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MEMBERS PRESENT:  Margaret Phillips, Ken Mundy, Micki Chulick, and Carol Herrington.

 OTHERS PRESENT:  Mary Ramp, Jess Collins, and Terri Ward.

 CALL TO ORDER:  Margaret Phillips called the meeting to order at 9:37 a.m.

 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  Ken Mundy made a motion to approve the minutes of October 12, 2007.  Motion approved.

 APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  The agenda was approved as presented.

2007 CSBG 4^th QUARTER AND END OF YEAR REPORT:  Mary introduced Carol Herrington to the Board.  She is representing Brett Brown from the DeKalb County Housing Authority.  Carol is the Administrator for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.  Introductions were then made.  Mary handed out the CSBG end of year budget expenditures showing the expenditures for the past four years.  This shows the Program Support Total (delivery of service), Client Assistance Total (direct assistance to clients), Administration Total (Mary and Jess’s time not covered by other grants), and Economic Development (Family Development Program).  This also illustrates the steady decrease in the overall budget since 2004.  There has been a negative balance since 2005.  Money was taken from the corporate fund to cover the loss.  The corporate fund has over $20,000 in it.  This fund is an accumulation of interest and funds from the Illinois Ventures for Community Action.  Funding for fiscal year 2008 is level.  Client Assistance is very low but is made up with the other grants we receive. 

Mary then handed out the Fourth Quarter CSBG Program and Outcome Report and discussed the status of all the programs.  This report shows the work programs with anticipated number of persons served and the actual year to date number of persons served as well as outcome targets and outcome targets completed.  Family Development shows six families participated in the program with three reaching the goal of experiencing an increase in income as a result of earnings.  The Scholarship Program shows eight recipients.  The Emergency Intervention Program served more individuals than targeted (135%).  The Furniture Assistance program is well behind the anticipated amount of clients served.  The unit we rent was flooded with sewer water and all furniture was ruined.  Due to this, we have dropped the program.  The Information, Referral, and Coordination served 425, just over the 400 anticipated.  This report only illustrates CSBG.  Overall, we administer programs that result in serving around 6,000 individuals (some may be duplicated).  All CSBG services fit within 125% of the federal poverty level.

The fourth quarter client characteristics and percentages sheet was discussed.  We have served a total of 933 unduplicated persons through the third quarter.  One third of the persons served are 11 and under.  The number of black persons is increasing.  The number of Hispanics served is lower than compared to the overall population.  The education level illustrates all persons served (including children) so the number of persons with an education level of 0-8 is high (39%).  Persons served aged 24 and older who do not have at least a High School diploma or GED is 20%.  The number of families employed is nearly steady at 53%.  The percentage of families with no source of income is 17%.

Mary highlighted the Emergency Intervention Families Served chart.  The families served include all families seen for Emergency Intervention.  The months of August and September have been higher than usual but they are not as high as last year.  This chart illustrates all families who came in for Emergency Intervention, not just those we actually provided financial assistance for.

FISCAL YEAR 2008 CSBG FUNDING INCREASE:  After President Bush eliminated CSBG funding for FY 2008, Congress went ahead and funded CSBG with a slight increase.  It is estimated that this amounts to an increase of about $7,000 for DeKalb County.

MARY USCIAN FOUNDATION DENTAL CARE PROGRAM:  Mary Uscian was a co-founder of Tri-County Community Health Center.  After she died of cancer, an endowment fund was established in her name through the DeKalb County Community Foundation.  This fund is focused on helping children in need of health services.  At this point, there is roughly $600 available.  A program has been started to help children in grades K-6 receive emergency dental care to help them focus their time on school rather than worry about their dental concerns.  Community Services will administer the program.  Children enter the program as a referral by their school nurse.  Community Services then links them to an appropriate dentist to do the work that needs to get done.  Participating dentists do the appropriate service and then they get reimbursed for overhead costs of $100.  This program will begin in March.

EMERGENCY FUND REPORT:  This fund is designed to help clients with expenses that will help them stay employed or obtain employment.  This fund can be used for expenses that our other funding cannot help with such as car repairs, car insurance, identification, etc.  We can also use this fund for rent and utilities.  This fund originated in Chicago and is funded by a private funder.  Our allocated amount is $1,000 a month so we expect to receive $12,000 this year.  There is a cap of $250 per family, once a year.  We report on this fund monthly.

SHABBONA HARDWARE LOAN:  The hardware store made their last payment this February.  Their loan is paid in full.  The original loan was for $12,000.  We’ve received all $12,000 plus interest.  The $12,000 has to be used for another loan but the interest may be used for any CSBG program.  Shabbona Hardware may apply for another loan to expand their business.

SENIOR TAX:  Fiscal year 2009 Request for Bids are available.  They are due February 27.  There is a slight increase this year.  Hearings will be in April and the County Board will vote on allocation at the May meeting.  There is approximately $30,000 accumulated funds due to Family Service Agency not expending their funds in the past two years, plus having more tax money than anticipated.  These funds are available for agencies to bid on for one-time purchases and are also due February 27.

FEMA, EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM REPORT:  We are still awaiting release of the Phase XXVI funding.  We should be getting word shortly.

HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM REPORT:  Mary handed out the FY 2007 Homeless Prevention Program Year End Fiscal Report.  We had a DHS approved budget of $53,900 all of which was expended.  $5,390 was used for administrative costs.  We served a total of 251 families.  Most of the families used the assistance to maintain their current residence.  Most of the households were still housed in the same location after the six-month follow-up period.

BOARD MEMBERSHIP:  Four of the 15 board membership terms expire in May.  They are Melissa Searing, Joslyn Turner, Melissa Garman, and Margaret Phillips.  Mary will be contacting them regarding their terms.

OLD BUSINESS:  There was no old business to report.

NEW BUSINESS:  Mary mentioned a new community resource titled “Love, Inc.”.  This is a group of churches that coordinate Church financial assistance programs.  There will be a central office that will refer clients to the appropriate Church for possible financial assistance.  They can also make appropriate referrals to community resources.  Love Inc. is the result of a National Movement to help those in need.  DeKalb is forming a local chapter.

NEXT MEETING DATE:  The next meeting date is scheduled for Thursday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room, right side.  This may need to change if the ICAA annual meeting is held on this date.

ADJOURN:  Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:43 a.m.