Independent Living State Grants CIL (24-444-30-1167)

Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name Division of Rehabilitation Services
Agency Contact Anna Austin anna.m.austin@illinois.gov 
Announcement Type Non-Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title DHS Independent Living State Grants CIL
Funding Opportunity Number N/A
Application Posting Date N/A
Application Closing Date N/A
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number 444-30-1167
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name CIL
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) 93.369

Applicant Eligibility

This is a non-competitive funding opportunity for Centers for Independent Living (CILs). There are 22 CILs in Illinois serving all 102 counties.  CILs are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential private non-profit agency that are designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities.  CILs provide an array of independent living services to individuals with disabilities, families and the community. At a minimum, centers funded by the program are required to provide the following core services:  information and referral; skills training; peer counseling; individual and systems advocacy; and services that facilitate transition from nursing homes and other institutions to the community, provide assistance to those at risk of entering institutions, and facilitate transition of youth to postsecondary life.

Independent living programs are supported through funding authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (The Act). To receive funding, Illinois must jointly develop and submit a State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL), a three-year plan for providing independent living services in the State. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is the Designated State Entity (DSE) that, on behalf of the State, receives, accounts for and disburses funds received under Subpart B of the Act. The Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is an independent entity responsible to monitor, review, and evaluate the implementation of the SPIL. CILs are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential private non-profit agency that are designed and operated within a local community by individuals with disabilities, and provides an array of independent living services.  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 Division of Rehabilitation Services requires the timely execution of all initial and amended contractual agreements. Grantees will have up to 14 business days from the date the contract is published to sign and return the required contract documents issued by the State, which may include one or more of the following: initial contract signature page and amendment page. Non-compliance may result in a modified start date of the contract to align with the grantee's submission of the required execution documents. Grantees will not be reimbursed for services provided in advance of the modified start date. When a contract amendment is issued to reduce the value of the contract, non-compliance will result in the full de-obligation of the contract balance regardless of the amended amount.

The Final Reconciliation of a contractual agreement will follow prescribed timeframes communicated annually to community providers.

Centers for Independent Living (CIL) are private, not-for-profit, community-based organizations that provide programs and services for people with disabilities that allow them to live as independently as possible within their communities located throughout the state of Illinois. The Grantee Center will utilize the federal and State funds provided by this contract to provide those services required of Centers under: The Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 34 CFR 364-366; 45 CFR 1329; and the Illinois State Plan for Independent Living. These services include at a minimum:

  1. Information and Referral (I&R) - Information and referral is the art, science and practice of bringing people and services together. If individuals or families don't know where to turn, or need more information, I&R can help connect them with the information, tools, and resources they need
  2. Independent Living Skills Training - CILs may provide information and instruction which lead to mastery in the following areas: health and safety, community resources, meal planning and nutrition, self-advocacy, basic legal concepts, Personal Assistant management, household management, recreation and leisure, and money management. The integration and full participation of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society, and the reduction of institutionalization, is the desired outcome.
  3. Peer Counseling - CILs provide support and role models for people who want to live more independently. Personal experience with disability often places CIL staff in a unique position to understand and effectively teach people who experience disabilities while providing a role model for success.
  4. Individual and Systems Advocacy - The goal is to empower people of all ages with disabilities to reach their highest level of achievement by teaching them to advocate for individual and systems changes that result in access, choice, equality, inclusion, integration and independence. Systemic advocacy attempts to change laws and attitudes surrounding disability. Personal advocacy is a type of problem-solving designed to protect personal and legal rights and ensure a dignified existence.
  5. Transition Services - CILs provide services that facilitate transition from nursing homes and other institutions to the community, provide assistance to those at risk of entering institutions, and facilitate transition of youth to postsecondary life.
  6. Working with the Statewide Independent Living Council to develop and implement the State Plan for Independent Living.

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

  1. Information and Referral (I&R) services will be provided to all individuals with disabilities, service providers, family members, researchers, media, and others who contact the Center for Independent Living Grantee, and who request this service.
  2. Assistance with improving independent living skills will be provided to all individuals with disabilities requesting this service. Assistance will include providing information and instruction which leads to mastery in independent living. Some examples of training that may be provided include: health and safety, community resources, meal planning and nutrition, self-advocacy, basic legal concepts, household management, recreation and leisure, and money management. The integration and full participation of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society, and the reduction of institutionalization, is the desired outcome.
  3. Peer Counseling services will be provided to all individuals with disabilities requesting this service. Peer Counseling includes: providing peer support; promoting peer relationships; and offering role models for individuals with disabilities. The focus of peer counseling services will be to assist individuals with disabilities in living more fulfilling, supported and independent lives.
  4. The Grantee will advocate for, and conduct activities that promote equal access for, individuals with disabilities to all services, programs, activities, resources, and facilities in society, whether public or private, and regardless of funding source. The Grantee will also assist individuals with disabilities in improving their ability to advocate for themselves.
  5. The Grantee will facilitate the transition of youth (between the ages of 14 and 24) with disabilities to postsecondary life. These services may include but are not limited to: assistance with resume writing, money management classes, assistance with employment applications, cooking classes or other forms of independent living skills training, transportation training, FAFSA assistance, advising on career programming, job seeking skills training, training on how to request accommodations and communicate needs for services, as well as meeting with and providing support to consumer families.

