title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR ARPA COOK COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED BY COOK COUNTY HEALTH
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2021, the federal government authorized the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) which includes $1.9 trillion in federal stimulus funds to hasten the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the federal government has authorized and allocated a federal award of approximately $1,000,372,385B of ARPA funding to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2021, the Cook County American Rescue Plan Act Framework (the “ARPA Framework”) was presented to the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners via Resolution 21-3654 accepted the ARPA federal award allocated to Cook County to assist the County in its recovery from the economic and health effects of COVID-19 in the amount of approximately $1,000,372,385.00; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 21-3654 further authorized the Cook County Budget Director and Comptroller to create and implement a Special Purpose Fund for the ARPA award and other accounting measures to track the acceptance and spending of the federal award; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Chief Financial Officer, Budget Director, Chief Procurement Officer and applicable using agencies to issue grants, contracts and agreements for ARPA programs approved via Resolutions 22-3657 and 22-0637; and
WHEREAS, to further the Policy Roadmap Goal, Cook County Health has developed a menu of Healthy Community programs and initiatives which have undergone review and approval through the Project Management Office process to utilize ARPA funding for such programs and initiatives pursuant to the issuance of grants, contracts, and agreements; and
WHEREAS Resolutions 21-3657 and 22-0637 provided that any grants issued regarding ARPA programs in an amount over $1M shall require the approval of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the issuance of the following agreements by Cook County Health to utilize ARPA funding for multiyear terms through Fiscal Year 2026, subject to annual appropriation by the Board, for Cook County Health programs and initiatives as follows:
1. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Alivio Medical Center in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. Alivio Medical Center will expand access to behavioral health services in medically under-served communities on Chicago’s southwest side and near west suburbs to reach children, youth, and family members disproportionately impacted by poverty, racism, gangs, violence, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Arab American Family Services (AAFS) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. Arab American Family Services will expand their direct services for youth and their families and respond to the increasing demand for assistance from their area schools. They will increase their psychoeducational and community engagement with parents, who are reaching out to AAFS, looking for help for their children and seeking assistance with how to identify mental health and substance use in their children.
3. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. BPNC will support the social and emotional development of young people in two schools by investing in their School Based Counseling (SBC) and Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) programs and expanding a partnership with Centro Sanar to provide Saner mental health services for parents and families.
4. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. CAC will increase access to and provide coordinated mental health care services to children and youth who have experienced sexual abuse and other significant trauma and their families.
5. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Chinese American Service League (CASL) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. CASL will establish the Adaptive Behavioral Support (ABS) Services for children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), other special needs or mental health concerns, and establish the Family Advocacy Unit to expand the Behavioral Health Services to youth and families and offer Domestic Violence Services and Support.
6. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. CEDA will expand the mental health and life skills components of their Purple Xpressions Initiative, which endeavors to cultivate emotional intelligence and well-being among adolescents by harnessing the transformative power of the creative arts.
7. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. With a goal to strengthen the Crisis System of Care within the target geography service by MFS, the agency will build internal capacities to strengthen their ability to establish effective partnerships with the critical external stakeholders (first responders/ schools) essential to the delivery of a high quality coordinated and aligned crisis system of care.
8. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. MAHA’s Asian Eldercare Support project will expand and enhance their CARF-Accredited, state-licensed, and certified Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) and substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
9. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Restoring the Path in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. Restoring the Path will expand The Crushers Club youth violence prevention/reduction program that addresses social determinations of behavioral health for high-risk Englewood-area youth.
10. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with UCAN in an aggregate amount of up to $1,000,000.00 to implement Stronger Together: Building a More Equitable Behavioral Health System in Cook County, a program to resolve behavioral health inequities across the region’s system of care through increased systems alignment, enhanced system quality, and the expansion of access to early intervention and prevention, treatment, support, recovery, and crisis assessment and care. UCAN will expand their Behavior Health Services school-based counseling program to better meet the mental health needs of school-aged children.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes that time is of the essence and authorizes Erik Mikaitis, to negotiate and enter into the various agreements that outlines the specific metric and impact data, and compliance with all ARPA reporting and monitoring requirements with the Subrecipients listed above to implement the above programs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Erik Mikaitis, or its designee to modify the agreements and funding allocations to all Cook County Health selected Subrecipients based upon need and utilization.
end