Questions & Answers - Better Birth Outcomes - Comprehensive (BBO-C) (26-444-80-3556-01)

  • Questions & Answers

    • 4/2/2025
    1. Question: I would like to know what expected caseload would be for my county. Wasn't sure if it would be similar to BBO caseload for FY25.
      • Answer: Applicants should include in their proposal narrative the number of unduplicated dyads they plan to serve annually through this program. The number proposed should be determined by each individual applicant. To assist applicants in their proposals, historical caseload data for dyads served through IDHS legacy programs during CY24 can be found here: https://intranet.dhs.illinois.gov/oneweb/page.aspx?item=172601  Successful applicants will be notified of final caseload assignments at the time of Notice of State Award.
    2. Question: Can you tell me if we are supposed to use FY25 grant amounts to complete the UGA for BBO-C? And should this form go ahead and be submitted or is it to be submitted at the same time as everything else?
      • Answer: Page 2 and 3 of the Uniform Grant Application should be filled out by the applicant, which includes the amount requested from the state. The amount requested should be determined by each individual applicant. Successful applicants will be notified of final award total at the time of Notice of State Award. The UGA is part of the larger application package that must be submitted. Please refer to section 9 of the NOFO for an application checklist to ensure all required components of the application are complete. The entire application must be sequentially numbered and submitted as a single PDF document.
    • 4/3/2025
    1. Question: Since we are serving our neighboring county too, should I do one application for both, or two separate applications?
      • Answer: Please refer to section 4 of the NOFO. For BBO-C, if an applicant is applying for more than 1 of the community areas listed, a separate application does not need to be submitted for each. The proposal narrative should clearly state which listed areas are being applied for. Applicants must plan to serve the entire geographic area for which they are applying.
    2. Question: I am not seeing the BBO-C NOFO in the Grantee Portal.
    3. Question: So health departments like ours need to apply for BBO if they wish to continue serving MCH programming to our families? There is no FCM/HRIF for counties of our size and only the FCM/HRIF pilots exits?
      • Answer: FCMHRIF 444-80-2535 and BBO 444-80-0226 are not being offered in SFY26. The Bureau has posted 3 competitive NOFOs for SFY26:
        • BBO-C 26-444-80-3556-01
        • BBO-N 26-444-80-3557-01
        • 4HRFCM 26-444-80-3383-01
      • SFY26 MCH programs were outlined in the SFY26 IDHS MCH Program Briefing held virtually on 2/14/25. Links to the recording, slides, and other information on program evolution can be found on the IDHS Bureau of Maternal and Child Health webpage: https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=32005  
    4. Question: Are all prerequisites done through the GATA portal or is there still a pre risk assessment that needs completed for each application?
      • Answer: Pre-application requirements can be found in section 5 of the NOFO posting. Section 9 of the NOFO contains an application checklist to ensure all required components of the application are complete.
    5. Question: I am wondering if there is a caseload assignment for each county that we are to be referring to for budget and planning purposes.
      • Answer: See answer to question #1.
    6. Question: My agency currently serves neighboring counties, one is in BBO-C service area and 1 is in HRFCM service area. Will I need to submit 2 separate applications?
      • Answer: Yes, applications for HRFCM and BBO-C must be submitted separately, as they are 2 different grant programs.
      • 4/4/2025
    7. Question: I was wondering how the caseload is determined for each health department.
      • Answer: See answer to question #1.
    8. Question: What will the protocol be for extending the 6 month period for a dyad? E.g. if a client has multiple higher level needs still and infant is past the 6 month period, what would I do to continue on with that client relationship?
      • Answer: Families needing services beyond 6 months postpartum may be authorized with pre-approval by the Department upon consultation with the IDHS Regional Nurse Consultant (for example: hospital discharge after a several-month NICU stay). In current IDHS legacy programs, the average length of time families choose to stay engaged in the program is less than 6 months, so IDHS anticipates similar requests from the family in this program in most cases.
    9. Question: Would the coding in Cornerstone be adjusted some how so a dyad who is on past 6 months aren't auto termed once they're at the 6 month mark of enrollment?
      • Answer: Awardees will receive training on the Department's MIS.
    10. Question: When would we be given the audit tools so we can see what we are expected to complete with the new program as far as home visits, education and their time lines for completion?
