AMERICAN
RESCUE PLAN
ACT (ARPA) AT
A GLANCE
December
2021
Toni Preckwinkle
Cook County Board President
Cook County Policy
Roadmap and the
Coronavirus Pandemic
Cook County COVID-19
Response and Recovery
& CARES Act Funding
American Rescue Plan
Act
Healthy Communities
Smart Communities
Safe and Thriving
Communities
Open Communities
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5
10
17
22
Table of
Contents
American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA)
At A Glance
Organizational Values
24
27
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Vital Communities
Sustainable Communities
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Cook County Policy Roadmap and the
Coronavirus Pandemic
Healthy Communities: Health and Wellness - Integrating health and social services,
addressing the social determinants of health and improving the health and wellness of County
employees.
Vital Communities: Economic Development - Creating and retaining jobs, developing
industry-sector strategies, supporting workforce training and development, quality housing,
safety net services and community and investments in infrastructure.
Safe and Thriving Communities: Criminal Justice - Implementing violence-reduction strategies
proven to improve community safety, advocating for sustainable reforms within the criminal
justice system and investing in community-based services for residents.
Sustainable Communities: Environmental Sustainability - Prioritizing environmental justice,
addressing climate change, investing in clean energy and green jobs and creating equitable
access to open spaces.
Smart Communities: Public Infrastructure - Maximizing the benefits of County buildings,
improving transportation systems and managing enterprise technology services.
Open Communities: Good Government - Achieving operational excellence by being
accountable to residents, investing in the area workforce and continuously improving County
services.
In 2018, the Cook County Offices Under the President (OUP) conducted a strategic planning
process that resulted in the release of the Cook County Policy Roadmap: Five-Year Strategic Plan
for Offices Under the President. In the Policy Roadmap, OUP identified six policy priorities around
which to focus. A central theme is the commitment to ensuring Cook County is a welcoming
community and reaches all residents, including those who are often marginalized. We will foster
communities that are healthy, vital, safe and thriving, sustainable, smart and open.
Given OUP’s role in supporting residents and communities throughout Cook County, the first five
policy priorities relate directly to the services provided to residents. To achieve a high standard of
efficiency and excellence, the sixth policy priority describes how we deliver services to residents.
Together, these policy priorities create the means to provide innovative and essential services for
residents effectively and efficiently and ensure Cook County is an exceptional place to live, work,
play and visit.
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Cook County COVID-19 Response and
Recovery & CARES Act Funding
In April 2020, Cook County received approximately $429 million from the U.S. Treasury from the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Under the CARES Act, Cook County
allocated $51 million of the relief funds among over 300 local units of government located within
Cook County. Allocations to each municipality were determined through an equity lens described
in the Equity Distribution White Paper, with factors that included the immediate needs of the
municipality to respond to the pandemic, municipal population, municipal median income and
municipal public health statistics.
In addition to providing direct support to municipalities, Cook County dedicated CARES Act
funding to support residents and businesses hardest hit by the pandemic. Recognizing the
magnitude of COVID-19, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED) took
immediate steps to assess the needs of residents and businesses. Armed with this information, we
launched the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative, initially funded with $82 million from
the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The funding was revised
to $77 million, after $5 million was reallocated to support the Cook County Department of Public
Health’s ongoing COVID-19 mitigation work. In partnership with local, regional, and national
organizations, we provided equitable, comprehensive financial relief and critical support services
to suburban Cook County residents and small businesses upended by COVID-19.
To support Cook County public health infrastructure, the County allocated more than $300 million
from CARES Act funding to public health and safety payroll, personal protective equipment (PPE),
medical supplies, supplemental staffing and technical assistance. These investments through the
CARES Act helped close budget gaps for critical public health services and helped the County
respond directly to the needs of the community amidst the national public health crisis.
On March 11, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021 (ARPA). ARPA is an ambitious federal initiative to stimulate the American economy,
support residents, and curb the spread ofthe COVID-19 virus.
Cook County received more than $1 billion through ARPA. The County managed a robust process
to develop a responsible, comprehensive, and equitable spending plan to use ARPA one-time
resources to support both immediate recovery needs and long-term transformative initiatives.
Cook County’s distribution of this crucial funding will build on the equity best practices Cook
County introduced with the distribution of the CARES Act funding last year.
