Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery

Executive Summary This program provides trauma-informed behavioral health interventions for youth and families to reduce the trauma impact and promote healing in communities most affected by firearm violence. Core service components include outreach, screening, care coordination, psychoeducation, non-clinical healing interventions, and community training with a primary focus on youth ages 14-17 (with the option of extending services to children, youth and young adults ages 6-24). The program operates in close partnership with clinical providers and other community organizations to engage with mental health interventions as needed and address social determinants of health. Funding Purpose The general purpose of this program’s funding is to strengthen Illinois’ behavioral health response in RPSA communities to address the strong correlation between exposure to firearm violence and adverse mental and behavioral health outcomes among high-risk youth (ages 14-17) and their families. Funding Priorities or Focus Areas IDHS is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity, and to prioritize and maximize diversity throughout its service provision process. This work involves addressing existing institutionalized inequities, aiming to create transformation, and operationalizing equity and racial justice. It also focuses on the creation of a culture of inclusivity for all regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.

NA

• Mental Health Community Services Act (405 ILCS 30/ Section (f))

• 59 Ill. Adm. Code 132.25 • 59 Ill. Admin, Code 132 (Rule 132), Section 132.150g

Program Description The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) and the IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) are working in partnership to enhance Illinois’s behavioral health response to communities throughout the state that are impacted disproportionately by firearm violence. To address the strong correlation between exposure to violence and detrimental behavioral and physical health outcomes, DBHR is launching Project LIGHTHOUSE to fund a coordinated menu of trauma-informed behavioral health services for high-risk youth and their families who have been exposed to high rates of firearm violence. LIGHTHOUSE stands for Leadership, Inspiration, Growth, Healing, Trauma recovery, Hope, Opportunity, Unity, Strength and Empowerment. A lighthouse guides people safely through storms and darkness; Project LIGHTHOUSE helps youth navigate through the storms of violence toward hope and healing. Eligible Service Areas The Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) (430 ILCS 69), signed into law in June 2021 and amended in November 2021, created the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention at IDHS. In accordance with RPSA, OFVP’s Firearm Violence Research Group identified 26 Chicago community areas and 16 communities throughout Greater Illinois with the highest concentration of firearm violence, based on their having the highest number of per capita and overall fatal/non-fatal firearm-shot victims, excluding self-inflicted incidents, from 2016 through 2020 (and reviewed and updated in 2024). These communities are referred to as RPSA communities and, for the purposes of this grant program, have been grouped geographically into sixteen Service Areas listed below. The Service Areas are ranked below in order of funding priority based on a data-driven analysis of the rates and volume of firearm violence in the RPSA communities represented in each Service Area. Service Area 01: West Side Chicago • Austin • East Garfield Park • Humboldt Park • North Lawndale • South Lawndale • West Garfield Park Service Area 02: South Side Chicago • Burnside • Fuller Park • Greater Grand Crossing • South Deering • South Shore • Washington Park • Woodlawn Service Area 03: Far Southeast Side Chicago • Chatham • Riverdale • Roseland • South Chicago • West Pullman Service Area 04: Southwest Side Chicago • Chicago Lawn • Englewood • New City • West Englewood • Southwest Side Cluster (comprised of Brighton Park, Gage Park, Lower West Side, McKinley Park and Near West Side) Service Area 05: Far Southwest Side Chicago • Ashburn • Auburn Gresham Service Area 06: North Side Chicago • Northside Cluster (comprised of Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Logan Square, Avondale, Irving Park, Albany Park, Near North Side and West Town) Service Area 07: South Suburban Chicago • Calumet City Cluster (comprised of Calumet City, Harvey, Dolton, Riverdale, South Holland, Markham and Lansing) • Chicago Heights Cluster (comprised of Chicago Heights, Park Forest and Sauk Village) Service Area 08: West Suburban Chicago • Aurora • Berwyn-Cicero Cluster (comprised of Berwyn and Cicero) • Maywood-Bellwood Cluster (comprised of Maywood and Bellwood) Service Area 09: Decatur and Springfield Service Area 10: Peoria and Rock Island Service Area 11: Belleville Cluster (comprised of Belleville, East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights) Service Area 12: Rockford Service Area 13: Joliet and Kankakee Service Area 14: Urbana-Champaign Cluster Service Area 15: Waukegan-North Chicago Cluster Service Area 16: Danville DBHR aims to cover as many Service Areas as possible through this grant program as prioritized and ranked above. Applicants will determine which Service Area they propose to serve and may propose to serve a Service Area in whole or in part. If an agency opts to serve multiple Service Areas (in whole or in part), a separate application packet must be submitted for each Service Area, and each application will be scored and considered separately. Applicants should be realistic about the scope of the area they aim to cover and their capacity to fully serve that area. Eligible Populations Individuals eligible to be served through Project LIGHTHOUSE are children, youth and young adults (ages 6 to 24 years old) who (1) reside in or attend school in one of the eligible Service Areas; and (2) have been physically or otherwise harmed by firearm violence or are determined through screening to be at highest risk of harm by firearm violence. Grantees must serve youth ages 14-17 through this program and may choose to extend the age range of eligible individuals to include children and/or young adults along the age range of 6 to 24 years. Services should also be provided to the eligible individuals’ caregiver(s) or other family members. Performance Requirements Through this grant program, DBHR is investing in those living and attending school in environments with the highest risk factors for gun violence within the City of Chicago and throughout Greater Illinois by providing services that are both informed by and competent to address traumatic experiences. Project LIGHTHOUSE aims to provide an array of services and supports to minimize the impact of community violence exposure on high-risk youth. DBHR is seeking applications from organizations to provide all of the following services within all or part of a Service Area. Each required service listed below is described in more detail in the following sections: • Outreach • Screening • Care coordination, including resource navigation and service linkage • Psychoeducation including but not limited to Psychological First Aid • Non-clinical healing services • Community training focused on recognizing and reacting to signs of trauma Outreach To raise awareness of available services and increase the percentage of eligible youth who are referred to Project LIGHTHOUSE, each grantee is expected to promote their programming in the community, through partnerships with faith-based organizations, schools, law enforcement, youth-serving organizations, Community Mental Health Centers, Behavioral Health Clinics, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and general outreach (e.g. places not otherwise specified). In addition, grantees must establish relationships with grantees of other DBHR and OFVP programs that are expected to serve as primary referral sources to Project LIGHTHOUSE, including the following: • OFVP-funded Reimagine Youth Development (RYD) programs. RYD offers after-school and summer programming to at-risk youth residing and attending school in eligible Chicago communities. • OFVP-funded violence prevention service organizations. See the OFVP website (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=139077) for a list and description of all RPSA/OFVP-funded programs. • DBHR-funded Mental Health Response Leads (MHRLs) through DBHR Program 510-FRFV (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=176763). In Fiscal Year 2027, MHRLs will coordinate with OFVP-funded Conveners to provide community mental health supports following mass violence incidents in Chicago RPSA communities. MHRL services may include opening a temporary Family Assistance Center, attending community activation events, providing psychoeducation (including Psychological First Aid) and mental health resources, and following up with impacted community members. MHRLs also serve as required members of the Community Response and Engagement Workgroups (CREWs) for each RPSA community area they serve. A list of current MHRLs can be requested from DBHR. Finally, grantees must collaborate with each CREW in their proposed Service Area. CREWs are led by OFVP-funded Conveners and promote effective coordination among violence prevention, mental health, and youth development providers. Grantees are expected to: (a) participate in monthly CREW-convened meetings; and (b) meet on an emergency basis to address conflicts requiring immediate attention. Screening Grantees are expected to administer one or more screening tools intended to 1) identify youth (and children and young adults, if the grantee proposes to serve participants beyond 14-17 years of age) who are in need of a referral to clinical services provided by a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP as defined in 59 Ill. Adm. Code 132.25) or higher credential; 2) identify the risk and protective factors of the program participant; and 3) determine fit with Project LIGHTHOUSE. The grantee may include other priorities or goals in the screening process. Each program participant must be screened, using a validated, approved screening tool(s). The information obtained from the screening process will inform the individualized case plan to be developed for each participant. The selected screening tool(s) must assess risk and protective factors, including trauma histories (e.g., previous victimization, trauma associated with community violence, multiple traumas, and adverse childhood events experienced at the individual, family, community, social, and environmental levels); adapting to trauma; common factors associated with mental health conditions/problems (e.g. post-traumatic stress, sleep quality, adverse childhood experiences, coping skills, natural resources and supports); active or previous criminal or justice-system involvement; exhibiting violent behavior (including online); and other risk factors such as family violence and school disengagement. Trauma screening serves as a brief, focused inquiry to determine whether an individual has experienced one or more traumatic events and has specific behavioral health needs related to that traumatic event. Examples of validated screening tools that could be used for this purpose include Pediatric ACEs and Related Life Events Screener (PEARLS), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth. The screening tools listed here should be considered examples of validated screening tools. Applicants may choose to use other tools not listed, but all tools are subject to prior approval by DBHR. Screening can occur as a part of outreach activities in the field or as a first step in enrolling program participants. Screening can be conducted by both clinical and non-clinical professionals such as care coordinators, community health educators, or other program staff. Grantees must ensure that staff responsible for completing screenings receive adequate and ongoing training with regard to administering the screening tool(s). Trauma screening should be brief and administered widely to youth and families to help determine whether they should be referred to a more comprehensive mental health assessment. Grantees must implement trauma-informed screening best practices to identify individuals who would benefit from Project LIGHTHOUSE services without re-traumatization or processes that create barriers to service engagement. Care Coordination Each program participant must have a documented case plan established between the grantee and the program participant and include the parent/caregiver where possible. The case plan will be developed based on the results of the screening administered to the program participant. The case plan is individualized to the participant’s particular needs and will include goals and outcomes developed with and on behalf of the individual as well as services necessary to accomplish those goals. The case plan must be monitored by someone fulfilling the role of a care coordinator who assumes full responsibility for care coordination activities. The case plan must be signed and dated by the youth (or young adult, if applicable), the care coordinator and the parent/guardian, where possible, and kept in the participant’s file. Grantees will maintain a confidential file on program participants which will include, at a minimum, the following information: (a) Demographic data; (b) Screening results; (c) Documentation of interventions; (d) Individualized case plan (e) Record of services provided; (f) Record of referrals made for additional services and whether the individual received services; and (f) Updates to the case plan including documented progress toward goals. As part of care coordination, grantees must also address the social determinants of health that may impact a program participant’s recovery outcomes. As such, grantees will assist families in accessing a variety of social supports including, for example, facilitating referrals for public benefits, housing and utility support, food assistance, employment assistance, economic supports (e.g. opportunities to learn skills that could lead to alleviating poverty), funeral and burial services, youth programming, health services, and additional mental health and substance-use related resources. Assisting clients and families with navigating these services helps to reduce active stress on families and increases the potential for individuals to focus on healing and recovery. While the services grantees are required to provide through this program are not billable to third-party payors, grantees must determine whether or not program participants are eligible for and enrolled in Medicaid, All Kids or private insurance. If a program participant is not enrolled, the grantee must assist the participant and their parent/caregiver, as appropriate, with obtaining health care coverage. DBHR funding must be utilized as the payer of last resort. Psychoeducation Grantees will provide developmentally appropriate psychoeducation with program participants, family members, or in groups to educate, normalize, and validate traumatic stress reactions and family experience. Providing psychoeducation is meant to reduce stigma, enhance awareness of symptoms of trauma, explore post-traumatic growth and resilience, and increase the likelihood that individuals who have experienced trauma will engage in further behavioral health interventions if needed. To capitalize on the benefits of community-centered healing, grantees should maximize group-based programming. Psychoeducation can also be provided in communities among groups in the aftermath of a traumatic event. For example, a grantee may choose to utilize community level models, like Psychological First Aid (PFA) or an equivalent model, to aid in the aftermath of a shooting. Non-Clinical Healing Services Healing services are essential to this program and are defined as non-clinical activities designed to reduce, mitigate, or respond to psychological injuries (i.e. trauma). Healing services may be delivered on an individual or group basis and include program participants and family members, as determined by participant, family and cultural needs. Examples of healing services include healing circles or restorative justice circles/sessions; strategies to improve grounding and coping skills, self-regulation and emotional intelligence skills; opportunities for post-traumatic growth; and other skills-building efforts intended to help participants cope with, and thrive, in the aftermath of traumatic experiences. While these skills are not inherently clinical or therapy, they are intended to be therapeutic. Grantees are expected to identify models rooted in evidence or rooted in existing support that are developmentally and culturally appropriate for the population groups the grantee intends to serve. Community Training Grantees will ensure that training opportunities are available to community members to raise community awareness about the following: Understanding signs and impact of trauma; recognizing symptoms of traumatic stress and traumatic growth; available mental health services; mental health misinformation and stigma surrounding mental health supports; and building resiliency and supporting well-being. MOU and Referrals for Behavioral Health Assessment and Clinical Interventions Each grantee must establish a formal relationship with a clinical provider who will accept referrals for eligible individuals who were referred to Project LIGHTHOUSE, and through screening were identified as needing more intensive, clinical interventions than Project LIGHTHOUSE provides. This clinical provider may be a Qualified Mental Health Professional (a QMHP, as defined by 59 Ill. Adm. Code 132.25) employed by the grantee organization if the grantee is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC), Behavioral Health Clinic (BHC), or Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). If the grantee is not a CMHC, BHC, or CCBHC, the organization must establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an external CMHC, BHC, CCBHC or an individual clinician eligible to work independently (i.e., a Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts or LPHA, as defined by 59 Ill. Adm. Code 132.25). The clinical provider, whether it is the grantee organization or a partner entity, must be able to bill third-party payors such as Medicaid or private insurance for eligible services delivered, including for behavioral health assessments and clinical services. The clinical provider must agree to the following: 1. Accept and respond to all referrals (regardless of health coverage) from Project LIGHTHOUSE of youth ages 14-17 (and children ages 6-13 and young adults ages 18-24, if the grantee opted to extend the age range of individuals eligible for the program) who were screened and determined to need more intensive, clinical interventions than Project LIGHTHOUSE provides. 