DSCC honors Meeka Hudson for her dedication to supporting Illinois children and youth with special healthcare needs and their families

Care Coordinator Meeka Hudson is the 2024 recipient of the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Award of Merit.

The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to Illinois children with special healthcare needs and their families.

Meeka is a Care Coordinator in the Mokena Regional Office. She joined the Core Program team in 2018 and has played an invaluable role in empowering families ever since.

“Meeka is an exceptional Care Coordinator with a passion for helping her participant families navigate difficult situations and finding ways to reduce stress in their lives,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas F. Jerkovitz said.

“Her teammates praise her dedication, knowledge of resources and willingness to help. Meeka has also been instrumental in developing valuable education and networking opportunities for families based at the Mokena office.”

Meeka’s colleagues in the Mokena office nominated her for the award, noting her positive influence, expertise, compassion and creativity.

“Meeka’s dedication to her role is evident in everything she does,” Mokena Assistant Regional Manager Tami L. Peleckis said. “She is always ready to lend a hand, provide guidance, and share her expertise with her colleagues. Her positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile make her an indispensable asset to our team.”

Program Coordinator Assistant Leslie Leske-Ely praised Meeka’s ability to break down information into manageable steps and empower families to take charge of their situations.

“She provides positive and innovating contributions to our office. Her ideas help in improving our office morale and family engagement,” Bilingual Care Coordinator Ana Lule said. “Meeka consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that families receive the support and resources they need. She approaches every case with empathy and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.”

Mokena Regional Manager Deanna Deleshe has worked with Meeka since she started at DSCC. When Meeka’s participant families wanted a space to network with other families in their same situation, Meeka saw a need and shared an idea with Deanna.

“Meeka was the inspiration behind our pilot of the Mokena Family Networking and Education Group called the Mokena Connection,” Deanna said. “Meeka also, along with other team members, was the inspiration behind all of our in-person office events (for participant families). We do our Winter Wonderland, our Spring Fling, our Summer Extravaganza and our Trunk or Treat.”

Meeka said she is “deeply honored and incredibly grateful to receive the 2024 Award of Merit.”

“This recognition is not just a personal achievement, but a reflection of the support, encouragement and inspiration I’ve received from the Mokena Regional Office Team,” Meeka continued. “I am truly fortunate to work alongside such talented, dedicated individuals.”

Meeka thanked DSCC’s leadership and added a special thank you to her managers Deanna and Tami, whose belief in her has made all the difference.

“This award is a testament to the teamwork, hard work, and passion that we put into everything we do,” she said.

Learn more about Meeka and her exceptional service to families in this video below:

DSCC staff nominated a total of 13 of their colleagues for this year’s Merit Award. As the winner, Meeka will receive a Merit Award memento, a $2,500 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

Congratulations to the rest of our 2024 DSCC Award of Merit Nominees:

• Daniel “Dan” Beagles, Training and Development Specialist, Mokena Regional Office (RO)
• Becky Helmink, Program Coordinator Assistant, Olney RO
• Andrea Hoskinson, Assistant Director Operations-Finance, Accounting and Procurement, Central Administrative Office (CAO)
• Amanda Kaufman, Care Coordinator, Home Care (HC) Region 3
• Cristina Lazala, Bilingual Program Coordinator Assistant, HC Region 2
• Cathleen “Cathy” Morrissey, Program Coordinator Assistant, Mokena RO
• Patricia Perez, Assistant Director of Operations-Research and Practice Initiatives, Chicago RO
• Yariela “Yari” Ramirez Beccue, Program Services Specialist, CAO
• Mary Ratermann, HC enrollment Specialist, St. Clair RO
• Adell Scott, Manager of HC Quality Improvement, St. Clair RO
• Paige Town, Assistant Regional Manager, Rockford RO
• Imani Wornum, Care Coordinator, HC Region 5

Learn more about all of the 2024 nominees in this recap video of the Award of Merit luncheon on Oct. 29 in Springfield:

DSCC honors Ned Kostur for outstanding service to Illinois children and youth with special healthcare needs and their families

Care Coordinator Ned Kostur is the 2023 recipient of the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Merit Award.

