Cook County Justice Advisory Council Awards $680,000

Grantees include the Inspiration Corporation, WestCare Foundation, Westside Health Authority and Youth Outreach Service 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced the sixteen recipients of $680,000 in recidivism reduction grants from the Cook County Justice Advisory Council at an event held at the non-profit Inspiration Kitchens, a grant recipient (3504 W. Lake Street in Chicago.) Six organizations will receive grants of $10,000, and five each will receive grants of $24,000 and $100,000.

The purpose of all the grants offered under the program is to reduce the recidivism rate for individuals released from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and the divisions of the Cook County Jail, including the jail general and sentenced populations, Women's Justice Services, the Impact Program, the Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center (VRIC), the Pre-Release Center, and the Day Reporting Center.

“More than half of the people released from the Cook County jail will return within three years. The organizations that are receiving grants today understand the complex factors that lead to recidivism, including lack of education, homelessness, substance abuse, trauma and mental illness. Their grant proposals offer innovative strategies for reducing recidivism in community-based settings,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Preckwinkle also noted that the recidivism reduction grants complement other violence prevention and intervention grants distributed by the County’s Justice Advisory Council.

The full list of grant recipients is:

$100,000 Demonstration Grants

The Housing Authority of Cook County program will operate a virtual high school for formerly incarcerated youth in the Ford Heights and Robbins communities.

The Inspiration Corporation will enroll 60 formerly-incarcerated participants in employment preparation training and enroll 40 formerly-incarcerated participants in food service training.

WestCare Illinois will provide aftercare services to seventy-five post-release offenders through counseling, substance abuse and mental health treatment programs for adults and youths.

The West Side Health Authority will provide at least 75 people with employment services, including placement in meaningful jobs with a 6 month retention rate of 75% or greater, supported by training and social services.

Youth Outreach Services will reduce recidivism and commitments to youth prison for 75 young people released from the Evening Reporting Center by matching them with mentors and providing access to clinical services and drop–in programming.

$24,000 Seed Grants

Chicago Lawyers Committee

Lawndale Amachi Mentoring Program (LAMP)

Spanish Action Committee of Chicago (SACC)

St. Leonard’s Ministries

Universal Family Connection

$10,000 Mini-Seed Grants

Allison Foundation for Better Living

Behavioral Services Center

First Defense Legal Aid

Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation

Northwest Middle School

Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality