this morning to amend our program year 2025 annual action plan to account for the expiration of approximately 77,000 dollars of CDBG funds.

Those funds were currently allocated to youth conservation corps of Waukegan.

Um the expiration is through no fault of YCC.

So we feel it's important to uphold our obligation to do them.

The funds were originally allocated to a project in 2018 that didn't move forward again in 2020 and 22 to projects that ended up not moving forward.

So in order for us to uphold our obligation with YCC, we're asking for approval to apply previous currently unallocated program income to the YCC grant.

In order for us to do that, we have to involve a third grant.

The YCC grant cannot accept home funds, which the majority 72 of the 77,000 of program income are currently home.

So we have to bring in a program or a project that can handle CDBG or home equally.

And that program is our down payment assistance program.

So we're proposing to allocate the 72,000 dollars of home program income into down payment assistance to free up the CDBG and give it to YCC to uphold um their 90,000, the balance of their 90,000 grant.

Any questions?

Thank you, Domingue.

Any questions from the committee?

All right.

All those in favor say, oh, member Casman.

I think this all mentions all the previous.

It's a redo of the I'm I'm gonna recuse myself just because it has anything to do with housing, just to be just to be cautious.

Thank you.

Sure.

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

One exception.

All right.

The motion passes.

I believe now we'll go into a director's report.

Thank you.

Before I get started, I wanted to bring up uh Maylin Gembra.

She's uh the county's continuum of care program coordinator.

This update this morning is around our continuum of care or COC funds.

She's very much the expert in this area.

So she'll make sure all the information I give is is accurate.

Welcome.

Thank you.

I know this committee we've presented uh to this committee before on changes to our federal funding streams, and um there hasn't been a ton of changes up to this point.

Um most recently, about two weeks ago, HUD announced uh changes to the COC funding application.

Um I believe it was they came back to HUD came back to work on Wednesday and they announced the funding availability on that Thursday.

So the COC funding, I just want to be clear on what it is.

It's a little different than the funding sources I usually talk about.

COC is a HUD funding stream that's contracted directly to service providers, but it's allocated through a joint application process that the coalition submits that's led up by Mayland and her team.

Last time we submitted an application was uh in October of 2024.

We were awarded roughly about three and a half million dollars on an annual basis through that application process.

So there has been some significant changes to the application this time around.

I think the first change is that they're having it an application at all in 2024.

Um, there is an acknowledgement by HUD that that was gonna be for two years worth of funding, putting forth an application as a big lift.

And um something it's renewal funding, so there isn't a ton of changes.

So they were thinking it was wise to put out an application for two years.

Um they've shifted course on that and a couple other things, but I think that's the first change is that they're having an application this year.

The second and the probably the most functional change is normally in the application process, it's a tiered application.

So there's a tier one and tier two types of funding.

The tier one funding is protected.

Um, so it's like I mentioned it's renewal, it's not guaranteed, but essentially it's guaranteed funding.

Generally, it's actually increased to account for um increases to fair market rents.

That is normally at a 90% level.

So of the three and a half million dollars in a normal year, 90% or about three million dollars would be protected in tier one.

This year, that cap is doubt dropped down to 30%.

So only about a million of our three and a half million dollars will be protected in tier one.

So that's the biggest you know, top line change there.

The second change that I think is is also important to mention is of the funds we receive, there's another cap that they put in that we can only allocate 30% of whatever funding you receive toward what they call permit supportive housing projects.

Our current portfolio is well over probably 90 or above.

Yeah, about 90% of our three and a half million supports these types of projects.

So even if we are to get um the max amount of money, we're gonna have to rearrange how we're allocating those funds.

There's been a priority prioritization around a more transitional housing type program.

Um so that's what we're gonna have to look to switch to.

Um what other changes?

Yeah, please.

Yeah.

Um so is that 30%?

Is that for new monies or is that for existing monies?

Is it so is it retroactive?

Like if you already had put that money aside for permanent, can you keep that for permanent?

I'm seeing head shaking.

No.

