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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION FOR THE SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC), as an office under the Cook County Board President, works to promote equitable, human-centered, community-driven justice system innovation and practice through rigorous stakeholder engagement, policy work, service coordination, and grantmaking that increases community safety and reduces reliance on incarceration; and
WHEREAS, the JAC supports Cook County’s commitment to advancing equity throughout Cook County by administering grants that invest in programs and strategies to improve community safety in areas of violence prevention and reentry; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Ordinance Sec. 2-527 establishes the JAC’s authority to administer violence prevention, intervention and reduction grants in accordance with the Cook County Procurement Code; and
WHEREAS, building on historic levels of investment in community-based organizations, JAC grant initiatives will sustain key services beyond American Rescue Plan Act funding, supporting organizations that help those closest to the gun violence epidemic access critical programs and services that contribute to increased community safety throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, gun violence dramatically affects the physical, cognitive, mental, emotional well-being and development of those exposed to it: direct survivors of gun violence and the communities impacted by incidences of gun violence; and
WHEREAS, direct and indirect survivors are at greater risk of perpetrating violence, experiencing further victimization or exposure to violence; and
WHEREAS, our communities are less safe when individuals at risk of perpetrating or being impacted by gun violence cannot access critical services, essential to safety and violence prevention; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Community Violence Intervention (CC-CVI) and Cook County Wraparound Services for Survivors of Gun Violence (CC-SGV) have been developed as complementary grant initiatives designed to improve community safety in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the CC-SGV grant initiative is designed to address the gaps in services for victims and survivors of gun violence; and
WHEREAS, this initiative has three priorities: (1) improving access, (2) expanding existing services, and (3) coordination of services; and
WHEREAS, organizations will be funded to provide services in at least two (2) of the following categories:
• Clinical Services: clinical case management, crisis intervention and management, mental health support, family-based services and therapy, substance use disorder assistance
• Financial Services: victim compensation, medical cost assistance, and financial support for: rent, clothing, grocery bills, funeral/burial costs, and support in applying for public assistance
• Programming: youth-specific programming, long-term support (ex. more than 1-year post violence), mentorship programs, survivor workshops, services for indirect victims, conflict resolution classes, unarmed social workers at the crime scene, funeral arrangements and planning
• Housing Services: relocation services, temporary housing, expungement support; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the unique conditions and need for services for survivors of gun violence in suburban communities in Cook County, the JAC conducted a series of listening sessions in four suburban communities; and
WHEREAS, leveraging community feedback, the JAC developed the 2026 Suburban CC-SGV funding opportunity, that supports community organizations serving suburban residents; and
WHEREAS, the Suburban CC-SGV funding opportunity included two funding track options for applicants featuring different award amounts and different operating budget thresholds; and
WHEREAS, funding for the two tracks were separated into different set numbers of awards so that applicants in the two different tracks would not be competing with one another; and
WHEREAS, eight total awards were available for Track 1, a $500,000.00 award for those organizations with a minimum annual operating budget of $250,000.00 for the previous two years; and
WHEREAS, ten total awards were available for Track 2, a $100,000.00 award for organizations with a minimum annual operating budget of $50,000.00 for the previous two years; and
WHEREAS, $10 million was identified for the Wraparound Services for Survivors of Gun Violence initiative; and
WHEREAS, resolution 25-0705 authorized $5 Million for CC-SGV awards from the FY2025 Equity Fund to organizations serving the city of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, this resolution seeks to approve $4,100,000.00 from the FY2026 general fund for the Suburban CC-SGV grant opportunity; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Justice Advisory Council to issue 2-year agreements in amounts up to $500,000.00 with the following organizations:
1. GRO Community
2. James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy
3. Live Free Chicago
4. OAI, Inc.
5. Roseland Ceasefire Project, Inc
6. UCAN
7. You Matter 2 Inc.
8. YWCA Evanston/North Shore
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes the Justice Advisory Council to issue a 2-year agreement in an amount up to $100,000.00 with the following organization:
1. Proactive Community Services
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