Title
Joint resolution authorizing the renewal of the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center’s Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) victim advocate grant program, awarded by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, including grant funding of $260,967, which is an increase of $27,961 from FY 2020.
Staff Summary
• In 1999, the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center implemented two victim advocate grants, which have been renewed each year since, to supplement funding for two victim advocates, one being bilingual.
• In 2016, both grant programs were combined into one contract, and in 2017, funding for an additional victim advocate position was added.
• This grant is for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 and funds a portion of the salary and benefits for three victim advocates housed at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center along with additional program costs.
• The victim advocates provide comprehensive, supportive services to child victims and their non-offending family members, throughout the court process.
• Program goals include providing advocacy services for child victims of abuse and their non-offending family members, preventing re-victimization of children through education, providing emotional support and maintaining the current staff of victim advocates in order to provide efficient services to abused children.
• Sources of funding include federal funds in the amount of $260,967 for partial salary and benefits for the victim advocates assigned to the grant program.
• The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center provides any additional salary, fringe benefits or program costs by reimbursing the State’s Attorney’s Office. No County funding is required for this program.
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RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois (CACI) has announced a 12-month continuation of a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant for the Children’s Advocacy Center program to provide advocacy services to child victims of crimes during the period July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the grant funds of $260,967 will provide partial salary and benefits for the three victim advocates (including a bilingual advocate) assigned to the grant program and any additional program costs will be reimbursed by the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center; and
WHEREAS, funds have already been appropriated in the FY 2020 budget for this program; 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 State’s Attorney’s Children’s Advocacy Center program to provide advocacy services to child victims of crime, for the period of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, is hereby accepted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the grant program expenses are already appropriated in the State’s Attorney’s approved FY 2020 budget in accounts 101-3302010-51110, 51240, 74080, 74100, 74110, 61040, 79950, with offsetting revenue in the amount of $233,006 budgeted in account 101-3302010-45334 and the Children’s Advocacy Center reimbursement will be deposited into account 101-3302010-45020; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an increase in the grant revenue budget in account 101-3302010-45334 in the amount of $27,961 be approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the State’s Attorney shall serve as project director for the program, and accurate records of all necessary grant compliance requirements shall be kept by the State’s Attorney Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman of the Board, the Lake County State’s Attorney, and Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation to accept the grant renewal.
DATED at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on June 9, 2020.