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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin and the Aldermen
FROM: Lt. Michael Abbs # 912
DATE: January 8, 2020
SUBJECT:
The Aurora Police Department is requesting the approval of the attached memorandum of understanding between the Aurora Police Department ("APD") and Family Service Association of Greater Elgin Area ("FSA"). This agreement would provide for an Aurora Police Department social worker. The social worker is to be employed by FSA.
PURPOSE:
FSA will provide a full time social worker to work with police department personnel and with members of the community to accomplish police department and City goals of public safety by helping those with mental illness and those in crisis. This social worker program will also include two social work student interns to assist with a variety of program objectives. This agreement will give the citizens of Aurora greater access to services which include crisis assessments and therapy sessions close to home and in a safe environment.
BACKGROUND:
FSA and APD personnel have been in constant communication due to the relatively recent prior agreement that resulted in office space being provided for FSA personnel to more efficiently provide services to citizens of Aurora. These services include Screening, Assessment, and Support Services (SASS.) Both FSA and APD have believed that there could be substantial benefits to Aurora citizens if social worker services could be provided for them. APD personnel have also believed that a social worker could provide the added benefit of freeing up sworn police officer time in select cases: the social worker could actually take the place of the police officer in certain follow-up situations. FSA personnel related that they could provide the majority of the cost of the social worker for the first year if APD could provide $21,200. FSA secured $21,200 from the Dunham fund with the stipulation that APD match this amount. Ofc. Doug Rashkow worked to secure this amount from a number of City of Aurora aldermen, from Kane County Court Services, and from the City of Aurora Mayor's office. These funds were collected and a check for $21,200 was issued to FSA at the end of 2019.
DISCUSSION:
The social worker program and collaboration and partnership between APD and FSA will help to provide community-based mental health services to Aurora residents in a variety of ways. The social worker will provide risk assessment and guidance in a variety of situations for a residents with mental health or developmental issues or those in crisis. The social worker will also provide follow-up services and referrals to those who have previously been contacted by APD at select calls for service. The increased availability of mental health professionals in the community and increased awareness of mental health services in the community will have a positive impact on the community.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This memorandum of understanding will not have any impact on staffing to APD. There are no real costs for the program aside from the above mentioned $21,200, which has already been provided to FSA. The FSA-provided social worker will have office space and access to wireless internet. She will also have a police department email address.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Aurora Police Department requests approval of this memorandum of understanding..
cc: Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aurora, through the Aurora Police Department, and Family Service Association of Greater Elgin Area regarding a police social worker, employed by FSA, to provide social work services to residents of the City of Aurora..
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Police Department and Family Service Association of Greater Elgin Area wish to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to provide social work services to citizens of Aurora through an FSA-employed social worker.
WHEREAS, the Aurora Police Department will provide office space and other support to FSA for the FSA-employed social worker. The Aurora Police Department has provided $21,200 to FSA for the first year of this program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the City Council approves the attached Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Aurora, through the Aurora Police Department, and Family Service Association of Greater Elgin Area regarding an FSA-employed police social worker to provide a variety of social work services to citizens of Aurora as set forth in the attached document; and further
BE IT RESOLVED that the Chief of Police is authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.