Title
Joint resolution authorizing an amendment for a three month extension 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 an increase in grant funding of $110,644.
Staff Summary
• This CACI VOCA grant extension is to fund 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 for the performance period of July 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021.
• 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.
• 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 increased funding include federal funds in the amount of $110,644 for partial salary and benefits for the victim advocates assigned to the grant program, along with additional program expenses.
• 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 three-month extension and increase in award amount of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant for the Children’s Advocacy Center program to continue to provide advocacy services to child victims of crimes during the period July 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the increased grant funds of $110,644 will provide partial salary and benefits, for the three victim advocates (including a bilingual advocate) assigned to the grant program, along with additional program expenses, and any additional program costs will be reimbursed by the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center; and
WHEREAS, $56,742 in salary and benefit funds have already been appropriated in the FY 2021 budget for this program, but it is necessary to appropriate $53,902 for additional program costs; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the extension 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, 2021, through September 30, 2021, is hereby accepted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the grant personnel expenses are already appropriated in the State’s Attorney’s approved FY 2021 budget in accounts 101-3302010-51110, 51240, 74080, 74100, 74110, with offsetting revenue in the amount of $56,742 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 additional grant program expenses of $30,302 be appropriated in the State’s Attorney’s FY21 budget account 101-3302010-79940 and grant program expenses of $23,600 be appropriated in the State’s Attorney’s FY21 budget account 101-3302010-79950, with offsetting revenue in account 101-3302010-45334 in the amount of $53,902 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 extension.
DATED at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on August 10, 2021.