Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program is sponsored by Illinois Department on Aging. Provides support services to grandparents and older relatives raising grandchildren, including respite care and financial assistance.

FY25 - Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Program FY25 - Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Program The Illinois Department on Aging, through the Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Program (GRG), provides assistance to relatives, regardless of their age or income, who are raising children.

The term “grandparent or older individual who is a relative caregiver” means a grandparent or step grandparent of a child, or a relative of a child by blood, marriage or adoption. A Grandfamily is a family unit in which a grandparent is the head of household and is actively parenting one or more grandchild(ren). It’s a form of kinship care, in which a relative of a child takes over the parenting responsibilities.

Another name for these households is “skip-generation families,” and they are increasingly common. One main reason for the increase in Grandfamilies is substance abuse and alcoholism have created a need for grandparents to step in and parent their grandchildren. The opioid crisis has created a number of young parents who are unfit to parent and the numbers continue to increase.

There are a number of other drugs, as well as alcohol that have turned families upside down as children are neglected or abused by their addicted parents. The GRG program establishes and funds: • Counseling (includes training), • Develops resources through a competitive grant process. Area Agencies on Aging and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

Program personnel provides technical assistance to providers, refers relatives to services, and advocates on their behalf when they experience difficulty accessing services.

Program personnel collaborate with state agencies including the Departments of Human Services, Children and Family Services, Health Care and Family Services and Public Health, Area Agencies on Aging, private social service agencies, legal assistance programs, law schools and clinics, extension services, educational advocacy groups, information and referral services, hospitals, clinics, churches, schools, police, and social work organizations.

Each year, contingent upon General Revenue funding, the Department has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Aging Network and other non-profit organizations in child welfare, caregiving, legal services, respite, and social services systems. In FY 2023, a total of 19 grants were awarded, totaling $300,000. The number of relatives served: 1,130 were 55 or older; 373 were under the age of 55 and 1,938 children were assisted.

These funds assist relatives raising children regardless of their age or income. Funding provides diverse services such as respite, support groups, counseling (including training), legal, and gap-filling. This funding opportunity utilizes state funds through the State General Revenue Funds to provide assistance to grandparents/other relatives, regardless of their age or income, who are raising children.

Applicants of this funding opportunity must demonstrate how the funds will be used to enhance the GRG program in their area. Funds are to be used to assist grandparent(s)/other relatives in providing the following services: respite, support groups, counseling (including training), legal, and gap filling.

The Goal of GRG is to provide assistance to relatives who are seeking resources and referrals in their efforts to provide safe, stable and loving homes for children. rachael. baskett@illinois.

gov https://il. amplifund. com/Public/Opportunities/Details/932c9f84-81ed-4a08-9fdc-6d4bbe59a750 Funding Source Description This award uses state General Revenue Funds.

The intent of this award is to provide assistance to relatives, regardless of their age or income, who are raising children. The program establishes and funds legal services, respite, support groups, counseling, education/training, and gap-filling funds and develops resources through a competitive grant process. Area Agencies on Aging and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

The Department anticipates 15 to 25 awards for this NOFO. Any entity in good standing (no adverse contract action within the last 24 months, GATA registration completed and approved, no stop pay) with the Illinois Department on Aging/State of Illinois may apply for this award. The Department anticipates providing awards to entities in PSAs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

Final award amount shall be up to the discretion of the Department. Work performed or grant related costs incurred prior to the period of performance shall not be payable by the Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children Program or the Department. The Notice of State Award (NOSA) will indicate the start of the period of performance when executed.

PURCHASING OF GIFT CARDS OF ANY KIND IS NOT AN ALLOWABLE EXPENSE FOR THIS GRANT. Indirect Cost Description This grant shall not restrict indirect costs to the grant. The grantee shall either submit evidence of a federally negotiated rate, the rate as approved through the GATA Indirect Cost Rate System or accept the de minimis rate.

In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). There are three types of NICRAs: a) Federally Negotiated Rate. Organizations that receive direct federal funding, may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency.

Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federally NICRA. b) State Negotiated Rate.

The organization must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. Or the organization may elect to use the de minimis rate.

If an organization has not previously established in indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted to the State of Illinois through the indirect cost rate system, CARS, no later than three months after the effective date of the award.

If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must annually submit a new indirect cost proposal through CARS within six months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year. All grantees must complete an indirect cost rate negotiation or elect the de minimis rate in CARS to claim indirect costs.

Indirect costs claimed without an established negotiated rate or a de minimis rate election in CARS may be subject to disallowance. c) De minimis Rate. An organization that has never received a Federally Negotiated Rate may elect a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct cost (MTDC).

Once established, the de minimis rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate. The Department reserves the right to limit the amount and/or type of indirect costs that is allowed to be charged to this grant award.

For example, the cost of independent research and development, including their proportionate share of indirect costs, are unallowable under this grant award. Grantees have discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs. Grantees that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs.

The organization must record an election of “No Indirect Costs” into CARS. Restrictions on Indirect Costs Other Funding Requirement Allow Multiple Applications Other Submission Requirements Applicant must have met all pre-qualification requirements and have an approved Internal Controls Questionnaire prior to award.

Additionally, the Department reserves the right to not award to an Applicant if the entity is determined to be delinquent on audit submissions. Question Submission Information Question Submission Email Address rachael. baskett@illinois.

gov Technical Assistance Session Technical Assistance Session Others, Government Organizations, Education Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations Applicant Eligibility Information Beneficiary Eligibility Information Credentials Documentation Eligibility Information Additional Eligibility Information Awards shall be by geographic regions consistent with the 13 Planning and Service Areas (PSA) set forth by the Illinois Department on Aging.

See Illinois Area Agencies on Aging Map at this link: https://www2. illinois. gov/aging/forprofessionals/Pages/aaa_map.

aspx . Entities in PSAs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 may apply for this award. Award Administration Information A Notice of State Award (NOSA) shall be sent to each successful applicant using the GATA web-portal.

A Uniform Grant Agreement shall be sent to the Grantee once the awarded entity has signed the NOSA. The NOSA shall include estimated project start date, programmatic and financial special conditions. Administrative and National Policy Requirements The NOSAs shall include all necessary information regarding terms, conditions, and additional requirements of the resulting grants.

Grantees shall be required to submit financial and programmatic reports, minimally, for the following reporting periods: 4 reports: 1) July 1, 2024 - September 30, 2024, Report due October 31, 2024 2) October 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024, Report due January 31, 2025 3) January 1, 2025 – March 31, 2025, Report due April 30, 2025 4) April 1, 2025 – June 30, 2025, Report due July 31, 2025.

Grant reports shall be submitted using the GATA Periodic Performance Report, the GATA Periodic Financial Report, and supplemental GRG reporting documents as instructed by the Department. Reports will be submitted via e-mail to the GRG Program Manager and aging. fiscal@illinois.

gov must be copied. State Awarding Agency Contacts Questions regarding this NOFO shall be made to: Illinois Department on Aging One Natural Resources Way, Suite 100 Springfield, IL 62702-1271 rachael. baskett@illinois.

gov 1. The Department reserves the right to award to all, some, or none of the applicant entities for this funding opportunity. 2.

Availability of Appropriation; Sufficiency of Funds. This Agreement is contingent upon and subject to the availability of sufficient funds.

Grantor may terminate or suspend this Agreement, in whole or in part, without penalty or further payment being required, if (i) sufficient funds for this Agreement have not been appropriated or otherwise made available to the Grantor by the State or the Federal funding source, (ii) the Governor or Grantor reserves funds, or (iii) the Governor or Grantor determines that funds will not or may not be available for payment.

Grantor shall provide notice, in writing, to Grantee of any such funding failure and its election to terminate or suspend this Agreement as soon as practicable. Any suspension or termination pursuant to this Section will be effective upon the date of the written notice unless otherwise indicated. Applications shall be evaluated on a 184-point total system.

