FY27 CAR Father Engagement Pilot – Fatherhood Coalition

FY27 CAR Father Engagement Pilot – Fatherhood Coalition

This grant award will have an initial period of performance starting in FY27 (07/01/2026 (or upon execution of the agreement) through 06/30/2029). A budget should be submitted for FY27 only.
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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Provider will conduct activities facilitating the development and expansion of regional fatherhood coalitions, while also promoting community education and networking to establish new parent groups that foster a father’s parental involvement. Provider will deliver mutual, self-help parent support groups for custodial and non-custodial fathers as a foundational community entry point of service for fathers. Provider will increase services to fathers and male caregivers in the community and work to fill the gap in community services available for fathers. Provider will meet federal guideline requirements for services specifically to support fathers in their roles, strengthen families, and improve child outcomes.

The service deliverables include the following:

• Establishment of father specific support groups as a foundational community entry point of service for fathers modeled after the Circle of Parents https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/circle-of-parents/ national evidence informed model with a goal of increasing the protective factors in the parenting skill development of the participants while offering free companion children’s groups.
• Establish regional father coalitions that bring together diverse community sectors to set clear goals, align systems, and strengthen existing programs.
• Bi-monthly coalition meetings will be held to coordinate training for community providers to enhance their father-engagement capacity and identify and address gaps in services.
• Establish community systems to promote, develop and maintain fatherhood coalitions and to conduct and promote father support groups
• Conduct community resource events to promote the development and maintenance of the fatherhood coalitions and fatherhood workshops to increase fathering skills
• Educational workshops for dads and moms relevant to enhancing father involvement and skills
• Training for community stakeholders to build a community system primed for fatherhood impact
• Promotion of the protective factors & evaluation of program outcomes
• Parent leadership development, engagement and involvement in local and community programs

The program aims to increase services to fathers and male caregivers in the community.

Provider will serve as the conduit in coordinating and aligning community systems through collaboration, capacity building, community education and new fatherhood program development. The Provider will focus efforts on the vital role fathers play in their children’s lives, families, and communities. Provider will strengthen community systems by delivering targeted training, enhancing the effectiveness of local providers, supporting existing fatherhood programs through collaboration, and addressing gaps in father specific services.

Established father coalitions will serve as centralized hubs for resources and coordination reducing fragmentation and increasing visibility of services. Provider will deliver community base solutions that build fathers' parenting skills and help prevent child abuse and neglect by integrating the six protective factors across all activities.

The Provider will facilitate the expansion of fatherhood coalitions, Parent Advisory Council (PAC), to ensure meaningful parent voice. Fathers participating in PACs will receive a $25 stipend per meeting from Provider and each coalition will maintain at least six (6) participating fathers per PAC. The Provider will facilitate monthly PAC meetings in multiple counties.

Provider will sustain at least six (6) unduplicated Father Support groups with a minimum of 15 enrolled fathers each. The Provider will continue to build parent leadership capacity within the coalitions and PACs across all counties listed in section 1.5.

The Provider will offer two seven-week “Building a Winning Team” groups, based on National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) materials, to support mothers in strengthening co-parenting relationships. These sessions will be available to mothers involved with coalition partners.

The Provider will work across each county to achieve the coalition’s primary goals:
• Unite the community around fatherhood needs and promote existing father- specific services
• Strengthen systems by increasing coalition members’ knowledge and skills using a father-friendly approach
• Improve alignment and collaboration among community services
• Develop new services based on father’s needs.
• Equip fathers with the six protective factors to build, parenting skills and prevent child abuse and neglect
• Establish a shared community vision for supporting fatherhood

The Provider will coordinate:

Support Groups: Facilitators must be trained in the six protective factors to help parents find solutions to their parenting challenges. The groups will provide parents and other caregivers the opportunity to participate in weekly or semi-weekly group meetings with other parents and caregivers in an effort to effectively prevent child abuse and neglect. Provider staff will facilitate the exchange of ideas, sharing of information, and will assist participants in addressing their parenting challenges, learning about community resources, giving and receiving support, and celebrating successes. Under the Circle of Parents model, program groups will highlight family strengths, normalize the parenting experience, and reduce isolation. Program groups will foster trusting relationships, encourage parents and caregivers to share at their own comfort level, and support them in setting and meeting personal goals. Groups will be provided at no cost to the participants and must include a nutritious meal or snack.

