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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR SAFE AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM INITIATIVES IMPLEMENTED BY THE JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL
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, the Justice Advisory Council has developed a menu of Safe and Thriving 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 22-3657 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; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the issuance of the following agreements by the Justice Advisory Council to utilize ARPA funding for multi-year terms through Fiscal Year 2026, subject to annual appropriation by the Board, for the Justice Advisory Council programs and initiatives as follows:
1. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,684,942.65 to implement the Cook County Reconnect: Rental Assistance and Services for Returning Residents-ARPA Initiative NT764, where HAS shall provide mental health counseling, anger management, substance use treatment, DUI services, and other supports to ensure successful outcomes for those re-integrating upon release from incarceration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes that time is of the essence and authorizes Executive Director Avik Das and the Justice Advisory Council 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 Executive Director Avik Das and the Justice Advisory Council or its designee to modify the agreements and funding allocations to all Justice Advisory Council selected Subrecipients based upon need and utilization.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby also acknowledges the issuance of the following agreements by the Justice Advisory Council, for amounts under $1M, as follows:
Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with Jane Adams Resource Corporation (JARC) in an aggregate amount of up to $467,473.84 to implement the Cook County Reconnect: Rental Assistance and Services for Returning Residents-ARPA Initiative NT764, a program where Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) who supports healthy communities and economies by teaching low-income adults and workers the skills they need to earn a living wage, shall connect job seekers to careers in the manufacturing sector and foster life skills that create a path out of poverty.
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