[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6278114,"mediaKeyId","2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9","parentId",2642848,"title","Social Services Committee approves January 2025 minutes","audioSeconds",54,"startMs",152000,"endMs",206000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9&start=152&end=206","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9/thumbnail_152000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278114/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Social-Services-Committee-approves-January-2025-minutes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278114-e5ce4da873473c0d165f4bc71717cd8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176027&Signature=fxeZH~McxsXilQRgy5SjckoPO6tNku7dfrx-Q53FFJYxDBxvuulW10rHZZ9Q3aynsIs7L6YAJg2J7kii3r0-gBVQxW89nlTFsO5jKMce5jqIdm-eR25u7mkCrkxEp-cJFcHrV66Td-NEHoqQeuOOj6pMImirFHpjTYq6~Fbn6DT5kY3RItpQybJeRFj5-i5LNE1eZoYtTWJlzFAw5gOsdnD~wRQbHfScKe0wPVSMUl3o8IzBTGbo~CEweIlE1DEV~7EIR-JV76ReKVN7rlAXcSVJbGSt6fWz~-Akf5FNleFSRw6PtRPxWPxwgFnDUvXbz1RrTVT-t8ZjoM9~koL3MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Evanston, IL","date","2025-03-14T18:12:29Z","article","A committee member moved and another seconded the approval of the January 2025 minutes at the March 13 Social Services Committee meeting. The committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes.

The transcript does not record the names of the mover or the seconder, nor a numerical roll-call tally. Committee staff said the minutes attached to the agenda were from December but confirmed the committee acted to approve January minutes during the roll call and approval portion of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Social Services Committee 3-13-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Evanston Social Services Committee unanimously approved the meeting minutes for January 2025 at its March 13 meeting.","taxTitle","Evanston, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278119,"City keeps counseling contracts in place; youth engagement at Gibbs Morrison paused after closure",400,3627000,4027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9&start=3627&end=4027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9/thumbnail_3627000.jpg","/articles/6278119/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/City-keeps-counseling-contracts-in-place-youth-engagement-at-Gibbs-Morrison-paused-after-closure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278119-24d4e46105010beb6a5935330d8ad24d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176027&Signature=m1MbFkm13sq0PJfbGeoRSQ-bZOOr7ogmol9JWPbCwNSgIEsnQuntVxFgLiYU3IopZB1rxrKp6yK9Ce1UdZ7kFtj2mlJH3QlSAULh3iT9ao7KBjPmo492YGKFnOFlzimtcN60u9viBj0-8hUUJDU7mdDU5GWq1hGI1vJ6E~57-O4tGxNCOc9IJNL5VUCmNEez5VSvvvSbYWH2RSPVt~ahbrBFtBXOMW9rj2MQCVUjkow6UERgxByf8OTMF8Tcb25iHVPVY9IaaP59I8kxfzGSEah3B1uMlTZ0Qdb6E1J9a4xhy9v7Y2IjiaRyDRASm2nsQ2vv1GkmAL2wOzJo86M8Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Social Services Committee on March 13 that the city’s contracts for counseling services were renewed through 2025, but that an engagement component for youth that had taken place at Gibbs Morrison is on hold after the center’s closure.

Staff said the city remains contracted with Skylight Counseling Center and Metropolitan Family Services for individual, couple and family therapy; case managers and city staff can still make direct referrals. Staff described a prior engagement model in which a clinician would visit community meeting sites to introduce counseling services; that outreach increased participation but required a suitable community venue.

“The youth engagement component … did not move forward” at Robert Crown but had shown success at Gibbs Morrison, staff said. Gibbs Morrison’s closure meant that the clinician-led visits there ended. Staff said they were seeking alternative venues and that existing referrals for individual and family counseling continued.

Because of HIPAA protections, staff said they could report total session counts but not detailed demographic information about clients. Committee members asked whether alternative sites such as local high schools could host engagement sessions and asked staff to continue outreach to partners to restore an on-site engagement model where feasible.