No, all new new projects and renewal projects have to fit within that 30% cap.

Okay, thank you.

So it is causing a lot of chaos uh amongst the providers.

Uh when I said permanent supportive housing, but that means it's rental assistance.

I think of you know about two out of the three million dollars goes directly toward rental assistance to about 172 household units, you know, scattered across Lake County.

So to move to a transitional, a shift to a transitional program is is gonna cause as cause some chaos amongst the providers, a lot of uncertainty.

The timing alone is is just causing some uncertainty.

Normally, I mentioned the application submitted in October.

We get contracts usually in March.

This application's not due till January.

So we're behind schedule.

So there's just we have contracts ending first quarter 2026.

So there's a lot of uncertainty how to how to handle this.

Um the strategy that I think Maylin is is is working with the COC on is really to just maximize the amount of dollars, you know, put forth an application can maximize the resources that come into Lake County, transition a lot of the existing programs over to a transitional focus.

Um but that's gonna be tough.

Uh so it is it's just something we wanted to bring forth to the committee and make sure you guys are aware of of these changes at the federal level and how we're trying to go about approaching them.

Member Kasman?

Member Kazina Kenny's name.

Thank you so much for bringing this to us.

I I read about these changes and um just wanted to thanks.

So thanks for uh addressing it today.

I appreciate it.

Um what are the people who are going to who are have long-term assistance right now, housing assistance?

Is there uh a strategy to plug those holes and who who is who's addressing this?

We are working, I mean, that is the the big question we're trying to work on now.

Um it's it's hard to quantify right now because we don't know what funds are going to come in.

Um, but certainly the the number one priority is to make sure that folks that are in uh units right now that we minimize the disruption to them.

And we I mentioned 172 households.

Um that'll be our top priority to make sure we don't um we don't we don't have those folks lose their housing.

Um and if I guess uh the question is um if those folks do lose their housing, these are not people who can survive on their own.

I've I've spoken to people who have long-term housing in there, definitely there are special needs associated there.

Um we're not talking about people who aren't pulling up their bootstraps.

They're we're talking about people with you know much more limited boots.

So um I just I really appreciate um I I think we is this evidence-based at all?

Any any of this?

I mean, it it's just a completely different philosophy for how to address unhouse and yeah.

It is very much a 180 shift.

Um, I mean, for over two decades, HUD's been pushing permanent supportive housing and kind of a housing first model.

Um so this is for sure um a complete shift in in strategy.

And there are supporters of this kind of shift, but even if you are supportive and kind of believe in in this philosophy shift, the implementation is really is really difficult.

I mean, they're kind of pulling the parking brake as we're going down the highway.

We we built up an infrastructure system around PSH, worked hard to get those 170 units, and now to to pull that funding is is just causing um causing a lot of chaos.

It's one thing to change the philosophy for how you're going to okay.

It's quite another to say this is the way we did it last year, we're doing it different this year.

I mean, that that is um I from my point of view, I can say I'm a politician, insane, unnecessarily disruptive, chaotic, cruel, and wrong.

So um, I appreciate um how hard you're going to have to work to to make sure that the damage is minimized.

Um, and that your life is going to be a scramble from now into the future.

And I will be I will be praying for you.

Yeah, thank you.

Member Kenizna wanted to basically second everything that member Kasman just said.

Uh she really raised the issue that I wanted to ask about.

So I don't need to take time with that, but uh, you know, our hearts go out to you and everyone else affected by this.

Thank you.

I I just had you have a question.

I just had a quick question.

So for for I have two questions.

One is the the transitional, do we have enough avenues of being able to support like where will the dollars generally then go to?

Because can they go to pads only?

I mean, what are the other churches?

Like, where would they go?

Um I'll try and give a reasonable answer.

Uh yes and no.

Um, so we've been we've focused on these permanent supportive housing models.

There are transitional housing models here in and programs here in Lake County.

Have we worked to beef them up to handle this investment and funding?

No, um, because we've been focused on permanent supportive housing.

They do allow within the application, and this gets a little technical to apply for transition grants.