Each support group will be established in partnership with a community social service provider. Provider’s Regional coordinators will develop partnerships through their community engagement and formalize an operating agreement outlining each partner’s responsibilities for each group.

Each support group will be guided by the Provider in partnership with a trained facilitator from a partnering community-based social service agency. Once a group is formed, the regional coordinator will train the group facilitator in the program model, effective facilitation techniques, father-friendly service delivery, domestic violence protocols, parent leadership development, and retention strategies.

Using the Circle of Parents model, all groups will:

• Be parent-led with support from a trained facilitator
• Maintain a confidential and nonjudgmental environment
• Be offered at no cost
• Provide concurrent, developmentally appropriate children’s programs or childcare
• Operate as open-ended ongoing groups
• Offer weekly support opportunities

Meals Snacks: The Provider will offer a nutritious meal/snack to parents and their children.

Special Speakers: The Provider will facilitate appropriate speakers to address topics of urgency and concern for parents, while maintaining the goal of providing education on the Protective Factors.

Children’s Groups: Children’s support groups will be established based upon need and active groups will be maintained with existing companion children’s programs for groups whose parents need the childcare component. Provider will employ trained children's program specialists to achieve program goals, by leading developmentally appropriate activities and consistently following all program policies and procedures. The regional coordinators will provide Children’s Program Specialist with materials that support the introduction of social-emotional learning activities within each group. Through these guided experiences, children will engage in activities that promote their social-emotional development in alignment with the Circle of Parents Model.

Facilitator Supports: Provider staff will provide monthly coaching calls to group facilitators as a means of support to ensure each group stays aligned with the program goals. Monthly coaching contacts will cover topics such as successes, challenges, progress on goals and objectives, parent leadership development, children's program update, training needs, data collection, good news stories, parent retention, managing to the outcomes and father friendliness.

Program staff will conduct quarterly coaching calls with children’s program workers. These coaching calls with group facilitators will address successes, challenges, progress toward goals, and will center on these issues: successes, challenges, progress toward goals, parent leadership development, updates on the children’s program, training needs, data collection, parent retention, outcome management, and father‑friendliness. In addition, Provider will conduct an annual site visit for groups operating for at least one year to assess model fidelity, the welcoming environment, and overall program quality.

Each Quarter, Provider will provide group facilitators with protective‑factor materials to share with participants.

Provider’s Regional Coordinators will also oversee quarterly administration of the Family Support Program Outcome Survey (developed by FRIENDS, the National Resource Center for Community Based Child Abuse Prevention) to parents who have completed at least 12 group hours. Survey administration will be staggered to ensure ongoing data availability, and results will be used to measure changes in protective factors.

The Provider will also offer community events and activities that promote child abuse prevention, responsible parenting, family strengthening, and promotion of the protective factors.
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REFERRAL DECISION-MAKING CRITERIA

The Provider must accept all fathers and male caregivers referred to the program either by a community agency/worker or through self-referral (through information from agencies from flyers and brochures). Provider must maintain a published local, community-based group email/contact number and a published number for the regional fatherhood coordinator that individuals can contact to make a self -referral and to see if a specific group is a good match for a parent or caregiver. The Regional Fatherhood Coordinator and/or the Administrative Assistant will maintain a process to track referrals.
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STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS

Direct Service -
Regional Coordinator: Must possess a bachelor’s degree in a human services or related field from an accredited institution, with a minimum of two years of relevant experience. Two or more years of group facilitation experience is preferred.

