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:

Participant families, please save our (800) 322-3722 number to your contact list!

As part of our commitment to serving our participant families, we want to ensure you can easily reach us whenever you need help or have questions.

Please take a moment to save our toll-free (800) number to your contacts list: (800) 322-3722.

This step will help prevent our calls from being mistaken as spam. It will also help ensure you receive important updates and support from your care coordination team.

Our (800) 322-3722 number remains the simplest and fastest way to reach anyone at the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC).

You can use this number to dial your Care Coordinator’s direct extension or have our Customer Service Representatives connect you with the right person or team.

Saving our number to your phone’s contact list can help improve the process in several ways:

• Have quicker access – Having our number readily available in your contacts can save time when you need assistance or have questions.
• Avoid spam filters – Saving our number reduces the likelihood our calls will be flagged as spam.
• Communicate more seamlessly – Having one number to call helps ensure smoother communication whenever you need support or would like to share feedback.

You may also reach us electronically through our general dscc@uic.edu email address or our Contact Us or Request a Callback forms on our website.

You can also use our new DSCC Family Portal to easily share information and communicate with your care coordination team. You can use the Family Portal to:

• Send messages
• Sign documents
• View important letters
• See a list of providers and much more

To access the portal, visit https://go.uic.edu/DSCCFamilyPortal.

To help you get started, we’ve created several tip sheets and videos for how to use the Family Portal. You can find these resources on our website at https://dscc.uic.edu/dscc-family-portal/.

If you have trouble accessing the Family Portal or need other support, please email dsccexternalhelp@uic.edu.

You can also speak with your Care Coordinator if you need to update your communication preferences.

Our office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please talk to your Care Coordinator if you need to speak outside of business hours.

We want to ensure our care coordination teams are easily accessible for everyone in our programs.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership!

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!

David Martinez honored for his dedication to supporting Illinois children with special healthcare needs and their families

David Martinez is the 2022 recipient of the Merit Award from the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC).

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

David is a Care Coordinator in the Chicago Central Office. In this role, he helps families develop personalized care plans for their children’s unique needs and connects them to the right services and resources.

“David has a remarkable ability to partner with our participant families and empower them to help reach their full potential,” DSCC Executive Director Thomas F. Jerkovitz said. “He works with families from a variety of cultural backgrounds and helps them feel understood and able to navigate the systems involved in their child’s care.”

David’s Chicago teammates say he has a talent for helping families and working “magic” in situations where others might not see a way.

“He is culturally sensitive, proactive and able to put himself in other people’s shoes so that he can better understand their situation and how best to partner with them to find a solution,” said Assistant Director of Research and Practice Initiative and former Chicago Central Regional Manager Patricia Perez.

David is a licensed clinical social worker. He grew up in El Salvador and studied criminal justice after coming to the United States.

He provided substance abuse programs at the Cook County Jail before deciding to pursue social work. This decision stemmed from his desire to help others and make an impact on families as early as possible.

David worked in mental health before joining DSCC in April 2016. He says he is honored to work for DSCC and with his amazing colleagues and managers in the Chicago Central office.

“Building strong relationships with my co-workers and the families we serve energizes me every single day,” David said. “Our families’ needs go beyond just medical. Every day is an opportunity to look at a situation from all different aspects and find a solution that can meet their needs. Sometimes it’s as simple as just listening.”

David said his DSCC career has helped him learn about many different cultures and that care coordination is not one-size-fits-all.

“Meeting the family where they are – that’s my starting point,” David said. “When I’m meeting with families, I tell them we are a team.”

David has helped achieve many successful outcomes for his participant families. In early 2022, he secured a $36,000 grant through the Guaranteed Rate Foundation to purchase and install a vehicle wheelchair lift in a participant family’s van and to make their bathroom wheelchair accessible.

But David says his proudest achievements are the relationships he builds with families.

“It would be impossible for me to deliver my passion in social work without having a relationship with families and open communication,” David said. “To be able to talk to families on a monthly basis and help them navigate through issues in life, that is my biggest accomplishment — having the trust the families place in me and DSCC.”

Our DSCC team nominated a total of 12 of our colleagues for this year’s Merit Award. As the winner, David receives a Merit Award memento, a $2,500 award and recognition from the Executive Director.

