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PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
Grantee: Office of the Chief Judge
Grantor: Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
Request: Authorization to accept grant
Purpose: To enhance recovery support services for clients of the Veterans Treatment Courts
Grant Amount: $499,989.00
Grant Period: 10/1/2020-9/30/2023
Fiscal Impact: Cash match requirement, $166,663.00 over 3 years
Accounts: 11100.1310.35095.501010-501715, 580033
Concurrences:
The Budget Department has received all requisite documents and determined the fiscal impact on Cook County, if any.
Summary: The purpose of the Circuit Court of Cook County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) Mentor Program is to enhance recovery support to client-probationers, who are also veterans of the U.S. armed forces. VTC participants will benefit from a peer mentor support model that “fills the gap” to help encourage, guide, and support the veteran as he or she progresses towards successful completion. Mentors are veterans and volunteers, somewhat apart from the court, who will support participants by serving as an independent resource, putting them at ease. Mentors will aid access to support services, such as VA benefits, educational assistance, civil legal services, Illinois State Veterans Benefits and the like that help reduce the participant’s stress caused by life challenges and distractions like housing or family needs.
The proposed mentor recruitment goal is to maintain a minimum of 35 volunteer mentors to cover all six sites with an anticipated minimum number of 117 mentor assignments over three years. The VTC program currently operates in six court locations, including the George Leighton Courthouse and each of the five suburban courthouses.
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