All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks (26-444-84-2902-01)

1. - Basic Information (CSFA Data Section)

Items 1(A) - 1(E) are in the CSFA Data Table Below:

1. - Basic Information Continued - Section F through I

2. - Eligibility

3. - Program Description

1. Required Information
   1. Program Summary
      In order for children to get the best start in life, families need strong communities where everyone is working together toward common goals for young children. The All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks initiative (AOK Networks) was launched in 1999 to support collaboration across service sectors to improve outcomes for babies, young children, and their families/caregivers. AOK Network partners engage in cross-sector, strategic, system-focused initiatives to improve child and family outcomes by creating a more accessible, coordinated, equitable and just system of services and supports that also engages parents/caregivers as partners in making the system work for them. The AOK Network grants support the state's early childhood vision and efforts for every child to enter kindergarten healthy, safe, eager to learn, and ready to succeed.
   2. Goals and Objectives
      The goal of the initiative is to improve outcomes for children and families through an effective local early childhood system. The objectives of the initiative are a) to establish and maintain a community collaboration (the Network) representing early childhood development system partners and individuals with interests and services for families with young children to work on improving access, equity, quality, capacity and consumer satisfaction of local service delivery by developing and implementing strategic initiatives that incorporate system-improvement strategies b) to conduct a community assessment utilizing primary and secondary data sources to identify local early childhood issues to be addressed through a five year strategic implementation cycle c) to engage parents/caregivers as Network partners through participation in Network meetings, strategy design and implementation, parent work groups, community events, written surveys, periodic parent cafés, and public education campaigns.
       
      AOK Networks partners design and implement three cross-sector annual initiatives focused on: 
      1. Network Capacity: The Network Capacity Initiative focuses on building the collaborative capacity and structure that is needed to improve the system and enhance outcomes for children and families. By building their Network capacity, AOK Network partners become more capable of creating powerful and sustainable system improvements. AOK Network partners work together to build their collaborative capacity by focusing on four core areas: 
         • Shared Agenda
         • Collaborative Leadership and Engagement
         • Continuous Learning and Adaptive Action
         • Network Governance
      2. Information and Referral: AOK Networks implement an effective information and referral system that increases family, provider, and community knowledge of and connection to available services and resources by implementing a system wide referral process that includes consistent collaboration, information exchange, coordination of services and referring families to needed services and resources with a feedback loop to ensure referrals are completed effectively.
      3. Child or Family Outcome: AOK Networks prioritize a set of related child and family outcomes through a community assessment process using the AOK Networks Developmental Pathway that become the focus of this initiative. To better support children and families to reach these targeted outcomes AOK Network partners seek to understand the ways in which the system could be improved through a system assessment and root cause analysis and work together to develop and implement strategies aimed at addressing root causes within the system, ultimately enhancing the targeted outcomes.
          
         Terms and Definitions
         To assist Applicants with understanding the terminology found in this Notice of Funding Opportunity, definitions for commonly used terms are provided below.
         

         Capacity-building: Improving the ability of community stakeholders to come together, learn, make well-reasoned decisions about the community's present and future outcomes. It includes the Network's competence and perseverance to carry out its work proactively and in response to changes locally and beyond through collaboration, adaptation, and self-renewal. Core areas of AOK Network capacity-building include developing a shared agenda, promoting collaborative leadership and engagement, fostering continuous learning and adaptive action, and strengthening Network function and structure.

         Centralized Referral System (CRS): A web-based, bi-directional referral system used to connect families to a wide array of family services and supports that promote screening and individualized family assessments to identify a client's needs and generate referrals to programs and services that are the best fit for the family.

         Child and Family Outcome Initiative: Through a community assessment process using the AOK Networks Developmental Pathway, each community prioritizes a set of related child and family outcomes which become the focus of this initiative. In addition, through a system assessment and root cause analysis, AOK Networks seek to understand the ways in which the system could be improved to better support children and families to reach these outcomes. Together AOK Network partners address barriers too big to address individually, seek to permanently improve the system, and to benefit more children and families.

         Collaboration: The act of working together towards one or more mutually agreed upon goal(s).

         Collaborative: A group of community stakeholders who work together towards a shared agenda or set of goals. AOK Networks are collaboratives made up of cross-sector partners who seek to improve outcomes for expecting women, babies, young children, and families/caregivers through a systems approach.

         Community Systems Development: A process by which a community takes collective responsibility for the young children in their community by working together as a whole system to ensure all young children reach important outcomes across domains of health, safety, positive development, and kindergarten readiness.

