FY26 Renewal: Youth in Care - College Advocate Program (YCAP)

The Youth in Care - College Advocate Program (YCAP) pilot program is designed to cultivate a knowledgeable and supportive network of young adults with lived experience in care and connect them to the resources they need to succeed through degree or credential attainment. Providers of the YCAP program are expected to develop, coordinate, and monitor the program through partnerships with community colleges and universities. They are also expected to recruit, train, and manage "peer advocates." Peer Advocates will provide the following services: 1. On-campus advocacy for students with lived experience in foster care. 2. Annual recruitment drives to introduce perspective participants to the program services and supports. 3. Guidance in the development of a personalized success plans with each Y-CAP participant. 4. Weekly check-ins with Y-CAP participants (less often if requested) to support goal attainment, provide service referrals and build a support network for the Y-CAP participant. 5. Provide notification to program participants of important campus dates/deadlines. 6. Partnership with HOUSE Campus Liaisons to increase their understanding of the unique needs of youth with lived experience in foster care, increase their knowledge of supports offered by DCFS. 7. Advocacy with community programs and other state departments to obtain needed service for Y-CAP participants. 8. Monthly campus events to build a sense of belonging and community for youth with lived experience in foster care. 9. Annual acknowledgement of Y-CAP participant accomplishments. 10. Identification of DCFS post-secondary financial supports.

Indirect Costs are allowed. 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: 1. 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 federal NICRA. 2. State Negotiated Rate. The organization may negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. If an organization has not previously established an indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal may be submitted to the State of Illinois through the indirect cost rate system no later than three months after the effective date of the award. If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must continue to use that rate until its expiration. Upon expiration, the organization may re-submit a new indirect cost proposal through the system annually, within six months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year, OR an organization may elect to use the de minimis rate instead of their State Negotiated Rate. 3. De Minimis Rate. An organization may elect a de minimis rate of 15% 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. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ NOTE • All grantees must complete an indirect cost rate negotiation or elect the De Minimis Rate in the indirect cost rate system to claim indirect costs. Indirect costs claimed without an established negotiated rate or a De Minimis Rate election in the system may be subject to disallowance. • 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 Department of Children and Family Services must receive a full application.

NOTE: This application is for Year 2 or 3 of a multi-year award. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Complete the following: 1) UNIFORM APPLICATION FOR STATE GRANT ASSISTANCE

Renewal applications only.

Applicant Eligibility: Awardee is required to: • Be registered in SAM before submitting its application. To establish a SAM registration, go to www.SAM.gov and/or utilize the instructional link from the https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/GATA/Pages/default.aspx Resource Links tab; • Provide a valid DUNS number in its application; and • Always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during which it has an active Federal, Federal pass-through or State award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal or State awarding agency. Beneficiary Eligibility: N/A Credentials Documentation: N/A

Awarded applicants will receive two emails. One stating the status of the application has been updated to Approved. The second prompting to login to view the Award Details. Denied applicants will receive a letter of notice.

Grantees will be expected to submit both (monthly or quarterly) periodic performance reports and monthly financial reports. The exact reporting requirements of this award will be defined in the program plan of the Uniform Grant Agreement.

Questions regarding this Notice of Funding Opportunity should be addressed to: ILDCFS Accountability Unit Email: DCFS.GATA@Illinois.gov