In addition to Cook County’s allocation, municipalities in the County with populations over 50,000
will receive direct funding from the federal government through ARPA. The State of Illinois is
responsible for distributing funding to entities with fewer than 50,000 residents.
For its initial ARPA spending plan, Cook County intends to allocate the $1 billion across three
fiscal years, distributing based on the County’s six policy pillars. The total funding allocation will
include 2021 expenditures to support County operations during the pandemic, and focus on
programs, initiatives, and operations in FY2022, FY2023, and FY2024.
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American Rescue Plan Act
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American Rescue Plan Act
FY22 Community Program Initiatives Allocations
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Healthy Communities
Health and Wellness
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Cook County Health (CCH) Cook County
Department of Public Health (CCDPH)
Department of Risk Management
Policy Roadmap Goal
Improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of Cook County residents and communities.
Key Agencies
ARPA Key Themes and Initial Allocations
Contact Tracing Initiative Continuation
Vaccine Incentives Program
The Cook County Department of Public Health will continue conducting COVID-19 contact
tracing for congregate settings like nursing homes and schools and other high-risk and high-
volume exposures (e.g., factories) until 12/31/2022.
Cook County Health (CCH) will provide a $100 incentive gift card for any individual who
received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a CCH community health center or
community event hosted by the Cook County Department of Public Health. Additionally,
CountyCare will implement a one-time $25 reward loaded onto a member's Over the Counter
(OTC) Rewards Card to buy approved health and personal care items at participating stores.
1.1 Healthcare - $21,700,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Medical Respite Center
Cook County Health will improve the health of Cook County Health patients and CountyCare
members who are at risk for homelessness by funding supportive housing through the Flexible
Housing Pool, provide Medical Respite care to patients who need post-discharge clinical
support and are at risk of homelessness, and establish a Homeless Housing Navigation program
to intercept at-risk patients in the emergency room to help them apply for longer-term housing
options.
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* Cook County Behavioral Health Services
To meet the growing behavioral health needs of Cook County residents, Cook County Health
(CCH) proposes transforming its current Behavioral Health footprint to offer a robust menu of
mental and behavioral health services and ensure easy access to services of all County
residents. The first year will focus on creating and standing up a new Department of Mental
Health Services, expanding existing CCH programs, and planning for long term expansions.
The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) will provide full-time behavioral health
specialists at all HACC affordable housing properties. Many HACC residents have complex
behavioral health needs that threaten their ability to live independently and negatively affect
quality of life for themselves and others. This proposal aims to reach some of the County’s most
marginalized and isolated residents by bringing services directly to them and allowing them to
build ongoing relationships with service providers. Consistent service by a trusted professional
will help many of these individuals remain stably housed and participate fully in their
communities.
1.2 Mental & Behavioral Health – $15,386,500
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Additional Behavioral Health Personnel and Support at Existing
Clinics
Cook County Health (CCH) will enhance community behavioral health care and access by
adding additional social workers to CCH’s Ambulatory Care sites and adding afterhours
behavioral health clinics in the community. These additional resources will supplement existing
behavioral health resources available at CCH's Ambulatory Care sites and connect high risk
patients with the Healing Hurt People program. This enhancement will also serve as a bridge to
the transformative project to establish a CCH Department of Mental Health Services.
* Behavioral Health Specialists at HACC
Sustaining Mental Health Hotline for Suburban Residents
The Cook County Department of Public Health will expand an existing mental health support
line in the City of Chicago to provide support and referral for suburban Cook County residents.
The hotline will be staffed seven days a week and is expected to field 3,500-4,000 calls per year
from suburban Cook. The hotline will provide emotional support; refer callers to mental health
treatment, substance use, and other resources; and provide intensive case support for callers
with significant needs through its clinical support program. The suburban hotline is funded until
May 2023. ARPA dollars will provide for another 19 months of service to suburban Cook County
residents.
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Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund
The Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund supplies funding for the Cook County Department of
Public Health's lead program, including some staff costs and all the local investment in lead
hazard remediation. The fund was created with Torrens Indemnity Fund dollars. The Torrens
fund is now defunct, so no additional investments have been added to support the lead
program. Investing ARPA dollars will extend funding for the lead program for an additional
three years.
