Cook County Justice Advisory Council Awards $600,000 in Violence Prevention Grants

Grantees include the University of Chicago, Enlace Chicago and the Illinois African-American Coalition for Prevention

The Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved the first round of violence prevention, intervention and reduction grants from the Justice Advisory Council. The University of Chicago, Enlace Chicago and the Illinois African-American Coalition for Prevention will each receive $200,000 in grant awards. Additional grants will be awarded at the September board meeting.

“These organizations are on the front lines of dealing with the impact of violence in our communities and it is critical that the County continues to fund meaningful programs that will help reduce criminal involvement,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

The University of Chicago, in partnership with Comer Children’s Hospital, La Rabida Hospital, and Stroger Hospital, will provide trauma-informed medical and clinical care to young victims of violence and their families. The program includes training hospital staff in trauma informed practices, assessment of clients, intensive case management and patient navigation (aftercare), mentoring, and SELF (Safety. Emotions. Loss. Future) groups to help youth process trauma, avoid future violence involvement and move forward with their lives.

Enlace Chicago will convene a wide array of smaller organizations that offer various services to the target population in Little Village community. The program “Little Village Youth Safety Network” will use CPS early indicators to identify gang involved youth and provide parent engagement, youth mentoring, mental health treatment, and youth leadership development. The goal of the program is to reduce gang involvement and minimize risk factors at the ages at which gang involvement typically begins.

The Illinois African-American Coalition for Prevention will provide a comprehensive program consisting of evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mentoring, and balanced and restorative justice training. The program will target 120 youth ages 14 - 18 from at-risk communities.