2. Conduct a formal assessment of all referred individuals based on standard tools rooted in evidence and, at a minimum, assess for traumatic stress. The assessment process should include a clinical interview, standardized measures, and/or behavioral observations designed to gather an in-depth understanding of the nature, timing, and severity of traumatic events, the effects of those events, current trauma-related symptoms, and functional impairment. The assessment is designed to identify the therapeutic needs, if any, of the child, youth or young adult exposed to traumatic events. When appropriate, assessments should include a treatment plan for administering therapeutic services. More information on appropriate assessment approaches can be found at (https://www.nctsn.org/treatments-and-practices/screening-and-assessment#:~:text=Trauma%2DInformed%20Mental%20Health%20Assessment%20refers%20to%20a%20process%20that,%2C%20current%20trauma%2Drelated%20symptoms%2C) (Screening and Assessment, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network). 3. Based on the results of the assessment, provide clinical interventions intended to address and/or ameliorate trauma (e.g., exposure-based, safety-based, emotion regulation-based, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with appropriate cultural adaptations, etc.). The goal of therapeutic services is to provide comprehensive, developmentally appropriate, holistic interventions that are rooted in evidence for children, youth, young adults, and families who have experienced violence and trauma. Services can include individual or group psychotherapy, family therapy, grief counseling, mindfulness and relaxation-based treatments, art therapy, and other clinical and social interventions. All interventions should be appropriate from a cultural and developmental standpoint. More information on appropriate interventions can be found at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (https://www.nctsn.org/treatments-and-practices/trauma-treatments). 4. Share pertinent data with the grantee to track performance measures and standards. The grantee and their partner(s) may not charge any fees associated with program participation. The grantee may choose to enter into a subcontract agreement with the partnering clinical provider to offset the costs of therapeutic services that are not covered by a third party. However, grant funding must be utilized as the payer of last resort and can never be used for Medicaid services; grant funds are only to build capacity, not supplant Medicaid, All Kids or private insurance when program participants are eligible for enrollment in those programs. Staffing The grantee must budget for adequate staffing to implement the proposed program, including all required program components across the Service Area. At minimum, the grantee budget must include a 0.50 FTE Program Coordinator who is considered key personnel and will serve as the primary liaison to DBHR for administrative activities including data reporting and as the point of contact between DBHR and other grantee program staff. If during the project period, the recipient changes key personnel, the position requires prior approval by DBHR. Key personnel and staff selected for the program should reflect the diversity of the communities served. The applicant's staffing plan should ensure that the program roles listed below are fully covered. Program roles address the essential tasks of this program and related deliverables. As such, one individual (including the Program Coordinator) may fill one or more of the roles. For example, one position may fill the role of community engagement and outreach and participant screening. This staffing model is intended to help grantees integrate the program into existing agency/organization structures without the need to create entirely new positions for this grant program. • A role/position that is responsible for community engagement and outreach • A role/position that is responsible for care coordination, linkages and referral services • A role/position that is responsible for participant screening • A role/position that is responsible for psychoeducation • A role/position that is responsible for facilitating groups and non-clinical healing services • A role/position that is responsible for community training Grantees should ensure that all program staff are adequately trained to fulfill their assigned role(s). DBHR will provide related technical assistance and training to grantees, including on topics such as trauma competency, cultural competency, and utilizing screening tools, during monthly meetings (2.0 hours per meeting) with grantees. All grantee program staff are expected to attend the monthly meetings. Performance Measures For the purpose of the performance measures below, the term “individuals” refers to the individuals (age 6-24) who are the target population for Project LIGHTHOUSE. 1. Number of unduplicated individuals referred to Project LIGHTHOUSE 2. Number of unduplicated individuals screened for eligibility and fit for program participation 3. Number of unduplicated individuals screened and determined to be eligible and fit for program participation 4. Number of unduplicated individuals referred for clinical interventions 5. Number of unduplicated individuals enrolled in Project LIGHTHOUSE 6. Number of unduplicated individuals enrolled in Project LIGHTHOUSE who have not previously received services from grantee 7. Number of unduplicated individuals enrolled with a documented case plan created between the grantee and the program participant 8. Number of unduplicated individuals who received assistance accessing external social supports 9. Number of unduplicated individuals who participated in an interview for employment, volunteer activity or education activity as a result of program participation 10. Number of unduplicated individuals who received psychoeducation 11. Number of unduplicated family members who received psychoeducation 12. Number of non-clinical healing service activities provided 13. Number of unduplicated individuals who participated in non-clinical healing service activities 14. Number of unduplicated family members who participated in non-clinical healing service activities 15. Number of community trainings held 16. Number of unduplicated community training participants 17. Number of program staff employed 18. Number of program staff that attended at least 2 monthly meetings hosted by DBHR 19. Number of Community Response and Engagement Workgroup (CREW) meetings attended Data from Partnering Clinical Provider: 20. Number of unduplicated referrals received from Project LIGHTHOUSE for clinical interventions 21. Number of unduplicated individuals referred from Project LIGHTHOUSE for clinical interventions that received an assessment 22. Number of unduplicated individuals assessed and a treatment plan developed 23. Total number of unduplicated individuals who received treatment (year to date) 24. Total number of unduplicated individuals who achieved 50% or more of their treatment goals (year to date) Providers will be expected to report basic demographic and assessment result information for each participant/prospective participant, including, for example, race/ethnicity, age, gender, housing status and school status. Performance Standards 1. 90% or more of individuals referred to Project LIGHTHOUSE were screened for eligibility and fit for program participation 2. 90% or more of individuals referred for clinical interventions received an assessment 3. 90% or more of individuals assessed have a treatment plan developed 4. 80% or more of individuals with a treatment plan completed 50% or more of their treatment goals Cooperative Agreements Not Applicable.