The opioid overdose prevention initiative expands on existing prevention activities to address
the impact of COVID-19 on opioid and substance use disorder in suburban Cook County. The
initiative includes 1) distributing naloxone, especially for people who are justice-involved and
are especially vulnerable to overdose; 2) bolstering capacity for harm reduction services in the
South and West suburbs where harm reduction non-profits are few and far between; 3)
expanding medication-assisted treatment capacity in priority communities; and 4) expanding
initiatives to leverage existing and new data sources to inform prevention efforts.
1.3 Public Health Education & Outreach –
$9,011,666
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Expansion
The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) will expand its Emergency
Preparedness and Response Unit. Current funding for this unit comes from federal pass-
through dollars and is not at parity with the City of Chicago despite similar population size. This
limited CCDPH's ability to respond as effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opioid Overdose and Substance Use Prevention Initiative
Suburban Cook County Worker Protection Program
The Suburban Cook County Workers Protection Program will continue to equip employers and
workers, including temporary and gig workers, with the information, resources, and supports to
minimize the transmission of diseases, including COVID-19, in workplaces. The program will
work to advance sustainable tri-directional, worker-centered systems for education, reporting
and compliance, and support policy changes that promote worker rights, health, and safety.
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Capacity-Building Investments in Food Access Sites
As Cook County responds to the public health and economic crisis, we have a unique
opportunity to build a better, stronger more resilient emergency food system that not only
copes and recovers in emergency but thrives in a way that it provides stability for anyone in
need. This multi-year effort will transform the emergency food system by strategically investing
in new food partners where needed and building the capacity of existing partners to serve the
communities’ needs.
The Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP) is a procurement strategy that directs institutional
food purchasing toward five core values: local economies, environmental sustainability, valued
workforce, animal welfare, and nutrition. GFPP provides a metrics-based, flexible framework to
assess progress of public institutions as they work to become a recognized Good Food
Provider. In 2018, Cook County passed a resolution promoting GFPP. This program can support
transforming the local food system into one that is transparent and racially equitable by
investing in local food producers and businesses of color and ensuring safe and fair working
conditions for frontline food chain workers.
1.4 Food Security & Nutrition – $4,484,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Food as Medicine
Cook County Health (CCH) will expand efforts to identify and address food insecurity among
patients, while also improving their health outcomes through the “Fresh Start” program. Fresh
Start is a one-stop, whole-person approach to wellness to build and sustain healthy behaviors,
which will establish access to healthy foods at CCH facilities, support a multi-disciplinary clinical
support team, and provide nutrition education to address patients’ dietary needs and manage
chronic disease. We will build on the success of other health systems that have established
“food farmacies”. CCH will document impact on clinical outcomes, utilization, and behavior
change and partner with payers to sustain this work.
Good Food Purchasing Program
* Urban Farming Initiative Gap Analysis Research
South Suburban Cook County municipalities contain many areas that have been identified as
food deserts, or urban areas in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food.
Initiating or supporting current urban farming projects in these areas will help deliver healthy
and sustainable food options while educating community members on sustainable farming
practices and composting organics. Cook County will conduct a gap analysis study to get a
more in-depth understanding of how to best support current and future initiatives in the short-,
medium-, and long-term.
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Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
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Vital Communities
Community and Economic Development
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Bureau of Economic Development (BED)
Bureau of Finance (BOF)
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA)
Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC)
Policy Roadmap Goal
Pursue inclusive economic and community growth by supporting residents, growing businesses,
attracting investment and nurturing talent.
Key Agencies
ARPA Key Themes and Initial Allocations
Small Business Grant Program
Small Business Assistance Program & One Stop Shop
The Bureau of Economic Development will provide grants to small businesses with less than 20
employees that continue to suffer from the impacts of COVID-19, as well as early-stage
businesses formed since the onset of COVID-19. The grants will position businesses for growth
and a sustainable path forward. The County will continue to link its small business advising
services to receipt of grant funds to maximize the impact of these grants. The program will result
in renewed entrepreneurship capacity in the short-term and renewed community wealth in the
long-term.
