Cydney Wessel is ICJIA’s American Rescue Plan Act and Violence Prevention Program manager. Prior to joining ICJIA, Ms. Wessel was the DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau, Inc., executive director. Ms. Wessel spent 25 years working for the Healthy Families America (HFA) program, an internationally recognized, evidence-based, in-home family support program. She was instrumental in ensuring HFA was designated as a proven and effective model by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leading to a nationwide expansion of services through the federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program. Ms. Wessel earned a master of social work with a focus on child and family therapy and administration at the University of Wisconsin Helen Bader School of Social Work and a master of business administration at Florida Gulf Coast University.

In 2013, the Community Violence Prevention Programs Youth Employment Program (YEP) offered job readiness training, mentoring, and summer employment to approximately 1,800 youth participants in 24 Chicago-area communities. The evaluation of YEP was designed to guide programmatic enhancements and funding decisions. Researchers used multiple surveys of program staff and participants in order to obtain feedback on trainings for participants, the employment component, mentoring component, and general program operations. The program met its goals of increasing job readiness skills; building relationships between youth and a caring adult; increasing youth productive time and community engagement; and improving the community through community service.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (Authority) researchers conducted an evaluation of the Community Violence Prevention Program’s (CVPP) Parent Program. The program, which ended August 2014, sought to increase protective factors to reduce child maltreatment by employing and training nearly 1,000 Chicago-area parents to lead service projects to help other parents in 20 communities. The Center for the Study of Social Policy stated that effective parenting programs to prevent child maltreatment attempt to improve parent understanding of child development and teach child management (2003). In addition, those that are parent-led promote parental resilience and inter-parent connections.Authority researchers analyzed multiple surveys of more than 3,500 staff and participants, as well as administrative data to obtain feedback on training and general program operations.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority researchers conducted an evaluation of the Community Violence Prevention Program’s (CVPP) Parent Program. The program, which ended August 2014, sought to increase protective factors to reduce child maltreatment by employing and training nearly 1,000 Chicago-area parents to lead service projects to help other parents in 20 communities.

In 2013, the Reentry Program, one of three components of the state of Illinois Community Violence Prevention Program (CVPP), provided services to youth and young adults on parole in 12 Chicago communities to help them transition back to their communities and reduce recidivism. ICJIA researchers conducted an exploratory study though interviews with the programs case managers to learn how the program operated and make recommendations to change and enhance the program.

In 2013, the Parent Program component provided 1,010 parents in 21 Chicago-area communities training and then coordinated their participation in community service projects. The Parent Program is one of three programs offered through the Community Violence Prevention Program (CVPP). Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) researchers used administrative data and developed four surveys to evaluate the Parent Program and answer key research questions. These included a training evaluation survey, a pre- and post-survey (given at the beginning and end of the program), and two exit surveys.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority researchers conducted an evaluation of the Community Violence Prevention Program’s Youth Employment Program. The program, which ended in August 2014, sought to increase job readiness skills, build relationships with a caring adult, improve attitudes toward employment and violence, increase self-esteem and conflict resolution skills, and offer community service and engagement.

Through this program, programmatic funding will be provided to support organizations providing sports-based youth development programming and providing healing through sports programming. Laureus Sport for Good Foundation will create a grants program to increase access to, and equity of youth-development based sports initiatives.

The Violence Prevention and Reduction (VPR) program provides sub-awards to agencies for violence prevention and reduction services and strategies, to mediate and intervene with conflicts, and provide other supports to reduce the shooting and homicide incidents in high need communities.

Acclivus, Inc. supports community health and well-being for populations at risk for violence and other negative health outcomes. Acclivus provides evidence-based violence prevention and reduction programming in partnership with community-based grassroots organizations, community leaders, hospitals, and other stakeholders. Funds will support Acclivus’ hospital intervention programming, community-based violence prevention programming, and subawards to communities for direct services.

Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on February 13th, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. WebEx Webinar link and Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on November 13th, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. WebEx Webinar link and Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on August 8th, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on May 9, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Date and Time Thursday, February 8th, 2024 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Videoconference Teleconference: Videoconference Link Emailed

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on 8/10/23, at 10:00 am by WebEx. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on February 23rd at 10:00 am. via WebEx. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

STATEWIDE VIOLENCE PREVENTION AD HOC COMMITTEE September 8th, 2022 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Location: Via Webex Video Conference/Teleconference

STATEWIDE VIOLENCE PREVENTION AD HOC COMMITTEE JUNE 9, 2022 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Location: Via Webex Video Conference/Teleconference

FEBRUARY 10, 2022, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Violence Prevention Program Administrator to work at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority in the Federal and State Grants Unit (FSGU). FSGU offers a rich environment for a self-driven person with experience. Violence Prevention Program Administrator responsibilities include managing a team of grant specialists, refining the grant administration process, writing and editing components of Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), ensuring compliance with grant regulations, reviewing grant proposals, managing grant databases, and reviewing progress and financial reports. The ideal candidate for this role should have superior organizational skills, and exceptional budgeting and monitoring skills. The Violence Prevention Program Administrator will reinforce relationships with grantees, and will aid in serving the public by leading a team to ensure grantee success in effective and growing programs.

STATEWIDE VIOLENCE PREVENTION AD HOC COMMITTEE, November 4, 2021, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Webex Video Conference/Teleconference

Location: Via Webex Video Conference/Teleconference

Location: Via Webex Video Conference/Teleconference

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants Violence Prevention Planning and One Time Supports. Grants will be made with SFY 2020 Violence Prevention and Street Intervention funds. A total of $8,336,326 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 6 months.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority researchers conducted an evaluation of the Community Violence Prevention Program’s (CVPP) Parent Program. The program, which ended August 2014, sought to increase protective factors to reduce child maltreatment by employing and training nearly 1,000 Chicago-area parents to lead service projects to help other parents in 20 communities.