The Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) calls for a comprehensive approach to reducing firearm violence through targeted community investments. This notice reviews the second of three NOFOs that will be released to solicit proposals for serving eligible areas in the City of Chicago and municipal service areas. Please see list of the currently eligible service areas in Chicago and Greater Illinois municipalities.The Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP), housed at the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), intends to organizations within each of the eligible services areas to provide youth development services centered on improving academic performance, life skills education, parental involvement, recreation, sports and cultural and artistic activities, positive adult mentors, and service and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning.
Grant applications are due no later than 12:00pm, Monday, March 21, 2022.
Award and Funding Information
|
Chicago-based Organizations |
Organizations based in Greater Illinois Municipalities |
| Funding Term |
26-month grant - initial 2 months with two 1-year renewal opportunities |
26-month grant - initial 2 months with two 1-year renewal opportunities.
Subject to further funding recommendations set forth by the OFVP and informed by recommendations from each community's Local Advisory Council*.
|
| Youth Eligibility/Priority Populations |
- Youth residing in the 35% blocks*
- Service area youth referred by RPSA VP Programs (family members of VP program participants)
- Youth attending alternative/ option schools
- Justice-involved youth
- Other at-risk youth
|
- Youth residing in municipal blocks with high concentrations of firearm violence
- Youth attending alternative/ option schools
- Justice-involved youth
- Other at-risk youth
|
| Participation Requirements |
Participate in monthly and emergency meetings convened by OFVP-selected Reimagine Conveners with the intent to facilitate meaningful collaborative action planning across providers. |
Grantees will work with the OFVP on collaborative community service planning for violence prevention and youth development. The OFVP and its determinations as to the distribution of funding will be informed by the recommendations of the Local Advisory Council for the area. |
Applicants proposing to serve Chicago communities MUST prioritize services for youth residing in the municipal blocks where more than 35% of all fatal and nonfatal firearm-shot incidents in each community take place. To view eligible municipal blocks, refer to: OFVP Community Area Maps of Blocks with 35% Shootings.
**RPSA requires IDHS to convene Local Advisory Councils (LAC) in the selected municipalities outside of Chicago. The purpose of the LACs is to make recommendations to the OFVP on how best to reduce firearm violence incidents in each community. Those recommendations will further inform OFVP resource allocation. LACs will make initial recommendations to the OFVP by late April 2022.
Program Requirements
- Provide youth with safe environments and caring adults to guide them toward educational success, to empower them with the social and emotional skills necessary to forge paths of healthy development and disengagement from high-risk behaviors.
- Provide engaging educational and personal development activities intended to build resilience and the skills associated with healthy social, emotional, and identity development. Such activities include:
- Improving academic performance
- Life skills education
- Parental involvement
- Recreation, sports, and cultural and artistic activities
- Positive adult mentors
- Service learning
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Learning
Eligibility Information and Grant Funding Requirements
Only proposals from eligible organizations will be reviewed. Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria:
- MUST be GATA prequalified. To learn more information, visit the Grant Application Information and Instructions on the IDHS website.
- High levels of experience in youth development, community engagement, and outreach work.
- Genuine and trusted relationships with community residents, schools, and community stakeholders.
- Have a presence in the communities they propose to serve.
Training and Technical Assistance
For new organizations and organizations with limited experience providing out-of-school programming, additional training and technical assistance may be required by the OFVP to assist with program development. Additional training requirements will be based in part on the applicant's response on the program-specific questions on the Programmatic Risk Assessment. (Refer to Section C.4: Pre-Award Requirements in the full RPSA Youth Development Services NOFO for more information.)
Additional Information and Directions to Apply
- Application materials are provided throughout this announcement. Appendices will be made available in user/printer friendly format and may be found on the Illinois Department of Human Services website at: Appendices for Bureau of Positive Youth Development & Youth Intervention Services Program Specific Guidelines FY2022. Additional copies may be obtained by contacting the Department at the email address below.
- Applicants must be registered in the CSA Tracking System to enable the applicant to submit a signed budget in CSA by the application due date. For instructions on registering in CSA, refer to How to Register in CSA.
For additional help and step by step instructions on registering in CSA, refer to How to Sign Up for CSA & CRV.
For complete information regarding application award and submission information, program and funding requirements, and applicant eligibility information, please see the full RPSA Youth Development Services NOFO.
