The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to designate at least one entity to administer the Community Services Block Grant (“CSBG”) services to the migrant, seasonal farmworkers, and immigrant population of the state for Program 2024.
Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State: Illinois
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/30/2023
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $300,000
Grant Duration: 12 months
Details:
CSBG is administered through the Department’s Office of Community Assistance (“OCA”). The program is federally-funded and Illinois receives roughly $35 million in annual funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) to operate CSBG across Illinois’ 102 counties. Federal law mandates that at least 90% of annual CSBG funds be allocated to a network of Community Action Agencies (“CAAs”), as grants based on a federally-approved poverty population-based formula. HHS also permits the Department to set aside 5% in discretionary funds to be used for other eligible CSBG activities and services.
The federal CSBG Act requires States to create a plan addressing how migrant and seasonal farmworkers will be supported by CSBG activities and services. Accordingly, the Department elects to meet this requirement by awarding a portion of CSBG discretionary funds to an entity or multiple entities specializing in serving this population.
The primary responsibility of the awardee will be to administer an efficient and effective CSBG program in compliance with all federal and state programmatic, legal, and fiscal requirements serving the Illinois migrant and seasonal farmworkers population. Key responsibilities include:
- Conduct customer outreach and education
- Determine customer eligibility
- Prioritize customer assistance
- Ensure customer satisfaction
- Responsibly manage funds
- The applicant must be able to relate financial data to performance accomplishments of the award by submitting detailed quarterly reports. The grantee will be required to utilize the State database system (STARS) to track the progress of the approved scope of work.
- Reporting of the performance accomplishments must be clearly stated in order to allow OCA the opportunity to determine ways that will help improve program outcomes, share lessons learned and spread the adoption of promising practices.
- Comply with all monitoring, quality assurance and evaluation procedures.
CSBG is designed to provide a variety of anti-poverty services to help eligible low-income individuals and families attain the resources, skills, knowledge and training to achieve and maintain family stabilization. Key areas of support offered by CSBG include:
- Employment – assistance geared towards skills training, career counseling, job searches, postemployment support, and employment supplies
- Education – services broadly cover youth education, school supplies, adult education, postsecondary education support, financial aid assistance, and home visits.
- Income Management & Asset Building– certain programs may be available to encourage better use of available income, promote family budget counseling, and advocacy to assist in obtaining benefits such as child support, SSA/SSI, Veteran’s, TANF, SNAP and other mainstream benefits
- Housing – examples of services offered are rental assistance, mortgage assistance, eviction prevention, utility payments, rapid rehousing, health/safety maintenance, and low-cost home weatherization measures.
- Health – activities include health services/screening/assessments, wellness education, mental/behavioral, support groups, dental services/screening/exams, nutrition/food services, family skills development, and emergency hygiene assistance.
- Supporting Services – to support overall family stabilization such as case management, eligibility determinations for other mainstream benefits, referrals to other social service agencies, transportation services, child/elder care, re-entry services, immigration support, emergency clothing, and a variety of other programs.
- Coordination of Services – partner with Community Action Agencies, local governments, other community-based organizations, and private entities to provide services.
Performance Goals and Measures
The successful applicant(s) must develop and implement CSBG-eligible work programs and activities tailored to meet the needs of the migrant and seasonal farmworkers population in Illinois. These work programs should be focused on a holistic family approach designed to assist eligible individuals and families achieve and sustain economic stability and family stabilization. Additional key tasks to be performed during the term of the grant include:
- Conduct outreach activities to maximize visibility and awareness of CSBG-supported activities
- Utilize a case management approach to assist individuals and families meet their anti-poverty goals
- Provide emergency assistance and services to address immediate life necessities, as needed.
- Offer education and learning opportunities to clients on the full spectrum of available CSBG services
- Develop partnerships with the existing CSBG Community Action network to maximize availability of programs and benefits.
Funding Information
- This grant program is utilizing federal pass-through funding appropriated to DCEO by Public Act 103- 0006. Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $300,000. Awards will range from $100,000 to $300,000.
- The period of performance is expected to be January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Units of local government,
- Community Action Agencies,
- 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entities in good standing in the State of Illinois
Applicants must have sufficient prior knowledge and experience working with the CSBG-eligible individuals and families at or below 200% of poverty. Experience working with the migrant and seasonal farmworkers and immigrant populations is preferred. Applicant must be able to demonstrate such knowledge and experience of providing services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and immigrant populations.
For more information, visit DCEO.
