The city of Elgin’s efforts to help nonprofit social service agencies caught in the middle of the state’s budget impasse include setting up a universal application process and sharing an IT database.
City officials have been meeting with nonprofit social service agencies and have identified needs, including funding, which can help them, Mayor David Kaptain said. One need identified was software that would allow agencies to share data, identify clients and track services, he said.
The software would help agencies become more effective, offer referrals to each other and fill in any gaps of services, Kaptain said.
The idea would be to have a centralized system that focuses on clients which all agencies can use, said Laura Valdez-Wilson, the city’s senior management analyst.
“We understand every one of them has a different mission, everyone has a different need,” Kaptain said. It is a concept the city will try to work on to help all agencies, he said.
What the city and agencies need to figure out is how to pay for the software and how to develop it, Kaptain said. There are other issues involved such as a confidentiality law surrounding the release of medical information, he said.
Kaptain said the city could consider using Grand Victoria Casino Elgin revenues or video gaming funds, whose revenue is currently about $100,000 a year. The goal is to help agencies without going to taxpayers, he said.
Another idea is having a universal application process, Kaptain said. Down the road, a separate entity would be created to oversee the process, he said. Such a centralized process would help agencies streamline their services, he said.
“I am very happy to see Elgin take a leadership role in this thing,” Councilman Richard Dunne said. “I think in Springfield and other areas of our government, people kick things down the road and do not deal with them in a realistic timeframe.”
The situation in Springfield means local leaders must think out of the box, Dunne said.
Councilman Toby Shaw liked the idea of nonprofits in Elgin coming together, but he is concerned about the city taking the lead to create a support infrastructure.
“It feels like we are actually using city time to do that, almost making it a function of the city,” Shaw said. “Where does the line get drawn?” he said, adding would churches, community groups and other agencies be included. “It sounds like great idea for an entrepreneur to offer as a service, not one for local government to be spearheading.”
Kaptain said he is sensitive to Shaw’s concern, but he does not envision the city creating a department to maintain the IT software or universal application process. Right now, “the city is taking the leadership role because it is something it has to do,” he said.
The city needs to help because nonprofit social service agencies have a real impact and the failure of those agencies could be negative for Elgin, he said.
“I feel it is really a complex issue on a statewide basis,” Carol Rauschenberger said. “I hope this gets to press and our local statewide congressmen are listening. Cities are taking on a duty to help support social service agencies because the state is not doing it. I think it’s a bigger issue.”
Kaptain said a presentation on the ideas discussed so far will be given in June and he plans to have another summit in July.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter.