Children’s Program Worker: Requires a high school diploma or equivalent; a bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited school is preferred. A minimum of one year of experience working directly with children is required.

Group Facilitator: Requires a high school diploma or equivalent and completion of program-specific facilitator training within 60 days of hire. At least two years of group facilitation experience is preferred.

Supervisory –
Program Supervisor: Must possess a bachelor’s degree in a human services or related field from an accredited institution, with a minimum of four (4) years of relevant social services or child welfare experience.

Program Manager: Must possess a master’s degree in social work or a related human services field from an accredited institution, with a minimum of five (5) years of relevant social services or child welfare experience. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of family systems, including issues related to domestic violence, child welfare, and substance abuse.
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MINIMUM STAFFING EXPECTATIONS

Provider must maintain one Fatherhood Coordinator per region served. Full-time coordinators may be assigned a caseload up to 20 groups per region as necessary. Part-time coordinators may be appointed a group caseload of 10 groups per region as needed.
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REQUIRED TRAININGS

Provider staff conducting groups and facilitating parent education must have successfully completed the Effective Facilitation training and certification through the National Fatherhood Initiative to be equipped to effectively engage participants.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Circle of Parents Model Program Supervisors, Facilitators, Parent Leaders, and Children’s Circle program staff shall be trained through the National Circle of Parents® Model training by the organization or through a certified Circle of Parents Train the trainer (T3) training. Circle of Parents® – The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare

As part of the development of the new support groups training, the Provider must ensure facilitator and children's program specialist complete orientation and continuing education on topics such as child welfare, family strengthening, protective factors and child development.
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TARGET POPULATION

Client: a parent or caregiver of children (prenatal – 17). The program will serve DCFS and non-DCFS individuals. Clients can be referred through DCFS, Child Welfare Contributing Agencies (CWCA), community/social service agencies and self-referrals. The child(ren) of a parent/caregiver may also be referred to as a “client” and will be served as they come to support group meetings, as needed.

Inclusions:
The father support groups will be open to fathers and male caregivers in the community, both custodial and non-custodial in need of parenting support and education, especially those with risk factors for child abuse and neglect (isolation, lack of resources, low income, stress, lack of knowledge of parenting and parenting skills, addictions, single parent status, children with special needs, young parents (teen), mental health issues, presence of domestic violence). Groups may include teen parents, Spanish speaking parents, trafficked parents, prenatal parents, grandparents raising their grandchildren, parents whose children are truant, and parents who have children with special needs. Mothers and children may also be included in program through activities related to healthy co-parenting and family strengthening.

Exclusions:
Individuals may be excluded if they are not able to function safely within a group setting because of mental illness, alcohol, or drug abuse/impairment. Exclusions are determined on a session-by-session basis.

Client Capacity Under DCFS Agreement: 15
Capacity at Any Given Time: 7

Client Capacity Under Program: 180
Capacity at Any Given Time: 30

Average Length of Services: 6-12 months

The provider must obtain prior authorization from DCFS to serve clients outside of the program plan parameters
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PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND METRICS

• Develop and maintain a minimum of 9 father-specific support groups in each county listed in section 1.5. Maintain a minimum of 15 fathers engaged in each support group biannually.
• 70% of parents surveyed report increases in family functioning/resilience, nurturing and attachment, social supports, and peer-to-peer learning.
• Conduct 3 'Understanding Dad' workshops for mothers twice per year, serving ≥20 participants each cycle.
• Offer 3 '24/7 Dad Key Indicators' workshops per county with ≥10 unduplicated attendees per session.
• Conduct quarterly trainings for coalitions on protective factors and fatherhood integration.
• 100% of survey respondents report increased awareness and engagement in father-centered programs.
• Establish new Parent Advisory Councils in each service area.
• Conduct community presentations on coalition creation and benefits. Convene consistent bi-monthly coalition meetings.
• Create new father-centered services to fill existing gaps. Develop needs assessment tools to determine fathers’ needs.
• Regional Coordinator conducts annual site visit for each support group for feedback and evaluation.
• Conduct minimum of 3 companion groups during the fiscal year.

