Pathways 444-30-3333 Pathways to Partnerships CILs

Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name Division of Rehabilitation Services
Agency Contact David Kuriniec david.kuriniec@illinois.gov
Announcement Type Non-Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title Pathways
Funding Opportunity Number N/A
Application Posting Date N/A
Application Closing Date N/A
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number 444-30-3333
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name Pathways to Partnerships CILS
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) 84.421

Applicant Eligibility

1.Scope of Services

The Division of Rehabilitation Services requires the timely execution of all initial and amended contractual agreements. Vendors will have 14 business days 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, amendment page, Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest, and the Taxpayer Identification Page. Non-compliance may result in a modified start date of the contract to align with the vendor's submission of the required execution documents. Vendors 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 may 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.

The Illinois Pathways to Partnerships Project (IPPP) aims to improve transition outcomes, competitive integrated employment (CIE), and independent living outcomes for students with disabilities ages 10- 24 across the State. The project will deliver an innovative Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) model that includes services and supports for families as well as students. It will begin transition support as early as age 10 and follow students through school, providing them an age-appropriate curriculum developed and implemented by CILs. The model will improve postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities, particularly those students who are people of color. The proposed innovative pre-ETS model program will build a comprehensive system of integrated resources, trainings, technical assistance, and supports utilizing coordinated expertise from the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services (IDHS-DRS), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) as well as participating local educational agencies and Centers for Independent Living that will focus on the following three major domain areas: 1) Pre-ETS to CIE, (2) independent living, and (3) professional development. The proposed project will also work with high demand employers and other community and state agencies to maximize the implementation of the statewide model and build statewide capacity and partnerships to support CIE and independent living for Illinois students with disabilities.

In direct accordance with the NIA, the overall goal of IPPP is to increase the opportunity for program participants, organizations, and support systems to improve transition outcomes.

Centers for Independent Living are to be the voices of continuity for students and their families in this model. CIL will develop a uniform, modular, evidence-based and age-appropriate curriculum to be delivered in classrooms at participating LEAs at an interval determined by the parties and approved by DRS. CIL will designate appropriate staff to carry out the curriculum instruction and to provide access to independent living core services as needed; designated staff will be trained on the efficacy of the IPPP model by technical assistance partners. CIL will work collaboratively with assigned school districts to identify students for participation in the pilot year of IPPP and refer them to DRS. CIL will develop relationships with employers within its coverage area to establish a potential pipeline for participating students to participate in learning experiences including but not limited to work-based learning, informational interviews, internships and apprenticeships, and potentially competitive integrated employment. CIL will offer internships/apprenticeships for participating students. CIL will assist in the development of project marketing and outreach materials, including webcasts, practice briefs and other handbooks. Such projects will be coordinated by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which will also require CIL cooperation in project evaluation activities. Grantee understands that the entire Pathways to Partnership grant performance period lasts through October 1, 2028 and that Grantee will be required to begin teaching the curriculum developed for the project no later than 12/31/2024. Grantee acknowledges that it will be expected to teach curriculum to an additional 189 students beginning no later than 10/1/2025.

Further, grantee acknowledges that beginning no later than 12/31/2024, it is expected that 90% of participating students will achieve either post-secondary education or competitive integrated employment.

2.Deliverables

Specifically, CIL will be required to:

  1. By June 30, 2024, develop a uniform, age-appropriate curriculum to be delivered by CIL staff in assigned school districts, to be approved by IDHS. The curriculum will cover:
  2. Advocacy and Self-Determination: Learning about rights, responsibilities, and how to request accommodations or services as well as being able to communicate any thoughts, concerns or needs while seeking services. Conducting informational interviews, mentoring with educational staff, employers, individuals in the community, or other areas and participating in youth leadership activities are all examples.
  3. Counseling on post -secondary Educational Opportunities: Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or post-secondary education programs at institutions of higher education. This would include advising students and parents or representatives on academic curriculum, providing information about college applications and admission processes, completing the FAFSA, or providing disability support services.
  4. Gaining Employment (resume preparation, interviewing,
  5. Job preparation and Training: Classroom instruction usually conducted within the school setting that could include: career exploration for in-demand occupations, as well as nontraditional employment; labor market trends; career interest inventories and identifying careers of interest to the student.
  6. Soft Skill Development: Instruction on building skills including but not limited to effective communication and leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, adaptability and creativity, and work ethic.
  7. Financial Literacy: Age-appropriate tools for honing the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.
  8. Independent living skills, along with any other core service, if appropriate.

Deliverable: Curriculum with modules for kids aged 10-13 and 14-24.

2. By April 30, designate staff to be trained on efficacy of the IPPP model.

Deliverable: Staff names, contact information and credentials

3. By June 30, 2024, collaborate with LEA to refer 63 students to DRS.

Deliverable: Referral must be in a secure format and contain, at a minimum, the following:

  1. Social security number
  2. Consent for services
  3. Release of information if the customer is under 18 or has a legal guardian
  4. Most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan
  5. Existing medical documentation, most recent psychological and record reviews. If applicable, social history will also be included; or
  6. Any other verification that the student has been determined by another educational or governmental agency to be an individual with a disability.

4. Participate in and or develop webcasts or other events or develop project marketing materials/toolkits in coordination with technical assistance partners.

Deliverable: Materials submitted to DRS for approval by U of I contain overt participation/input from CILs. Or CIL-developed marketing materials submitted for approval to DRS.

5.  By June 30, 2024, engage high-demand, local employers to develop a pipeline for participating students to have access to internships, apprenticeships, and other pre-ETS such as work-based learning experiences.

Deliverable: Progress report with name of employer and description of engagement, outcome of engagement

6.  Using IPPP-developed protocol, cooperate in data collection in connection with program evaluation activities.

Deliverable: Quarterly and annual reports. 

Program and Financial Reporting Requirements:

  1. Time Period for Required Periodic Financial Reports. Unless a different reporting requirement is specified in Exhibit E, Grantee shall submit financial reports to Grantor pursuant to Paragraph 10.1 and reports must be submitted no later than 30 days after the quarter ends.
  2. Time Period for Close-out Reports. Grantee shall submit a Close-out Report pursuant to Paragraph 10.2 and no later than 30 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 E, Grantee shall submit Performance Reports to Grantor pursuant to Paragraph 11.1 and such reports must be submitted no later than 30 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 11.2 and no later than 30 days after this Agreement's end of the period of performance or termination.

3.Performance Measures

  1. Number of curricula developed with number of modules
  2. Number of staff designated to be trained on efficacy of IPPP model
  3. Number of students referred to DRS for participation in IPPP
  4. Number of webcasts/marketing materials developed
  5. Number of local employers engaged
  6. Number of reports submitted

4.Performance Standards

  1. Develop one curriculum with separate modules for 10-13 year old students and 14-24 year old students (100%)
  2. Designate at least one staff member to be trained on the efficacy of the IPPP model. (100%)
  3. Refer at least 63 students to DRS for participation in the pilot year of IPPP and provide all required information. (100%)
  4. Participate in development of at least 1 marketing material per quarter. (100%)
  5. Engage with up to 5 local employers to establish a pipeline for students. (100%)
  6. Submit quarterly and year-end reports using IPPP-developed protocol. (100%)