      • Answer: The program will be audited based on the program deliverables and performance measure as indicated in the NOFO. There is not a Home Visit requirement. Audit tools will be provided after the start of the grant and prior to reviews being conducted.
    11. Question: If we don't apply for the Better Birth Outcomes, can we apply next year?
      • Answer: Please refer to NOFO section 1F5b. Successful applicants under this NOFO may be eligible to receive two subsequent one-year grant renewals for this program. It is not yet determined if this program will be renewed in FY27 or not.
    12. Question: If we apply and get the grant and I can't find an RN to hire, what happens if I can't keep up with the grant requirements?
      • Answer: Nurses are required to conduct the initial pregnancy visit and initial postpartum visit for this program. IDHS will not accept request for waivers for this requirement. Refer to section 2iA of the NOFO posting. Agency are expected to have the required staffing model in place within 30 days of the contract start date for which they intend to provide BBO-C services for the geographical area applied for. Grantees failing to have required staff in place within 30 days of the grant agreement start date or during the grant period may be subject to grant suspension or termination.
    13. Question: Is there any guidance on the anticipated max dyad caseload per RN?
      • Answer: Due to a variety of organizational structures at the local agency level, the Department does not require a specific RN Navigator to family ratio. However, when developing staffing plans, the Program Coordinator should consider factors including but not limited to: complexity/acuity of client needs, staff skillset, anticipated length of client's time in the program, frequency of client visits, other supports the client already has in place.
    14. Question: What are the qualifications for the Nurse navigator & the navigator?
      • Answer: Refer to Policy & Procedure Manual section 3.1.1 adn 3.1.2. The BBO-C non-nurse Navigator must meet one of the following qualifications: an associate degree in a behavioral science, social science, or health-related area. The BBO RN Nurse Navigator must meet one of the following qualifications: A Registered Nurse (RN) with an unencumbered license pursuant to the Nurse Practice Act [225 ILCS 65] or an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with an unencumbered license pursuant to the Nurse Practice Act [225 ILCS 65]
    15. Question: What is the plan for APORS referrals in the BBO-C grant?
      • Answer: Infants identified by the IDPH Advanced Pregnancy Outcomes Reporting System (APORS) will be referred to the BBO-C provider, and the BBO-C provider is expected to offer services. All APORS referred families who accept services living in the agency's BBO-C service area should be enrolled in the BBO-C Program.
    16. Question: Currently we have an assigned caseload of 200 where clients are case managed over twelve months, this BBO-C is only for 6 months essentially this is cutting funding in half or more?
      • Answer: No, that is not correct. BBO-C focuses on the Dyad (pregnant and postpartum individuals and their infants) for the pregnancy and the first 6 months after birth being served as a family unit. Awards will be made based on an anticipated allocation of $900-$1,100 per unduplicated dyads. For example, if a successful applicant agency proposes to serve 200 unduplicated dyads over the year, their SFY26 award would be anticipated to fall in the range of $180,000-$220,000. In the legacy FCM program, the SFY25 funding allocation was $530 per individual. A legacy FCM provider serving 400 individuals (200 dyads) in SFY25 would have been allocated $212,000 in SFY25.
    17. Question: The application indicates payment is $900-1,100. Is that on an assigned Pregnancy for the six months or is that paid monthly on the assigned Pregnancy Is Postpartum separately counted or with the Pregnancy?
      • Answer: See answer to question #18. Applicants should propose the number of unduplicated dyads they plan to serve annually and budget in accordance with that. Monthly grant payments will be paid using actual program expenditures reported for by each grantee.
    18. Question: Currently the FCM/HRIF includes the infant. For BBO-C, is the infant included with the Pregnancy?
      • Answer: BBO-C focuses on the Dyad (pregnant and postpartum individuals and their infants) for the pregnancy and up to the first 6 months after birth being served as a family unit. Dyads are expected to be served as a family unit, in most cases.
    19. Question: Is the $900-$1,100 paid to assigned Pregnancy for the six months or is that paid monthly on the assigned Pregnancy. Is Postpartum separately counted or with the Pregnancy?
      • Answer: See answer to question #18.
    20. Question: This appears to be a fee for service grant like it used to be. Is the department expectation to provide budgets and submit EDFs?
