title
PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Cook County Justice Advisory Council
Vendor:
1) The Miracle Center, Chicago, Illinois
2) Union League Boys and Girls Clubs, Chicago, Illinois
3) UMOJA Student Development Corporation, Chicago, Illinois
4) Westside Health Authority, Chicago, Illinois
5) Storycatchers Theatre, Chicago Illinois
6) Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago, Illinois
7) Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Chief Procurement Officer to enter into and execute contracts
Good(s) or Service(s): Violence Prevention, Intervention, & Reduction Services
Contract Value:
1) The Miracle Center, $100,000.00
2) Union League Boys and Girls Clubs, $100,000.00
3) UMOJA Student Development Corporation, $100,000.00
4) Westside Health Authority, $100,000.00
5) Storycatchers Theatre, $100,000.00
6) Metropolitan Family Services, $100,000.00
7) Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Chicago, $100,000.00
Contract period: 3/1/2016 - 2/28/2017
Potential Fiscal Year Budget Impact: FY 2015, $150,000.00; FY 2016, $ 550,000.00
Accounts: # 499-298
Contract Number(s):
1) The Miracle Center, 1553-14558A
2) Union League Boys and Girls Clubs, 1553-14558B
3) UMOJA Student Development Corporation, 1553-14558C
4) Westside Health Authority, 1553-14558D
5) Storycatchers Theatre, 1553-14558E
6) Metropolitan Family Services, 1553-14558F
7) Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Chicago, 1553-14558G
Concurrences:
The vendor has met the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Ordinance.
The Chief Procurement Officer concurs.
Summary: These contracts are the second set of the JAC’s annual Violence Prevention, Intervention, and Reduction Grant Awards. Additional awards in the amounts of $40,000 (8), and $10,000 (8) were submitted to the Board on October 7, 2015.
The Miracle Center: This grant will fund an after school program that includes academic support and enrichment; college preparation through continuous support of navigating the process of selecting, applying to, and enrolling in a college; and service learning. The Miracle Center uses the arts to engage youth in order to build their life skills and academic achievement. The unique focus of the program is both on the arts and entrepreneurial skills to build competencies and reduce risk factors. They engage local community chambers of commerce and business professionals to provide workshops and trainings for youth ranging from financial literacy to leadership skills. The business professionals also serve as one-on-one mentors. The program operates five days a week, with three days focused on specific workshops and competency building and two days focused on open forum academic enrichment activities. The program will focus on youth form the greater Humboldt Park community area.
Union League Boys and Girls Clubs: This grant will support the operations of the Barreto Union League Boys and Girls Club in Humboldt Park. Specifically the grant will fund an additional 60 youth to be served by the “Formula for Impact” program at the club. This program includes the BGCA programs SMART, Power Hour, and Healthy Habits. In addition, two other program components are offered: (1) Youth for Unity which teaches self-appreciation, diversity training, and leadership training to confront bias and injustice; and (2) Know Peace, an end of school year activity including art projects, performance arts, and neighborhood parades spreading a philosophy of peace and non-violence.
UMOJA Student Development Corporation: This grant will fund UMOJA Student Development Corporation’s operations in both the Englewood and Rogers Park neighborhoods. To address violence in these communities, research was used to tie school disciplinary practices to risk factors for violence involvement. The program will serve 3 High Schools (Hope, Harper and Sullivan), with a school based model with UMOJA, Mikva and Lurie Children’s Hospital partnering to provide a three tiered support and intervention model. It includes balanced and restorative justice practices (peace rooms), mental health services and student driven interventions.
Westside Health Authority: This grant will fund the “Band of Brothers” project. The project will focus on African American males ages 16 - 24 living in and around the Austin Community who are either gang affiliated, have a history of two or more arrests, or have been adjudicated in the Cook County courts. Additionally, the participants must either have a violent history or a propensity towards violence as indicated by court ordered mental health counseling or anger management. The program includes intensive youth mentoring; development and concentrated skills training; GED classes; anger management, mental health, substance abuse and cognitive behavioral therapy; social change worksite placement; and the development of individual employment plans for 45 youth. In addition, all participants will take part in an overnight retreat to escape the stresses of their community and help them focus on their future plans and success.
Storycatchers Theatre: This grant will address weaknesses in the existing correctional system, and with data and research the issue of recidivism for youth who are incarcerated and the risk of violence that is carried with that. The program focuses on recently released youth, and described the challenges they face.
The program will provide youth with a very specialized opportunity for personal advancement through artistic and employment training. Providing part time employment of youth for a personal story driven performance piece using theatre the program will teach leadership, responsibility, allow youth to address trauma, and teach empathy for other. Storycatchers Theatre would offer case management, individual and family counseling and substance abuse counseling.
Metropolitan Family Services: This grant will fund ways to address the violence at Harlan High School and in the Greater Roseland community. To increase aspirations, academic achievement, and decrease criminal activity at Harlan, Metropolitan Family Services will provide an afterschool program including a peace room, service learning, tutoring, and other programs. It will serve seventy-five youth total. The program would offer safe space, trauma informed counseling and academic support. Furthermore, the program offers restorative justice and service learning.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Chicago: This grant will fund Boys and Girls clubs in three (3) South Suburban Housing Authority of Cook County facilities in Ford Heights, Robbins, and Chicago Heights. The programs offered to youth in the clubs will include: the BGCA Skills Mastery and Resistance Training (SMART) which includes gang prevention, conflict resolution and developing resistance and refusal skills; Project Learn/Power Hour, two programs focused on academic achievement offering a variety of activities ranging from academically minded games to homework help; and physical fitness/healthy habits programming. In total the grant will serve at least 60 youth who reside in the HACC housing facilities in the three targeted communities.
The Chief Procurement Officer issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) in accordance with the Cook County Procurement Code. The above vendors are recommended for award based on the established evaluation criteria.
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