Yes

(Grantor-Specific Terms) This Notice of State Award (NOSA) is not an agreement nor a guarantee of an agreement. IDHS will publish its agreements in the CSA Tracking System after the NOSA is accepted. A signed hard copy is not needed. You also have the option to decline. If your response(s) to the ICQ questions indicates a weakness in the identified area below, a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is required to be submitted to your cognizant agency after execution of the grant agreement. If IDHS is your Cognizant Agency, please send an email to DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@illinois.gov to begin communicating the direction and requirements of the CAP. The ICQ is grantee driven and encompasses all your state grant awards. Therefore, only one CAP is required per agency. The Merit Review is specific to each program. If your score from the Merit Review indicates a weakness in the identified area below, a CAP is required to be submitted to the Program Manager for this program, within 30 days of award. (Program-Specific Terms) The eligibility and program requirements outlined in this funding opportunity must be adhered to as the funded project is implemented. Grantees must comply with the milestones and deliverables, performance standards, performance measures, performance data collection and specific conditions as reflected in the grant agreement, DBHR Attachment B and Program Manual. Additional terms and/or conditions may be applied to this award if outstanding financial or programmatic compliance issues are identified by IDHS.

Government Organizations; Education Organizations; Public Housing Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; For-Profit Organizations; Small Businesses;

A. The applicant must meet the Registration, Pre-Qualification (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=149873), and any other Mandatory Requirements listed in this funding opportunity. 1. Applicants must provide the following information via the Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal) annually to be registered with the State of Illinois as an awardee: a. Organization Name and Contact Information b. Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN) c. Unique Identity Number (UEI) d. Organization Type 2. Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not prequalified prior to the due date of this application will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding. a. Unique Entity Identifiers and SAM.gov Registration. Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or State awarding agency that is exempt from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal or State awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) is required to: i. Be registered in SAM.gov (https://sam.gov/content/home) before the application due date. ii. Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) (https://www.fsd.gov/gsafsd_sp?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0038428&sys_kb_id=3fcba40b1b0a01d40ca4a97ae54bcbd7&spa=1) in its application. iii. Continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by the awarding agency. iv. The State Agency may not make an award until applicant has fully complied with all UEI and SAM.gov requirements. v. The State Agency may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied with all requirements and use that determination as a basis to award another applicant or applicants. b. Must be in “good standing” with the Illinois Secretary of State if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity’s organization type to be registered. c. Must not be on the Illinois Stop Payment List. d. Must not be on the SAM.gov Exclusion List. e. Must not be on the Medicaid Sanctions List B. Additional Eligibility Restrictions (i.e. Geographic Area) 1. Geographic Areas listed in the Objective Section above. C. Successful Applicants will not receive an award if pre-award requirements (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=149875) are not met. Qualified status is re-verified nightly. If the entity’s status changes, an email notice is sent to the designated entity representative with a link to the Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal) D. Other factors that would disqualify an applicant or application include: 1. Not Applicable. E. More than one application per entity is permitted. One application per Services Areas defined in the Objective Section above.

NA

Direct Payments for Specific Use

Human Services

NA

A. Required Content of Application 1. Applications must include the required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. Applicants that do not include all the following documents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding. B. Actions needed prior to applying: 1. Applicants must be registered with the State of Illinois and Pre-qualified in the GATA portal prior to applying for Illinois awards. Instructions for creating an account and registering are located at the following link: Illinois GATA Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal). Additionally, detailed instructions for registration and prequalification requirements, including the expected amount of time for completion are located here: Grant Applicant Pre-Qualification and Pre-Award Requirements (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27896/documents/Grants/Grant Applicant Pre-Qualification and Pre-Award Requirements_041223.pdf). 2. Registration in CSA is required. The Community Service Agreements (CSA) Tracking System (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=61069) is the system the IDHS utilizes for approving budgets and issuing grant awards. It is strongly recommended that if an applicant entity is not already registered in the CSA Tracking System, they should begin the registration as soon as possible so they may submit a signed budget in CSA. Successful applicants will NOT be issued an award without a fully approved budget in the CSA Tracking System. 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) a. Each Applicant Must: i. Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting its application; ii. Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in its application; and iii. Continue to maintain an active registration in SAM.gov with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration. b. The Department may not make an award until applicant has fully complied to all UEI and SAM.gov Requirements c. The department may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied to requirements and use that determination as a basis to award to another applicant. d. If individuals are eligible to apply, they are exempt from this requirement under 2 CFR 25.110(b). i. Individuals are not eligible to apply. C. Pre-application materials must be submitted as follows: 1. Not Applicable.