Launched in response to the challenges small businesses faced in the wake of COVID-19, the
Small Business Assistance Program supports a coordinated network of over 30 partners that
provide one-on-one business advising, webinars, and recovery grants. The strong network
coupled with pairing grants with services made this award-winning program successful and
enabled over 65% of technical assistance support to serve businesses owned by people of
color. New funding will further build the capacity of partners to deliver services, increase
availability of services in suburban Cook, and support the establishment of a Cook County
“One-Stop Small Business Service Center.”
2.1 Small Business Agenda – $37,050,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Advancing Equitable Recovery in the Southland - Building
Capacity in the Southland
The Southland Development Authority (SDA) drives comprehensive, transformative and
inclusive economic growth in Cook County’s South Suburbs. Funding will allow the SDA to
continue to support the small business growth programs to advance key sectors.
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Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt
Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) helps residents resolve eviction,
foreclosure, consumer debt, and tax deed issues pre-court and during the court process.
CCLAHD provides free legal aid, mediation services, case management, and connections for
tenants and landlords dealing with evictions, property owners who are behind on their
mortgage payments or property taxes, and creditors and debtors with issues related to
consumer debt. CCLAHD is a partnership between many Cook County agencies and has
received national recognition for its innovative approach to eviction prevention and housing
stability.
The Cook County Water Affordability Program will provide water utility bill payment assistance
to help households suffering from income loss and mounting bills during the pandemic. The
program will reduce uncollectable debt for municipal water utilities. The anticipated focus of
the program is on communities with a high-water burden, meaning that the household spends
a significantly larger portion of their income on the water and sewer bill.
2.2 Household Assistance & Social Services –
$27,700,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Guaranteed Income Program
The Cook County Guaranteed Income Program will provide recurring monthly unrestricted
payments to a to-be-defined set of residents for at least 12 months to improve participants’
long-term economic stability. The Guaranteed Income Program builds on the demonstrated
success of guaranteed income programs in other jurisdictions in increasing residents’ financial
stability and improving their health outcomes. Cook County’s program will include a research
evaluation component to help the County better understand participant impacts.
The Cook County Water Affordability Program
Veteran Grant Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs will establish a fund to provide grants to community-based
veteran service organizations and veteran-owned businesses. The Veteran Grant Program will
begin with a seed of $5 million for grants in the following areas: Program Enhancement; Capital
Improvements; and Small Business Development.
(cont'd)
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Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
2.2 Household Assistance & Social Services –
$27,700,000 (cont'd)
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
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* Abolish Medical Debt
Cook County will partner with a qualified non-profit organization to purchase and retire the
medical debt of income-eligible patients of hospitals located within Cook County who are
unable to cover their medical bills. The $12M program will retire an estimated $1B in medical
debt incurred during the ARPA-eligible period. Eligible recipients will have incomes up to 200%
of the federal poverty line or have medical debt that is at least 5% of their household annual
income.
* Cook County Residential Water Conservation and Energy Efficiency
Program
The program will increase housing affordability for residents by reducing utility costs.
Specifically, the project identifies residents for home energy and water assessments and
implement energy efficiency improvements and water conservation measures (such as window
replacement, roof repairs, insulation, air sealing, HVAC improvements, LED lighting, energy-
efficient windows and doors, installing low-flow water appliances and repairing leaks). This
program will also serve as a jobs program by employing local residents.
Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
Suburban Cook County Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Economic
Recovery Initiative
The five suburban State designated Convention and Tourism Bureaus will develop and
implement a collaborative recovery action plan to invest in the lodging, dining, entertainment,
retail, and small sectors that have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cook County partnered with the Illinois
Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) to ascertain the impact of this unprecedented
situation and the unique challenges experienced by Cook County’s manufacturing community
due to structural changes to this sector brought upon by the pandemic. We surveyed and
connected with over 1,000 manufacturers in suburban Cook County to understand their most
pressing needs as a result of the changed landscape. Based upon these findings, IMEC and
Cook County will partner to provide a comprehensive set of solutions for county manufacturers
to rebound from the pandemic and improve their global competitiveness, focused on
production, market growth, technology, and workforce.
2.3 Sector Support & Regional Development –
$8,100,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Cook County Arts and Artists
The Bureau of Economic Development will develop a Cook County arts and artists program
with two major components. An Arts Connection will invest in artists and arts organizations,
providing direct arts experiences, giving voice to the County’s identity with a focus on the arts
and culture assets in suburban Cook. An Arts Integration program infuses the arts into the
county’s existing plans facilities, programs, and outreach, with a focus on public health and
environmental conservation.
