AVA

Birth Parent Mentors are peer mentors who have experienced involvement with DCFS and the juvenile court system. The Birth Parent Mentor program provides training, guidance, and support to birth parents currently involved with DCFS and the juvenile court process. The program assists birth parent(s) who are working toward reunification by providing birth parents with the knowledge and understanding to achieve family permanency. The Birth Parent Mentor Program will identify birth parents who are new to the juvenile court system through a referral process. The Birth Parent Mentor will meet with birth parents to provide support and guidance, answer questions, listen to the parent’s concerns, and assist with preparation for court. The Birth Parent Mentor will provide birth parents with the Birth Parent Resource Guide and discuss the vital importance of their participation in recommended services. They will share information and encourage birth parents to become active members in the service plan process. Birth Parent Mentors will also encourage birth parents to become active in the Partnering with Parents Program and will make a referral to the local birth parent chapter group.

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The Birth Parent Mentor program will demonstrate effectiveness and value to the Department using a peer to peer relationship building model utilizing mentors as relationship builders The Birth Parent Mentor program will assist parents involved with court and DCFS as a way to navigate the system to assist with achieving successful outcomes for their families.

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Review Grant Agreement for Terms and Conditions.

Government Organizations; Education Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; Small Businesses;

All applicants that meet the eligibility requirements as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be considered.

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Project Grants

Human Services

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No prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or non-governmental units prior to the submission of a formal application to DCFS.

Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Proposals are selected based on the criteria listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

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. 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. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information. 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.

Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

General expectation of the length of time between the application deadline and when an award is made is 30 calendar days.

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.

Two one-fiscal year renewals of initial grant award agreements are allowable (i.e., a grant award agreement length of three-fiscal years maximum). A new Uniform Grant Application (either through the initial NOFO application or multi-year renewal) is required each year.

Match: Matching funds are not required for this grant program. Refer to Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for further information.

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: 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).

All grantees must follow Title 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90 (Auditing Standards).

The Provider must follow record retention requirements found in CFR 200.333 and record retention rules as prescribed by the Department.

TBD

CY - $275,568, BY - $275,568

TBD

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406 East Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62701

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FY 2026 : $275,568