1. Address to Request Application Package A. The complete application package (this Notice of Funding Opportunity, including links to required forms) is available through the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance and the Mental Health Grants – FY 2027 website (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=176617). B. Each Applicant must have access to the internet. The Department’s website will contain information regarding the NOFO and materials necessary for submission. Questions and answers will also be posted on the Department’s website as described in this announcement (Section I (D) 2). It is the responsibility of each applicant to monitor the website and comply with any instructions or requirements related to the NOFO. 2. Submission Dates and Times A. Full applications are due on 08/27/2026 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Central Time. B. Missed Deadlines i. Applications received after the due date and time will not be considered for review or funding. All applicants/applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be separately notified in writing, by email, upon determination. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification. ii. For your records, please keep a copy of your submission with the date and time the application was submitted along with the email address to which it was sent. The deadline will be strictly enforced. iii. IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended that the applicant not wait until the last minute to submit an application in case they experience technical difficulties with the submission process. Applicants should keep copies of all documentation that that may prove their application was submitted to the correct location and that it was received by IDHS on or before the deadline. Applicants should also maintain all electronic documentation, including screen shots, email correspondence, help desk ticket numbers, etc. that would document any unforeseen difficulties the applicant may have encountered regarding the timely submission of the application. 3. The Methods for submitting the application: Submission Instructions A. Applicants must electronically submit, via email, the complete application packet which includes the following materials as separate pdf documents: i. Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance ii. Project Narrative iii. Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure iv. Budget (entered into the CSA Tracking System as described in section (IV)(A)(4) v. Subcontractor Budgets, if applicable vi. Advance Payment Request Cash Budget Form (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/onenetlibrary/12/documents/Forms/444985-202405.pdf, submit as a separate attachment (no submission will result in default to Reimbursement Method). B. Applications must be submitted via email to DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@illinois.gov. The application will be electronically time-stamped upon receipt. Application submissions or delivery to any other email address or contact, including other IDHS offices or employees, will not be considered for review or funding. Applications will not be accepted if received by fax machine, hard copy, disk, or thumb drive. C. Include the following in the subject line: i. Your Entity Name ii. Program 640 Youth Project LIGHTHOUSE Program D. Documents must NOT include a password. E. Software or Electronic Capabilities i. Each applicant must have access to the internet. The Department's website will contain information regarding the NOFO and materials necessary for submission. Questions and answers will also be posted on the Department's website as described in this announcement. It is the responsibility of each applicant to monitor that website and comply with any instructions or requirements relating to the NOFO. F. Applicants are required to notify the Department within 48 hours of the deadline, if they did not receive an email notifying them that their application was received. If the applicant does not receive an email and does not notify the Department within 48 hours, their application will be considered a late submission and will NOT be reviewed or scored. The applicant will NOT have the right to protest the submission/receipt of their application to the Department after 48 hours. In the event of a dispute the applicant bears the burden of proof that the application was received on time at the email location listed above (and that the budget was submitted into the CSA Tracking System on time). G. For this NOFO, DBHR will prescreen applications submitted at least seven calendar days before the application deadline (on or before 08/20/2026 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Central Time) for administrative completeness and specified curable errors. Early submission is optional. The prescreening will not include substantive advice or evaluation of the application and will not affect the merit review or scoring process. DBHR will notify the applicant of any identified curable errors in accordance with the process and timeframe stated in this NOFO (within 2 business days). The applicant remains responsible for submitting a complete application by the application deadline. For your internal use, you can use the NOFO checklist to ensure all application components are included. 4. If you are experiencing system problems or technical difficulties submitting your application, you may contact: A. Name: Barb Roberson B. Email: DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@illinois.gov 5. Intergovernmental Review A. This funding opportunity is NOT subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” 6. Program Narrative Content and Attachments A. Program Narrative: The program narrative makes up the bulk of the application. Please provide a complete response as specified in Section Criteria Selecting Proposals. If the program narrative is missing from your application packet, your application will receive a score of zero points, and your agency will not meet the criteria to receive a grant under this notice of funding opportunity. B. Program Narrative Content and Attachments: If the applicant believes that the subject has been adequately addressed in another part of the application narrative, then provide the cross-reference to the appropriate part of the narrative. If a cross-reference is not included in the section, the reviewer will not consider content contained within that specific section. 7. Budget and Budget Narrative A. Applicants must enter an FY27 budget electronically in the CSA Tracking System. B. Budget must be electronically signed and submitted in the CSA Tracking System. Budget must be signed by the Provider's Chief Executive Officer and/or Chief Financial Officer. C. IMPORTANT: Please be sure budget status in CSA says "GATA Budget signed and submitted to program review." This status will appear after the budget is electronically signed by the agency CEO or CFO and submitted to IDHS. See IDHS CSA Tracking System webpage for additional information on CSA at IDHS: CSA Tracking System (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=61069). A copy is not to be submitted along with the application packet. A separate budget and budget narrative must be completed, for each Service Area for which you are applying. Under “Grant Suffix” Column in CSA you must include the suffix listed. i. The Service Areas and suffixes are as follows: • Service Area 01: West Side Chicago – Suffix A01 • Service Area 02: South Side Chicago – Suffix A02 • Service Area 03: Far Southeast Side Chicago – Suffix A03 • Service Area 04: Southwest Side Chicago – Suffix A04 • Service Area 05: Far Southwest Side Chicago – Suffix A05 • Service Area 06: North Side Chicago – Suffix A06 • Service Area 07: South Suburban Chicago – Suffix A07 • Service Area 08: West Suburban Chicago – Suffix A08 • Service Area 09: Decatur and Springfield – Suffix 09 • Service Area 10: Peoria and Rock Island – Suffix A10 • Service Area 11: Belleville Cluster – Suffix A11 • Service Area 12: Rockford – Suffix A12 • Service Area 13: Joliet and Kankakee – Suffix A13 • Service Area 14: Urbana-Champaign Cluster – Suffix A14 • Service Area 15: Waukegan-North Chicago Cluster - Suffix A15 • Service Area 16: Danville – Suffix A16 NOTE: The Suffix Must be used Service Areas are defined in Section III. Program Description D. The budget and narrative must tie fiscal activity to program objectives and deliverables and demonstrate that all proposed costs are: i. Reasonable and necessary ii. Allocable, and iii. Allowable as defined by program regulatory requirements and the Uniform Guidance (2CFR 200), as applicable. E. Deadline for submission of the budget, in the CSA Tracking System, is the same as the application deadline. F. Applicants will NOT be issued an award without the applicant’s fully approved budget in the CSA Tracking System. G. NOTE: The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is now disabling external Illinois.gov IDs if they have not been used for 114 days. If you receive the error "HPDIA0309W This account is disabled," your ID has been disabled and cannot be re-activated by changing your password. You need to contact the DoIT HelpDesk at [217-524-DoIT (3648) or 312-814-DoIT (3648)] or their website at Report A Problem (https://doit.illinois.gov/support/rap-step1.html). Request that they create an incident to re-enable your external ID. You will need to provide your external ID (firstname.lastname@external.illinois.gov) and the error message (this account is disabled). Please be sure to Reset Your Password (https://cmsapps.illinois.gov/adimprod/Reset/GatherIdentity.aspx) every 3 months so your account is not disabled. H. There is space when preparing the budget on each line item for the budget narrative. For each line in the budget the applicant will describe why each expenditure is necessary for program implementation and how the amount was determined. Please include cost allocations as necessary. The Budget narrative (including MTDC base exclusions as appropriate) must clearly identify indirect costs, direct program costs, direct administrative costs, and describe how the specified resources and personnel have been allocated for the tasks and activities within each line item. The budget should be prepared to reflect 9 months. I. Subcontractor budget(s), If applicable i. If applicant is planning to use a subcontractor, a separate copy of the subcontractor budget must be submitted for each application submitted as outlined above. ii. Subcontractor Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved by the DBHR and on file with the DBHR. Subcontractors are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant Agency shall retain sole responsibility for the performance and monitoring of the subcontractor. 8. Required Forms A. Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance: The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance is a three-page document used to formalize organization's request to apply for funding. Applicants must apply for each Service Area they propose to serve. A separate application and Program Narrative must be submitted for each Service Area. For example, if an applicant applies for funding for Service Area 01 and Service Area 02, two applications and two narratives must be submitted, one associated with each Service Area. i. The document requires the electronic or wet(ink) signature and email address of the organization's authorized representative. This email address will be used for official communication between the Department and the applicant organization for matters regarding this application. ii. Page one of the application is pre-populated with the appropriate information. Applicants must not complete anything on Page one. iii. On Page three, applicants will need to include the amount for the specific Service Area on each individual application which they are applying and sign. iv. There are separate applications for each Service Area. The correct application must be used. B. Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure - The grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=142947) is a required for all grant award programs. The document requires agencies to identify actual or potential conflicts of interest. The form must be signed by a representative of the organization. 9. Required Format A. The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined or points may be deducted. A Program Narrative for each Service Area is required using the Service Area and suffix numbers listed above. B. The department may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied to requirements and use that determination as a basis to award to another applicant. C. Each Program Narrative shall not exceed 12 pages. If there are more than 12 pages, the remaining pages will not be reviewed or scored. D. All documents must be typed using Times New Roman 12-point type, 100% magnification and use black typeface on a white background, Except for letterhead. E. For charts and tables only, Times New Roman 10-point with color may be used. F. Each Program Narrative must be typed, single-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides. G. Each submission must be on 8 1/2 x 11-inch page size using pdf. 10. Unallowable Costs A. All applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions, and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with federal statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of any applicable federal awards. B. Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1). C. Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activity(ies) contained in the scope of work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200. It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation. D. Unallowable costs: Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1) to determine the appropriateness of costs. 11. Questions A. IDHS encourages inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from applicants. Questions and IDHS/DBHR Responses “Q&A " (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=179787 will be posted to the website. B. Deadline for Questions is August 20, 2026, 12:00 PM (Noon) Central Time and must be sent to: 1. Barb Roberson only to: DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@illinois.gov C. Questions about this NOFO will ONLY be accepted via email to: DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@illinois.gov. D. The subject line of the email MUST state: • 640 Youth Project LIGHTHOUSE Program - Question(s) 12. Mandatory Forms and Submissions A. Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=179786) NOTE: There are separate applications for each Service Area. The correct application must be used. B. Program Narrative C. Budget submitted in the CSA Tracking System D. Subcontractor Budget, if applicable submit as a separate attachment E. Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=142947) submit as a separate attachment F. Advance Payment Request Cash Budget (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/onenetlibrary/12/documents/Forms/444985-202405.pdf) submit as a separate attachment (no submission will result in default to Reimbursement Method)

