AmeriCorps Southern Border Arrivals Assistance Corps Grant

AmeriCorps Southern Border Arrivals Assistance Corps Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Illinois Department of Human Services: Division of Family & Community Services
Last Updated: May 09, 2025

Summary

The AmeriCorps Southern Border Arrivals Assistance Corps aims to support individuals crossing the Mexico/U.S. border after August 1, 2022, who seek permanent residency but lack legal status. This initiative by the Illinois Department of Human Services focuses on recruiting bilingual AmeriCorps members to assist these new arrivals, fostering community integration and enhancing civic participation. Applicants must have experience working with migrants and meet specific eligibility requirements, ensuring the program effectively addresses the needs of Southern Border Arrivals.

Overview

NOTE: Registration and prequalification are required annually. Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not been prequalified prior to the due date of this application, will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding. About The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency. AmeriCorps Southern Border Arrivals Assistance Corps Program Description This funding opportunity is open to applicants with a minimum of 3 years of experience working with migrants, immigrants, and/or refugees. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by Serve Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). A grant agreement will be sent requiring a signature from the program designee after the applicant has been notified. The AmeriCorps members recruited by each awarded organization to support SBAs should be bilingual, culturally informed on the new arrivals' experience and needs, and inclusive of diverse stakeholders. To serve as an AmeriCorps member, you must be; at least 17 years of age as of the commencement of their term of service, have a high school diploma, be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States, satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria. Program Summary The mission of AmeriCorps is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. The AmeriCorps Southern Border Arrivals Assistance Corps is intended to provide support to Southern Border Arrivals in Illinois. A Southern Border Arrival or SBA is defined as an individual who crossed the Mexico/U.S. border on or after August 1, 2022, with the intent to stay permanently, and who does not possess any permanent or interim U.S. legal status (which does not include being in parole status), such as legal permanent residency, a student or work visa, etc. Through this model, successful applicant organizations will be funded to develop a program and hire AmeriCorps members which will support SBAs living in their community. Serve Illinois believes there is great opportunity to support SBAs in Illinois by building relationships and growing capacity in areas in need of services. Serve Illinois believes providing funding to grantees across Illinois to implement an impactful AmeriCorps project focusing on SBA assistance will help communities across Illinois welcome SBAs and integrate them into their communities, while growing the civic participation and leadership of AmeriCorps SBA Assistance Corps and AmeriCorps members. The following requirements and expectations are essential to the implementation and success of the AmeriCorps Southern Border Arrival Assistance Corps: Execute a detailed member outreach and recruitment plan, andEnsure that each IDHS/Serve Illinois member completes the required number of hours of service to qualify for the education award.

Eligibility

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