      • Answer: Prior to Illinois fully implementing 2 CFR 200, grantees were reimbursed based on a formula calculated by using the monthly caseload served but never on a fee-for-service schedule. The programs moved to reimbursing through a "expenses and services" method of reconciliation in SFY20 but have continued to use a formula to allocate available funds based on the anticipated number of participants applicants expect to serve. For SFY26, applicants are asked to propose the number of unduplicated dyads they plan to serve annually.
    21. Question: Is the department expectation to provide budgets and submit EDFs?
      • Answer: Agencies will enter their budget in the CSA system as described in the NOFO, and monthly Expenditure Documentation Forms (EDFs) will be required for payment of actual program expenses reported each month.
    22. Question: Is Cornerstone still being used?
      • Answer: The Department expects BBO-C will be using Cornerstone in SFY26.
    23. Question: What would a county like mine be paid at with or without the city of [city name in neighboring county redacted] based on our current numbers for a grant term?
      • Answer: Applicants cannot propose to serve only one city or a portion of a county. If families in that neighboring county's city are known to travel to your county for services, your agency could propose to serve them. That should be clearly explained in your application and those families should be included in your number of proposed dyads to be served.
    24. Question: Is the requirement just one "visit" during pregnancy and one postpartum? And then aside from that just as the client needs?
      • Answer: Refer to section 3 of the NOFO. At minimum, nurses are required to conduct an initial pregnancy visit and initial postpartum visit and are expected to follow-up as indicated using clinical discretion. Non-nurse Navigators may provide follow-up at the discretion of the nurse for collaborating with each family to identify and mitigate barriers to accessing desired supports and services. Visit types and frequency should be mutually determined by the nurse and the family based on the family's needs.
    25. Question: When reviewing the BBO-C NOFO, we noticed in section 3 that the performance standards mention Family Connects. We don't currently have a Family Connects program in our area. Will those programs be available to cover our County area? If not, is there an alternative program that our BBO-C nurses and staff can refer our pregnant clients to?
      • Answer: At this time, the only known Family Connects programs in Illinois are located in the City of Chicago, Stephenson County, and Peoria County. If a BBO-C agency has a Family Connects program in their area, they would be expected to provide pregnant clients information about the program and collaborate with the Family Connects agency to ensure proper client handoff. BBO-C providers in areas with no Family Connects program will not have this requirement to refer.
    26. Question: When will expect to have access to the Better Birth Outcomes - Comprehensive resource guide?
      • Answer: The BBO resource guide will be provided to successful applicants as part of the program-specific training.
    27. Question: If a postpartum mom has a risk factor that meets program eligibility per the Vulnerability Index, but baby does not have any qualifying risk factors, does baby still qualify for the program or does just the mom qualify?
      • Answer: The family will qualify if either member of the dyad meets eligibility requirements. Please see answer to question #1 for helpful information regarding proposed dyads to be served annually.
    28. Question: Will we be receiving a notice of funding amount so we are able to prepare an accurate budget? If so, when should we expect to know the amount?
      • Answer: See answers to questions #1 and 2.
    29. Question: How is our agency's funding determined? Is it solely based on the number of dyads or are there additional costs built in for admin, supplies etc.? If funding is $900-$1,100 per dyad, how is the amount within that range determined per dyad?
      • Answer: See answers to questions #1, 2, and 18-22.
    30. Question: Are there any minimum or maximum requirements for caseload per case manager or per agency?
      • Answer: See answer to question #15.
    31. Question: What are the expectations regarding number of visits/contacts with each dyad?
      • Answer: See answer to question #26.
    32. Question: Can we get a copy of the "IDPH APORS Case Definition Chart" mentioned on pg. 34 of the manual?
    33. Question: Will nurses still be able to bill for specific things such as ASQ assessments?
      • Answer: In most cases, ASQs (Ages and Stages Questionnaires) are conducted by the infant's primary care provider. If the family or medical home has confirmed an ASQ has not been conducted (or the family does not yet have a medical home), it may be completed by the BBO-C nurse. However, staff time and activity conducting ASQ or other billable services should not be billed to both IDHS grants and HFS Medicaid. Therefore, staff billed 100% to the BBO-C grant would not be able to bill Medicaid for any of the services they provide. Anticipatory guidance (example: Learn the Signs, Act Early education) is appropriate to conduct routinely in BBO-C and time and effort for that may be billed to the grant.
