Who We Are.
How We Work.

Benefit Illinois is a public-private partnership working to connect more eligible people to the public benefit programs they qualify for.

Our work is informed by stakeholders touching every facet of the safety net, from policy and funding; design and delivery; to utilization and advocacy. We are led by advisory bodies but centered around the input of individuals and organizations across the state.

Our Stakeholders

  • Our Steering Committee is comprised of leaders of organizations that operate benefit programs or provide services to a range of populations and geographies. The Steering Committee advises on project direction and moves key pieces of the strategy forward.

    Economic Security Illinois, Sarah Saheb, Director

    Greater Chicago Food Depository, Kate Maehr, Executive Director & CEO

    Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Lawrence Benito, Executive Director

    Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Elizabeth Whitehorn, Director

    Illinois Department of Human Services, Dulce Quintero, Secretary

    Illinois Department on Aging, Mary Killough, Director

    Office of Governor JB Pritzker, Grace Hou, Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services

    Senior Services Plus, Emily Jackson, Director of Development

    Southern Illinois Community Foundation, Byram Fager, CEO

    Start Early, Celena Sarillo, Executive Director

  • Our Advisory Group is comprised of subject matter experts representing diverse populations and public benefit programs. The Advisory Group develops the details of workplan recommendations. They also identify other stakeholders to provide input and inform strategy development:

    • AIDS Foundation Chicago, Nadeen Israel, Senior Vice President, Policy & Advocacy

    • AARP Illinois, Courtney Hedderman, Senior Associate State Director, Advocacy & Outreach

    • Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Niya Kelly, Director of State Legislative Policy, Equity, and Transformation 

    • Economic Security Illinois, Erion Malasi, Illinois Policy and Advocacy Director

    • Greater Chicago Food Depository, Sophie Milam, Special Policy Advisor

    • Illinois Action for Children, Chris Tokarski, Vice President of Family and Provider Resources

    • Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Luvia Quiñones, Senior Director of Health Policy

    • Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Dorian Manion, Chief of Staff, Division of Medical Programs

    • Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Emma Watters Reardon, Director of Policy

    • Illinois Department of Human Services, Mahi Mahmood, Senior Healthcare & Human Services Strategy Officer

    • Latino Policy Forum, Jose Marco-Paredes, Vice President of Civic Engagement

    • New America Chicago, Meegan Dugan Adell, Director

    • Office of Governor JB Pritzker, Isabella Hurtado, Deputy First Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Health & Human Services

    • Start Early, Carie Bires, Director, Illinois Policy

  • In addition to our advisory partners, Benefit Illinois seeks input from low-income households, community organizations, program providers, and policy experts. We gather input at each phase of the project, from identifying and understanding pain points to developing and implementing solutions. Input is collected through surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one or group meetings.

  • Benefit Illinois is funded by Illinois’s philanthropic community, including an anonymous foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation, and The Steans Family Foundation.

We want to hear from you. Learn how you can get involved.

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