$58K on Welcoming Centers

The Department of Public Health spent on Welcoming Centers in 2008, which are part of a program from the Department of Human Services to help new immigrants.

by Amanda Griffin-Johnson

Using our transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org, I found that in 2008, the Department of Public Health spent $58,307 on “IL Welcoming Centers.” Illinois Welcoming Centers are part of former Governor Blagojevich’s “New American’s Initiative” and are meant to make “needed state services more accessible to Illinois’ growing immigrant population.” This press release from 2007 states that the “Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Governor’s Office of New Americans are working with nine state agencies in order to bring direct access to services to qualified applicants.” The release did not state which state agencies were involved or how the Welcoming Centers are funded.

The Department of Human Services has a page on their website describing the services of the Welcoming Center in Melrose Park, IL. The site says that the Welcoming Center helps new immigrants “find out about healthcare, childcare, education, labor and employment services available through the State of Illinois,” “talk with friendly, supportive bilingual (English/Spanish) staff who can help you find out the specific state services you need and quality for,” “sign up for state services,” and “find out about service providers in other areas.”

The director of the Welcoming Center in Melrose Park is Silvia Villa. She is listed as a “Senior Public Service Administr” for the Department of Human Services. She made $99,428 in wages and benefits in 2009, according to the payroll database on IllinoisOpenGov.org.

To find this entry on the IllinoisOpenGov site, go to “Checks to Businesses & People” and scroll down “Category of Spending” to “Il Welcoming Centers.”