Questions & Answers - High Risk Family Case Management (26-444-80-3383-01)

  • Technical Assistance Session - Virtual
  • Date: Friday, April 18, 2025
  • Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm CDT
  • Meeting Link Recording

Questions & Answers 

4/3/2025 

  1. Question: I wanted to inquire if there is any flexibility in the program design that would allow us to proceed without the home visit requirement. Answer: The HRFCM program standards cannot be met without conducting home visits. 75% is the performance standard expectation for number of families who receive monthly nurse home visits throughout the duration of pregnancy and throughout the first three months after birth. IDHS will not accept request for waivers for this requirement.
    • Answer: The HRFCM program standards cannot be met without conducting home visits. 75% is the performance standard expectation for number of families who receive monthly nurse home visits throughout the duration of pregnancy and throughout the first three months after birth. IDHS will not accept request for waivers for this requirement.
    • 4/7/2025
  2. Question: It appears that in the grant NOFO for HRFCM that only 3 counties will be funded Sangamon, St. Clair and Winnebago and that agencies within these counties have to compete to get the grant. All other counties are excluded. Is that correct?
    • Answer:  The NOFO for HRFCM pilot 26-444-80-3383-01 is only being offered to applicants in the 3 geographic areas listed in the NOFO. Counties outside of the HRFCM pilot area are included in the BBO-C NOFO 26-444-80-3556-01. The HRFCM pilot counties will not have a BBO-C program.
    • 4/15/2025
  3. Question: What happens to Low-Risk clients who don't qualify for WIC services?
    • Answer: Clients without any vulnerability factors present from the HRFCM Vulnerability Index should be offered WIC. If not income-eligible for WIC and requesting support, the family should request to enroll in care coordination through their private insurance carrier by calling their member services line listed on the back of their card.
  4. Question: How will the caseload be distributed; will this be based on demographics?
    • Answer: Caseloads will be determined based on the number of providers per geographic area. Anticipated caseload and funding per area is listed in section 3iB the NOFO. Applicants should include their planned caseload in their proposal.
  5. Question: Are there incentives included in the cohort to lessen transportation barriers for client visiting the clinic, i.e. Gas cards, bus tickets?
    • Answer: No. To eliminate barriers to client transportation and decrease risk of communicable diseases in the high-risk population, HRFCM nurse visits are expected to occur exclusively in the home setting for the duration of pregnancy and the first three months after birth while enrolled in the pilot. For other health and wellness-related transportation needs, clients should be assisted in connecting to their MCO transportation benefits. The IAMHP Transportation toolkit can be found here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/9e648e12/files/uploaded/IAMHP_Transportation_Toolkit_-_Updated_05-31-2024.pdf
  6. Question: There are two awards listed for St. Clair County; how will the awards be distributed? What's the criteria for each of the two awards?
    • Answer: The Department will grant up to two awards, when combined will be a total of up to $1,053,000 serving up to 450 dyads monthly across St. Clair County. Applicants should propose the funding amount they are requesting. Successful applicants will be notified of final caseload assignments and funding amounts at the time of Notice of State Award.
  7. Question: What happens to clients who are currently receiving BBO services, if we are unable to fulfill the requirements for the cohort?
    • Answer: The legacy BBO grant program 444-80-0226 will sunset on 6/30/25. IDHS will provide guidance to current SFY25 legacy BBO providers on client transitions. Interested applicants in the HRFCM cohort #2 service area should review the SFY26 HRFCM program requirements listed in the NOFO to determine if they wish to apply.
  8. Question: Is there an alternative BBO scenario/program for the HRFCM cohort for agencies not listed to participate in the BBO Comprehensive Program?
    • Answer: The HRFCM pilot cohort #2 is the only program being offered by the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health in the geographic areas listed in the NOFO. The NOFO for BBO Comprehensive (BBO-C) 26-444-80-3556-01 does not list specific agencies but rather specific geographic areas where the program is being offered. Counties with HRFCM are not listed in BBO-C.
  9. Question: Can we continue our current BBO 444-80-0226 program in FY26 if we are not awarded as a participant in either program (HRFCM and BBO Comprehensive)?
    • Answer: IDHS will no longer provide funding for the legacy BBO program 444-80-0226 after 6/30/25. See answer to questions #7 and #8.
  10. Question: Based on experience, clients are reluctant and/or refuse home visits which is stated to be exclusive for the cohort. How do we provide services successfully without home visits if client participation is contingent on having home visits throughout pregnancy and through month three following birth, but they refuse this key component?
    • Answer: The HRFCM program cannot be provided without nurse home visits. Client refusal of nurse home visits has not been an identified concern in HRFCM cohort #1 nor Chicago Family Connects. While participation in HRFCM is optional for families, IDHS anticipates that most families in the cohort #2 service area will welcome the nurse home visit when offered. If families decline services, the agency would be expected to not enroll the family in HRFCM.
  11. Question: Will clients be able to receive BBO services if they refuse HRFCM home visits?
    • Answer: Not if they live in the HRFCM cohort areas. See answer to question #10 regarding refusal of home visits.
  12. Question: How is the HRFCM caseload determined?
    • Answer: See answer to question #4
  13. Question: How will we get our caseload up to the # of clients suggested?
    • Answer: IDHS cannot answer this as the NOFO asks applicants to speak to this in their proposal narrative. Please see NOFO section v. Quality 2d.
  14. Question: What happens if we cannot staff # of nurses in 30 days?
    • Answer: See section 2iA of the NOFO. Grantees failing to have required staffing model and nurse to family ratios in place within 30 days of the grant agreement start date or at any time during the grant period may be subject to grant suspension or termination.
  15. Question: What happens if our caseload does not reach the suggested #?
    • Answer: IDHS provides grantees with ongoing technical assistance to assist grantees in meeting their program goals. Grantees not meeting the performance standards, including caseload, may be issued a Corrective Action Plan.
    • 4/29/25
  16. Question: Should the Budget or Budget Narrative section be included in the final PDF of the grant proposal?
    • Answer: A printout/download of the budget does not need to be included in the final PDF packet that is submitted via email. The budget should be submitted directly in CSA. Please be sure the budget status in CSA says "GATA Budget signed and submitted to program review." Budgets not showing this status will not be reviewed and applications will be considered substantially incomplete. This status will appear in CSA after the budget is electronically signed by the agency CEO or CFO and submitted to IDHS. See IDHS CSA Tracking System webpage for additional information on CSA at IDHS: CSA Tracking System (state.il.us).
  17. Question: Do Attachments A and B immediately follow the Narrative Section or should be at the end of the grant document?
    • Answer: Attachments A and B should immediately follow the Narrative. Please see the application checklist in section 9 of the NOFO for the order of documents.