Title
Joint resolution authorizing the renewal of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding awarded by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027, including an emergency appropriation of grant funding in the amount of $219,591.
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 Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI).
• The grant term is July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
• The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center will use the funds for the continuation of a mental health therapist position and contractual mental health services provided by the Lake County Health Department.
• Funds will also be used towards On-Call Special Pay for staff who are on-site for a forensic interview after regular business hours or on weekends.
• If funding for these programs end, and new funding is not secured, the programs 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 Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC) program to provide a mental health therapist and contractual mental health and forensic interview services to child victims of crime during the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027; and
WHEREAS, the grant funds in the amount of $219,591 will provide the salary and benefits for a Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center/Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office mental health therapist position in addition to contractual mental health services through the Lake County Health Department; and
WHEREAS, the LCCAC will implement on-call special pay for staff who attend a forensic interview on-site outside of regular business hours; and
WHEREAS, the grant requires a non-federal match contribution in the amount of $54,897.75 which will be provided through in-kind contributions, including volunteer and intern services, as documented and maintained in accordance with grant requirements; 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 forensic interview and mental health services to child victims as set forth by the National Children’s Alliance Standards, for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, is hereby accepted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all revenue and expenditure accounts be emergency appropriated as detailed on the attached financial spreadsheet and allocated to CAC VOCA Grant Management Center 3302010; 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 Lake County Board and Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation to accept the grant renewal.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on September 8, 2026.