    34. Question: In the past we have served families regardless of income for APORS. Does an APORS family only meet the requirement for service now if they are below 200% of the poverty line?
      • Answer: The program uses 200% or less of FPL as part of the eligibility criteria. Families not meeting the eligibility criteria may be authorized with pre-approval by the Department upon consultation with the IDHS Regional Nurse Consultant.
    35. Question: Will we still receive an import list from the state or are we responsible for finding our own clients?
      • Answer: We anticipate that Medicaid Case Finding Lists will still be available, but it is expected that, as part of collaborative approach, direct service personnel have an active role in outreach and ongoing relationship building with stakeholders in their community. Staff providers are expected to build and maintain strong relationships in the local community with medical providers (including but not limited to physicians, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, mental health providers, and hospital labor and delivery and emergency room personnel) and social and human services providers (including but not limited to WIC, Early Childhood Home Visiting, Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, Housing Assistance, Welcoming Centers, and Community Based Organizations who provide emergency items, supplies, and services)
        04/07/2025
    36. Question: We are reviewing the NOFO for the new BBO-C program and are wondering if a caseload cap has been decided yet for the nurses?
      • Answer: Please see answer to question #15.
    37. Question: What would you recommend the monthly case manager case load be, according to the assessed annual unduplicated yearly number? For example: if the yearly caseload is 500, how would we figure out the monthly caseload for each case manager?
      • Answer: Monthly caseloads will vary as it is the agency's discretion on how they assign workload to their staff. Applicants should include in their proposal narrative the number of unduplicated dyads they plan to serve annually through this program. The number proposed should be determined by each individual applicant. IDHS is not asking applicants to propose a monthly caseload for this grant.
    38. Question: Can cases be assigned to non-nurse staff if nurses complete the required nurse assessments at the appropriate times and follow any indicated medical needs for the non-nurse case managers clients?
      • Answer: Yes, that is correct.
    39. Question: I wanted to confirm for [county name redacted], the number of unique dyads is represented by the numbers reported on the monthly 1734 report which includes IPCM, HRIF, Infant, Pregnant, and Delivered?
      • Answer: No, this information was not obtained using 1734 reports. The numbers reported on the link provided in the answer to question #1 are sourced from Cornerstone and are provided solely to assist applicants in their proposals by offering an unduplicated dyad count.
    40. Question: I also have a question about regarding the performance standard regarding pregnant clients being referred to Family Connects Program. Is this program available to all counties in Illinois?
      • Answer: See answer to question #27.
    41. Question: Our agency also has Family Connects International (FCI) funding and this new BBO-C postnatal visit aligns with the FCI visit. Would it be possible to consider blending these 2 programs and having our FCI nurses do the BBO-C visits?
      • Answer: No, the 2 grant programs will not be combined. If an agency has staff who work in both FCI and BBO-C programs, the agency should ensure that they are able to track each staff's time and activity to each individual grant to avoid duplicate billing. Agencies with both programs are expected to ensure collaboration across programs and in this scenario IDHS recommends staggering the FCI and BBO-C nurse visits (unless back-to-back nurse visits are clinically indicated or requested by the family).
    42. Question: It appears that the counties included in the HRFCM service area are excluded from the BBO-C grant. Is this true?
      • Answer: The NOFO for BBO-C 26-444-80-3556-01 is not being offered to applicants in the BBO-C service areas. Counties outside of the HRFCM pilot area are included in the BBO-C NOFO 26-444-80-3556-01. The HRFCM pilot counties will not have a BBO-C program.
        4/8/25
    43. Question: If clients are Medicaid eligible without an MCO, or do not have the MCO that offers the cribettes , car seats or other supportive items, can we add narrative language to request line item exclusive funding for these very pertinent and helpful maternal child support items?
      • Answer: No. This is a grant to fund direct services with a focus on navigating clients to available resources. Clients who are Medicaid eligible and wish to receive Medicaid benefits should be referred to the ABE (Application for Benefit Eligibility) website or call center for assistance enrolling in a Medicaid MCO.
