Pursuant to NOFO's 22-444-30-0189-01 and 22-444-30-0189-02, funding may be renewed for up to three years, subject to appropriation. FY24 is a renewal year.
Summary Information
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| Awarding Agency Name |
Illinois Department of Human Services |
| Awarding Division Name |
Division of Rehabilitation Services |
| Agency Contact |
Kim Borowicz kim.borowicz@illinois.gov |
| Announcement Type |
Non-Competitive Renewal |
| Funding Opportunity Title |
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) |
| Funding Opportunity Number |
Renewal |
| Application Posting Date |
N/A |
| Application Closing Date |
N/A |
| Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number |
444-30-0189 |
| Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name |
OIB |
| Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) |
84.177 |
Applicant Eligibility
This is a non-competitive funding opportunity for services for programs that offer services to older individuals who are Blind. Services for individuals over 55 years of age whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Allowable services are described in Funds are used to provide independent living services, conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals and conduct activities to improve public understanding of the problems of these individuals. Services are designed to help persons served under this program to adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs.
At a minimum, programs funded by the program are required to provide the following core services: information and referral; skills training; peer counseling; individual and systems advocacy. Services may include: Outreach services; Provision of services and equipment to assist an individual who is blind to become more mobile and more self-sufficient; Mobility training; Braille instruction; Services and equipment to help an individual who is blind adjust to blindness; Guide services; Reader services; interpreter services; Transportation; Other appropriate services designed to assist an individual who is blind in coping with daily living activities and educational challenges including supportive services and rehabilitation teaching services; and Independent Living skills training
Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.202, the Department is required to provide public notice of Federal financial assistance programs. This program is not subject to 2 CFR 200.203 Notice of Funding Opportunity or 200.204 Merit Based Review.
1.Scope of Services
The purpose of the Older Blind Program is to provide services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Allowable services are described in 34 CFR Section 367.3(b) of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program.
Funds are used to provide independent living services, conduct activities that will improve or expand services for these individuals and conduct activities to improve public understanding of the problems of these individuals. Services are designed to help persons served under this program to adjust to their blindness by increasing their ability to care for their individual needs.
Activities
- Provision of information and referral to other service providers, programs, and agencies to enhance adjustment, independent living, and integration into the community.
- Provision of information and referral services to any individuals requesting information about low vision or blindness for whom this is the only service provided.
- Provision of assistive technology devices and aids.
- Provision of assistive technology services and training.
- Provision of home orientation services. Provision of community and travel Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services
- Provision of communication skills training
- Provision of support services while actively participating in the program leading to attaining independent living goals.
- Provision of personal management and daily living skills training
- Provision of various activities to identify appropriate housing, accessible transportation, and other support services.
10. Provision of advocacy training or support network activities such as consumer organization meetings, peer support groups, etc.
11. Provision of individual counseling and support group meetings in your location or in the community to assist them in adjusting to visual impairment and blindness
12. Provision of independent living service information and resources targeting minorities and other older blind individuals who have traditionally been underserved.
13. Provision of community awareness events and activities to individuals for whom this was the only service provided. Information and training to other professionals, general public, friends and relatives.
Statement of Work To ensure adequate coverage for services provided to customers, grantees are expected to maintain normal business hours Monday-Friday. The Department of Central Management Services maintains an annual Holiday calendar used by the State of Illinois:
Any deviation from this calendar must be pre-approved in writing from the Grantor Contact on Exhibit D Contact Information identified in the Uniform Grant Agreement prior to implementation of a change. Unapproved closures for reasons other than natural disasters or other situations when significant numbers of employees are prevented from reporting to work will be deemed as a breach of the Statement of Work and may lead to a prorated financial offset equivalent to the unapproved days of closure.
2.Deliverables
- Provide assistive technology devices and aids. As defined in Section 3(4) of the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-364), "assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." Assistive technology devices may include such items as canes, slates, insulin units, CCTV's, computers, adaptive software, magnifiers, adaptive cooking items, adaptive recreational items, handwriting guides, Braillers, large button telephones, etc.
- Provide assistive technology services and training. As defined in Section 3(5) of the Assistive Technology Act of 2004 (PL 108-364), "assistive technology service means any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device." Services may include the evaluation of assistive technology needs of an individual, services related to acquisition of technology, costs of loan programs, maintenance and repair of assistive technology, training or technical assistance for the individual or professionals related to the use of assistive technology, programs to expand the availability of assistive technology, low vision therapy services related to the use of optical aids and devices, and other services related to the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
- Provide community orientation and mobility *(O & M) services or travel training (i.e. learning to access public or private transportation and to travel safely and as independently as possible in the community with or without the use of mobility aids and devices).
- Provide communication skills training (e.g. reading and writing Braille, keyboarding and computer literacy, computer skills training, using the telephone, handwriting guides, telling time, using readers, use of audio and tactile technologies for home, recreational or educational use; etc.). Training in the use of newspaper reading services and radio services should be included.
- Provide personal management and daily living skills training (e.g. training in the use of adaptive aids and assistive technology devices for personal management and daily living, blindness and low vision alternative techniques for food preparation, grooming and dress, household chores, medical management, shopping, recreational activities, etc.)
- Provide supportive services (e.g. reader services, transportation, support service providers, interpreters, etc.) while actively participating in the program or attaining independent living goals.
- Provide advocacy training or support network activities such as consumer organization meetings, peer support groups, etc.
- Provide individual counseling and support group meetings in your location or in the community to assist them in adjusting to visual impairment and blindness.