The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to Illinois children and youth with special healthcare needs.

“Ned is an outstanding Care Coordinator. He is a trusted mentor to his teammates and a caring and dedicated partner to the families he serves, helping meet their needs and improve the quality of their lives,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas F. Jerkovitz said.

Ned is based in our Lombard Regional Office and works for DSCC’s Home Care Region 2. As a Care Coordinator in the Home Care Program, he helps families of children and youth who need in-home nursing to safely live at home.

Many of the DSCC participants Ned works with are on the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Those Who are Medically Fragile Technology Dependent (commonly called the MFTD waiver). These children and youth have more complex medical needs that require a higher level of care.

Ned helps educate their families about the services and benefits of the MFTD waiver and other state programs that can help meet their needs. He also guides families through the process of modifying their homes to support their child’s medical care and equipment.

“I meet with families, which I enjoy very much. It’s just a rewarding experience to get a piece of equipment or to finally find that right nursing fit for that family and just to see the smile on the family’s face as we’re aiding them in their journey in helping their child,” Ned said. “It’s just a great organization to work for.”

Ned began his journey with DSCC in 2003. Over the last two decades, he has worked in both the Core and Home Care programs.

Ned is a “go-to” for his colleagues who describe him as caring, compassionate, considerate, and hard-working. They also love how his passion for serving our participant families shines through in all his actions.

“Ned exemplifies what great care coordination looks like and its positive impact on the families we serve,” said Terri-lynn Jones Wood, Assistant Director of Home Care Operations for Regions 2, 4 and 6.

“He has a true desire to bring families a sense of relief and understanding that they have someone on their side, someone they can trust and rely on,” Home Care Region 2 Regional Manager Mariangely Spilotro-Marquez added.

“He takes great pride in his work and ensuring that families understand Home Care, the services provided, what his role is and how he can assist them.”

Ned draws on his experience in clinical psychology, biology, treatment and discharge planning, quality assurance, teaching and more to help others. His Lombard teammates appreciate his wealth of knowledge about DSCC processes and resources, sense of humor and willingness to help in any situation.

“He has shown me what it means to be dedicated, empathetic and professional,” Program Coordinator Assistant Kimberley Firkins said. “Ned’s the perfect example of what it means to partner, help, and connect, not only with our families and providers but also within the organization, with his teams, and his co-workers.”

Learn more about Ned and his exceptional service to families in this video below:

DSCC staff nominated a total of five of their colleagues for this year’s Merit Award. As the winner, Ned receives a Merit Award memento, a $2,500 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

The other 2023 nominees are:

• Elizabeth “Liz” Bailey, Home Care Enrollment Manager, Lombard Regional Office
• Lisa Garbe, Assistant Regional Manager. Marion and Olney Regional Offices
• Mayra Rubio, Bilingual Care Coordinator, Mokena Regional Office
• Amanda Simhauser, Communications Manager, Central Administrative Office in Springfield

A big congratulations to Ned and all the 2023 nominees! We are grateful for your service and commitment to Illinois families!

Tiffany Kalka honored for outstanding service to children with special healthcare needs.

Tiffany Kalka is the 2020 recipient of the Award of Merit from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC).

The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to children with special healthcare needs.

Tiffany is DSCC’s Training Supervisor and based in our Springfield Office.

She works with staff across the state to make sure they have the knowledge, tools and support necessary to provide the best service possible for children and families in our program. Tiffany wears many hats, coordinating training events and learning requirements for staff and their related technology needs.

DSCC moved to a new electronic care coordination system last spring. This new system helps our care coordination teams work more efficiently and effectively as they partner with families. Tiffany helped spearhead the system’s planning, implementation and ongoing support for employees.

She took on this huge volume of work while also fulfilling her training responsibilities with exceptional dedication and quality.

“Tiffany’s talent and knowledge have helped us develop our care coordination system that better meets our participants and staff’s needs,” said DSCC Executive Director Thomas Jerkovitz. “Tiffany’s efforts have empowered our staff to be better champions for the children and families we serve.”

Tiffany joined DSCC 19 years ago. She says she is honored and grateful to be nominated and selected for this award.

“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to help my peers navigate our electronic care coordination system,” she said. “By helping them, I know that I am helping the families DSCC serves.”

DSCC staff nominated a total of 10 of their colleagues for this year’s Award of Merit. As the winner, Kalka receives an Award of Merit memento, a $2,000 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

The other 2020 nominees are

• Carla Jo “CJ” Chandler, IT Technical Associate, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Darcy Contri, Program Transition Specialist, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Kimberley Firkins, Program Coordinator Assistant, Lombard Regional Office
• Connie Harriss, Program Coordinator Assistant, Olney Regional Office
• Tami Peleckis, Customer Service Assistant, Mokena Regional Office
• Summer Puckett, Care Coordinator, Champaign Regional Office
• Jamie Renth, Manager of Home Care Region 3, St. Clair Regional Office
• Gabrielle “Gab” Schmitt, Home Care Enrollment Manager, Champaign Regional Office
• Amanda Simhauser, Communications Manager, Central Administrative Office in Springfield

Congratulations, Tiffany! And a big thank you to all the nominees for their excellence on behalf of our children and families!

Chicago Home Care Regional Office’s Yesenia Bustamante honored for outstanding service to children with special healthcare needs.

Yesenia Bustamante is the 2019 recipient of the Award of Merit from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC). The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to children with special healthcare needs.

Bustamante is an Enrollment Assistant with DSCC’s Home Care Enrollment Team. This statewide team serves as a family’s first introduction to the Home Care Program. The program supports families who care for children and young adults who are medically fragile and require skilled in-home shift nursing.

Yesenia works at the Chicago Home Care Regional Office. Her colleagues say she is an indispensable team member who is dependable, motivational and passionate about serving DSCC’s participants and families. Yesenia often goes on home visits to provide Spanish interpretation services and frequently rearranges her schedule to be available to meet with families.

“Yesenia is highly organized and keeps her colleagues on task while ensuring our participants’ needs are at the center of what we do,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas Jerkovitz said. “She leads by example and shows the utmost empathy and care for each Home Care participant and family’s situation.”

After 15 years at DSCC, Yesenia says she loves the feeling of helping a family in need.

“Throughout the course of my tenure at DSCC, it has been a privilege and an honor to work on behalf of our families and participants to ensure that they have access to much-needed resources to assist them with maintaining daily life within their respective communities,” Yesenia said. “It is amazing and inspiring to see so many caring individuals come together as one to carry out DSCC’s mission to partner, help and connect families to services and resources.”

DSCC staff nominated a total of thirteen of our colleagues for this year’s Award of Merit. As the winner, Yesenia receives an Award of Merit memento, a $2,000 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

The other 2019 nominees are:

• Stephanie Alumbaugh, Champaign Regional Office
• Amy Cunningham, Rockford Regional Office
• Kim Firkins, Lombard Regional Office
• Jane Gowans, Mokena Regional Office
• Andrea Hoskinson, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Tiffany Kalka, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Roxane Lowry, Champaign Regional Office
• Charmaine McGovern, Lombard Regional Office
• Amy Nixon, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Brittani Provost, Champaign Regional Office
• Brenda Solomon, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Violet Wiker, Central Administrative Office in Springfield

Congratulations, Yesenia! And a big thank you to all of the nominees for their excellence on behalf of our participants and families!

Olney Regional Office’s Dalena Ralston honored for outstanding service to children with special healthcare needs.

Dalena Ralston is the 2018 recipient of the Award of Merit from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC). The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to children with special healthcare needs.

DSCC is a statewide program that partners with Illinois families and their local communities to help children with special healthcare needs connect to services and resources.