         Continuous Learning and Adaptive Action: Engaging in an ongoing process of learning what works and what does not, then adapting plans and actions for greater impact. The process includes iterative cycles of Planning, Implementing, Learning, and Adapting (PILA).

         Early Childhood (EC): the life stages and developmental milestones associated with the period from birth to age five; AOK Networks include prenatal development in their early childhood efforts.

         Early Childhood System: A coordinated effort among many sectors and community agencies who work together to improve outcomes for expecting women, babies, young children, and their families/caregivers through a system improvement approach. Sectors, services, programs, and supports that make up the early childhood system include, but are not limited to, the following:
         

         • • Early Learning Experiences: Home visiting; family, friend, and neighbor care; family childcare homes; center- and school-based early education services; early intervention in natural environments; and special education services.
             Family Support and Engagement: Food pantries, foster care, Intact Family Services, housing/shelter, substance abuse, TANF, SNAP, violence prevention and workforce development
             Health and Mental Health: Breastfeeding support, Family Case Management/Better Birth Outcomes, mental health counseling, prenatal health care, post-partum depression, well-child visits, immunizations, and WIC
             
         • Family Engagement: Family engagement in AOK Networks is a collaborative, relationship-building process that is a shared commitment among partners from different sectors to elevate family voice in building an effective, inclusive, and equitable early childhood system. Families are community experts and equal partners in decision-making within the AOK Network. The outcome of this authentic partnership is a thriving early childhood system that ensures children birth-to-five, and their families are healthy, safe, and ready to succeed in life
           Human Centered Design: A process of engaging people who are experiencing a problem in solving the problem; AOK Networks engage parents/caregivers in understanding, designing and implementing system improvement efforts.

         Information and Referral Initiative: Each five-year cycle, all AOK Networks work on one of the system building components. Currently, AOK Networks are focused on information and referrals. Following a structured process, AOK Networks systematically learn about the current I&R practices in their community, engage stakeholders in building a more connected and coordinated system to connect families to the right services.

         IRIS: Integrated Referral and Intake System, is a web-based community referral system that enables service providers in a community to make, receive, track and respond to referrals.

         Measurable: Capable of being measured; data indicators are established to measure progress toward a specific goal. To determine if a goal is measurable, ask questions such as: How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

         Network Capacity Initiative: Network capacity refers to the knowledge, skill, and ability of the Network to work together and improve the service delivery system. It also refers to formalizing and strengthening the collaborative infrastructures and processes. AOK Networks focus on four core areas: Shared Agenda, Collaborative Leadership and Engagement, Continuous Learning and Adaptive Action, and Network Governance. Network capacity initiatives are informed by assessments such as the Wilder Survey and the Illinois CSD Benchmark tool. Sometimes Network Initiatives include approaches related to one or both of their other initiatives.

         Parent Ambassador:  Parent Ambassadors actively engage in Network meetings and workgroups providing lived experiences and family perspective, participate in community outreach activities, and focus on parent engagement initiatives. They provide peer-to-peer support and share education and information on key topics, including child development, parenting, family life, and early childhood programs and services and are full partners in planning, implementing, and evaluating Network initiatives.

         Partnership Agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): A written agreement between two or more entities to carry out specific objectives in order to create better outcomes for children and families. The signed entities are expected to work together throughout the agreement period to ensure that shared child and family outcomes are achieved.

         Shared Agenda: Having a shared understanding of the AOK Networks' system improvement mission and framework as well as a shared investment in the Network's local, cross-sector goals and initiatives that support that mission.

         System: A system is any group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent parts that form a complex unified whole that has a specific purpose.

         System Building: The ongoing process of developing the structures, behaviors, and connections that make all the components of a system operate as a whole.

         System Change: An intentional process that alters the status quo of the system by shifting and aligning system parts and their interactions… leading to new system habits and patterns.

         System Improvement: The ongoing process of increasing the capacity and effectiveness of the local early childhood system to function as a whole in order to improve system access, coordination, and equity in ways that synergistically improve outcomes for children and families. Through system building and system change approaches, AOK Networks seek to improve the early childhood system's function, alignment, and habits. AOK Networks use four approaches to improve the early childhood system: human-centered design, system change, system building, and continuous improvement and adaptive action.

         List of commonly used early childhood referenced acronyms.

         For more information about the AOK Networks initiatives, approaches and current Network efforts go to aoknetworks.org .