- Provide information and referral to other service providers, programs, and agencies (e.g. senior programs, public and private social service programs, faith-based organizations, consumer groups, etc.) to enhance adjustment, independent living, and integration.
10. Provide information and referral services to any individuals requesting information about low vision or blindness for whom this is the only service provided.
11. Provide community awareness events/activities to individuals for whom this was the only service provided. Information and training to other professionals, general public, friends and relatives.
Program and Financial Reporting Requirements:
- Time Period for Required Periodic Financial Reports. Unless a different reporting requirement is specified in Exhibit G, Grantee shall submit financial reports to Grantor pursuant to Paragraph 13.1 and reports must be submitted no later than 15 calendar days after the quarter ends.
- Time Period for Close-out Reports. Grantee shall submit a Close-out Report pursuant to Paragraph 13.2 and no later than 15 calendar days after this Agreement's end of the period of performance or termination.
- Time Period for Required Periodic Performance Reports. Unless a different reporting requirement is specified in Exhibit G, Grantee shall submit Performance Reports to Grantor pursuant to Paragraph 14.1 and such reports must be submitted no later than 15 calendar days after the quarter ends.
- Time Period for Close-out Performance Reports. Grantee agrees to submit a Close-out Performance Report, pursuant to Paragraph 14.2 and no later than 15 calendar days after this Agreement's end of the period of performance or termination.
Additional payment terms (if applicable)
3.Performance Measures
What will be measured? *What data points need to be reported? *How often will data be reported? *How will data be submitted (written reports, Excel, e-mail, agency provided documents). *When appropriate, include outcomes (which represent the ultimate impact on the customer) in addition to outputs (which measure the vendors activities). *For programs with a logic model, metric must be aligned to the outcomes. *State the frequency of reporting (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually), the method of reporting (e.g., Excel, Group Bill, Monthly Expenditure Report and Narrative) and the data fields to be reported.
# ________of individuals projected to be served in the Fiscal Year. Measure 1.
# ________of individuals served in the quarterly reporting period. (Note: the number of customers served in each quarterly reporting period should correspond to the total number of individuals projected to be served in Fiscal Year.) Measure 1.1
# of individuals who have had received recommended assistive technology (AT)services and training. Measure 1.1a
# and % of individuals who received AT (assistive technology) services and training, who regained, increased or improved functional abilities previously lost as a result of vision loss. (% is related to 1.1) Measure 1.2
# of individuals who received home/*community orientation and mobility* (O & M) services. Measure 1.2a
# and % of individuals who experienced functional gains or maintained their ability to travel safely and independently in their home and/or *community environment as a result of the *O&M services. Measure 1.3
# of individuals who received services or training in alternative non-visual or low vision techniques like communication skills training, reading and writing Braille, keyboarding and computer literacy, computer skills training, using the telephone, handwriting guides, telling time, using readers, use of audio and tactile technologies for home, recreational or educational use, training in the use of newspaper reading services and radio services. Where these activities were able to help them to experience functional gains or were able to successfully restore and maintain their functional ability to engage in their customary life activities within their home environment and community. Measure 1.3a
# and % of individuals of those receiving communication skills training who gained or maintained their functional abilities as a result of the services. Measure 1.4
# of individuals who received skills in activities of daily living like cooking, grooming, medical management, shopping. Measure 1.4a
# and % of individuals who can list one or more skill training and experience functional gain, restore or maintained their ability to engage in their customary daily life. Measure 1.5
# of the individuals served that reported that they are in greater control and are more confident in their ability to maintain their current living situation as a result of services.
Measure 2
# _________of projected peer group meetings for the Fiscal Year. Measure 2.1
# and % of peer group meeting accomplished in the quarterly reporting period. Peer group meetings defined as meetings in grantee location or in the community with customers to assist them in adjusting to visual impairment and blindness. Measure 3
#_________of projected awareness and community event for the Fiscal Year. Measure 3.1
# and % of awareness and community event accomplished in the quarterly reporting period. Awareness events defined as occurring in the Community (State, County and local fairs, Churches, Hospitals, Nursing Homes etc.) providing information about the program, causes of low vision and blindness, impact of blindness on self, family members, friends, general public, professionals and others.
4.Performance Standards
Minimum thresholds for acceptable performance. *If Performance Standards are available, they should correlate to Performance Measures. *Corrective action or termination of funding may be necessary if standards are not being met. *Specify which performance indicators will be used to trigger remedial action, if not all.
- At least 95% of individuals served from the amount projected for the Fiscal Year.
- At least 80% of individuals who received AT (assistive technology) services and training, regained, increased or improved functional abilities previously lost as a result of vision loss.
- At least 80% of individuals who received home/*community orientation and mobility *(O & M) services, who experienced functional gains or maintained their ability to travel safely and independently in their home and/or community environment.
- At least 80% of individuals who received services or training in alternative non-visual or low vision techniques like communication skills training, reading and writing Braille, keyboarding and computer literacy, computer skills training where these activities were able to help them to experience functional gains or were able to successfully restore and maintain their functional ability to engage in their customary life activities within their home environment and community.
- At least 80% of individuals who can list one or more skills in activities of daily living that they have now that they didn't have before they received services.
- At least 80% of the individuals served that reported that they are in greater control and are more confident in their ability to maintain their current living situation as a result of services.
- At least 90% of the projected peer group meetings established for the Fiscal Year.
- At least 90% of the projected awareness and community event established for the Fiscal Year.
- At least 100% of the projected Satisfaction Surveys conducted in the Fiscal Year and a 25% return rate.
* O&M in the community must be provided by an individual holding COMS.
