DDD COMMUNICATION | January 29, 2025

IN TODAY'S COMMUNICATION:

  • Announcement of Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) through DDD and Respite Grantee Extensions
  • IDHS Trainings for Grant Awardees or those interested in NOFOs
  • CIRAS Law Enforcement Category Clarification

FY26 NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES (NOFOs)

DDD will be posting 3 Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) on February 3, 2025. Agencies interested in applying for these grant programs will have until 5:00 pm on March 14, 2025, to submit their completed application packet. DDD is anticipating awarding the grants on May 16, 2025. Subject to appropriation, the grant period for these awards will be July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. DDD is in the process of developing a FY26 NOFO website and will share it once completed. The NOFOs will be posted on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance website. The grants being posted for NOFO on February 3rd include:

  • Dignity in Pay Grant
  • Family Advocate Program
  • Latino Outreach Program

Dignity in Pay Grant:

Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) are exceptionally underrepresented in the competitive integrated workforce. This underrepresentation is due to an array of factors, which present as barriers to community integration and full inclusion. As an Employment First state, Illinois recognizes that Competitive Integrated Employment shall be considered the first option when serving persons with disabilities of working age. Aligned with the mandates of legislation, such as The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), The Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA), The Rehabilitation Act and the Dignity in Pay Act, which serve to establish a foundation of equity and equality for Individuals with Disabilities in the workplace and beyond, the Illinois Department of Human Services is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) with the intent to fund and support The Dignity in Pay Program Grants.

Family Advocate Program:

The purpose of the Family Advocate Program (FAP) is to provide family-to-family support for individuals with an intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) and their families who are selected for services through the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (IDHS/DDD) PUNS List. The FAP will address the needs of individuals with I/DD and their families by providing information about, and options for, using Waiver-funded community-based services and supports including Home-Based Support Services (HBSS) and Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) services, in an effort to build full and integrated lives of their own choosing, in their homes and communities.

Latino Outreach Program

The Latino Outreach program is meant to provide outreach, engagement, support, resources, and referrals to Latino/Hispanic individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Individuals who are not enrolled in and/or receiving any Home and Community Based Waiver funded services (HCBS) through any waivers operated by any State Agency (Department on Aging (IDoA), Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS, DRS), Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), etc.) are eligible for this service.

Contact:

Questions on FY26 NOFOs can be directed to DHS.DDDGrantProg@illinois.gov. Please include the NOFO name in the subject line for a more accurate and prompt response.

GRANT EXTENSIONS FOR RESPITE AWARDEES

DDD has been approved an exception to extend our current awardees in our Respite Grants for 1 year. Therefore, we will not be posting the Respite Grants for NOFO this year. DDD will contact any Respite Grant awardees directly as needed. Otherwise, these grants will continue to operate as they have over the last 3 years. The Respite Grants being extended include:

  • Group Respite Program
  • In-Home and Residential Respite Program
  • Voucher Respite Program

COMMUNITY AWARDEE TRAININGS

Are you an awardee of a current DDD Grant or an agency who plans to submit an application to a DDD Grant during the FY26 Notice of Funding Opportunity process? The DHS GATA Unit will be hosting COMMUNITY AWARDEE TRAININGS during the First Quarter of 2025.

Registration link is: GATA Trainings Q1 2025

  • Community Awardee Training topics include:
  • Registration, Pre-qualification, and Pre-award Requirements
  • Recipe for Grant Success - Intro and Overview
  • Equipment and Property Requirements
  • Grant Payments Methods
  • Procurement Overview

UPDATE: CRITICAL INCIDENT REPORTING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM (CIRAS) - LAW ENFORCEMENT CATEGORY (i.e. TYPE OF CRITICAL INCIDENT)

CIRAS incident reports are reviewed by BQM staff on a routine basis. Over the past several quarters, it has been noted that various incident reports were incorrectly designated with the Law Enforcement category. In response, BQM conducted additional analysis of this category for calendar year 2024. Based on the review, it was determined that nearly three-quarters (approximately 73%) of the critical incidents for Law Enforcement were miscategorized.

Agencies must ensure their staff select the correct category based on the description of the incident and how it is defined in the linked CIRAS manual. In reference to the Law Enforcement category, the definition is as follows:

  • Law enforcement: Any incident that results in the individual being charged, incarcerated, or arrested. Calls to 911 for assistance that do not result in charges, arrest, or incarceration are not required to be reported in this category.

Note: if a call to 911 does not result in the individual being charged, incarcerated, or arrested, a category other than "Law Enforcement" should be selected. The agency must select a category that appropriately describes the type of incident.

Below are a few examples of incident descriptions and actions that involved law enforcement and BQM recommendations for how the incidents should be categorized in CIRAS.

  1. Two individuals got into a pushing match.  Individual A hit Individual B with an open hand and pulled his hair. When the fight was over, staff did a body check on Individual B and found a raised scratch mark on his chest.
    1. Action: Staff called 911. Law Enforcement advised that the individuals separate for the remainder of the day.
    2. BQM Recommendation: Select "911 Call". (Since the incident did not result in the individual being charged, incarcerated, or arrested, Law Enforcement category is not appropriate.)
  2. Individual began to exhibit aggressive behavior and started to flip tables and hit walls causing property damage.  He eventually ran out the front door and down the block. The police were called.
    1. Action: Staff called 911 for police assistance in locating the individual. A neighbor was able to identify the direction he went.  Police were able to locate him and bring him back to his residence.
    2. BQM Recommendation: Select "911 Call". (Since the incident did not result in the individual being charged, incarcerated, or arrested, Law Enforcement category is not appropriate.)
  3. Individual's behavior had escalated throughout the day.  She had multiple disagreements and verbal altercations with her peers.  Staff had attempted redirection with limited success.  Before dinner, she threw a large object at a peer whom she had been arguing with during the day, hitting them in the head.
    1. Action: 911 was called.  She was handcuffed by police and charged with battery.
    2. BQM Recommendation: Select "Law Enforcement".

Note: Incident reports submitted in the CIRAS system should reflect actual names of individuals

Appropriate categorization of CIRAS incidents is of the utmost importance. Thank you to the Provider and Independent Service Coordination (ISC) staff who consistently submit CIRAS incident reports via the CIRAS web-based system. Effective immediately, BQM will increase its vigilance in requiring agencies to revise incident reports bearing the incorrect category/type of critical incident. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to DHS.DDD.CIRAS@illinois.gov.


The information contained herein should not be considered a substitute for the appropriate official statutes, rules, regulations, or the advice of legal counsel.

To request to be added to our email database, or to update your contact and service information, please complete our Contact Survey. Information provided will help us to better tailor communications to you in the future.

Return to DDD Communication

Return to DDD Homepage