Family Advocacy Centers
CSFA Number: 418-00-1315
STATE AGENCY INFORMATION
Agency Name
Department Of Children And Family Services (418)
Agency Identification
FAC
Agency Contact
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Short Description
Family Advocacy Centers are community-based agencies that advocate for services on behalf of families in crisis. The program serves both DCFS open cases and community cases.
Core services that all Family Advocacy Center programs offer to all clients include advocacy, mentoring, parent support and training, general counseling, employment readiness training, support family and youth development, and 18-21 services including Financial Literacy Training. FAC providers are expected to use evidence-based models of practice.
All FAC providers are expected to form community linkages and a provider network of services including those offered by government agencies of services that may be utilized by clients but may not be offered by the provider. These linkage services must include but are not limited to: housing, DHS Services: WIC; TANF; Medicaid; SNAP; healthcare; childcare, the DCFS Extended Family Support Program, substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence. FAC providers will be listed and have access to the Statewide Provider Network.
Federal Authorization
N/A
Illinois Statue Authorization
N/A
Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization
N/A
Objective
Family Advocacy Services promote permanency by maintaining, strengthening and safeguarding the functioning of families to prevent substitute care placement; promote family reunification;
stabilize foster care placements; facilitate youth development; and ensure the safety, permanency and wellbeing of children.
All services are available to every FAC client including DCFS Alumni as appropriate. Family Advocacy Centers have no service time limits and can continue working with families long after DCFS involvement has ended. Family Advocacy Centers providers can serve individuals and families in and outside of the home. All Family Advocacy Services are free of Charge unless otherwise prescribed such as in groups for perpetrators of domestic violence and sex abuse.
UGA Program Terms
Review Grant Agreement for Terms and Conditions.
Eligible Applicants
Nonprofit Organizations; For-Profit Organizations; Government Organizations; Education Organizations;
Applicant Eligibility
All applicants will be considered. Please review Notice of Funding Opportunity for eligibility information specific to the grant program.
Beneficiary Eligibility
N/A
Types of Assistance
Project Grants
Subject / Service Area
Human Services
Credentials / Documentation
N/A
Preapplication Coordination
No prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or non-governmental units prior to the submission of a formal application to DCFS.
Application Procedures
Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Criteria Selecting Proposals
Proposals are selected based on the criteria listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Award Procedures
All applications must be submitted by the posted deadline. IDCFS staff conducts an initial review of all applications received for eligibility and GATA compliance. Reviewers may consist of DCFS GATA staff, division leadership, and other internal DCFS staff. Each proposal will be reviewed by a minimum of three reviewers. Proposals will be approved based on funding available.
While recommendations from the review team will be a key factor in funding decisions, the Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and considers the scores of the review team to be non-binding recommendations. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information.
The Department reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of awards (e.g., ensuring coverage of certain counties or service areas), client needs, and overall programmatic/financial risk assessments in its pre-award decisions.
Final award decisions will be made by the Director (or their designee). The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, locations, etc.
Funds are disbursed based on the schedule agreed upon and included within the Uniform Grant Agreement.
Deadlines
Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time
General expectation of the length of time between the application deadline and when an award is made is 30 calendar days.
Appeals
Competitive grant (and in some cases non-competitive) appeals are limited to an appeal related to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested.
Submission of Appeal
An appeal must be submitted in writing in accordance with the grant application document. An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days of Award denial.
The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following:
i. the name and address of the appealing party
ii. identification of the grant for which you are appealing the evaluation/review process
iii. a statement of reasons for the appeal
Response to Appeal
a. DCFS will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.
b. DCFS will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required.
c. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by DCFS within the time period set in the request.
Renewals
Grant awards are made annually with a maximum of two one-year renewals. A new application (either an initial or renewal) is required each year.
Uses and Restrictions
The FAC will serve 50% or more DCFS involved families as defined in the program plan. FAC providers are expected to maintain sufficient staff and client capacity to utilize at least 90% of their total Agreement amount. If 90% is not achieved, the Agreement will be subject to review.
Administrative Costs: Reimbursement of administrative costs may not exceed 20% of the costs of other services (20 ILCS 505/5a).
Funding allocated under this grant is intended to provide direct services to clients. It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget and should NOT exceed 20%. Administrative means those activities performed by staff and costs which are supportive of and required for project implementation for which there is no direct client contact such as fiscal staff; audit; clerical support; office rent, utilities, insurance; general office equipment etc. Program budgets and narratives will detail how all proposed expenditures are directly necessary for program implementation and will distinguish between Indirect/Direct Administrative and Direct Program expenses. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved.
Reports
Reports: The Provider will submit expenditure documentation forms in the format prescribed in the Program Plan.
Performance Data: The Provider may be required to submit performance data as prescribed in the Program Plan or as directed by the Department.
Audits: The Provider will be subjected to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 USC 7501-7507) and subject F of 2 CFR Part 200, and the audit rules set forth by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (30 ILCS 708/65).
Audits
Audits: The Provider will be subjected to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 USC 7501-7507) and subject F of 2 CFR Part 200, and the audit rules set forth by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (30 ILCS 708/65).
Records
The Provider must follow record retention requirements found in CFR 200.333 and the record retention rules as prescribed by the Department.
Account Identification
TBD
Obligations
PY - $7,097,845; CY - $7,824,895; BY - $7,824,895
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range: $71,750 - $1,211,842
In FY 2023, the range of grant award amounts was from $71,750 to $1,211,842 with an average of $172,139.
Program Accomplishments
It is anticipated that 31 project grants will be awarded in FY 2024.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
N/A
Regional or Local Assistance Location
N/A
Headquarters Office
406 East Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62701
FUNDING INFORMATION
Funding By Fiscal Year
FY 2019 : $5,429,315
FY 2020 : $7,500,000
FY 2021 : $7,097,845
FY 2022 : $7,097,845
FY 2023 : $7,824,895
FY 2025 : $11,975,946
Federal Funding
None
Notice of Funding Opportunities
| Agency ID | Award Range | Application Range |
TOP 5 ACTIVE AWARDS
Agency ID | Grantee Name | Start Date | End Date | Amount |
FAC-600453-6004539015 (YR2) | Family Focus | 07/01/2024 | 06/30/2025 | 1,387,188 |
FAC-567987-5679879015 (YR2) | Bella Ease | 07/01/2024 | 06/30/2025 | 690,926 |
FAC-565730-5657309015 (YR2) | Spanish Community Center | 07/01/2024 | 06/30/2025 | 653,823 |
FAC-096802-0968029045 (YR2) | Sinnissippi Centers, Inc. | 07/01/2024 | 06/30/2025 | 564,813 |
FAC-089121-0891219015 (YR2) | Crittenton Centers | 07/01/2024 | 06/30/2025 | 523,798 |