Sections of the applications are valued as follows: I. General Administrative- 40 points 1. Was the application received by the deadline listed in the NOFO?

2. Was the Uniform Grant Application completed? 3.

Was the Project Narrative completed? 4. Was Section D of the GRG application completed?

5. In Section E, for each service selected, did the applicant indicate the number of grandparents/other relatives and children to be served? 6.

Was Section F, Assurances completed? 7. Was Section G, Board Membership completed or were the members listed in the board membership attachment?

8. Did the applicant complete Section H? If the applicant marked No or N/A, did they explain their reason in the comment boxes?

Proposal must include the details on the activities the agency will complete for the GRG program to meet the objectives for the funding. Include information on program design, equipment lists and other documents to show the type, structure, and general character of the program or use for which grant funding is requested. 9.

Does the narrative provide sufficient detail for how and why the grantee chose respite service, if applicable? 10. Does the narrative provide sufficient detail for how and why the grantee chose legal service, if applicable?

11. Does the narrative provide sufficient detail for how and why the grantee chose support group(s), if applicable? 12.

Does the narrative provide sufficient detail for how and why the grantee chose counseling service, if applicable? 13. Does the narrative provide sufficient detail for how and why the grantee chose Gap Filling service, if applicable?

14. Does the narrative describe outreach policy to reach targeted populations by the grantee? 15.

Does the narrative provide sufficient detail for how the grantee shall secure community participation? 16. Does the narrative provide information on how the applicant plans to collaborate with the following state agencies: Department of Human Services/Child Only grant, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and Department of Children and Family Services/Extended Family Support Program?

17. Did the applicant use the local US Census data and local community needs assessments to best understand where and how to target efforts to connect older relatives raising children with supportive resources provided with this funding? 18.

Did the applicant project the number of grandparents/older relatives, children, and types of services that will be supported annually? 19. Did the applicant describe how they will secure community participation by establishing an advisory council or establishing a similar organizational structure representing community demographics and community service organizations that focus on youth and older persons?

III. Budget and Budget Narrative- 45 points 20. Does the budget match the work in the narrative?

21. Is the budget completely/ accurately filled out? i.e. are the dollar amounts correct and match up?

Are there notes to explain the calculations/ expenses for particular line items? 22. Do the dollar amounts match the narrative?

23. Are the costs in the budget fair and reasonable? For example, are the expenses outlined in the narrative?

24. Are the allocations reasonable? Review and Selection Process A review panel of at least three (3) individuals will evaluate applications that pass the screening and meet the responsiveness criteria.

These reviewers are experts in their field and are drawn from the current Illinois Department on Aging staff. Based on the application review criteria the reviewers will comment on and score the applications, focusing their comments and scoring decisions on the identified criteria. Final award decisions will be made based upon the point system in section E.

1. above. In making these decisions, the GRG program officer will take into consideration recommendations of the review, of reviews from programmatic and grants management compliance, and the likelihood that the proposed project will result in the benefits expected.

Upon completion of this process, should there be an area that would remain unserved, the Department reserves the right to award, as appropriate, to ensure adequate services and programmatic needs are met. A Notice of State Award shall be sent to each successful applicant. A Uniform Grant Agreement shall be sent to the Grantee following the Grantee Accepted Notice of State Award.

A Notice shall also be sent to each applicant not selected for award. Applicants not receiving awards may appeal the decision within fourteen (14) calendar days of the notice. Evaluation scores may not be appealed.

Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. Appeals must be in writing in accordance with the grant application document.

Written appeals must, at a minimum, include the following: -name and address of appealing party -identification of the grant -a statement of reasons for the appeal Illinois Department on Aging Office of the General Counsel One Natural Resources Way, Suite 100 Springfield, IL 62702-1271 Anticipated Announcement Dates Applications are due to the Department by the due date and time listed in this NOFO .

Work period for the resulting grants are estimated to be July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 . It is the intent of the Department to have the Notices of State Award to be sent out by early May 2024 .