6.The Grantee will provide services designed to assist eligible individuals with disabilities in transitioning from long-term care facilities or other institutional settings to home and community-based residences with requisite supports and services. This will include (unless otherwise prohibited by Colbert consent decree implementation in Cook County):

  1. reaching out to long-term care facilities or other institutional settings to discuss reintegration services and to identify potential consumers;
  2. taking referrals from and initiating reintegration services with individuals with disabilities residing in long-term care facilities or other institutional settings;
  3. providing training and/or peer mentoring to individuals with disabilities residing in long-term care facilities or other institutional settings who would prefer to instead live in the community receiving home-based services and supports to assist in maintaining independence. Training will focus on increasing consumer knowledge and skills which would aid in their maintaining residence in the community;
  4. working with local Division of Rehabilitation Services field offices to:
  5. aid individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services in completing a DRS Home Services Program referral (if appropriate) to determine eligibility for and potentially initiate services with the DRS Home Services Program; and
  6. aid individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services in completing a DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Program referral (if appropriate) to learn about job training and/or job placement options available after long-term care facility discharge.
  7. providing assistance in arranging for housing and obtaining other goods and services to assist individuals with disabilities in moving from a long-term care facility or other institutional setting back into the community. . Customers transitioning from long-term care facilities back into the community are eligible to receive a service package designed to meet their individual needs in the community. This grant agreement provides up front monies to purchase goods and services needed to transition into a community-based setting. Customers can obtain essential household furnishings and consumable goods such as an initial supply of groceries, cleaning products and personal hygiene items. Other fundamental services to the process are set up fees such as rental and utility deposits, application fees and health/safety assurances. Without these core services, persons with disabilities would continue to inappropriately remain in long-term care facilities throughout Illinois.
  8. successfully reintegrating individuals with disabilities from a long-term care facilities or other institutional settings back into the community. A successful reintegration will be defined as a person who has safely transitioned into the community and remains there at least 30 days.
  9. providing the transitioned individual with at least 90 days of semimonthly follow-up contact to help ensure stabilization of reintegration.

7. The Grantee will work with the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) in the development of the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

8. The Grantee will implement the SPIL, including working at the local level to:

  1. increase the capacity of the independent living network to more effectively serve individuals with disabilities in Illinois.
  2. increase employment options, opportunities and supports for individuals with disabilities.
  3. increase affordable and accessible housing for individuals with disabilities in the community.
  4. increase transportation options for individuals with disabilities in local communities throughout Illinois.
  5. engage in systems advocacy, including promoting public policy in Illinois that will ensure individuals with disabilities can obtain and maintain independence in their communities.

9. The Grantee will participate in the annual standardized consumer satisfaction survey coordinated by SILC, as directed in the federally approved SPIL.

Upon Contract Execution

A list of long-term care facilities or other institutional settings in the Grantee's catchment area that will be contacted in person to discuss reintegration services and to identify potential consumers. The list should be provided in electronic format to the DRS Project Officer and contain at a minimum, the following information:

Name of facility or institutional setting

Address

County

Phone number

Program and Financial Reporting Requirements:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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)

Annual Reporting Requirements:

  1. The ACL CIL Program Performance Report (ACL CIL PPR) is required by both the DHS DRS Independent Living Unit (ILU) as well as the US Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Community Living (ACL). Those Grantees who receive Title VII Part C funding and are therefore allowed to submit the ACL CIL PPR directly to ACL, must submit copies of the report to the ILU by December 31st following the end of the federal fiscal year being reported. Those Grantees who do not receive Title VII Part C funding are required to complete the ACL CIL PPR, and then subsequently send the report to the ILU by November 15th following the end of the federal fiscal year being reported. Reports from the non-Part C funded Grantees will be used by the ILU and SILC to compile a combined report which the ILU and/or SILC will then submit to ACL directly.
  2. A Final Reconciliation is the final financial closeout of the award. A Final Reconciliation Coversheet will be provided by the DRS Contract Project Officer. Training and technical assistance on the completion of the form will be provided by the DRS Contract Project Officer. A Final Reconciliation Coversheet will only be accepted by email to the DRS Contract Project Officer.

Additionally, the DRS ILU may occasionally request financial or program data from the Center (for example, State fiscal year information required to complete the DHS Independent Living Annual Report).