1. Responsiveness Review A. For this NOFO, DBHR will prescreen applications submitted at least seven calendar days before the application deadline (on or before 08/20/2026 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Central Time) for administrative completeness and specified curable errors. Early submission is optional. The prescreening will not include substantive advice or evaluation of the application and will not affect the merit review or scoring process. DBHR will notify the applicant of any identified curable errors in accordance with the process and timeframe stated in this NOFO (within 2 business days). The applicant remains responsible for submitting a complete application by the application deadline. For your internal use, you can use the NOFO checklist https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=179916 to ensure all application components are included. B. The following are the criteria that must be met for eligibility: i. Applicant has a current registration with the State of Illinois in the Grantee Portal. ii. Applicant has an active Sam.gov public account. iii. Applicant has an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) with Sam.gov iv. Applicant is in “good standing” with the Secretary of State. v. Applicant is not on the DHS Stop Payment List Service or the Illinois Stop Payment List. vi. Applicant is not on the Sam.gov Exclusion List. vii. Applicant is not on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List. viii. Program specific eligibility restrictions a. Not Applicable. C. Restrictions on eligibility for State awards are referenced in 44 Ill Admin Code 7000.70. Program specific eligibility restrictions are referenced in this Notice of Funding Opportunity. D. All applicants/applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be notified. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification. 2. Review Criteria A. Evaluation criteria are based upon requirements set forth in 44 Ill Admin Code 7000.350 Merit Review of Applications and the IDHS Merit Review Manual. The review criterion and sub-criterion include the following: i. Label each section of the Program Narrative utilizing the format provided below. It must be organized in the format outlined below or points may be deducted. Information must be provided in the section in which it is requested. ii. Please see Section IV(A)(6) as you are preparing the Program Narrative for the required format. The Program Narrative shall not exceed 12 pages. If there are more than 12 pages, the remaining pages will not be reviewed or scored. iii. To be successful in the application process, applicants must submit the following information as part of the grant application process. Please provide a complete response to the following sections: a. Need – Point Value 15 i. Indicate which Service Area the applicant is proposing to serve and whether they propose to serve the entire Service Area or a portion of the Service Area; if serving a portion of the RPSA Service Area, clearly state the boundaries of the geographic area to be served. (3 points) ii. Indicate what population(s) the applicant is proposing to serve; grantees must minimally serve youth ages 14-17 and their families and may opt to extend the age range to serve children as young as 6 years of age through young adults up to 24 years of age. (4 points) iii. Describe the need for this program in the Service Area. Include facts and evidence about the target population to be served and the current state of services in the Service Area that support the need for this grant program. (4 points) iv. Provide evidence that the applicant has a thorough understanding of the behavioral health needs of youth and families impacted by firearm violence. (4 points) b. Capacity - Point Value 25 i. Describe the applicant agency’s history and current experience working within the selected Service Area and serving high-risk youth. (5 points) ii. Describe the agency’s experience providing trauma-informed behavioral health services, including services for those impacted by firearm violence. (4 points) iii. Describe the applicant agency's experience engaging the community and developing partnerships/relationships with community leaders, schools, law enforcement, mental health agencies, residents, and other stakeholders within the selected Service Area. (5 points) iv. Describe the staffing plan for this project, including the number of staff, titles, licensures (if applicable), a brief description of program responsibilities for each and what required role(s) each position covers. Indicate who will serve as the required 0.50 FTE Program Coordinator. (5 points) v. Describe the applicant agency’s administrative and fiscal capacity to operate a successful program. (3 points) vi. Describe the applicant agency's readiness to begin providing services within 60 days of the contract start date. (3 points) c. Quality - Point Value 45 i. Provide a detailed description of each required service offered by the program, as listed below: ? Outreach, including the target population(s), frequency of outreach, and plan for building relationships with community partners and related OFVP- and DBHR-funded programs to generate referrals (5 points) ? Screening, including the target population(s), a description of the validated screening tool to be utilized, how it will be used and how staff will be trained on its use (5 points) ? Care coordination, including the target population(s), documenting case plans, resource navigation and linkage to external services (5 points) ? Psychoeducation, including the target population and plan for delivering to individuals and in groups (5 points) ? Non-clinical healing services, including the target population(s), length/duration of services, and how they will be developmentally and culturally appropriate for the population(s) served (5 points) ? Community training, including the target population(s), training topics, training mode (virtual or in-person) and length/frequency of training (5 points) ii. Describe the service locations and the applicant’s plan to ensure the services are geographically accessible to program participants (5 points) iii. Describe the formal relationship with and capacity of the clinical partner who will accept referrals, conduct a formal assessment of referred individuals, deliver clinical interventions and share data (7 points) iv. Describe the applicant’s plan to ensure participants are enrolled in third-party insurance when eligible (3 points) d. Data Collection, Evaluation and Reporting Criteria - - Point Value 15: i. Describe internal processes for monitoring service delivery and ensuring quality management (5 points) ii. Describe the agency's plan for tracking required performance measures and standards (5 points) iii. Describe how the agency will monitor the performance of the required clinical partner and how they will protect, share with, and collect data from the clinical partner. (5 points) e. Executive Summary – Not Scored • All competitive grant applications are subject to merit review. • Cost sharing will not be considered when evaluating the application. • IDHS/DBHR staff familiar with the requirements of the program will score and review the application package. • Review team members will have no conflicts of interest and will read and evaluate application packages independently. • Applications that fail to meet the criteria described in Section II. Eligibility will not be scored and/or considered for funding. • Applications must follow the instructions in Section V. Submission Requirements and Details. 3. Review and Selection Process • The process for evaluation of the application is as follows: i. The numerical score may not be the sole award criterion. ii. The Department reserves the right to consider other factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, and agency past performance as a state awardee, etc. iii. While the recommendation of the review panel will be a key factor in the funding decision, the Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and considers the findings of the reviewers to be non-binding recommendations. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information. • In the event of a tie with insufficient funding for all tied applications, the Department may choose to elect one of the following options: i. Apply one or more of the additional factors for consideration described above to prioritize the applications; or ii. Partially fund each of the tied applications; or iii. Not fund any of the tied applications. • The Department reserves the right to negotiate with applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc. These negotiations do not obligate IDHS to provide funding, nor should an applicant draw any conclusions about the Department's intentions to fund or not fund the application. 4. Risk Review A. IDHS conducts risk assessments for all awardees, prior to the award being issued. i. An agency wide FY27 Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) is to be completed by the awardee within the Grantee Portal (https://grants.illinois.gov/portal) prior to the deadline listed below. The ICQ evaluates fiscal, administrative, and programmatic risk in the following categories: a. Quality of Management Systems b. Financial and Programmatic Reporting c. Ability to Effectively Implement Award Requirements d. Awardee Audits ii. The deadline to submit the FY27 ICQ is August 27, 2026, 12:00 PM (Noon) Central Time iii. A program specific Programmatic Risk Assessment conducted by the awarding agency to evaluate the following categories: a. Programmatic financial stability b. Management systems and standards that would affect the program. c. Programmatic audit and monitoring findings d. Ability to effectively implement program requirements. e. External partnerships f. Programmatic reporting iv. Risk assessments are not intended to be punitive in nature, rather they are conducted in order to evaluate the support, technical assistance, and training that may be needed for the awardee and the level of monitoring that is needed for the award. a. Risk assessments may result in Specific Conditions being placed on the award to include more frequent monitoring or the implementation of a corrective action plan. B. Simplified Acquisition Threshold - Federal and State awards i. It is anticipated that grants under this award may receive an award over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (as defined in in 48 CFR part 2, subpart 2.1 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-48/chapter-1/subchapter-A/part-2/subpart-2.1; the dollar amount set by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), currently at $250,000 (with some exceptions)). Potential grantees under this notice of funding opportunity may receive an award in excess $250,000. Therefore, the grantee is subject to the simplified acquisition threshold and related requirements. a. Prior to making an award with a total amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, IDHS is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov. (Currently FAPIIS) (See 41 U.S.C. 2313 (https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/41/2313)). b. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM.gov and comment on any information about itself that a State or Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov. c. IDHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicants’ integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under State and Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.206 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.206).

