The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), through the Office of Workforce Development and the Bureau of Employment and Training, is offering funding for the TANF Employment & Training - Parent Mentor Program. This grant supports a program designed to assist low-income parents, particularly African American and Latino individuals, in developing leadership skills, furthering their education, and improving employment opportunities while also fostering positive learning environments in schools. The program aims to provide stipends to parents who participate as mentors and tutors, ultimately increasing student learning outcomes and enhancing school engagement.

The funding opportunity provides one award with an estimated total program funding of $241,142. Individual awards will range up to $241,142, and the funding source is a combination of federal and state funds. No cost-sharing or matching is required, and indirect costs are allowed. The application period opens on March 19, 2025, and closes on April 21, 2025, at 11:59 PM Central Time. The anticipated award announcement date is May 15, 2025, with the program set to begin on July 1, 2025, and run through June 30, 2026.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit, community-based organizations (501(c)(3)), public community-based organizations, local government units, and community colleges. Applicants must be registered and prequalified with the State of Illinois through the Grantee Portal and meet other mandatory requirements, including active SAM.gov registration, compliance with Illinois Secretary of State requirements, and absence from the Illinois Stop Payment List and the SAM.gov Exclusion List. Additionally, applicants must have at least five years of experience providing similar services.

Applications must include several components, including a uniform application for state grant assistance, a program narrative, a budget submitted via the CSA system, a conflict of interest disclosure, and a W-9 form. Submissions must be emailed to DHS.ETNOFO@Illinois.gov, and applications will be reviewed based on merit. Evaluation criteria include an executive summary (5 points), need assessment (15 points), agency qualifications and capacity (35 points), program quality and design (35 points), and budget and budget narrative (10 points).

Performance expectations for the program include issuing stipends of $1,500 to parents who complete 100 hours of tutoring and mentoring services. Parents may receive an additional $1,500 stipend for another 100 hours, with a maximum of three stipends ($4,500 total) per parent. The program requires participants to be active TANF recipients or TANF-eligible individuals with minor dependent children and an income below 200% of the federal poverty level. The grantee is responsible for recruitment, eligibility verification, documentation, and reporting.

For inquiries, applicants may contact Charles Hopkins at DHS.ETNOFO@Illinois.gov. A frequently asked questions (FAQ) page will be available on the IDHS website, where applicants can submit questions up to five business days before the application deadline. Late applications will not be reviewed, and applicants must confirm receipt within 48 hours of submission. Awardees will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA), which must be signed before the final grant agreement is issued.