Transgender/Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program Question and Answer 24-444-80-3227

Technical Assistance Session:

This technical assistance session will provide participants with an overview of the 24-444-80-2458-01 Healing Illinois Notice of Funding Opportunity and information on how providers can apply for FY24.

TGD Wellness TA Session

Question and Answer

  1. Question: If the total amount of the grant is $2,000,000, how much of this is meant to be sub-granted/subcontracted out?
    • Answer: The Department anticipates the availability of approximately funding $2,000,000, with at least $1,800,000 to be awarded to subcontractors and/or sub-grantees.
  2. Question: If we think we may be better to be a sub-grantee, can we submit that interest to you to pass our name along to the awardee?
    • Answer: No. Any interest in becoming a sub-grantee should be shared with the successful applicant. Sub-grantees will be evaluated/identified using a fair and equity-driven process. Look for the award announcement and then contact the awardee directly or online for the application process.
  3. Question: Does the applicant have to have potential sub-grantees in mind when completing the application?
    • Answer: No. The sub-grantees should be evaluated on a fair and equitable basis after the grant is awarded. The successful applicant will work with the IDHS team to help ensure sub-grantees and subcontractors are identified using an equity-driven process.
  4. Question: Can you please clarify whether the $1.8M needs to be used for subcontractors or is the awardee able to use it to expand on a curriculum or program?
    • Answer: That would depend on the curriculum or program and so that would have to be reflected in the organization's application and the program design.
  5. Question: Could you clarify if the $1.8M is to be used for subcontractors and/or sub-grantees outside of the grant awardee? For example, if our organization was awarded the grant, would the $1.8M be required to go out to agencies we are working with to perform the scope of the grant?
    • Answer: The $1.8M is to be sub-granted to organizations throughout the state of Illinois, ensuring grant funding is equitably distributed across the five IDHS Regions to organizations/agencies working to perform the scope of the grant.
  6. Question: Can this funding be used to support direct costs of the internal applicant's staff?
    • Answer: This funding may be used to support direct costs of the internal applicants staff, subject to budget approval. All budget information should be reflected in the proposed budget and budget narrative.
  7. Question: Understanding that DHS is trying to get funding to communities as quickly as possible and that the winning applicant won't know they've been selected until Oct 16, is there any wiggle room on having fully executed contracts for 75% of the funding by December 1?
    • Answer: Yes, IDHS is willing to discuss this once the grant is awarded. Before signing the final contract, IDHS and the grantee will reevaluate the NOFO expectations and develop mutually acceptable variances.
  8. Question: Does IDHS see this initiative requiring a new full-time person to focus on this project over the eight months?
    • Answer: IDHS requires the grantee maintain suitable staffing levels to accomplish the grant objectives.
  9. Question: What are you anticipating IDHS's engagement to look like over the grant period?
    • Answer: The IDHS Office of Strategy, Equity, and Transformation staff will regularly engage with the successful applicant throughout the grant period. As appropriate, IDHS staff will provide guidance and support.
  10. Question: Do you have a sense of what information would be required for the monthly reports? We're trying to understand if our Research & Evaluation team would need to develop tools and collect and analyze data, if there would be a standard format for information that is easily accessible, etc.?
    • Answer: There are standard reporting forms (IDHS forms) to be completed for this grant. IDHS will work in concert with the grantee to ensure the proper information is collected once the grant is awarded.
  11. Question: Is this only for supporting the TGD community, or can resources also be used to support the broader LGBTQ+ community as well?
    • Answer: Resources can also be used to support the LGBTQ+ community as well.
  12. Question: What if organizational costs exceed $200,000?
    • Answer: The ratio of sub-granting could be adjusted as needed and as allowed, with approval from DHS.