Details

• Awarding Agency: Department Of Children And Family Services
• CSFA Number: 418-00-3368
• CSFA Popular Name: Father Engagement Pilot
• Funding Opportunity Number: 418 - Father Engagement Pilot – Fatherhood Coalition
• Assistance Listings Number: 93.669
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $325,716.00
• Expected Number of Awards: 1
• Funding Sources: Federal Or Federal Pass Through, State
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2026-04-27
• Award Period: 2026-07-01 – 2027-06-30

Funding Restrictions

Grant awards will be subject to state statutory requirements that limit the administrative costs to 20%. Fringe benefits cannot exceed 25% of total salaries.

Indirect Cost Description

Indirect Costs are allowed. To charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

There are three types of NICRAs:

1. Federally Negotiated Rate. Organizations that receive direct federal funding, may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA.

2. State Negotiated Rate. The organization may negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. If an organization has not previously established an indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal may be submitted to the State of Illinois through the indirect cost rate system no later than three months after the effective date of the award. If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must continue to use that rate until its expiration. Upon expiration, the organization may re-submit a new indirect cost proposal through the system annually, within six months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year, OR an organization may elect to use the de minimis rate instead of their State Negotiated Rate.

3. De Minimis Rate. An organization may elect a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the de minimis rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate.
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NOTE
• All grantees must complete an indirect cost rate negotiation or elect the De Minimis Rate in the indirect cost rate system to claim indirect costs. Indirect costs claimed without an established negotiated rate or a De Minimis Rate election in the system may be subject to disallowance.
• Grantees have discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs. Grantees that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs.
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Restrictions on Indirect Costs

Yes

Citation Governing Indirect Cost Restriction

2 CFR 200.414(c) and 2 CFR 300.414

State Award Notices

REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
All applications must be submitted by the posted deadline. IDCFS staff conducts an initial review of all applications received for eligibility and GATA compliance. Reviewers may consist of DCFS GATA staff, division leadership, and other internal DCFS staff. Each proposal will be reviewed by a minimum of three reviewers. The review and selection of grant award recipients is conducted in a fair and equitable manner that evaluates and selects grantees most likely to be successful in delivering results based on program objectives, and with limited disruption to the continuity of services. Proposals will be approved based on funding available.

While recommendations from the review team will be a key factor in funding decisions, the Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and considers the scores of the review team to be non-binding recommendations. The Department reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering geographic distribution of awards (e.g., ensuring coverage of certain counties or service areas), client needs, and overall programmatic/ financial risk assessments in its pre-award decisions. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information.

Final award decisions will be made by the Director (or their designee). The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, locations, etc. Funds are disbursed based on the schedule agreed upon and included within the Uniform Grant Agreement. The release of this Notice of Funding Opportunity does not obligate the Department to make an award.
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AWARD NOTIFICATIONS
An award status notification (approval or denial) will be delivered via an automated email from Euna Grants. This email will serve as notification that an award has been made. However, this email is not an authorization to begin performance or incur costs.
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APPEALS
Competitive grant (and in some cases non-competitive) appeals are limited to an appeal related to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested.

An appeal must be submitted in writing in accordance with the grant application document. An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days of Award denial.
The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following:
i. the name and address of the appealing party
ii. identification of the grant for which you are appealing the evaluation/review process
iii. a statement of reasons for the appeal

Response to Appeal
a. DCFS will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.
b. DCFS will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required.
c. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by DCFS within the time period set in the request.

Reporting

Grantees will be expected to submit both (monthly or quarterly) periodic performance reports and monthly financial reports. The exact reporting requirements of this award will be defined in the program plan of the Uniform Grant Agreement.