Staff told the group they would help case managers and partner organizations make referrals to the contracted counseling providers and would explore new venues for engagement sessions with youth.","Contracts with Skylight Counseling Center and Metropolitan Family Services continue for individual and family counseling through 2025, but the committee heard that group youth engagement held at Gibbs Morrison has stopped since the center closed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278124,"Produce Mobile closing, providers say; committee weighs short-term measures to maintain food access",403,543000,946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9&start=543&end=946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9/thumbnail_543000.jpg","/articles/6278124/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Produce-Mobile-closing-providers-say-committee-weighs-short-term-measures-to-maintain-food-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278124-77dc8721f0b41c2387f290e8334bb438/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176027&Signature=mYtAPZAqnZNIYbsxVi7m4gGfwP7Rn2YX99OireuU9d8fZpeD52qg8tuS0x1j3KQ8oDvlinnirCD8PhAIvRMaQDDRhEO~Ix1co0uQKQcbTLxnMq6Ef67KN4SE0zQCtk2qwhJn4LU1qvx7dCMqNoCrvJ4AVePUrMIiOxY0UKiyj7jHlVa5-6ncbjMuWSo0MyhgVsXRh7ytHt~tSmqSRKMMZx7xSVuuI3ErlXD6QIpe2cj-bN-ZibmvqqI44UzeNstPl-OQ47OrAJoCWORp~LdDICmJJmXlASV~FOMRKzzloVTzU2IMwwJgWo7Cy-LorXUb6xIboxMW5gDjbTrXnNKchA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the committee on March 13 that the Greater Chicago Food Depository is pulling back resources that support local food distributions, and that Evanston’s Produce Mobile is expected to stop operations over the summer.

Committee members and staff described the practical effect: the city and local partners could lose a steady supply line for produce and packaged-donation deliveries, creating a potential gap in weekly distributions.

Staff said several local providers will continue operations but at reduced capacity. The Salvation Army location on Bridal reportedly distributes from 10 a.m. to noon; the Howard-area pantry runs two days a week, Mondays 3–4 p.m. and Wednesdays 10 a.m.–noon, according to staff. Staff also said they were unsure whether Hillside and Vineyard will continue receiving donations processed by the Depository.

The committee discussed immediate, short-term responses, including dedicating city funds to buy “box groceries” and leveraging an existing volunteer-run distribution that already manages Saturday food giveaways. One member described the need for hygiene kits, diapers and feminine products and called out “the SNAP gap” — items SNAP does not cover — as critical needs for households.

The committee also discussed harm-reduction kits that local organizations distribute: first-aid items, condoms, pregnancy tests, fentanyl test strips and naloxone (Narcan). Staff flagged scams affecting SNAP-linked benefits and said some residents reported unauthorized charges that were not reimbursed; staff said they would circulate an article on the issue.

Committee members asked staff to identify which distributors will keep operating, to check donation flows from the Depository, and to explore emergency purchases or targeted funding to replace lost capacity over the summer.","Council staff told the Social Services Committee that the Greater Chicago Food Depository is reducing resources that support Evanston’s Produce Mobile and other distributions, and members discussed interim box-grocery distributions, hygiene and harm-reduction supplies.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278129,"Evanston staff summarize workforce programs, including new Tech All Stars internship",481,187000,668000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9&start=187&end=668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9/thumbnail_187000.jpg","/articles/6278129/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-staff-summarize-workforce-programs-including-new-Tech-All-Stars-internship","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278129-84fb715768a388d8572311a0a7e5a853/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176027&Signature=DfxkTAWrALqXc6swNqNY622-rWpJbuD7N7ALDhhDMuegkRJ1np9eNqUNyqkmenJAicqfVyIXSIFEGXIwpPyheQlZv9BQIJEQc-0-BwxsuqkeuOcMzYHgklLNItNjrBxIwUw35tdx3leuUxNUzQudWz--h-5LkjR8~y5N8dktZfanzK5~fxVVIzfgevPBRb~UWshKPpOahVvAszNl4A0OZv7DwCnc7D8AuaD0gcUsYHebYM3SGDiW6D2xDrS58Qaoum2vuyvrsBgO0jKLHwWqaWmqx2Vpk2QmiSsQodeKxsZxp6soForCv2cjkMxYfDKdtFq09f7FIe3UXqkSLsK6nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the Evanston Social Services Committee on March 13 about five workforce-development efforts that connect residents to employers and training, including a new youth tech internship program.

The city’s workforce portfolio includes a platform called Grow that posts job openings and links job seekers with staff case-management help; Aspire and Emerge health-care partnerships; a local employment program that provides two-year paid internships for entry-level labor with the city; and Tech All Stars, a new information-technology internship targeting 16- to 18-year-olds.

“Grow is not a program necessarily. It’s more of a connection platform,” a staff member said while walking the committee through the offerings. Staff said the city contracts some services for Grow rather than providing all services in-house. The presenter said Aspire works with North Shore (the hospital system) and Emerge works with a senior-care network across seven states.