3. Performance Measures

  1. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who requested information and referral services during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) and who report they received the information they requested from the CIL.
  2. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received assistance with improving independent living skills during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) and who can list one (1) or more independent living skills they have improved upon.
  3. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received peer counseling services during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter), and who can identify at least one peer counseling/support activity he or she engaged in.
  4. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received self-advocacy assistance during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) and who can list at least one (1) specific self-advocacy activity they engaged in while working with the CIL.
  5. Number and percentage of youth with disabilities consumers surveyed by the CIL who received transition services during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) and who can identify at least one transition activity he or she engaged in.
  6. Number and percentage of total number of long-term care facilities or other institutional settings in the Grantee's catchment area contacted in person during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) to discuss reintegration services and to identify potential consumers.
  7. Number and percentage of residents of long-term care facilities or other institutional settings who received reintegration services from the Grantee during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter).
  8. Number of trainings and/or peer mentoring opportunities provided by the Grantee during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) to individuals with disabilities residing in long-term care facilities or other institutional settings who would prefer to instead live in the community receiving home-based services and supports to assist in maintaining independence. Training will focus on increasing consumer knowledge and skills which would aid in their maintaining residence in the community.
  9. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services who were assisted during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) in completing a DRS Home Services Program referral to determine eligibility for and potentially initiate services with the DRS Home Services Program

10. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services who were assisted during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) in completing a DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Program referral to learn about job training and/or job placement options available after long-term care facility discharge.

11. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services who were provided assistance by the Grantee in arranging for housing and obtaining other goods and services to facilitate moving back into the community.

12. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities residing in long-term care facilities or other institutional settings successfully reintegrated by the Grantee. A successful reintegration will be defined as a person who has safely transitioned into the community and remains there at least 30 days.

13. Number and percentage of reintegrated individuals with disabilities receiving at least 90 days of semimonthly follow-up contact to help ensure stabilization of reintegration.

14. Number and percentage of individuals with disabilities assisted by the CIL during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) in completing a DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Program referral to learn about job training and/or job placement options available.

15. The Grantee will work with the SILC in developing the SPIL.

16. The Grantee will implement the SPIL, including working at the local level to:

  1. increase the capacity of the independent living network to more effectively serve individuals with disabilities in Illinois.
  2. increase employment options, opportunities and supports for individuals with disabilities.
  3. increase affordable and accessible housing for individuals with disabilities in the community.
  4. increase transportation options for individuals with disabilities in local communities throughout Illinois.
  5. promote public policy in Illinois that will ensure individuals with disabilities can obtain and maintain independence in their communities.

17. The Grantee will participate in the standardized consumer satisfaction survey implemented by SILC as directed in the federally approved SPIL.

4. Performance Standards

  1. 75% of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who requested information and referral services during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) report they received the information they requested from the CIL.
  2. 75% of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received assistance with improving independent living skills during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) can list one (1) or more independent living skills they have improved upon.
  3. 50% of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received peer counseling services during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) can identify at least one peer counseling/support activity he or she engaged in.
  4. 50% of individuals with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received self-advocacy assistance during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) can list at least one (1) specific self-advocacy activity they engaged in while working with the CIL.
  5. 50% of youth with disabilities surveyed by the CIL who received transition services during the current reporting period (State fiscal quarter) can identify at least one transition activity he or she engaged in.
  6. 75% of total number of long-term care facilities or other institutional settings, identified by the Grantee in writing to the DRS Contract Project Officer upon execution of the contract, in the Grantee's catchment area were contacted in person to discuss reintegration services and to identify potential consumers.
  7. Up to 50% of residents of contacted long-term care facilities or other institutional settings who were identified as potential consumers subsequently received reintegration services from the Grantee.
  8. The Grantee will provide at least monthly trainings and/or peer mentoring opportunities to individuals with disabilities residing in long-term care facilities or other institutional settings who would prefer to instead live in the community receiving home-based services and supports to assist in maintaining independence. Training will focus on increasing consumer knowledge and skills which would aid in their maintaining residence in the community.
  9. Up to 50% of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services were assisted in completing a DRS Home Services Program referral to determine eligibility for and potentially initiate services with the DRS Home Services Program.

10. Up to 50% of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration were assisted in completing a DRS Vocational Rehabilitation Program referral to learn about job training and/or job placement options available after long-term care facility discharge.

11. Up to 50% of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services were provided assistance by the Grantee in arranging for housing and obtaining other goods and services to facilitate moving back into the community.

12. Up to 50% of individuals with disabilities receiving reintegration services were successfully reintegrated back into the community by the Grantee. A successful reintegration will be defined as a person who has safely transitioned into the community and remains there for at least 30 days.

13. 100% of individuals reintegrated back into the community by the Grantee received at least 90 days of semimonthly follow-up contact to help ensure stabilization of reintegration.

14. Grantee provides evidence to the Grantor reflecting participation by the Grantee in the development of the State Plan for Independent Living.

15. The Grantee provides evidence to the Grantor (using reporting instruments outlined in Exhibit C) of implementation of the State Plan for Independent Living during the reporting period, including the Grantee's work at the local level to:

  1. increase the capacity of the independent living network to more effectively serve individuals with disabilities in Illinois.
  2. increase employment options, opportunities and supports for individuals with disabilities.
  3. increase affordable and accessible housing for individuals with disabilities in the community.
  4. increase transportation options for individuals with disabilities in local communities throughout Illinois.
  5. promote public policy in Illinois that will ensure individuals with disabilities can obtain and maintain independence in their communities.

16. The Grantee provides evidence to the Grantor reflecting Grantee participation in the standardized consumer satisfaction survey implemented by SILC, as directed in the federally approved SPIL.