Title XX DFI Self-Sufficiency and Self-Support (DRS) DFI-Support Service Provider (444-30-1288 DFI-SSP)

Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name Division of Rehabilitation Services
Agency Contact Holly Cunningham Holly.Cunningham@illinois.gov
Announcement Type Non-Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title Title XX DFI Self-Sufficiency and Self-Support (DRS) DFI-Support Service Provider Exempt from Notice Of Funding Opportunity, Merit Based Review
Funding Opportunity Number N/A
Application Posting Date N/A
Application Closing Date N/A
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number 444-30-1288
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name DFI-SSP
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) 93.667

Applicant Eligibility

1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This contract will serve individuals who have dual vision and hearing loss (DeafBlind). Some individuals have residual vision and-or hearing while others have none. Communication modalities vary among this population. Participation in the community is a challenge due to the limitations of this disability. Employment opportunities are very limited due to the level of support needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment. A Support Service Provider (SSP) assists individuals who are DeafBlind by facilitating communication, providing environmental information, and supporting their daily activities. Individuals being serviced through this contractual agreement, who are also IDHS/DRS Vocational Rehabilitation customers, may receive services that provide information, instruction, and advocacy. However, services that provide equipment, devices and similar tangible items are not allowable.

The Division of Rehabilitation Services requires the timely execution of all initial and amended contractual agreements. Grantees will have up to 14 business days from the date the contract is published 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 and amendment page. Non-compliance may result in a modified start date of the contract to align with the grantee's submission of the required execution documents. Grantees 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 will 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.

Statement of Work To ensure adequate coverage for services provided to customers, grantees are expected to maintain normal business hours Monday-Friday. The Department of Central Management Services maintains an annual Holiday calendar used by the State of Illinois:

https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/personnel/employeeresources/pages/stateholidays.aspx.

Any deviation from this calendar must be pre-approved in writing from the Grantor Contact on Exhibit D Contact Information identified in the Uniform Grant Agreement prior to implementation of a change. Unapproved closures for reasons other than natural disasters or other situations when significant numbers of employees are prevented from reporting to work will be deemed as a breach of the Statement of Work and may lead to a prorated financial offset equivalent to the unapproved days of closure.

2.Deliverables

This contract will serve individuals who have dual vision and hearing loss (DeafBlind) toward working with and receiving assistance from a Support Service Provider (SSP). Both the individual receiving services and the SSP must undergo specialized training to ensure effective communication and assistance. Services are provided using the individual's preferred communication method. By offering these specialized support services, individuals who are DeafBlind can make informed decisions and exercise self-determination.

The provider will provide a detailed description notifying the community of the program, hours of operation, and program eligibility information. This is known as a community outreach plan. This includes a referral process for assisting program participants with enrollment in public benefit programs and other resources as needed.

A Minority Seniors Report (IL 444-1947) is required. This information is shared with the Illinois Department of Aging.

Services include:

  1. Training for DeafBlind individuals to acquire the skills and knowledge to manage a support service provider (SSP).
  2. Training for individuals who will provide support services. Skills will include learning human guide techniques, proper way to describe environmental information, communication methods used by people who are DeafBlind, facilitating communication, and confidentiality laws.
  3. Develop a pre-test and post-test to provide scores for all training modules for each participant (DeafBlind and SSP) to indicate skills and knowledge acquisition. This is a new requirement, and it is understood that data may be skewed during the initial phase.
  4. Reports:

a. Cumulative quarterly list of actively paired DeafBlind individuals working with a Support Service Provider (SSP).

b. Quarterly list of all individuals who have completed training to manage an SSP or assist as an SSP.

c. Data will include the number of support service (SSP) requests, the hours of service, travel/mileage as well as payments to support service providers. The number of filled and unfilled requests will be documented.

Program and Financial Reporting Requirements:

A. 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.

B. 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.

C. 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.

D. 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.

E. A Monthly Grant Expenditure Report (MGE) will be provided by the 15th of each month. This report is a new requirement for DFI grants. The report must include the number of consumers who participated in individual blind services along with their unique identification number. The number of people served versus identification numbers must match.

3.Performance Measures

  1. Number of individuals who completed the support service provider (SSP) training program.
  2. Number of individuals who completed the training on how to manage a support service provider (SSP).
  3. Recorded training pre-test and post-test scores.
  4. A meeting with each DeafBlind stakeholder will be held on a quarterly basis.
  5. Percentage of DeafBlind individuals using a support service provider (SSP) who experienced customer satisfaction.

4.Performance Standards

  1. A minimum of five individuals will complete the support service provider (SSP) training program annually.
  2. A minimum of five individuals will complete the training on how to manage a support service provider (SSP) annually.
  3. At least a 50% increase in scores from pre-test to post-tests showing skills acquisition and effectiveness of training.
  4. Meeting notes from the quarterly meeting with each DeafBlind stakeholder.
  5. At least 75% of DeafBlind individuals using a support service provider (SSP) will experience customer satisfaction.