Title
Joint resolution authorizing renewal funding of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center’s victim advocate grant program awarded by the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) for state fiscal year SFY 2023, including state grant funding of $88,677 and federal ARPA funding of $44,355; for a program total of $133,032 in funding for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
Staff Summary
• The grant is administered through the DCFS for the performance period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
• DCFS funding to provide for a victim advocate began prior to 1998. DCFS is a multidisciplinary partner with the LCCAC and provides yearly funding to sustain this advocate. The advocate role is a National Children’s Alliance (NCA) required role within the LCCAC and included in the guidelines set forth by the NCA for best practices which results in close to 60% of the LCCAC yearly funding.
• The victim advocates provide comprehensive, supportive services to child victims and their non-offending family members from the onset of the child’s disclosure and throughout any court proceeding if the allegation results in criminal charges.
• Program goals include: working with families and children while forensic interviews take place, providing mental health referrals, working with the onsite mental health team to ensure trauma is addressed, providing emotional support, addressing families’ immediate needs with on-site resources or community resources, conducting protocol reviews, and Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) case reviews.
• Program funding includes state funds in the amount of $88,677 for partial salary and benefits of two victim advocates, and federal funds in the amount of $44,355 to fund a portion of the salary and benefits for a forensic interviewer, contracted services for part-time receptionist/greeter, forensic interview room computer needs, and forensic interview data storage.
• Funds will allow for additional work hours for a current part-time CAC forensic interviewer. These additional hours are required to meet the need for forensic interviews and NCA peer review requirements.
• The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center provides funding for any program expenses in excess of expenses covered by the state and federal grant funding.
• If funding for these positions or programs ends, and new funding is not secured, the positions and programs will be eliminated.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) announced a 12-month continuation grant to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (LCCAC) for state fiscal year SFY23, including state grant funding of $88,677 and federal ARPA funding of $44,355; for a program total of $133,032 in funding for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023;
and
WHEREAS, the state grant funds of $88,677 will fund a portion of the salary and benefits for two victim advocates assigned to the program; and
WHEREAS, the federal funds of $44,355 will fund a portion of the salary and benefits for a forensic interviewer, contracted services for part-time receptionist/greeter, forensic interview room computer needs, and forensic interview data storage; and
WHEREAS, the grant award must be formally accepted by Lake County, and it is necessary to appropriate the grant continuation funding; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney’s Office recommends that the Chairman of the
County Board, the State’s Attorney, and the Treasurer be authorized to execute the
necessary documents to accept and execute the grant extension,
WHEREAS, if funding for these positions and program ends, and new funding is not secured, the positions will be eliminated; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County,
Illinois, the CAC DCFS grant continuation for the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, is hereby accepted and execution is hereby authorized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an emergency appropriation in the amount of $88,677 in federal grant funding and $44,355 in federal ARPA funding for a program total of $133,032, and offsetting revenue is hereby authorized for the CAC DCFS program grant as detailed in the attached chart of accounts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the State’s Attorney and Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center shall serve as 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 Lake County Chairman of the Board, the Lake County State’s Attorney, and the Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation to accept the grant award.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on September 13, 2022.