Staff reported that Tech All Stars is in its ramp-up phase and that the program ran a small first round over spring break with seven interns. Committee members asked about age ranges and how training programs might reach not only youth but older residents seeking career-track positions.

Committee members also discussed the city’s pilot guaranteed-income program, which staff said was renewed for a second year after an initial ARPA-funded pilot and a partnership with Northwestern. Staff cited a $500 payment amount for that program, noting it targets families with young children in District 65.

Members asked staff to return again with details that would help align workforce efforts with the committee’s grant priorities, particularly for older job seekers and for supports that help participants complete internships and apprenticeship tests.","City staff presented the Social Services Committee with an overview of the city’s workforce-development offerings — Grow, Aspire, Emerge, a local paid internship program and a new Tech All Stars internship for 16–18-year-olds.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6278134,"Evanston committee narrows grant priorities to food, financial literacy and employment ahead of summer application round",0,1083000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9&start=1083&end=1083","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2642848-49c97e3a7c53831a64f2b46add6ebdd9/thumbnail_1083000.jpg","/articles/6278134/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-committee-narrows-grant-priorities-to-food-financial-literacy-and-employment-ahead-of-summer-application-round","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278134-1ea7aa19fdbcfa2073fac106758b4797/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176027&Signature=O3qPanFMUNRtt1TJRt0mw8~DC3PdostO74jxITEQ2nxvSogwkmTWWiNHKnmfSLl3qFfSV9XhqFwkctqxn8y9oU6jNQ5c~m-hHWJl7Ird3nw8RQGkdP1fqGxdYesFUo~1QLZJ0jPaPF8Dmwo2Y1mlrwbYEJ7ZInzqlRn3O4BQq-v1fWmGxurIz9npE5BOuiy-Q90jxE1xnBVY-KdBqmH56Lv5vSd7v~4gLW8eNFJAPCSg7blqI6v14-sl6mIpPPSgvRIjNNMxTbDc-VOeLLo7USOqYU9MRguIBAC-uqoC9NRAP93OJG5NY8eXXahr6iIBJsSY6BCV5vCGWbsKszpckw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Evanston Social Services Committee on March 13 focused its next funding round on ensuring food access, expanding financial-literacy supports and boosting employment pathways as the city prepares to reopen applications later this year.

Committee members said the priorities respond to results from the city’s Community Needs Assessment and to recent program changes that put some services at risk.

Staff presented the consolidated-plan survey data that the committee used to identify gaps and existing access points, and outlined next steps for the application process. The city will bring revised case-management and safety-net application drafts to the committee in April, with the goal of finalizing questions in May and opening applications in August. Staff said the city is moving away from the ZoomGrants platform and expects mandatory applicant trainings in July so grantees understand reporting and compliance expectations.

“The next question is: what questions are those applications missing?” a staff member said while describing how the committee’s priorities should shape application language and performance measures. Members pressed for clearer key performance indicators tied to follow-up and successful referrals, not only initial enrollments.

Committee members urged the city to use application language that encourages collaboration among providers and the use of technology for follow-up touches. One member suggested allowing or encouraging joint applications so agencies that deliver complementary services can propose coordinated referral networks. Another said automated text or chat follow-ups could increase case-manager contact without requiring more full-time staff.

City staff also noted uncertainty in state and federal funding and said some budget lines remain contingent on higher-level appropriations. The committee asked staff to compile recent grant-reporting numbers from calendar year 2024 and to surface which external funding sources grantees report as most at risk.

Staff outlined the immediate priorities the committee discussed—basic needs (with an emphasis on food access), financial literacy tailored to residents’ schedules and skill needs, and expanded employment training and placement—then asked committee members to identify which items should appear in the application and which should be expressed as measurable outcomes, such as benefits enrollments completed or successful referrals completed.

The committee directed staff to return in April with the draft application questions and with compiled grant-report summaries for 2024 so the group could finalize evaluation metrics in May.","Members of the Evanston Social Services Committee agreed to emphasize food-access continuity, financial literacy and employment supports as top priorities when the city reissues public-service funding applications this year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Social Services Committee approves January 2025 minutes

City keeps counseling contracts in place; youth engagement at Gibbs Morrison paused after closure

Produce Mobile closing, providers say; committee weighs short-term measures to maintain food access

Evanston staff summarize workforce programs, including new Tech All Stars internship

Evanston committee narrows grant priorities to food, financial literacy and employment ahead of summer application round