The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is offering a funding opportunity titled Campaign to Advance Community Health Worker Workforce in Illinois – Phase 1. This grant aims to support the development of a comprehensive multi-year plan to promote and advance the community health worker (CHW) workforce in Illinois. The funding will be awarded to a lead organization capable of executing the planning phase, with potential future funding for implementation. The total available funding for Phase 1 is $25,000, with the possibility of up to $2,000,000 in non-competitive continuation grants for Phase 2, depending on the success of Phase 1 and available state funding.

The purpose of this funding is to develop a Campaign Plan that will increase workforce demand for CHWs while improving integration into public health, healthcare, and human services organizations. The plan should also enhance awareness of the CHW profession among current and prospective CHWs and conduct outreach programs to recruit a diverse cadre of CHWs. The deliverables for Phase 1 include a comprehensive strategic plan that outlines objectives, activities, a three-year timeline, potential partner organizations, and budget considerations. The lead organization must refine preliminary objectives, define outreach strategies, and ensure the plan is inclusive and equitable.

The grant is open to qualified organizations with a preference for not-for-profits that have a statewide reach, experience with CHW workforce development, and demonstrated capacity to manage large budgets and partnerships. Eligible applicants must register and prequalify through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) website before submitting an application. The application process requires completion of an online submission through IDPH's Electronic Grants Administration & Management System (EGrAMS) and includes a project narrative, work plan, and budget submission.

The evaluation criteria for grant applications include understanding of the project scope (10 points), organizational capacity (20 points), project planning and work plan (25 points), budget justification (5 points), project management approach (5 points), and health equity considerations (35 points). Applications must demonstrate a commitment to health equity, culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and addressing social determinants of health to improve workforce diversity and accessibility.

The grant has a mandatory technical assistance session scheduled for February 14, 2025, at 1:00 PM, which must be attended by applicants. The application period runs from February 10, 2025, to March 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM CST. The anticipated award announcement is set for April 7, 2025, and the program is expected to begin on May 1, 2025, concluding on June 30, 2025. The final campaign plan and financial report are due by July 30, 2025.

For further information, applicants may contact Sarahjini Nunn, the program manager, at sarahjini.r.nunn@illinois.gov or via phone at 217-785-4903 (desk) or 217-720-0939 (cell). Additional details and application submission can be accessed via https://idphgrants.com/user/home.aspx.