The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Developmental Disabilities, is offering the Family Advocate Program grant to provide family-to-family support for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. This program specifically supports individuals selected for services through the IDHS PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) List. The Family Advocate Program (FAP) aims to help individuals with I/DD and their families understand and access Waiver-funded community-based services and supports such as Home-Based Support Services (HBSS) and Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILA). The overarching goal is to ensure that individuals with I/DD can build full, integrated lives in their chosen homes and communities.

The grant, funded through state resources, has a total estimated funding of $500,000 and anticipates awarding between one and three grants. The award range is negotiable, with previous awards averaging $500,000. There are no cost-sharing or matching requirements. Indirect costs are allowed but require approval. The funding period begins no earlier than July 1, 2025, and continues through June 30, 2028, with potential annual renewals based on performance and available appropriations.

Eligible applicants include organizations with demonstrated experience in providing services to individuals with I/DD and their families. Applicants must meet pre-qualification requirements, including registration in SAM.gov, good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, and compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements. Additional criteria include demonstrated ability to meet program goals, prequalification in the Illinois GATA system, and absence from state or federal exclusion lists.

Applications must be submitted electronically by March 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CST. The application process includes the submission of a program narrative, a uniform application for state grant assistance, a conflict-of-interest disclosure, and a detailed budget entered into the state’s CSA system. The evaluation criteria will focus on the applicant’s understanding of the needs of individuals with I/DD, organizational capacity, quality of proposed services, and budget justification. Scoring will be based on factors such as need assessment (25 points), organizational capacity (25 points), quality of services (25 points), executive summary (15 points), and budget justification (10 points), totaling 100 points.

A technical assistance session will be held on February 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CST, with a registration link available on the IDHS website. Award decisions are anticipated by May 23, 2025. Successful applicants must comply with reporting and monitoring requirements, including periodic financial and performance reports. The program's performance indicators include tracking the number of individuals served, satisfaction surveys, outreach events, and engagement with community partners.