   3. Scope of Services
      AOK Network Grantee Responsibilities
      The Grantee will work with the Illinois Department of Human Services (Department) to develop a local, comprehensive early childhood service and support system to meet the needs of pregnant women, children birth to five years old and their parents/caregivers
      The Provider must hire the following positions according to their respective salary floors.
      1. One (1.0/FTE) full time, highly qualified, local AOK Networks Coordinator to develop and maintain a community collaborative (the AOK Network) representing parents/caregivers, local agencies/organizations, and community stakeholders with interests and supports for pregnant women and families with young children within the identified geographical area.
      2. One (1.0 FTE) full-time, highly qualified, local Family Engagement Specialist to work in close collaboration with the local AOK Network Coordinator to develop and sustain the AOK Network, with a shared focus on strengthening the network's capacity to drive meaningful and authentic family engagement. The FES is responsible for engaging, supervising, and building the capacity of Parent Ambassadors to ensure alignment with Network goals while fostering leadership development. 

         1. Salary Floor AOK Networks Coordinator

            1. Cook and Collar Counties: $60,000
            1. Other Counties: $50,000
         2. Salary Floor Family Engagement Specialist
            1. Cook and Collar Counties: $46,800
            2. Other Counties: $37,800
      • In addition, grantees may request funding to support up to 8 Parent Ambassadors through an annual stipend of $2000 per ambassador.
      • Grantee will promote the professional development of and provide support to the local AOK Network Coordinator and the Family Engagement Specialist in any of the following ways:
        1. Attend training together
        2. Respond to funder requests for information
        3. Provide assessment and planning support
        4. Manage local staff responsibilities during any leaves of absence or staff transition
      • The Grantee acknowledges that staff stability is critical to the successful implementation of this initiative. To that end, the grantee shall:
        1. Develop and maintain a plan for minimizing staff turnover, including strategies for recruitment, retention, and professional development.
        2. Promptly notify the Grantor in writing of any significant staff changes, vacancies, or turnover that may impact the initiative, along with a plan to mitigate any disruption.
      • The Grantee will furnish monthly financial reports to the Department and the AOK Networks State Administrator by completing and submitting the Periodic Financial Report (PFR) in alignment with the approved budget by the 15th of the month following the reporting period.
      • The Grantee will record all efforts completed toward identified objectives in the AOK Connect reporting database on a monthly basis and submit semi-annual Periodic Performance Reports (PPR) to update the Department on the AOK Network's progress. The Grantee will also submit additional documentation of efforts as requested by the State Administrator.
      • The Grantee will participate in process and outcome evaluation services provided by the designated contractor as determined necessary by the Department
      • Grantee on-site supervisors of AOK Networks' local Coordinators will attend an annual AOK Networks update meeting.
         
        Local AOK Networks Coordinator's Qualifications
        The AOK Network Coordinator is charged with leading the local birth to five community through a planning and implementation process to improve the system of services and supports that gives equitable access to high-quality programs for all young children. The grantee should seek to hire a local coordinator that possesses the following qualifications and experience:
      • 1. Understanding and familiarity with the various sectors of the birth to five service community (i.e., maternal and child health, early intervention, early care and education, mental health, family supports and prevention services)
        2. Understanding of local community assessment processes
        3. Strategic planning experience
        4. Data collection and analysis experience
        5. Ability to lead in a collaborative environment
        6.  Group facilitation skills and experience
        7. Leadership development skills and experience
        8. Understanding of systems development
        9. Project Management and communications experience
        10. Network/Collaborative development and management experience
        11. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suit
        12. Required: Bachelor's degree with two years of experience in social work, early childhood education, family support, public health, or related field; or, 5 or more years of community systems development knowledge, skills, and experience.
      • Local AOK Networks Family Engagement Specialist's Qualifications
        The Family Engagement Specialist (FES) amplifies family and community voices to inform systemic change and improve access to holistic family resources and early childhood services. Working closely with the AOK Network Coordinator, the FES strengthens connections between families, community partners, and early childhood networks to address gaps, elevate lived experiences, and promote collaboration.

