Title
Joint resolution authorizing the renewal of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim advocate and mental health staff grant awarded by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, including grant funding of $219,591, and increasing the headcount of the State's Attorney's Office by one part time employee.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center/Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has been awarded $219,591 in grant funds from the CACI.
• The grant term is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
• The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center will use the funds to fund the salary and fringe benefits for a part-time Bilingual Victim Advocate, the continuation of Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center/Lake County Health Department Senior Therapist, and additional contractual mental health services.
• The addition of a part-time Bilingual Victim Advocate and contractual mental health services are necessary to support the increase in Spanish speaking clients and families and waiting list for individual therapy.
• If funding for these positions ends, and new funding is not secured, the positions will be eliminated.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) has renewed a 12-month continuation of a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant for the Children’s Advocacy Center program to provide advocacy and mental health services to child victims of crime during the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, the grant funds of $219,591 will provide the salary and benefits for a new part-time Bilingual Victim Advocate, salary and benefits for the existing Senior Therapist, and contractual funding for additional mental health services; and
WHEREAS, the Children’s Advocacy Center will implement a new part-time Spanish speaking victim advocate role and work in conjunction with community partners to continue mental health services through the existing Lake County Health Department Therapist and additional mental health services provided contractually through Youth and Family Counseling; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the renewal as described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Program Agreement with the CACI for the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center to provide advocacy and mental health services to child victims as set forth by the National Children’s Alliance Standards, for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, is hereby accepted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all grant revenue and expenditures as detailed on the attached financial spreadsheet are already appropriated in the Children’s Advocacy approved FY 2024 CAC VOCA Grant Management Center 3302010 budget; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center in conjunction with the State’s Attorney’s Office shall serve as the project director for the program, and accurate records of all necessary grant compliance requirements shall be kept by the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Board and Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation to accept the grant renewal.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on August 13, 2024.