So you essentially get maybe buy a year's worth of time.

So your permanent supportive housing project can apply as a transition grant.

So you basically get a year to grow a new arm and grow into a transitional housing program away from your permanent model.

Um, so that's gonna be the strategy within the application.

But again, the funding caps around there are still gonna be still gonna limit our resources.

So here's my my question also is can we in a way free up some of those organizations if we help them with the transitional?

Can they then be more geared towards permanent housing solutions?

Right.

I'm just yeah, they're all I mean, everything's on the table to be discussed with them and for sure.

Okay, for sure.

Yeah, yes, uh Vice Chair Alternative.

So could you kind of summarize in like a little capsule?

Like what is the shift in philosophy?

Oh man.

Um say like three lines.

Like what would you say is their sh their idea as opposed to the other idea?

It is requiring service, it's a shorter term touch.

A permanent support, they don't permanent is out the window.

They want to transition a time limited interaction, time limited subsidy, um, heavy on service requirements.

Um that is that is the shift away from a permanent housing model.

They don't want to support people uh long term is basically the word self-sufficiency is used a lot in the application.

Um hands up.

Um Vice Chair uh Cunningham and then my Chair Hart, did you have your hand up?

Yeah, but okay, yes.

Yeah, this is so fly.

You know, um I served on with the National Associate of Counties on Wik on Community Development, and uh had a conference call.

I heard this before.

It's it's all over the world.

This ain't just Lake County.

It's hitting everybody, and it's sad that I'm listening to Dominique saying, if we lose these houses, we got children in those houses.

And um, I'm trying who is that?

I'm trying to figure out what can we this board do?

Can we write letters to Hood?

Uh, what can how can we get involved?

Because we need to step up to the plate, these commissioners.

Because everybody got uh affordable housing in their district, and we need to step up to the plate if we're gonna serve.

You know, I'm I'm listening to everybody talking, but uh uh this is serious.

I just had emails to meet at the weekend about what we got what the county gonna do about affordable housing that we lose.

Uh uh it's not enough.

Why don't the county step up?

I'm getting these emails from different people.

So uh uh, you know, I was I read a lot and I'm saying this is really really serious.

This is how would you like to get set out out of your home?

Nowhere to go.

Got a little babies.

That's hurt, and here we supposed to be serving peoples.

We're supposed to be uh uh uh serving our people.

So uh I'm I'm wondering how I was thinking that the other night, how can we help?

What can we do to say these people that they looking for us to help them?

That's what they're looking for, just like when they go for a system, rent a system.

They go to Dominique, they go to PAS, they go to uh uh uh township.

These are the people Catholic charity, these are the people that had funds, but not a funds are limited, because I go through it every day, you know, in my district.

I don't know about nobody else's district, but it's the asking for help.

But my district asked for help, and I'm out there trying to find help, and it's no help.

So uh uh this is we need to look at this real serious and support our own housing community development, and and uh help take the pressure off.

So this is this is pressure, you know, on that department.

They sit every day and try to figure out what next can I do to help people, and uh uh we just got to do some.

We got to come together, work together, and uh be serious with what we done, which I am serious.

Whatever I do, I'm serious about it.

Because I ain't got time to look at the next person.

I got time to help the people to what I told them.

So Dominique, I I I fear you we can talk all that we want to talk, but what are we doing?

Yeah, talking don't mean anything if you're not doing nothing.

So uh I'm there for you.

Whatever I can do, let me know.

And I'm willing to do it.

Thank you, Chair Hart.

Thank you.

Um 172 households are likely to lose housing because of this change.

Some percentage, yes, yes, yes.

Yeah, totally at risk.

Ballpark.

Yep.

So what is the um, I think you said tell me the date when you expect these to sort of, hey, you can't use these federal these monies anymore.

We have a lot of lot of calendars to juggle here.

Um the applications do January 15th.

January 15th.

Um local competition, December 12th.

So at some point, a couple months post-January, we'll know about the funding we're received.