      1. Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
      2. Ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
      3. Experience in facilitating workshops and leading community initiatives.
      4. Familiarity with early childhood development and family engagement principles.
      5. Ability to travel across your region, as needed, and to the biannual state meetings.
      6. Flexibility to work evenings or weekends for community events, as needed.
      7. Familiarity with early childhood development and family engagement principles.
      8. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

   4. Program Deliverables
      AOK Networks' Local Staff Responsibilities
      Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

      1. Establish and maintain a community collaborative (the AOK Network) representing early childhood development sectors, parents/caregivers as partners and individuals with interests and services for families with young children to work on improving access to quality services, coordination, as well as engaging parents/caregivers as partners in making the system work for them.
      2. Conduct an early childhood community assessment utilizing primary and secondary data sources to determine community strengths and identify priority child and family outcome issues.
      3. Represent the early childhood sector in the development of the local IPLAN/MAPP to share data and information on early childhood outcomes and related system issues.
      4. Lead the AOK Network to design and implement three cross-sector initiatives focused on: 
         • Network Capacity
         • Information and Referra
         • Child or Family Outcome
      5. Use these system improvement approaches in the development and implementation of the required initiatives:
         • human-centered design 
         • system building strategies
         • system-change approache
         • continuous learning and adaptive action
      6. As part of the Network Capacity initiative, set and maintain a goal to enhance family engagement by actively involving parent ambassadors and ensuring family perspectives are meaningfully incorporated into the development and implementation of the AOK Networks' approved strategic plan.
      7. As part of the Information and Referral initiative, implement and maintain IRIS, a web-based centralized referral system that supports warm handoffs for families and improves communication among partners by streamlining the referral process, closing the communication loop for referring organizations, and giving communities a clear data driven picture of partner capacity.
      8. Monitor and evaluate progress on strategic plans using continuous learning and adaptive action throughout the five-year planning and implementation cycle.
      9. Conduct assessments to inform AOK Network initiatives such as the Wilder survey, CSD Benchmark tool, IRIS Annual Survey, parent and provider surveys provided by the Department and submit as indicated.
      10. Recruit, onboard, and provide training to Parent Ambassadors to support family engagement approaches. Engage parents/caregivers as Network partners through participation in Network meetings, strategy design and implementation, parent workgroups, community events, written surveys, parent cafés, and/or public education campaigns.
      11. Participate in all mandatory AOK Networks statewide meetings and trainings: two, two-day meetings in central Illinois, monthly teleconferences, webinars, and AOK Network-sponsored regional trainings. Participate virtually in quarterly leader labs.
      12. Participate in and promote AOK Networks' lessons learned at Early Learning Council committee meetings; and participate at state and national conferences as requested by State Administrator.
      13. Engage in professional development and opportunities recommended by the Department.
      14. Develop and annually update resource directories that inventory local early childhood services and related services for families with young children; post directories on the Network's local webpage at aoknetworks.org.
      15. Participate in a statewide AOK Network effort to promote children's mental health public awareness by connecting with the National SAMHSA website for resources and conducting local events to address children's mental health issues and/or topics that are specific to the community.
      16. Update quarterly the Network's local webpage on the State AOK Networks' website at aoknetworks.org by uploading plans at a glance, Resource Guide, Partner Agency/Program list and post dates and community events on the AOK website calendar. Biennial, update Network story on Network's State webpage.

5. Performance Measures & Standards
   Measures
   The Grantee will submit semi-annual Periodic Performance Reports (PPR) to update the Department on the following performance measures.
   1. Number of Network meetings held.
   2. Number of sectors participating in the Network and/or in workgroups of the Network.
   3. Percent of Network capacity initiative approaches conducted.
   4. Percent of Child/Family Outcome initiative approaches conducted.
   5. Percent of Information and Referral initiative approaches conducted.
   6. Number of referrals completed through IRIS, the Centralized Referral System.
   7. Percent of required State hosted Local Staff meetings attended by the grantee.
   8. Number of approved professional development opportunities completed.
   9. Number of updates to the community resource guide.
   10. Number of workforce development training offered and completed.
   11. Number of reports submitted to include the Periodic Financial Reports (PFR) and Periodic Performance Reports (PPR) by the established deadlines by the grantee.

• Standards
  By June 30th and in accordance with the approved plan:

1. Ten Monthly Network meetings were held.
2. Six sectors participated in the Network and/or Network work groups.
3. 80% of the Network Capacity initiative approaches planned for this fiscal year were conducted.
4. 80% of the Child/Family Outcome initiative approaches planned for this fiscal year were conducted.
5. 80% of the Information and Referral initiative approaches planned for this fiscal year were conducted.
6. 20% increase in the number of completed referrals from FY25.
7. 100% of the required local staff meetings were attended by local staff and/or their supervisor.
8. One approved professional development training was completed by the local Coordinator and the Family Engagement Specialist.
9. One update to the community resource guide.
10. Three workforce development training offered and completed.
11. 100% of required reports were submitted by the established deadline. 