Cook County Manufacturing Rebound and Recover Programming
Advancing Equitable Recovery in the Southland – Southland Metals
Hub
The Southland Development Authority Metals Hub will build on the region's strength in Metals,
Machinery and Equipment (MME) manufacturing. The Hub will assist firms address and recover
from the pandemic’s disruption of manufacturing supply chains and assist in the identification
of new ones. The Metals Hub intends to bring MME firms together to enter new markets and
leverage existing strengths and capacity to bolster the productivity and growth of metal
manufacturing firms in the region.
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Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
Fixed-Site Emergency Shelter for People Experiencing Homelessness
The Bureau of Economic Development will support organizations within the Cook County
Continuum of Care to stand up fixed-site shelter in 5-7 locations to provide health and safety to
people in a housing crisis who cannot be diverted from homelessness. These organizations will
also provide shelter services to ensure their experience of homelessness is short by
reconnecting them to housing and other supports.
The Bureau of Economic Development will continue the hotel-based sheltering approach
implemented during the pandemic, when the existing PADS model of shelter with congregate
shelter in rotating church basements was no longer viable. Shelter, meals, and case
management will be provided by shelter agencies at various hotels across Cook County.
Supportive services will aim to shorten their experience of homelessness by reconnecting them
to housing and other supports. Hotel sheltering will decrease over time as the transition to new
permanent shelter or other shelter options occurs.
2.4 Housing – $7,466,667
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Hotel-Based Sheltering
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* Investing in Families and Youth
Cook County will provide support to workforce and training programs that offer young adults
quality paid work experiences to explore career pathways in target sectors or provide
opportunities for a “community service corps”. The County will also support the expansion of
workforce development programs that serve hard to engage populations including people
without stable housing, youth in care and graduates of foster care system, people with
disabilities, returning residents, and pregnant and parenting youth. Program resources will
support residents of suburban Cook County.
The Forest Preserves along with corps partners will recruit and hire up to 282 adult corps
members per year from Cook County who are currently unemployed or under-employed to
conduct meaningful conservation work in their local Forest Preserve. Corps members will be
deployed in teams of 6 to 10 participants and supervised by experienced Field Leaders who
have the technical skills to train and supervise conservation work while providing soft job skills
for those new to the work force. A minimum of 75% of participants will gain at least three
advanced industry skill certifications.
2.5 Worker Support & Workforce
Development – $6,562,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Supporting Apprenticeships in Suburban Cook
As a designated Apprenticeship Navigator by the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity, Cook County will support the establishment of new apprenticeships or
expansions of existing apprenticeships in suburban Cook County. The Bureau of Economic
Development will fund eligible partners and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity intermediaries to sponsor and manage apprenticeship programs, conduct
industry engagement, provide technical assistance to businesses, and support apprentices'
progress.
Community Conservation Corps
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Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
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Safe and Thriving Communities
Criminal Justice
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Cook County Public Defender’s Office (PD)
Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS)
Justice Advisory Council (JAC)
Policy Roadmap Goal
Create safe communities and an equitable and fair justice system for all residents.
Key Agencies
ARPA Key Themes and Initial Allocations
Violence Prevention and Reduction Grant Portfolio
Behavioral Health Expansion
The Justice Advisory Council (JAC) will expand funding for community-based services
supporting justice-involved adults or youth, and those at high risk of experiencing violence as
either a victim or perpetrator. These resources build upon the existing JAC grants portfolio and
are complementary with similar investments made by the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and
philanthropy. Communities served include areas in Chicago and suburban Cook with highest
incidents of shootings and homicides as well as justice system involvement. Services include
direct street-level intervention, mentoring, basic needs assistance, educational and vocational
programming, and behavioral health and wellness support.
The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) will expand existing mental health and
substance use services, treatment, and prevention programs in priority communities in
suburban Cook County in part through a community-based grants program in partnership with
the Justice Advisory Council. Key areas of focus will include suicide prevention (including
school-based screening), counseling and treatment, behavioral health workforce development,
and youth-focused programs, including restorative justice and school discipline reform.
CCDPH will also hire additional staff including a program coordinator, health educators, an
epidemiologist, and a policy analyst to support this work.
