FY2027 - 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: • Legal services, • Respite, • Support groups, • Counseling (includes training), • Gap-filling funds, and • 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 2024, a total of 17 grants were awarded, totaling $300,000. The number of relatives served: 932 were 55 or older; 440 were under the age of 55 and 1,878 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, 2026 - September 30, 2026, Report due October 31, 2026 2) October 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026, Report due January 31, 2027 3) January 1, 2027 – March 31, 2027, Report due April 30, 2027 4) April 1, 2027 – June 30, 2027, Report due July 31, 2027. 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.

Questions regarding this NOFO shall be made to: Matt Rousey Illinois Department on Aging One Natural Resources Way, Suite 100 Springfield, IL 62702-1271 217-524-7944 (office) matthew.rousey2@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.