FY26 Renewal: Find Your Future (FYF) Program

This program is specifically for foster care agencies providing a specialty program and/or service for special client populations (e.g., current and former youth in care in college; older care givers; fathers; etc.) The Find Your Future (FYF) program emphasizes client development by matching college students currently in or from DCFS care with internship providers state-wide, for paid, part- or full-time, 10-week summer internships. During the summer months, selected clients participate in a 10-week paid internship program. As part of the program, they are required to attend professional development workshops the week prior to the start of their internship. Clients receive a transportation stipend to cover the first two weeks of their internship. Clients receive a bi-weekly stipend over the course of the internship. Stipends are processed only after the interns’ timecards are verified with the individual internship providers. Internships are completed in August; and the program immediately begins preparations for the upcoming year. Over the remaining months of the year, FYF Staff provides aftercare services for previous participants. All Find Your Future clients who complete the program receive services such as resume assistance, employment leads, and/or references. Other activities include marketing the program to eligible candidates, marketing the program to Department providers, private agencies and the community, marketing to potential internship providers, reviewing applications received, interviewing candidates, and the matching of clients to internship providers.

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.

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