3.1 Violence Prevention– $35,889,166
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Strengthening Chicago’s Youth Juvenile Justice Collaborative
Expansion
This project aims to reduce violence and minimize justice involvement of youth who have
experienced violence or trauma or are at high risk of exposure to violence. Services include
trauma-informed care coordination for 500 justice-involved youth per year over three years,
including youth on diversion (arrested for a felony or violent misdemeanor) or youth granted
deferred prosecution. Services include intake, assessment, connection to evidence-based
programming and pro-social services, emergency assistance, family support services, and post-
discharge monitoring. In addition to providing care coordination and direct services for youth
and their families, funds will support data tracking and analysis, continuous quality
improvement, and developing an evaluation plan.
(cont'd)
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Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
Healing Hurt People Chicago
Gun Crime Strategy Unit
Healing Hurt People (HHP) is a trauma-informed violence intervention program for survivors of
urban intentional violence. HHP works to advance the notion that unaddressed psychological
trauma is a key driver of the cycle of violence, fueled by the structural violence of racism and
stigma. HHP Chicago's goals are to reduce re-injury, retaliation, and criminal justice involvement
by having a positive impact on trauma recovery, mental health, and drug use, and help
participants achieve independence, work, education, and create a strong future.
The Gun Crimes Strategies Unit (GCSU) embeds Assistant State's Attorneys in six of the most
violent police districts in Chicago. Expansion of the Gun Crimes Strategies Unit will allow the
Cook County State's Attorney's Office to expand the reach and efforts of the GCSU in order to
help combat the rise in violence and shootings within the City and the South Suburbs. These
communities have been historically disinvested in and are some of the most impacted by
COVID-19. Expanding the GCSU will have a direct impact on public safety and will align with
President Biden’s directive to increase investigation into gun trafficking and gun traffickers to
prevent the further influx of illegal guns in our communities.
3.1 Violence Prevention– $35,889,166 (cont'd)
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Supporting Education and Employment Development
The Justice Advisory Council will provide funds to sustain and expand the Supporting
Education and Employment Development (SEED) Program. This program is a 13-month pre-
plea diversion program for individuals aged 18 to 30, charged with possession with intent to
deliver or manufacturing/delivery of a substance. The program provides case management,
educational services, trauma-informed and cognitive behavioral interventions, job readiness
training, job development and placement, supported employment, and restorative justice
activities. The successful completion of the program results in case dismissal and expungement
at graduation.
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State’s Attorney’s Office Crime Investigations
This request will assist the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in investigating and
prosecuting violent gun crimes. The State’s Attorney’s Office will use funding to add
Investigators to the unit to work with prosecutors (state and federal, law enforcement agencies,
etc.) and other stakeholders to help ensure public safety in communities across Cook County.
Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
Programs and Services for Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors
Reentry Housing Resources
The Offices Under the President will administer grants to providers that serve survivors of
domestic violence. Domestic violence advocates have requested this funding to support legal
resources, mental health resources, and rapid housing resources for domestic violence victims
and survivors.
The Justice Advisory Council will fund Cook County community-based organizations to provide
rental assistance, security deposit assistance, and outreach counseling to justice-involved
individuals. The initiative will also explore more effective housing strategies, partnerships and
supports to connect these individuals to stable and permanent housing thus helping to reduce
recidivism.
3.2 Services to Justice-Involved Residents –
$16,300,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Public Defender Community Defense Center
The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender proposes to develop a Community Defense
Center to leverage the success of the Public Defenders Police Representation Unit (PSRU) with
the work of community organizations to provide robust legal services to two Cook County
communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, incarceration, and gun
violence. The Community Defense Center will seek to partner with and support communities
within the two identified neighborhoods with legal services, community empowerment,
advocacy and education. The Community Defense Center will work predominantly with African
American and Latinx communities in greater Roseland/South Chicago and greater West Garfield
Park/Humboldt Park.
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Emergency Reentry Vouchers
The Justice Advisory Council will administer emergency re-entry vouchers to assist people
leaving Cook County Jail in securing safe housing. Currently, approximately 1,100 people in
Cook County are kept behind bars after their release date because they cannot find affordable
housing.
Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
Justice Reinvestment Plan
9-1-1 Alternative Model Study and Strategic Plan
The Justice Advisory Council will engage consultants to review Cook County's criminal justice
budgets and develop a report with 1) an overview of our current spending; 2) an outline of
duplicative efforts or overspending; 3) a strategy to make reductions in criminal justice
spending and invest in community; and 4) best practices from jurisdictions that have
successfully reinvested criminal justice dollars into public health and community resources.
The Justice Advisory Council will engage consultants to develop a report and strategic plan on
9-1-1 alternative response models for Cook County. This includes 1) a comprehensive analysis
of Cook County's current 9-1-1 system, 2) best and emerging practices in putting in place
alternative responses, and 3) recommendations and a strategic plan on how Cook County may
move forward with a new model. The goal of this project is to develop a plan for a response
system that both better responds with mental health and other emergency services that do not
require a traditional law enforcement response, needs which have been exacerbated during the
lengthy pandemic, and to prevent unnecessary involvement of individuals in the criminal justice
system.
3.3 Alternatives to Incarceration & Policing –
$3,000,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
2 1
Supporting Suburban Cook County municipalities in developing,
training on and operationalizing preparedness planning
Through the Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security, this funding will
support a vendor to develop planning templates and training resources for Emergency
Operations (EOP), Continuity of Operations (COOP), Continuity of Government (COG), and
recovery plans for all Cook County departments and municipalities. This effort will engage and
strengthen the County's preparedness and resiliency, which has been proven especially
important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3.4 Emergency Preparedness & Response –
$350,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
2 2
Sustainable Communities
Environmental Sustainability
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES)
Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
Department of Transportation and Highways (DOTH)
Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC)
Policy Roadmap Goal
Support healthy, resilient communities that thrive economically, socially and environmentally.
Key Agencies
ARPA Key Themes and Initial Allocations
Neighborhood Revitalization Brownfield Remediation
South Suburban Hazardous Household Waste Facility and Satellite
Collection Locations
Brownfield sites are underutilized or vacant sites that have real or perceived environmental
issues that deter their redevelopment. The Department of Environment and Sustainability
proposes expanding its current brownfield program, currently limited to a few communities the
County received Federal grants to serve, to assess and remediate sites throughout suburban
Cook County to promote economic growth and investment through redevelopment. Marketing
will be targeted to Environmental Justice communities. Brownfield sites can also be
remediated and returned to other productive uses such as open green space, parks, and flood
and stormwater retention.
This initiative is for a facility in the south suburbs for residents to property dispose Household
Hazardous Waste (HHW). HHW include items typically present in homes including toxic
cleaners, pharmaceuticals, and gasoline/oil and pose serious health and safety concerns and
can cause environmental damage. There are no facilities conveniently located for residents of
the south suburbs to dispose of HHW, negatively impacting a region already with historically
high pollution and open dumping issues. The facility will also serve as a consolidation location
for satellite collection events and will be operated through an agreement with Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency which will fund ongoing disposal costs.
4.1 Hazard Mitigation & Pollution Prevention –
$15,000,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
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Healthy Homes and Deep Energy Retrofit Residential Properties
Currently, children identified as having elevated blood lead levels are referred to the Cook
County Department of Public Health and families who qualify for services can receive free lead
remediation at the residence. In this extension effort, Healthy Homes inspectors will complete
an assessment within these same residences, identify other household health impacts, and
address repairs or remediation. Additionally, a free energy assessment will be conducted.
Families selected for full program participation will receive grant-covered household
enhancements including deep energy retrofits, beneficial electrification, and renewable energy
integrated strategies to deliver the greatest cost savings and health improvements.
4.2 Environmental Justice – $10,000,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
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Smart Communities
Public Infrastructure
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
Bureau of Asset Management (BAM)
Bureau of Technology (BOT)
Department of Transportation and Highways (DOTH)
Policy Roadmap Goal
Provide an innovative infrastructure that will change how we live, work and connect.
Key Agencies
ARPA Key Themes and Initial Allocations
Invest in Cook Expansion
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Invest in Cook is an existing grant program that annually awards $8.5 million to communities to
advance local transportation infrastructure projects that implement the priorities of the County's
long-range transportation plan and support economic outcomes. The current demand for this
program far exceeds the funding available. The expansion of this program will increase the
award amount for broader infrastructure projects over the next three years, yielding an
additional $25 million investment overall.
