ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and Chief of Police with a Request to APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the City Manager to Execute a MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between the City of Peoria and CARLE HEALTH SERVICES under the Co-Responder Unit, for a Six-Month Period Utilizing Grant Funding from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Providing the Co-Responder Unit, in the Amount of $3,068,000.00.
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BACKGROUND: In April 2023, the City of Peoria received notification of awarded funding and creation of the Co-Response Unit in the amount of $3,068,000.00. This Co-Response unit has been over a year in the creation by various stakeholders in the city, including the Public Health Administrator of the Health Department, the Chief Financial Officer of Carle Health Services, the Chief of Police and Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth. This unit's sole focus will be to attend to victims of crimes, and to eliminate barriers for much needed assistance. This unit will include victim services, cognitive and developmental services, as well as mental and/or behavioral health issues. This unit will be titled the Social Services Unit.
This unit will be housed at the Wisconsin Street location - we have built in costs for the upgrade and furnishing of this location and have also budgeted in de minimis costs to cover the utilities and unexpected construction costs we may encounter. This unit will consist of an Administrative Assistant, 4 Licensed Social Workers, 4 Licensed Clinical Social Workers, a Data Analyst, the Community Relations Crime Prevention Manager, and will be led by a Director of the Victim Services Unit. Not only will this team respond to mental health calls, but they will also assist victims AFTER the incident, including housing, relocation, household needs, food, diapers, blankets, training on financial management and other relevant topics, transportation, workshops (yoga, meditation) and childcare. The goal of this unit will be t...
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