Ralston is a Customer Service Associate in our Olney Regional Office. She’s known as the heart of her office who keeps operations running smoothly and in the best interest of DSCC’s families.

“Dalena embodies DSCC’s focus on partnerships and connections to help children with special healthcare needs achieve their full potential,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas Jerkovitz said. “She works hard to develop relationships with both our families and the healthcare providers who serve them to create a seamless support system.”

Ralston’s colleagues say she is the caring voice that greets all callers and visitors to the Olney office, providing a compassionate ear and a quick response for their needs and concerns.

Each family in DSCC’s program has a care coordination team that helps them identify their child’s medical, social, behavioral, educational and financial needs and develop a plan of care. Ralston takes the time to become familiar with the Olney office’s participants and their providers. She works quickly behind the scenes to make sure the care coordination teams have the necessary medical reports and paperwork to begin supporting families as soon as possible.

Ralston also tracks down available resources and community supports for families who are not eligible for our program but in need of assistance.

“I look forward to coming to work and enjoy helping people in whatever way I can,” Ralston said. “When you enjoy what you do and believe in the mission behind it, that is all you need to work hard and give it your all.”

DSCC staff nominated a total of eight of their colleagues for this year’s Award of Merit. As the winner, Ralston receives an Award of Merit memento, a $2,000 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

The other 2018 nominees are:

• Ana Lule of the Mokena Regional Office
• Kristina Marquez of the Rockford Regional Office
• Mariangely Spilotro of the Lombard Regional Office
• Mary Gruneich of the Springfield and St. Clair regional offices
• Lisa Washington of the Lombard Regional Office
• Kim Firkins of the Lombard Regional Office
• Kathy Thomas of the Springfield Regional Office

Congratulations, Dalena! And a big thank you to all of the nominees for their excellence on behalf of our children and families!

Mokena Regional Office’s Lynda Miller honored for outstanding service to children with special healthcare needs.

Lynda Miller of Lemont is the 2017 recipient of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Award of Merit. The award recognizes exceptional employees for outstanding dedication and service to children with special healthcare needs.

DSCC is a statewide program that partners with Illinois families and their local communities to help children with special healthcare needs connect to the services and resources they need to reach their full potential. We serve thousands of families each year in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of nurses, social workers, speech pathologists, audiologists and other team members in 12 regional offices.

Lynda is a Program Coordinator Assistant in DSCC’s Mokena Regional Office, working with Care Coordinators in her office to develop a plan of care for each family that addresses their child’s medical, social, behavioral, educational and financial needs.

“Lynda exemplifies DSCC’s mission to partner, help and connect with families and communities to improve the lives of children with special healthcare needs and put them at the center of a seamless support system,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas Jerkovitz said. “Lynda has touched countless lives during her nearly 30-year career and is an unwavering champion for our organization and the families we serve.”

Colleagues across the state say Lynda’s primary focus and concern is giving DSCC families the best service possible and treating them with kindness and respect. Lynda is also praised as an effective problem-solver who is willing to step outside of her comfort zone to learn something new, hard or time-consuming to get the job done.

Lynda, who was also nominated for the 2016 Award of Merit, said she enjoys all facets of her job. “I love helping whenever and wherever I can,” she said. “I have been lucky to work with a lot of people who have mentored me along my DSCC career.  I wouldn’t have the knowledge and ability to do what I do without their help and assistance along the way.”

DSCC staff nominated five of their colleagues for this year’s Award of Merit. As the winner, Lynda receives an Award of Merit memento, a $2,000 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

The other 2017 nominees are:

• Dawn Brzostek, Customer Service Assistant, Rockford Regional Office
• Cherie Dalbke, Care Coordinator/Speech and Hearing Consultant, Chicago Core Regional Office
• Diana Maldonado, Program Coordinator Assistant, Lombard Regional Office
• Glenda Rahn, Program Coordinator Assistant, Champaign Regional Office

Congratulations, Lynda, and a big thank you to all of our nominees!