FCA

The Older Caregiver Project (OCP) helps to strengthen the support system that will assist senior caregivers as they continue to maintain the child(ren) in their care as part of the permanency process. In cases where this is not possible, OCP seeks to assist the extended family in making a new and more appropriate arrangement that ensures the safety, well-being and permanency of the child(ren). (1) Full Assessment: The integrated assessment will focus on both the parenting capacity of the older caregiver and the wellbeing of the child(ren). Older caregiver assessments will include the following areas: personal information; their support network, especially with the extended family; their parenting history; financial issues; housing issues; their physical and cognitive status; their capacity to complete tasks of daily living; and the quality of their relationship with the foster/adoptive children. The child welfare assessment will include the following areas: birth family history, circumstances of placement, permanency goal and current legal status; individual functioning of the child(ren); relationship to caregiver and other significant family members; and the extent to which the home environment supports the child. The optional financial assessment will consider the caregiver's economic status, assets, debts, credit history, sources of income, ongoing expenses, and ability to manage money. The optional housing evaluation will provide information on maintaining older caregivers in their existing residence. It will focus on (a) improvements needed to maintain the structural integrity of the residence, and (b) environmental modifications that make the home more user-friendly for seniors. As needed, consultation around housing relocation options will be provided. Based on the results of the multi-level assessment, recommendations will be developed to address identified needs. (2) A resource assessment is identified as a condensed version of the full assessment in which no recommendation for placements is made. In the resource assessment, the provider will assess the caregiver's interactions with the child and reach out to doctors and others providing health care needs and other references and make assessments of services needs. The provider will make referrals and will continue to assist the family post assessment if requested for an additional 3 months.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Services are to promote permanency by maintaining, strengthening and safeguarding the functioning of families to (1) prevent substitute care placements; (2) promote family reunification; (3) stabilize foster care placements; (4) facilitate youth development; and (5) ensure the safety, permanency and wellbeing of children.

Yes

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.

N/A

Project Grants

Human Services

N/A

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 - $565,764, BY - $565,764

TBD

N/A

N/A

N/A

406 East Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62701

N/A

N/A

N/A

FY 2026 : $565,764