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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR ARPA 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.
WHEREAS, Resolution 22-3350 approved the issuance of the first five agreements by the Justice Advisory Council to utilize ARPA funding for multiyear Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grants through ARPA Initiative NT897.
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 multiyear terms through Fiscal Year 2025, subject to annual appropriation by the Board, for the Justice Advisory Council programs and initiatives as follows:
1. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Books Over Balls in an aggregate amount of up to $1,458,739.03 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Books Over Balls shall partner with North Lawndale College Prep, the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, Youth Outreach Services, Urban Tech Academy, the African American Family Research Institute and Saving Ourselves (SOS) to provide the Game Changers VP-Project. Game Changers VP-Project shall serve 90 youth per year, aged 17 and under, and provide cohort-based, after-school educational, vocational and recreational programming to youth in North Lawndale and continuous communities on Chicago’s West Side. Services provided through this partnership shall include, but not be limited to: 12-week sessions of education/vocational programming, mentoring, behavioral health and wellness counseling, the development of a Community Engagement/Awareness project on Gun Violence to include digital and social media marketing, video production, podcasts and YouTube content created by youth throughout the course of the program.
a. North Lawndale College Prep will provide a project site, participant recruitment and enrollment, and tutoring.
b. The Illinois Collaboration on Youth will provide a series of trainings on the impact of trauma on youth, including trauma 101, vicarious trauma, supervision, and other trauma-informed interventions.
c. Youth Outreach Services will provide clinical counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, case management/planning and 24-hour crisis intervention services for participants’ mental health and well-being.
d. Urban Tech Academy will provide STEM, technology, media and video instruction during the development and implementation of the participants’ community engagement/awareness projects and will assist with community outreach by managing marketing and any electronic (internet/webpage) access to bolster community awareness.
e. The African American Family Research Institute will provide educational training and workshops to staff, youth and community members on Gun Violence, Bullying, Intervention and Prevention, and assist in developing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan.
f. Saving Ourselves (SOS) will provide training and workshops to assist staff, youth, and community members on Gun violence.
2. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the BUILD, Inc in an aggregate amount of up to $15,000,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where BUILD, Inc will partner with Covenant House of Illinois, United for Better Living (UBL), Blocks Together, and MAAFA Redemption Project to provide services that reduce the trauma and loss resulting from gun violence, by supporting youth and young adults at high risk to become victims or perpetrators of violence in Austin, Humboldt Park, East Garfield Park and West Garfield Park. Services provided through this partnership shall include, but not be limited to: referrals for clinical therapy, case management, crisis response, intensive mentoring, long-term victim services, housing and intensive case management for young adults facing homelessness, 24-hour call response to neighborhood shootings for victim services, afterschool programs and mentorship to students on-site at Chicago Public Schools in the target neighborhood areas, a residential institute for an annual cohort of 40 young men, homework assistance, anti-bullying, anti-violence and conflict resolution workshops, PEACE circles, mentoring sessions, career days, employment coaching, and recreational opportunities ranging from sports to computer gaming, creative arts, drama and dance.
3. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Catholic Bishop of Chicago - St Sabina in an aggregate amount of up to $1,489,776.28 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where St Sabina’s CARES and Strong Futures programs will address the needs of disconnected youth and adults, ages 14 and up, who are at highest risk of violence involvement in Auburn Gresham, Chicago. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to: one-on-one case management, connections to supportive services, workforce development training, mental health counseling, food assistance, transportation assistance, assistance obtaining government documents (identification, birth certificates, etc.) and/or enrolling in educational institutions or programs.
4. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Children’s Research Triangle in an aggregate amount of up to $1,484,888.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Children’s Research Triangle shall partner with 11 schools in Chicago and Suburban Cook to implement their Youth Moving in New Directions (Youth MIND) program. Partner schools include: John Hay Elementary Community Academy in Austin, Al-Raby School for Community Environment in East Garfield Park, The Collins Academy High School in North Lawndale, Englewood STEM High School, the Montessori School of Englewood, Edgar Allan Poe Classical School in Pullman, Wendell Smith Elementary School in Pullman, Fort Dearborn Elementary School in Auburn Gresham, Mohawk Primary Center in Park Forest, Barack Obama School of Leadership and STEM in Chicago Heights, and District 168 in Sauk Village. Services provided through the Youth MIND program and school partnerships shall include, but not be limited to: building protective factors to mitigate risks that make youth vulnerable to becoming victims or perpetrating violence through school-based Behavioral Health Teams to include a clinician, school social worker and other community partners with each school, trauma-informed organizational assessments, universal screening, prevention and crisis management initiatives, group, individual and family evidence-based therapy, trauma and mental health related trainings and consultations for school personnel.
5. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the ConTextos, NFP in an aggregate amount of up to $1,073,315.25 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where ConTextos shall provide a literary arts program to individuals in custody at Cook County Jail, known as “Authors Circles”, led by facilitators trained in trauma-informed practices, grounded in narrative therapy and restorative re-telling, who also serve as mentors to program participants and guide participants to consider the next-steps in their healing process. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to: a 24-week Author’s Circle for incarcerated men, a 24-week Author’s Circle for incarcerated women, 20-week ongoing Circles for incarcerated men and women who have completed a first Author’s Circle program, a 4-week supplemental program for Alumni Circles to explore themes of parenthood and inherited incarceration, publication events at the conclusion of each Circle, and community engagement with families and loved ones.
6. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago in an aggregate amount of up to $1,499,915.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Firehouse Community Arts center will serve youth aged 13-26 in North Lawndale, Chicago. Services shall include, but not be limited to: year-round, multi-disciplinary cultural arts programming, visual arts education for graphic design, visual art and mural design, life skills programming, mentorship, leadership, workforce development, mindfulness, nonviolent communication skills, restorative dialogues, community outreach and expansion to street outreach.
7. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Hope Center Foundation in an aggregate amount of up to $1,463,352.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Hope Center Foundation (HCF) shall provide workforce development services to 150 young adults throughout the course of the grant period. Young adults shall be aged 18-32 and reside in south side Chicago community areas including, but not limited to, Roseland, Pullman and Washington Heights. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to: 12 week cohort-based programming to include job training, skills attainment, and trauma informed counseling, career planning, financial literacy and coaching, restorative justice workshops, case management.
8. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) in an aggregate amount of up to $1,500,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where IMAN will conduct their Green ReEntry and Community Safety & Engagement work in Chicago’s Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, West Englewood and West Lawn neighborhood areas. Services to be provided shall include, but not be limited to IMAN’s Green ReEntry program including:
a. Engaging 25 individuals in a National Center for Construction Education & Research certified year-long Construction Trades Training, half formerly incarcerated men, half 18-25 year old men at highest risk of engaging in or becoming victims of violence.
b. Deliver wraparound services to include, but not be limited to, primary health care assessments, behavioral health therapy, case management, life skills and job readiness skill building, and extra curriculars that may include financial literacy programming, arts & culture programming, and enrichment trips.
c. Conduct the 15-week Weekend Warriors program for young adults, providing paid weekend vocational training and college credit to participants.
d. Community Safety & Engagement outreach and direct street-level intervention to create connections that help stabilize the communities served while identifying new participants for programming.
9. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Lawrence Hall in an aggregate amount of up to $1,283,364.88 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Lawrence Hall shall partner with RiseKit to provide wrap around services to individuals and families at highest risk of gun violence in South Shore, Chicago. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to: expanding Lawrence Hall’s recidivism reduction program to two additional locations in South Shore to increase program accessibility, case management, social/emotional skills groups and activities. RiseKit’s services shall include, but not be limited to: providing the RiseKit software network for participants to be connected to jobs, training programs and supportive services and engaging employer partners to place program participants.
10. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Manufacturing Renaissance in an aggregate amount of up to $1,299,526.68 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Manufacturing Renaissance shall provide their Young Manufacturers Association-Violence Prevention Initiative (YMA-VPI) to youth and young adults aged 18 to 29 in Harvey, Robbins, Calumet City, South Shore, South Deering, Roseland, Englewood, Austin, North Lawndale, and Humboldt Park. YMA-VPI programming shall include, but not be limited to: career exposure activities and visits, trauma-informed activities that recognize identity and build trusting relationships among peers and staff, paid 12-weeks of training to learn technical work-readiness skills needed for entry-level, career-track employment and towards earning a industry-recognized credential from the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS), individualized development plans to identify needed social/emotional supports and needed service referral, transportation supports, case management, work experiences, job coaching and placements, job retention supports, life and leadership skills.
11. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Metropolitan Family Services in an aggregate amount of up to $15,000,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Metropolitan Family Services’ Metropolitan Peace Initiative/Communities Partnering 4 Peace (MPI/CP4P) will strengthen the capacity of violence prevention and outreach services by partnering with ALSO, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, UCAN, Breakthrough, Together Chicago, New Life Center, Enlace, Target, Think Outside the Block, Public Equity, Precious Blood, SWOP, Project Hood, and Claretian Associates in the following Chicago Community Areas: Avondale, Albany Park, Austin, Brighton Park, Back of the Yards (New City), Belmont-Cragin, Chatham, Chicago Lawn, East Garfield Park, Gage Park, Lower West Side, New West Side, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Chicago, South Deering, West Englewood, West Garfield Park and Woodlawn. Services provided through the MPI/CP4P partnership shall include, but not be limited to:
a. Intensive intervention services with trained outreach workers who will engage and target the highest-risk perpetrators and victims of gun violence.
b. Proactive prevention services to provide high-risk populations, not at imminent risk, prevention supports including case management, behavior health services, restorative justice strategies, legal supports, workforce development, education and family supports.
c. Victim advocacy services as provided by trained Victim Advocates who are members of CBO Response Teams to provide confidential, individualized and trauma-informed services across a continuum to include - crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, resource and referrals, education and information about victims’ rights and protections, victim compensation, navigation supports with medical providers and criminal justice system; as well as third party advocacy to intervene on behalf of victims with external stakeholders (such as landlords and employers) to help victims recover from the impact of their victimization.
d. Hospital Response Services to systematically support gunshot victims and their family upon their entry into Trauma Centers/Emergency Rooms to offer critical victim supports and care coordination as well as to dispatch to trained Outreach Workers from CP4P to help mitigate and work through any immediate, or anticipated retaliatory encounters that may occur from the incident.
e. Re-entry services to provide supportive case management to help individuals incarcerated and or previously incarcerated so to ensure their successful family re-unification and return to the community.
f. Project Light in the Night, a community engagement intervention to identify safe public community spaces that are a focal point for enrichment night time activities four nights a week during the summer months.
g. The Metro Peace Academy, to provide expansive training for professionals involved in addressing and responding to incidences of gun violence.
12. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the New Moms, Inc in an aggregate amount of up to $1,453,255.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where New Mom’s Inc will serve young moms, and their children, in the Austin and Garfield Park neighborhoods, who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, justice system involvement and a variety of other risk factors. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to: connection to supports and services, job training, individualized career planning, paid transitional jobs, and parent coaching.
13. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Project Simeon 2000 in an aggregate amount of up to $1,495,745.48 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Project Simeon shall partner with Hip Hop Detox to serve youth, aged 11 to 17 in Auburn Gresham and Englewood. Services shall include, but not be limited to: cognitive behavioral therapy, after school mentoring, life skills coaching, career and vocational exploration at Simeon Career Academy and Simeon Alumni Village, local middle schools and local high schools, group activities and experiences. Additionally, Hip Hop Detox shall provide special events and quarterly community events.
14. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Reflections Foundation in an aggregate amount of up to $1,230,027.90 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Reflections Foundation to provide social and emotional training within the Polished Pebbles Program, a violence prevention, conflict resolution and career readiness program for girls in 40+ Chicago area schools. Reflections Foundation shall partner with Evaluation for Change, Inc. for evaluation of their programming. Reflections Foundation shall serve at least 240 unique youth and 30 adults throughout the grant period, in the community areas of Dolton, Riverdale, South Holland, Harvey, Calumet City, Bellwood and Maywood. Services shall include, but not be limited to: in-school and after-school mentoring activities for 1-3 hours per week, 10-week college and career readiness program that includes social emotional learning, job shadowing, summer jobs and internships.
15. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Restoring the Path in an aggregate amount of up to $1,500,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Restoring the Path, doing business as Crushers Club, to provide youth development and youth employment services programming and expand to hire a Trauma/Mental Health Specialist and Evaluation Coordinator. Crushers Club serves youth ages 8 to 19 in Englewood and West Englewood, with 14-19 year old participants engaging in a youth employment and job training program. Services to be provided include but are not limited to: peer mentoring, job, leadership and life skills development, supportive services, boxing, creative arts, and recreational activities.
16. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Sinai Community Institute in an aggregate amount of up to $1,499,915.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Sinai Community Institute will partner with IAM ABLE center for Family Development, a Community Mental Health Center and UCAN to conduct their West Side Violence Prevention Services Initiative for youth, under age 26, who meet the following criteria in North Lawndale, South Lawndale and East Garfield Park: (1) recently released from prison or jail for a violent offense, (2) shot within the last 90 days, (3) someone close to them was recently shot, stabbed, or killed, (3) active in violent street organization, (4) history of violence/crimes against persons, (5) weapons carrier, or (6) engaged in high-risk activity. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to:
a. Warm hand-offs between Mount Sinai Hospital’s Emergency Rooms and West Side Violence Prevention program staff for hospital-based prevention and wrap around support services to youth and families at high risk of experiencing violence and abuse.
b. Referrals to UCAN for one-on-one mentoring, case management, connections to specialized services, group mentoring, career exploration and planning, court advocacy, safe passages, clinical case management.
c. Referrals to I AM ABLE for individual, couples, family and group counseling/therapy.
d. Engagement with program staff, to consist of two therapists, two case managers, two parent educators, one program manager, and one administrative support person.
17. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Sunshine Gospel Ministries in an aggregate amount of up to $1,485,851.39 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Sunshine Gospel Ministries shall expand youth development programming for elementary, middle and high school aged students in Woodlawn. Services shall include, but not be limited to, the creation of a performing arts program, the establishment of a practical skills training and development curriculum, expansion of STEAM programming from a summer program to a year long offering, expansion of sports programming to include skills-based training across several sports, expansion of summer work development program to a yearlong initiative, addition of violence intervention staff to provide case management victim services and counseling to families affected by gun violence.
18. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Teamwork Englewood in an aggregate amount of up to $1,480,963.65 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Teamwork Englewood will provide an Employment Placement Program to 1,050 unduplicated justice involved individuals, placing 350 in employment and establish a legal clinic in Englewood, focused on gun violence prevention by addressing barriers associated with a criminal background. The legal clinic shall serve over 600 individuals over the course of the grant. Individuals served shall be from communities including, but not limited to, Englewood, South Shore, Greater Grand Crossing, Auburn Gresham, Roseland, Chicago Lawn, West Englewood, Chatham, West Pullman and Riverdale. Services provided shall include, but not be limited to: securing and retaining gainful employment for individuals aged 26 to 55, providing necessary resources and services to resolve barriers to employment including legal aid to seal and expunge convictions.
19. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Westside Health Authority in an aggregate amount of up to $1,457,544.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Westside Health Authority will implement Project A.V.E.R.T-Avoiding Violence through Employment, Readiness, and Training for youth aged 16-24 living in the Austin Community. Services provided through Project A.V.E.R.T shall include, but are not limited to: job readiness, training and placement for a goal of serving 100 youth per year, expansion of the “Good Neighbor” community wellness program to employ up to 20 Safe Summer Zone Workers, intensive youth mentoring, development and concentrated skills training, GED preparation classes, anger management, substance abuse and cognitive behavioral therapy.
20. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Youth Crossroads, Inc. in an aggregate amount of up to $1,500,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897, a program where Youth Crossroads will provide a services to youth ages 10 to 17 in Cicero, Berwyn, Lyons, Stickney, and Forest View. Services shall include, but are not limited to: school-based counseling, crisis intervention, after-school enrichment, youth leadership training, community services, ThinkFirst, an intervention program offered to students who consistently display anger and aggression, and the Handle with Care initiative, which provides school personnel with discreet notice when a student has been involved in a traumatic event.
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:
1. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Firebird Community Arts in an aggregate amount of up to $661,597.52 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
2. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School in an aggregate amount of up to $483,212.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
3. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy in an aggregate amount of up to $616,283.02 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
4. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation, Inc in an aggregate amount of up to $593,720.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
5. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside (ONE Northside) in an aggregate amount of up to $333,808.97 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
6. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Revolution Workshop in an aggregate amount of up to $750,416.46 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
7. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Storycatchers Theater in an aggregate amount of up to $589,974.43 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
6. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with The Mission of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercy Home for Boys and Girls) in an aggregate amount of up to $500,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
9. Enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Y.E.M.B.A, Incorporated in an aggregate amount of up to $300,000.00 to implement the Gun Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant - ARPA Initiative NT897.
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