The other 2022 nominees are:

• Melissa Croft, Home Care Enrollment Specialist, Lombard Regional Office
• Christina “Tina” Glim, Care Coordinator, Mokena Regional Office
• Kristin Grubb, Administrative Aide, Peoria Regional Office
• Becky Helmink, Program Coordinator Assistant, Olney Regional Office
• Paula Holaday, Home Care Quality Improvement Specialist, Peoria Regional Office
• Marlo Johnson, Human Resources Officer, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Amy Jones, Regional Manager, Olney and Marion Regional Offices
• Danielle Osburn, Home Care Claims Process Lead, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Elma Saladar, Care Coordinator, Chicago Central
• Cindy Saxsma, Administrative Aide, Central Administrative Office in Springfield
• Katherine Serrano, Care Coordinator, Chicago Core

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

Complete a short survey to share your input and comfort level

As we move out of the pandemic phase of COVID-19, we’re planning for how to best support our participant families. These plans include how our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) team meets with families. 

We want to know how you and your family feel about returning to in-person meetings and home visits.

You can click on this survey link to share your input. The survey is only six questions and shouldn’t take long to complete. 

The survey is available in English and Spanish. It will be open through March 25.

Our goal is to serve you and your family in the safest and most comfortable way possible. Your survey responses will help us understand your comfort level and plan accordingly. 

We appreciate your time and feedback! 

We also encourage you to check our COVID-19 Resource Directory often for the latest information on testing options, assistance programs, health guidance and more. 

Our next “Resource Roundup” newsletter will go out later this month. It highlights recent additions and updates to our Resource Directory as well as news and upcoming events. Fill out this brief subscription form to join our newsletter mailing list.

If you need help with specific needs or have questions about available resources, please contact your DSCC Care Coordinator. 

Haley Shropshire of the Peoria Regional Office is biking 250 miles as part of nationwide Stop Soldier Suicide Cycling Challenge in July

Four months ago, Haley Shropshire, a Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) Care Coordinator from the Peoria Regional Office, got a new bike.  She hadn’t owned a bike since she was 10. Now, she’s part of the Stop Soldier Suicide Nationwide 250 Mile Cycling Challenge during July.

The challenge is raising awareness and funds to end soldier suicide.

“I’ve grown up surrounded by family members and other individuals who have served in the military. My father served seven years in the Army infantry and although he didn’t die of suicide, it’s important that I show my support and respect for what he did to serve our country,” explained Haley. “I don’t usually do Facebook fundraisers, but I love this cause and just had to go for it!”

According to the Stop Soldier Suicide website, veterans are at a 50 percent higher risk of suicide than their peers who have not served. Stop Soldier Suicide’s mission is to reduce the military suicide rate by 40 percent by 2030.

Funds raised through their Facebook challenges provide direct support to service members and veterans at risk for suicide.

Haley cares deeply about this cause and is hoping others will visit her Facebook page for more information, to check on her progress or make a donation by Aug. 7.

“Riding my bike is just so freeing! I’ve really been encouraged by the great comments and support,” Haley said “I set up my page in June and was surprised when I passed my goal before I started riding. I bumped up my goal and am really hoping I can pass it again. It’s all been so amazing!”

Haley is fast approaching her current fundraising goal of $500 and has logged more than 143 miles.

“I’m riding because I want to help and I want service members who are struggling to know there’s help,” Haley said. “I would be thrilled if my challenge could raise $1,000. That would help so many get the help they need.” 

Haley also encourages any interested DSCC staff members to ride or join her on Facebook.

“I may be riding my bike alone, but I’m not going solo. It’s been incredible,” she said.

If you know a struggling service member, veteran or military family member, Stop Soldier Suicide can help. If you’re a veteran or service member in crisis, please call (844) 317-1136.

Division of Specialized Care for Children participant Trenten Jankuski has a special vacation and accessible home, thanks to Care Coordinator Angel Lawrence’s efforts.

Angel Lawrence is a Care Coordinator at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC). A big part of this job involves connecting families with the right services and resources to support their children with special healthcare needs. Sometimes, a seemingly simple connection can make a dream come true.

Such was the case for Trenten Jankuski, a 16-year-old DSCC participant with cerebral palsy.

More than two years ago, Angel started working closely with Trenten’s family to help make their home more accessible.

The Jankuskis live in a bi-level home. It made sense for Trenten’s therapy needs to move his living space to the home’s lower level. However, Trenten’s power wheelchair could not access the lower level.