In the meantime, the existing contracts, these are set up as renewal grants.

The existing contracts start to wind down and end up in the first quarter.

I think the first one ends like April 1st, the end of March.

There's also lease dates that are juggled in there.

Each lease is on a different depending on when the the household leased up so we have leases also expiring um starting in 2026 as well.

So there's a lot of and normally uh the the agencies are accustomed to having to bridge, like having a lease and and have to bridge some funding with the idea knowing that 90% of the funding is guaranteed.

So there's uh there's land on the other side of that bridge.

In this case, there's just a lot more uncertainty into where we're asking them to bridge to.

Yeah, because there isn't going to be anything on the other side, really.

I mean, it sounds like you can get some transition grants.

Yes, right.

Hopefully, yes, that's plan.

Um I think you know our budget reflects our values.

We just passed a budget.

Um, you know, I think it's we should know or have a ballpark, how much money are we talking?

What is the need?

Um, you know, not I'm not saying you're gonna have that number right here, but um, as we really get into this and we learn more about families becoming homeless.

Um, I think it's important for us to know what are what are those dollars and what do we value as a board?

You know, are we ready to support this?

So anyway, thank you.

Thank you.

Member Altonberg.

So are they giving you then like hard deadlines about how long somebody can be in this transitional housing?

Yes.

Two years.

You mean the permanent right?

That's what I mean.

The permanent housing.

So you mean transforming?

I I mean, well, we're saying we're trying to go toward permanent, but I think all this housing will be moving away from right, exactly.

But I'm so I'm saying, are they now giving you maybe there weren't like hard deadlines of how long somebody could be in this housing, and now there is that there are more restricted deadlines and service requirements in this new transitional model?

Okay.

All right, member Kasman.

I just want everybody to think of if it's only you know 170 some households in Lake County, just how hard it is to qualify for permanent supportive housing.

We are not talking about people who can go out and upskill and make more money and be able to support themselves.

That's we're talking about a level of disability that is extraordinary enough to to qualify for this very small program.

Um I can't remember what else I was going to say, but it was probably just more consternation.

So thank you very much.

Okay, well, thank you for the for the update.

Anything else like to share?

Um, just of note, I think, and it's public public aware.

There are two lawsuits that got filed over the funding, one yesterday, one about a week ago.

Um, so those can keep an eye on.

I don't I don't suspect that that will result in any quick quick resolutions.

Um, but that there are two lawsuits that have been filed about this funding.

Um, is there anything we can do legislatively, you know, on a state or federal level about this?

Not that I'm aware.

I know the state has been very active as I think Vice Chair Cunningham mentioned.

This is across the country that the alarms have been sounded.

The state has is put up working groups and weekly calls.

Um, so they are they're they're doing a lot of work on how to best strategize mailens on all of those.

Um I have not heard anything uh directly that that we could do like that.

Okay, so our Congress people could they speak up or not really.

No, we're not gonna right.

We're in the minority, but yeah.

Okay.

Yeah, I got it.

Okay.

Just really quick.

Um, so the reason this came about is that these are people who couldn't live on their own and would likely be unhoused without it.

Just to be clear, this is not some bleeding heart liberal thing where we are.

I mean, the humanity of it is important to observe, but it is it actually costs less to put these people in long-term supportive housing than it does to have them on the street.

It makes no sense.

It's not data driven.

It costs 40 to 50,000 dollars for someone to cat costs us, society, forty to fifty thousand dollars first for every unhoused person on the street.

I mean, if that's the way you look at it, it's not the way I mean it's you know, but it's something to consider.

It's not just that it's it's cruel and inhumane, it's that it makes no sense from a dollars and cents standpoint.

Thank you.

That's my thank you.

Okay.

Any other any any other updates?

Okay.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Do we have a county administrators report?

No county administrators report.

Is it a need for executive session?

No need for executive session.

Any members have remarks or requests.

All right.

We are adjourned.

We will see everyone after the holidays.

Happy holidays to everyone.

I know that's a bit early for December second, but we will see you uh January sixth.

Thank you.