Title
Joint resolution authorizing the acceptance of a Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) for a Multi-Victimization Services program, including an emergency appropriation of $137,848 in federal funds, if awarded.
Staff Summary
• The LCSAO has applied for a VOCA grant through the (ICJIA).
• The grant term is for one year, starting December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021. Additional funding to support the program for up to an additional 24 months may be awarded after the initial funding period.
• The ICJIA funding addresses the needs of victims who have experienced multiple types of crime during their lifetime, as experiencing multiple types of crime may result in complex trauma and mental health symptoms that differ from those who experience one type of crime.
• The LCSAO currently receives VOCA grant funding from ICJIA to support two Victim/Witness Coordinator positions in the office. The Victim/Witness Coordinators work with the victims throughout the criminal justice process by providing them with advocacy, on-going support and an understanding of the criminal court process.
• This VOCA Multi-Victimization grant funded program is an expansion on the services that the Victim/Witness Coordinators currently provide. Through this grant funding, trauma-informed counseling services will be offered to violent crime victims who self-report as having experienced multi-victimization, also known as poly-victims.
• Program funding of $172,623 includes $137,848 of federal grant funding (for salary and benefits for a licensed clinical therapist, who also has experience working with victims of crime, a laptop and a program brochure) and in-kind match funding of $34,825 as budgeted in the LCSAO’s budget. No new county funds are required.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) posted a notice of funding opportunity for a Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) Multi-Victimization grant program for the term of one year, starting December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office submitted an application to expand its victim services by including trauma-informed counseling services for victims of violent crime who self-identify as poly-victims. Program funding of $172,623 includes federal funding of $137,623 (for salary and benefits for a licensed clinical therapist, who also has experience working with victims of crime, a laptop and a program brochure) and in-kind match funding of $34,825 already budgeted in the State’s Attorney’s budget; and
WHEREAS, if awarded the federal grant amount of $137,623, it will be necessary to appropriate this amount; 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 accept and execute the grant, if awarded.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County,
Illinois, that if the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is awarded an ICJIA VOCA Multi-Victimization grant for the period of December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021, the acceptance and execution is hereby authorized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if awarded, an emergency appropriation in the amount of $137,623 is hereby authorized for the VOCA Multi-Victimization grant program in expenditure and revenue accounts to be determined by the controller; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that grant in-kind match program expenses are already included in the State’s Attorney’s budget; 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 the Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation in order to accept the grant award.
DATED, at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on November 10, 2020.