    44. Question: In the FY26 BBO-C PP Manual under Staffing, it says: "Minimum staffing for the BBO-C program includes a Program Coordinator and BBO Nurse Navigator(s) to carry out the duties and responsibilities as outlined in 3.1.1 (see BBO Nurse Navigator) and 3.1.2 (see Program Coordinator)." For smaller counties such as ours, can our nurse cover both roles?
      • Answer: Yes.
        4/9/25
    45. Question: Upon reviewing the CY 24 Medicaid Unique Dyads Served, my county has [number redacted] served annually but there are no current FY25 IDHS MCH providers in my county. Where did these numbers come from and would there be a better way to determine the accurate number I should propose for my application?
      • Answer: The dyads reported in the link included in the answer for question #1 are not listed by county of the agency serving them, but by county of client residence. For counties with no FY25 DHS MCH providers, IDHS suggests using other methods of obtaining estimates such as county birth data, or county WIC data.
    46. Question: Has DHS given any consideration to allowing a non-associate degree CHW who has gone through the CHW training process and received their professional certificate to meet that requirement? It's likely easier to hire a CHW with certification or a bachelor's level individual than someone with the associates level training for many of us.
      • Answer: IDHS has given this much consideration. IDPH is currently working towards establishing a CHW Certification Program in Illinois, but that work is still underway. IDHS acknowledges this certification as a viable option in the future for staffing IDHS MCH navigation programs and we will keep an eye on the progress IDPH is making. Applicants are reminded that non-nurses are not required as part of the BBO-C program, but may be used for follow-up visits at the discretion of the Nurse Navigator. Agencies may opt to have the RN Navigator provide all services if they so choose.
      • 4/11/25
    47. Question: Can we bill for a Medicaid match with the BBO-C program?
      • Answer: IDHS does not oversee any component of Medicaid billing and we are unable to answer this question. IDHS recommends reaching out to your HFS Medicaid billing contacts with this inquiry.
    48. Question: If a prenatal is eligible for the BBO-C program does that mean they are followed postpartum until 6 months, even if they don't meet one risk on the vulnerability index after delivery?
      • Answer: Pregnant clients with identified vulnerability factors may continue to be served in the program after delivery along with their infant, even if their risk factor has resolved prior to delivery. IDHS recognizes that risk is not static and may evolve over time. Therefore, dyads may be enrolled if either member of the dyad met eligibility requirements at any time during pregnancy or during the 1st six months after birth. Families are not required to be served the full six months postpartum, and the timeline for case closure should be a mutual decision between the RN Navigator and the family.
    49. Question: So for the BBO-C budget, we do not use GELI (Grant Exclusive Line Item) budget category for any outreach expenses, including wages, fringe benefits, travel and supplies for outreach workers. Is that correct?
      • Answer: That is correct. This grant is intended to primarily fund the provision of direct services to families. It is expected that, as part of collaborative approach, direct service personnel have an active role in outreach and ongoing relationship building with stakeholders in their community. Staff providing outreach should be budgeted on the personnel line item. We would not expect a large number of staff to have 100% of their time devoted to outreach.
    50. Question: Our organization does not use the 10% De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate. Is it ok to budget utilizing the Direct Allocation Method for the BBO-C budget for our Direct Admin budget category?
      • Answer: Yes. Please ensure that all budget narratives note what cost allocation method is used to calculated budgeted costs. 
    51. Question: Will the IDPH APORS team screen infant's families for income eligibility for the BBO-C program before referring them to local agencies? And, if not, will we be required to ensure that they meet the 200% of FPL threshold before enrolling them in the BBO-C program?
      • Answer: The IDPH APORS team does not screen for income when referring infants with a diagnosis meeting the APORS case definition. BBO-C providers are expected to screen for income eligibility at the time of initial contact.
    52. Question: Can we presume that if a dyad is Medicaid eligible that they are income eligible for the BBO-C program given that Medicaid income eligibility cutoff is less than the BBO-C eligibility 200% of FPL?
      • Answer: Yes. 4/11/25 
    53. Question: Because the NOFO indicates that we will be serving dyads, are we able to enroll infants and custodial fathers, infants and custodial grandparents, and foster fathers as well as foster mothers with infants?
      • Answer: Yes. Although in most cases, the birthing parent and infant should be enrolled as a dyad, it would be appropriate to enroll them individually as noted in the examples you have provided.