Angel got to work seeking bids from vendors who could examine the house and determine what modifications would be necessary. Angel enlisted the help of UIC’s Assistive Technology Unit, which determined that an elevator would be the best option for the home and Trenten’s wheelchair. The elevator, however, would have a high price tag.

Angel then started checking for funding sources and grant opportunities. After months of effort, she helped the Jankuskis receive a grant from the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services to cover most of the elevator’s costs. Angel also contacted Make-A-Wish Illinois and the Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation to see if any assistance was available.

The Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation was able to provide the remaining funds needed for the elevator, which was installed in March.

But the Make-A-Wish Foundation took an interest in Trenten’s story and contacted his mother to set up an interview in February. A trip to Disney World for his whole family was soon in the works for the avid Disney fan.

On March 15, local Make-A-Wish granters met Trenten’s parents at his high school to surprise him and announce the special vacation would start that Sunday. The Kankakee Daily Journal newspaper was there to capture the fun announcement. You can read the Daily Journal’s coverage on the newspaper’s website.

Angel said she’s delighted to see Trenten, his parents and his siblings have this special getaway together.

“This is an opportunity for them as a family to really enjoy one another in a fun atmosphere, away from the reality of day-to-day life,” she said. “They can enjoy a real vacation.”

We’re grateful for Angel’s hard work to help this very deserving family. Congratulation to Trenten and all of the Jankuskis!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DSCC staff provide an air conditioner to family of baby boy recovering from heart surgery in triple-digit temperatures.

Families enrolled with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) know their care coordination team is here to help. This help can include finding resources and developing a care plan to meet their unique needs and goals.

What our families may not realize, however, is how many DSCC staff work together behind the scenes to help our Care Coordinators find the best solutions for their child.

A powerful example of this group effort occurred after a 4-month-old baby boy underwent open heart surgery during a stretch of dangerously hot temperatures.

The boy was born with a heart condition shortly after his family moved to Illinois. After spending several weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit, he was able to go home in June and prepare for surgery later in the fall. However, his family soon learned that the surgery couldn’t wait. He underwent the procedure in July.

“It was a blow to them,” their Care Coordinator Robin Mahnken said. “But, they did the surgery and he went through it with flying colors.”

Shortly after the surgery, DSCC Administrative Services Coordinator Debbie Cole called the baby’s mother to check in. The mother reported that her son’s recovery was going well until an intense heat wave hit the area. The family didn’t have an air conditioner, and she was concerned how the extreme temperatures would affect him.

“Instead of saying, ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Debbie went, ‘Hmm, I wonder if we can help,’” Robin recalled.

Debbie went to Robin and the two began brainstorming ways to get an air-conditioning unit for the family’s home. Robin soon learned that durable medical (DM) equipment providers would not be able to help. She then went to her supervisors, who suggested an alternate way for DSCC to support the cost for an air conditioner.

Robin then got to work trying to find a non-medical, general merchandise retailer who would be able to bill DSCC for the cost of the air conditioner.

Robin contacted a big box retailer in town, which was willing to help. But, there were several administrative hurdles to overcome. She enlisted the help of two store managers, their general manager and a clerk to develop a plan for the store to accept a prior approval from DSCC to provide the air conditioner.

Robin then worked with DSCC Claims Services staff and the Provider Data Unit to enroll the retail store as a provider and work out a solution for payment. Claims Services Supervisor Michele Dillon even called into the office while on vacation to work with DSCC’s Business Office and Provider Data Unit to make sure a solution was reached quickly so the retailer could be paid as soon as possible and the family could have the much-needed air conditioner.

Once a payment solution was reached, another DSCC Care Coordinator went with Robin to pick up the air-conditioner, deliver it to the family’s home and install it for them.

“That is how a family with a 4-month-old baby who just underwent open heart surgery was able to get an air conditioner on a day when the heat index was 113 degrees at 2 p.m.,” Robin said. “This whole organization and this whole other business pulled together to help this one little person.”

We are extremely proud of our compassionate employees and their willingness to go the extra mile to provide the best outcomes for our families.

DSCC Regional Manager Mary Gruenich put it best – “In my 25-plus years at DSCC, I have witnessed  many outstanding examples of dedicated and caring staff going above and beyond to meet the needs of their families.  However, I don’t recall such an exemplary example of true care coordination that involved so many units within DSCC to meet the needs of a 4-month-old cardiac patient… completed  within 24 hours!”