4. - Application Contents and Format

• Establish and maintain a goal to actively engage parent ambassadors in fostering meaningful family participation.
• Ensure family perspectives are effectively incorporated into the development and implementation of the AOK Networks' approved strategic plan.

• • Objective 3:  Address Core Areas

• If you are awarded the grant, a full plan with at least two approaches/strategies per objective will need to be submitted and approved to initiate the grant.
• Provide the following information regarding the proposed objectives that will be initiated in SFY2026:
  • Describe the data that was collected, summarized, and presented in the most recent community assessment for the identified geographical area.
  • Describe the applicant's role in carrying out the community assessment.
  • State the local child/family outcome issue/s identified through the community assessment process.
  • Describe the system assessment process used to prioritize the objectives the applicant will pursue in FY26.

• For each of the three required AOK Network Initiatives (Network Capacity, Information and Referral and Child/Family Outcome) complete the following templates:

  • Appendix A: Network Capacity Initiative Objective Template
  • Appendix B: Information and Referral Initiative Objective Template
  • Appendix C: Child/Family Outcome Initiative Objective Template
• Submit the completed plans as:
  • Attachment 6: FY23 Network Capacity Initiative Plan
  • Attachment 7: FY23 Information and Referral Initiative Plan
  • Attachment 8: FY23 Child or Family Outcome Initiative Plan

5. -  Submission Requirements and Deadlines.

1. Address to Request Application Package
   1. Actions Needed Prior to Applying
      1. The complete application package (this Notice of Funding Opportunity, including links to required forms) is available through the Illinois Catalog of Financial Assistance and the IDHS Grants Website Page located: IDHS: Grant Funded Programs.
      2. Each Applicant must have access to the internet. The Department's website will contain information regarding the NOFO and materials necessary for submission. Questions and answers will also be posted on the Department's website as described in this announcement (section I - I (Roman Numeral I, Alpha section I)) It is the responsibility of each applicant to monitor the website and comply with any instructions or requirements related to the NOFO.
      3. Applicants must be registered with the State of Illinois and Pre-qualified in the GATA portal prior to applying for Illinois awards. Instructions for creating an account and registering are located at the following link: Illinois GATA Grantee Portal. Additionally, detailed instructions for registration and prequalification requirements, including the expected amount of time for completion are located here: Pre-Award Requirements.
2. Submission Instructions
   1. The methods for submitting the application
      1. Applicants must electronically submit the complete application including all required narratives and attachments in the prescribed order:
         1. Program Narrative
         2. Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance (pdf)
         3. Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure IL444-5205 (R-07-22) (pdf)
         4. Budget (entered into the CSA system as described in section (IV)(E)
      2. Applications must be sent electronically to dhs.aok@illinois.gov . The application will be electronically time-stamped upon receipt. The Department will ONLY accept applications submitted by electronic mail sent to dhs.aok@illinois.gov . Include the following in the subject line: NOFO number and your agency name. Application submissions or delivery to any other email address or contact, including other IDHS offices or employees, will not be considered for review or funding. Applications will not be accepted if received by fax machine, hard copy, disk, or thumb drive.
      3. Applicants are required to notify the Department within 48 hours of the deadline, if they did not receive an email notifying them that their application was received. If the applicant does not receive an email and does not notify the Department within 48 hours, their application will be considered a late submission and will NOT be reviewed or scored. The applicant will NOT have the right to protest the submission/receipt of their application to the Department after the 48 hours. In the event of a dispute the applicant bears the burden of proof that the application was received on time at the email location listed above (and that the budget was submitted into the CSA system on time).
   2. If you are experiencing system problems or technical difficulties submitting your application, you may contact: dhs.aok@illinois.gov
   3. Full applications are due on: 05/06/2025 at 5:00 PM (CST).
   4. Missed Deadlines
      1. Applications received after the due date and time will not be considered for review or funding. All applicants/applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be separately notified in writing, by email, upon determination. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification.
      2. For your records, please keep a copy of your submission with the date and time the application was submitted along with the email address to which it was sent. The deadline will be strictly enforced.
      3. IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended that the applicant not wait until the last minute to submit an application in case they experience technical difficulties with the submission process. Applicants should keep copies of all documentation that that may prove their application was submitted to the correct location and that it was received by IDHS on or before the deadline. Applicants should also maintain all electronic documentation, including screen shots, email correspondence, help desk ticket numbers, etc. that would document any unforeseen difficulties the applicant may have encountered regarding the timely submission of the application.

6. - Application Review Information.

7. - Award Notices.

8. - Post-Award Requirements and Administration.

9. - Other Information - Optional.