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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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 the areas of violence prevention, returning residents, recidivism reduction, and restorative justice; 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 the areas of violence prevention and community safety, JAC grant initiatives will sustain key services beyond American Rescue Plan Act funding, supporting organizations that work to ensure those closest to the gun violence epidemic can access critical programs and services that contribute to increased community throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, gun violence dramatically affects 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 at risk of perpetrating or being impacted by gun violence cannot access critical services, essential to 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 will address the gap 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, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the allocation of $55 million in Equity Funds in the FY2026 budget for the Justice Advisory Council; and
WHEREAS, $10 million has been identified for the CC-SGV grant initiative; and
WHEREAS, this resolution seeks approval for the first $5 Million of CC-SGV awards;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Justice Advisory Council to issue 2-year agreements with two (2) one-year renewal options in amounts up to $500,000 with the following organizations:
1. Better Boys Foundation
2. Centro Sanar
3. Chicago Westside Branch NAACP
4. Covenant House Illinois Inc
5. La Rabida Children’s Hospital
6. Phalanx Family Services
7. PROJECT P.R.O.M.I.S.E.
8. River City Community Development Center
9. RUSH University Medical Center
10. The LYTE Collective
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