      • 4/14/2025
    54. Question:  For the budget of the BBO-C grant is it a UGB (Uniform Grant Budget) budget or a FRGB (Fixed Rate Grant Budget) budget?
      • Answer:  Applicants for BBO-C should select and use the Uniform Grant Budget (UGB) when entering the budget.
    55. Question:  We are applying to be a lead agency which will include a total of 4 counties.  I am struggling to stick with the recommended page totals for each section when I have account for and describe 4 county scenarios. Will this be held against us from reviewers?
      • Answer:  Applications must remain within the page limit. Additional pages will not be reviewed. However, information requested in the proposal narrative can be supplied in a generalized or averaged way. As an example: an applicant could summarize responses to speak about the large 4-county geographic area as a whole, rather than break down the data or info among 4 separate counties.
      • 4/16/2025
    56. Question:  Can you clarify which order you would like the documents submitted in please?
      • Answer:  Please use the order noted in section 9iA: Application Checklist.
    57. Question:  The CY24 Medicaid Unique Dyads Served link shows our county at a # of dyads. Do I base our amount requested on this number dyads served x the estimated $900/dyad?
      • Answer:  The numbers reported on the link provided in the answer to question #1 are provided sol ely to assist applicants in their proposals by offering historical data of unduplicated dyad counts. The funding amount requested should be determined by each applicant, but the Department anticipates an award allocation of $900-$1,100 per unduplicated dyad assigned. Final caseload assignments and award amounts will be provided at the time of Notice of State Award.
      • 4/17/2025
    58. Question:  We often had staff members who worked on multiple grants. Therefore, only a percentage of their time is costed to this grant. Is it acceptable for staff members to be on the BBO-C grant less than 100% of their time as well?
      • Answer:  Yes. Agencies with staff splitting their time across multiple grant programs should ensure a method of tracking staff time and effort spent on each grant is in place to avoid duplicate billing. Staff time and service provided as part of another grant program cannot be budgeted nor billed to this grant.
    59. Question:  Is there a certain number of required staff for this grant? Is there a maximum number of staff that we can have?
      • Answer:  No.  IDHS does not require a minimum or maximum number of staff on the grant.
        4/18/25
    60. Question: If we apply to serve multiple counties and a different agency is selected as the awardees for one of those counties, could we still potentially be awarded the others (probably with a revision of expected number of dyads served)?
      • Answer: The Department would recommend including in your application all counties your agency is proposing to serve. The Department reserves the right to consider any factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, and agency past performance as a State of Illinois grantee, etc. Should the decision be made by the Department to issue an award to cover fewer counties than requested, the Department is prepared to work with awardees on revising budget and caseload. 
    61. Question: Is it allowable to ask for funding over and above the number of projected dyads to be serviced (calculating at the $1,100/dyad mark), or is that number to be taken as the total amount of funds available inclusive of staff, technology, equipment, etc.? In other words, is the amount calculated for the projected number of dyads serviced synonymous with the total ask for funding?
      • Answer: Applicants should submit a budget requested for all costs associated with providing the program including necessary budget categories.
    62. Question: Do we need to propose a single full-time RN Navigator, or can this role be divided across multiple APRNs in our clinic, with BBO-C assessments being just one of the services they provide?
      • Answer: Please see answer to questions #38 and 40 regarding staffing ratios. No, nurses do not need to be budgeted 1FTE each to this grant. Agencies with staff splitting their time across multiple programs or with salaries split across multiple funding sources should ensure a method of tracking staff time and effort spent on this grant is in place to avoid duplicate billing. Staff time and service provided as part of another grant program or funding source cannot be budgeted nor billed to this grant. Non-nurse Navigators may complete the non-nurse portion of the visits. 
    63. Question: Is the Program Coordinator role expected to be full-time?
      • Answer: The % FTE the Program Coordinator is anticipated to spend on the grant should be in alignment with the proposed caseloads and staffing. For example, some counties with smaller birthing populations may have a Program Coordinator who can easily complete the responsibilities required in a part-time capacity and/or split their time across other programs, while more densely populated counties (or lead agencies who plan to cover multiple counties) may find that they anticipate their Program Coordinator devoting an entire FTE or more to this program. 
    64. Question: In the bidder's conference call/TA session held on 4/18, one of the slides mentioned an RN Program Coordinator. Does the Program Coordinator have to be an RN?