This initiative involves four components related to increasing access to electric vehicle
charging stations throughout Cook County, focusing on where there are currently large gaps in
service areas, primarily in the south and west suburbs, through installing 50 Level 2 charging
stations, 10 DC fast chargers, 10 Level 2 streetlight charging stations and purchasing one all-
electric bus and wireless charger installation to pilot at the Department of Corrections Campus.
The initiative will be community driven, increase access for residents in multifamily homes,
reduce the locations without an electric vehicle charging station dramatically and greatly
increasing the regional charging network.
5.1 Transportation – $30,524,214
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
2 5
Lead Pipe Removal at Vera Yates Homes and Richard Flowers Homes
This initiative will remove remaining lead water pipes at two Housing Authority of Cook County
(HACC) affordable family housing properties: the Vera Yates Homes in Ford Heights and the
Richard Flowers Homes in Robbins. This funding will allow HACC to remove all lead pipes at
each of these properties, preventing children living at these sites from suffering irreparable,
life-long neurological damage associated with lead exposure, and provide all residents of
these developments a healthier, safer living environment.
5.2 Water Infrastructure – $5,000,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
* Broadband Expansion at HACC Properties
Digital Equity Planning
This initiative will upgrade broadband infrastructure at all Housing Authority of Cook County-
owned (HACC) properties. Current network infrastructure can only support 2-3 users at a time
and is inadequate to meet the needs of both staff and residents who use the communal
computers. This upgrade responds to the increased need for Internet access among HACC
residents and staff due to COVID-19 restrictions and will additionally address the digital divide
by providing low-income residents access to high-speed Internet.
To coordinate our long-term digital equity work, Cook County will develop an action plan to
evaluate where suburban Cook’s digital divide exists and outline solutions. Specifically, this
action plan will cover gaps in broadband access, physical connectivity infrastructure, and
financial barriers residents face when accessing digital devices and connections. Using best
practices, guidance from digital inclusion experts, and insight from internal and external
stakeholders, the process will conclude with a final document that provides policy
recommendations, along with a detailed action plan, describing detailed initiative plans,
including implementing partners, resources identified, timeline, and evaluation metrics.
5.3 Digital Equity – $3,000,000
ARPA Initial Allocation Breakdown
2 6
Indicates a Longer-Term or Transformative Initiative
*
2 7
Open Communities
Good Government
Bureau of Finance (BOF)
Bureau of Human Resources (BHR)
Bureau of Technology (BOT)
Office of the President (OOP)
Office of Research, Operations and Innovation (ROI)
One-time personnel and non-personnel costs (e.g., pandemic pay and administration cost for
ARPA management);
Building County capacity to meet increased demands and to support ARPA initiatives; and
Capital improvement projects that would have required debt funding instead.
Policy Roadmap Goal
Ensure that Cook County provides responsive, transparent services and develops a thriving,
professional workforce that reflects the communities served.
Key Agencies
Cook County will support its commitment to Open Communities by using revenue loss to cover
eligible expenses for supporting County operations through the pandemic. This includes:
Organizational Values
Mission
To serve as a good steward of public resources by building equitable and sustainable
communities for all residents.
Vision
To be a leader in building vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities where people want to
live, learn, work and play.
Values
Equity, Engagement, Excellence
Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We believe in the dignity and worth of all people and the strength in the diversity of all
perspectives. Cook County commits to cultivating equity, inclusion and opportunity within County
government and the diverse communities it serves—where we celebrate employees, residents and
visitors and welcome diversity of perspectives. Empowered by an inclusive workforce, Cook
County is dedicated to equity and fairness in governance—in all its forms—to strengthen and serve
our communities to the best of our abilities.
Brandon Johnson, District 1
Dennis Deer, District 2
Bill Lowry, District 3
Stanley Moore, District 4
Deborah Sims, District 5
Donna Miller, District 6
Alma E. Anaya, District 7
Luis Arroyo, Jr., District 8
Peter N. Silvestri, District 9
Bridget Gainer, District 10
John P. Daley, District 11
Bridget Degnen, District 12
Larry Suffredin, District 13
Scott R. Britton, District 14
Kevin B. Morrison, District 15
Frank J. Aguilar, District 16
Sean M. Morrison, District 17
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Board of Commissioners
December 2021
