DDD Communication
Day Program Recruitment and Retention Grant Program
March 11, 2024
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is pleased to announce the DHS Day Program: Recruitment and Retention Program. This program will distribute $12.5 million in supplemental funding appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly in January 2023, during the last chance session of the 102nd General Assembly, to day program providers within the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Waiver and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disability (ICF/IID). The Waiver and ICF/IID programs set to receive grants through this program are as follows:
- Adult Waiver
- Community Day Services
- Supported Employment Program
- ICF/IID
The grants are to be used for recruitment and retention purposes including but not limited to:
- Bonuses for new and existing direct care staff
- Advertising for recruiting/hiring new direct care staff
- New/additional training for new direct care staff
In order to process all grants to eligible grantees, DDD will be utilizing a portal run through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). This portal will be similar to those used to process COVID payments to long-term care providers during the pandemic so should be familiar to some grantees.
The week of March 11, 2024, Chief Executive Officers will receive a communication from DDDRecruitmentandRetentionProgram@ey.com. The communication will request confirmation that the CEO will be the contact for the program, or the organization will have the ability to provide an alternate authorized representative and email address for the program moving forward.
Following that, authorized representatives for all eligible grantees will receive a communication from HFS.CARESappnotification@illinois.gov. Those receiving the communication will need to follow the below steps upon receipt of the email:
- Click the "forgot your password" within the email
- Enter the email address on file with IDHS
- A reset link will be sent to your email address. Click the link within the email and follow the instructions to create a new password
- Sign-in to the portal using your email address as a username along with entering the password that you created
The portal will include required files for your organization's review and submission. A budget template will be available for your input, review, and submission to DDD. Upon receipt and approval of your budget, your organization will receive your Uniform Grant Agreement for review and signature.
DDD is hosting a training that will discuss the grant program, the portal, and required documentation for the program. Information on the training including the date, time, and registration link are as follows:
Date: Monday, March 18, 2024
Time: 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm CST
DHS DDD Day Program: Recruitment and Retention Grant Program Training
For program specific questions, please email: DHS.DDDComments@illinois.gov.
For portal related questions, including downloading, completing, and submitting your budget, please email: DDDRecruitmentandRetentionProgram@ey.com.
The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.
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