      • Answer: No. Some applicant agencies may prefer their Coordinator to be an RN in order to provide clinical support and guidance to the RN Navigators, but there is no specific credential or education required for the Program Coordinator. However, if the Program Coordinator plans to have a dual role as a Coordinator and a Navigator, they must meet the requirement to provide Navigation services as noted in section 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the BBO-C Policy and Procedure Manual.
    65. Question: We are a DOPP provider. Where can we obtain proof of our registration?
      • Answer: It is acceptable to note in the appropriate section of the proposal narrative that your organization is DOPP (Drug Overdose Prevention Program) certified and the date that was received/granted. If you are unsure of the date, you should reach out to your DHS DOPP point of contact to inquire about your registration details. Confirmation paperwork should not be attached to the application.
    66. Question: Just to confirm, we can serve dyads who reside outside the county/counties we have applied for?
      • Answer: Applicants must be prepared to provide in-person services in the geographical area for which they are applying. If families living in a neighboring county are known to travel to your county for services, your agency could propose to serve them. However, your agency must also be willing to serve residents living in the awarded region as the Bureau is seeking full coverage of each geographic area. This should be clearly explained in your application proposal.
    67. Question: Will we receive any information regarding the actual assessment tool to be used by the RN Nurse Navigator? This would help in determining the percent of time needed on the budget plan.
      • Answer: Time Navigators spend with families and frequency of visits should be mutually determined between the family and the Navigator based on the clients needs. Average BBO-C visit lengths are anticipated to be 60 minutes for the initial assessment visit with the Nurse Navigator and anywhere from 30-60 minutes for follow-up visits. For example, a Navigator may spend time during the visit assisting a family with the phone calls needed to enroll in other services, while other families may prefer to spend the visit receiving education or other support from the Navigator. Some families may only need 1-2 visits total, and others may need more frequent follow-up. IDHS anticipates grantees would meet with most families for at least one visit during prenatal period and at least one follow-up in the postpartum period to be able to successfully meet the program deliverables and performance standards. Caseloads may vary depending on organizational workflow and staffing structures. Visit content is included in Section 3 of the BBO-C Policy & Procedure Manual, but the focus of each visit should be tailored to each family's needs. 4/21/25 
    68. Question: Can you clarify your response to #40 on the Q & A? Non-Nurse staff can carry a caseload of clients assigned to them in Cornerstone? Non-nurse staff can f/u with clients based on the nurse's discretion, but not officially assigned to them?
      • Answer: Yes, Navigators who are non-nurses may be assigned a caseload, as long as the initial prenatal and postpartum dyad assessment is done by the RN. Any type of Navigator providing services should meet the requirements in section 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the BBO-C Policy & Procedure Manual.
    69. Question: How will the APORS reports be sent to the agency, and will they be screened for BBO-C eligibility (income <200% FPL) prior to sending?
      • Answer: See answers to questions #17 and 53.
      • 4/22/25
    70. Question: In question 59 it states that our funding will be determined only by the number of dyads served (multiplied by $1,100). However, in question 63, it states that we can ask for funding over the number of anticipated dyads (multiplied by $1,100). Should we calculate our ask for funding by the number of dyads or by the actual program cost?
      • Answer: While the Department anticipates allocating approximately $900-$1,100 per proposed dyad, applicants may request any amount they feel is required to provide their intended service and provide justification to the budgeted costs. The Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc.
      • 4/23/25
    71. Question: Could you provide some directives or guidance around creating the org chart such as which positions need to be included (does it need to go all the way to Executive Director level), do staff names need to me included and how to include vacancies?
      • Answer: The Organizational Chart attachment should, at minimum, include all program staff and administrative staff within the BBO-C program. However, the chain of command up to the most senior decision maker in the agency should be clearly discernible by looking at the chart. Staff roles/titles may be included instead of names on the organizational chart. Vacancies for program and administrative staff should be explained in the proposal narrative. Names and board/governing roles should be included on the Board of Directors/Governing Body List.