The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award. Anticipated Start Date and Periods of Performance for new grant awards A. Subject to appropriation, the grant period will begin no sooner than 10/01/2026 and will continue through 06/30/2027. State Award Notices A. Applicants recommended for funding under this NOFO following the review and selection process will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA). The NOSA shall include: i. Grant award amount ii. The terms and conditions of the award iii. Specific conditions, if any, assigned to the applicant based on the fiscal and administrative risk assessment (ICQ), programmatic risk assessments (PRA), and the Merit Review. B. Note: The Department cannot issue a NOSA until the successful applicant has an FY27 approved budget entered into the CSA Tracking System. The applicant shall receive the NOSA through the Grantee Portal. The NOSA must be accepted/declined by the grants officer (or equivalent). This NOSA effectively accepts the state award amount and all conditions set forth within the notice. The NOSA is the document authorizing the department to proceed with issuing an agreement. The Agency NOSA must be remitted within the Grantee Portal. C. The NOSA is NOT an authorization to begin performance (to the extent that it allows charging to State awards of pre-award costs; pre-award costs are incurred at the non-State entities own risk unless they have received written prior approval to begin performance). D. The authorizing document to begin performance is the fully executed Uniform Grant Agreement (UGA) signed by the grants officer, or equivalent. This is the official document that obligates funds. The UGA is sent to the non-State entity via the CSA Tracking System. The non-State entity will print and sign the signature page of the UGA and return signature page to DHS.OCA.SignaturePages@illinois.gov. A final signed copy of the UGA will be provided to the non-State entity via an upload into the CSA Tracking system. E. Applicants who are not eligible due to registration or pre-qualification issues, or late applications will be notified that they are ineligible for consideration when their application is processed. F. A written Notice of Denial shall be sent to the applicants not receiving an award following the Merit Review process. Administrative and National Policy Requirements A. The agency awarded funds shall provide services as set forth in the IDHS grant agreement and shall act in accordance with all State and Federal statutes and administrative rules applicable to the provision of the services. B. You can find a sample of the grant agreement at IDHS Uniform Grant Agreement (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29741). C. Payment Terms i. It is the policy of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) that this policy complies with 2 CFR 200.302, 2 CFR 200.305, 31 CFR 205 (Procedures implementing the Cash Management Improvement Act and Treasury State Agreement (TSA)) and 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.120 (GOMB Adoption of Supplemental Rules for Grant Payment Methods). Three different award payment methods exist, namely Advance Payment, Reimbursement, and Working Capital Advance (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=140492). ii. Grantees selecting the Advance Payment Method, or the Working Capital Advance Payment Method must complete the Advance Payment Request Cash Budget Template as described in the procedures above. In addition, please note: If you will be submitting the Advance Payment Request Cash Budget, it must be submitted with the application materials as a separate document. iii. The Monthly Invoice IL444-5257 Template must be used for all DBHR programs and submitted no later than 15 days after the end of the month. All invoices shall be HIIPA compliant and encrypted utilizing DHS approved encryption software and emailed to DBHR at the email address listed above. iv. Invoice and PFR Email Address for General Grants: DHS.DBHR.QuarterlyReports@illinois.gov v. Invoice and PFR Email Address for Williams Consent Decree: DHS.DBHR.WilliamsInvoices@illinois.gov vi. Invoice and PFR Email Address for Colbert Consent Decree: DHS.DBHR.ColbertInvoices@illinois.gov vii. PPR and PRTP Email Address for All Grants: DHS.DBHR.QuarterlyReports@illinois.gov D. Payment Forms i. Monthly Invoice (IL444-5257) (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=95429) ii. Advance Payment Request Cash Budget Form (IL444-4985) (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/onenetlibrary/12/documents/Forms/444985-202405.pdf) submit as a separate attachment (no submission will result in default to Reimbursement Method).

The Department must receive the Full Application Packet: Due on 08/27/2026 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) Central Time

60 - 90 days

Merit Review Appeal Process A. Competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal and shall be reviewed by IDHS' Appeal Review Officer (ARO). Submission of Appeal A. Appeals submission IDHS contact information: i. Name of Agency contact for appeals: Barb Roberson ii. Email of Agency contact for appeals: DHS.DBHR.GrantApp@illinois.gov iii. Email Subject Line: Applicant Name - 640 Youth Project LIGHTHOUSE Program - Appeal B. An appeal must be submitted in writing to the appeals submission IDHS contact listed above, who will send it to the IDHS Appeal Review Officer (ARO) for consideration. C. An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days after the date the Notice of Non-Selection was sent. D. The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following: i. Name and address of the appealing party ii. Identification of the grant iii. Statement of reasons for the appeal iv. Supporting documentation, if applicable Response to Appeal A. IDHS will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received. B. IDHS 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 IDHS within the time period set in the request. Resolution A. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Agency Head or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant requested information. B. In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the State Agency. C. The Agency will resolve the appeal by means of written determination. D. The determination shall include, but not be limited to: i. Review of the appeal. ii. Appeal determination. iii. Rationale for the determination.

A. Applications for renewals of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new State awards. B. Successful applicants under this NOFO may be eligible to receive two subsequent one-year grant renewals for this program. Renewals are at the discretion of the Department and are based on sufficient appropriation and performance criteria including but not limited to. i. Grantee has performed satisfactorily during the previous reporting period. ii. All required reports have been submitted on time, unless a written exception has been provided by the Division/Department. iii. No outstanding issues are present (e.g., in good standing with all pre-qualification requirements and no outstanding corrective action, etc.).

Cost Sharing or Match Requirements A. Providers are not required to participate in cost sharing or provide match.

Pre-Award Costs A. Pre-award costs are not allowable. B. IDHS grants are governed by 2 CFR. Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles and 30 ILCS 708 which include information on allowable costs, audit requirements, and financial records.

A. Reporting, upon execution, of the grant agreement shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the UGA and related exhibits which include but is not limited to the following: 1. Periodic Financial Reports submitted electronically in accordance with instructions in the UGA no more frequent than quarterly and no less frequent than annually, unless unusual circumstances exist. 2. Periodic Programmatic Reports submitted electronically in accordance with instructions in the UGA no more frequent than quarterly and no less frequent than annually, unless unusual circumstances exist. 3. Close-out Performance Reports and Financial Reports as instructed in the UGA. 4. Other Unique Programmatic Reporting Requirements: additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by the Department and in the format prescribed by the Department. 5. If the State share of any State award may include more than $500,000 over the period of performance applicants are also subject to the reporting requirements reflected in Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200. Noncompliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop-Payment List. 6. Non-compliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop Payment List (SSPL). Grantee shall submit these reports) to the appropriate email address listed below. Reported expenses should be consistent with the approved annual grant budget. Any expenditure variances require prior Grantor approval in accordance with Article VI of the UGA to be reimbursable. • PFR Email Address for General Grants: DHS.DBHR.QuarterlyReports@illinois.gov • PFR Email Address for Williams Consent Decree: DHS.DBHR.WilliamsInvoices@illinois.gov • PFR Email Address for Colbert Consent Decree: DHS.DBHR.ColbertInvoices@illinois.gov • PPR and PRTP Email Address for All Grants: DHS.DBHR.QuarterlyReports@illinois.gov 7. DBHR reporting templates and detailed instructions for submitting reports can be found in the Provider section of the IDHS website (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/?item=27893).

See JCAR Title 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.90 Auditing Standards

See JCAR Title 44 Illinois Administrative Code 7000.430 Record Retention

The source of funding for this program is State funds.

The Department expects to award approximately $4,500,000.

Number of Grant Awards a. The Department anticipates funding approximately 16 grant awards to provide this program. Expected Dollar Amount of Individual Grant Awards a. The Department anticipates that the dollar amount of individual awards will average $280,000. Amount of Funding per Grant Award on average in previous years a. Not Applicable

NA

Title 59: Mental Health of the Administrative Code

NA

IL Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery

Program Websites • Mental Health Grants – FY2027 https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=176617 • IDHS website: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/ • Community Service Agreements (CSA) Tracking System: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=61069 • Centralized Repository Vault (CRV): https://vault.dhs.illinois.gov/crvsecure/crv • GATA Learning Management System (LMS): https://gata.illinois.gov/training.html

Grantees must coordinate with these related programs: • OFVP-funded Reimagine Youth Development (RYD) programs. RYD offers after-school and summer programming to at-risk youth residing and attending school in eligible Chicago service areas. • OFVP-funded violence prevention service organizations. See the OFVP website (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=139077) for a list and description of all RPSA/OFVP-funded programs. • DBHR-funded Mental Health Response Leads (MHRLs) through DBHR Program 510-FRFV (https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=176763).

NA

7/29/2026

None

FY 2027 : $4,500,000