    72. Question: I felt like I had a good understanding of howe should anticipate but when I click on the link in the Q & A IDHS: CY24 Medicaid Unique Dyads Served and look at our county's "statewide unique dyads" number it confuses me. I feel like the number represented on that chart would be more reflective of active participants, but not as an unduplicated dyad. I had plans to possibly just use the FY25 grantee monthly enrollment reports sent to our agency by DHS to figure out an anticipated dyad for our county. There is just a large variance in between the two amounts when figuring out potential budgets to build the program around. I was just worried that using the number on the state link above would grossly inflate our anticipated funding, as maybe that is individuals - not dyads?
      • Answer: The CY24 data shows unduplicated FCM, HRIF, and BBO dyads served who are also enrolled in Medicaid. The counts are based on the county of the client's home address, not the county of the agency serving them. If dyads live in your county but are obtaining FY25 services at an agency in another county, they will show up on your county's count. The Bureau provided this as a tool to aid in estimations of potential eligible clients living in each county but acknowledges that nuances may exist such as the example above. The Bureau encourages applicants to propose dyad counts they feel their agency will reasonably serve and not reply solely on the supplemental data report provided.
      • 4/24/25
    73. Question: I was wondering if there will be training for BBO-C provided by Urban League?
      • Answer: Awardees will receive training on the program and the Department's MIS.
    74. Question: Would you please provide some clarification on what an MCO (Managed Care Organization) is? Would an example of this be CEFS or a local nonprofit that helps pregnant moms and babies? If neither of these is example, I'm not sure our county has an actual MCO.
    75. Question: Why is there a range per dyad? When would you get paid $900 verses any other amount up to $1100?
      • Answer: A range is not intended within the actual grants. Final award amounts will be determined based on total availability of state and federal funds and number of applicants seeking funding throughout the state. We anticipate they will be between $900-$1100 per dyad.
      • 04/29/2025
    76. Question: Do APORS infants qualify on the grounds of meeting the IDPH APORS Case Definition alone? Or does the APORS infant ALSO have to meet the Vulnerability Index as well and the APORS Case Definition?
      • Answer: All infants with APORS-reportable diagnoses will be referred to the BBO-C provider in their county of residence. BBO-C providers are expected to screen for income eligibility and vulnerability factors at the time of initial contact.
      • 4/30/2025
    77. Question: Should the Budget or Budget Narrative section be included in the final PDF of the grant proposal?
      • Answer: A printout/download of the budget does not need to be included in the final PDF packet that is submitted via email. The budget should be submitted directly in CSA. Please be sure the budget status in CSA says "GATA Budget signed and submitted to program review." Budgets not showing this status will not be reviewed and applications will be considered substantially incomplete. This status will appear in CSA after the budget is electronically signed by the agency CEO or CFO and submitted to IDHS. See IDHS CSA Tracking System webpage for additional information on CSA at IDHS: CSA Tracking System (state.il.us).
    78. Question: I do not have anyone at my agency who has budget signoff authority in CSA so we cannot fully submit the budget. Will my application be rejected? What do I do?
      • Answer: Budgets must be submitted in CSA in order for your application to be eligible for reviewing and scoring. Email DHS.OFWNOFO@illinois.gov to request CSA access for at least one executive level staff (CEO, CFO, etc.) including name, title, and email address. The Department will then send the executive an auto-generated email from DHS.DHSOCA@illinois.gov with a keycode and registration instructions. You will also need your organization's FEIN. Once the executive is able to successfully log in to CSA, they will need to request the elevated permissions for budget signoff authority. This can be done with a simple email using the instructions at this link: IDHS: Process for Adding GATA Budget Signoff Authority. Once the budget signoff authority is granted, the executive will be able to sign off the budget and submit it in CSA.
      • IMPORTANT: Please be sure the budget status in CSA says "GATA Budget signed and submitted to program review." This status will appear after the budget is electronically signed by the agency CEO or CFO and submitted to IDHS.
      • The CSA budget manual has helpful step-by-step screen snippets on how to enter a Uniform Grant Budget (UGB) in CSA and can be accessed within the "help" tab of CSA, or on the web here: IDHS: GATA Budget Manual for DHS Providers
      • 05/01/2025
    79. Question: What will happen if the infant/family does not qualify for BBO-C (higher than acceptable income for example)? Will be given some type of assistance with how to have these conversations with potential clients when we are trying to determine eligibility. If they don't qualify what do we say?
      • Answer: This will be addressed in the program training provided to successful awardees.