FY27 CAR Father Engagement Pilot – Positive Relationships

FY27 CAR Father Engagement Pilot – Positive Relationships

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

The Community-Based Father Support & Engagement Prevention Program has been developed by the Department to increase services to fathers and male caregivers in the community and to fill the gap in community services and address the prevention needs available for fathers. The Department will use this pilot to continue evaluation, implementation and forging fatherhood initiatives and interventions that improve children’s safety, permanency, and wellbeing.

Prevention/intervention services include support groups, educational trainings, case navigation classes, male-only curriculum-based and co-parenting classes, parent-child supervision/coaching and workshops that enhance their understanding of, and navigation through, the child welfare process. Peer fathers/facilitators with lived experience will be an integral part of the program and receive training to facilitate father-focused engagement activities using trauma-informed methods and approaches to coaching fathers.

The program aims to increase fathers' active and positive engagement in their children's lives. Fathers have a critical role to play in children’s physical, emotional, and social development; and are essential partners in the prevention of maltreatment and achievement of timely permanence. Higher levels of father involvement are associated with lower levels of child neglect; and children who live in fatherless households often face higher risks of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect than children who live in households with a father present.

The purpose of the program is to:
1. Strengthen child and family well-being through the development, improvement, and expansion of prevention focused community-based services for fathers and male caregivers.
2. Understand which program components (processes, tools, resources, activities, etc.) are effective in:
• Improving relationships between children and their father/male caregivers.
• Increasing positive parenting practices.
• Decreasing occurrences of child maltreatment.
• Reducing court involvement with families.

Provider will focus on the following engagement strategies:
• Activities to Promote and Sustain Health Marriage and Co-Parent Relationships: Skill-based relationship education; Mentoring or informal modeling; Coaching; Advocacy for two-parent involvement with children
• Activities to Improve Parenting Skills and Knowledge: Curriculum-based parenting education; Mentoring or informal modeling; Coaching; Promoting responsible parenting
• Activities to Increase Fathers’ Level of Involvement with their Children: Support and advocacy for navigating the legal system; Support groups and assistance; Coaching; Case management
• Activities to Facilitate Personal Transformation: Case management service; Curriculum-based responsible fatherhood education; Mentoring and informal modeling; Coaching; Support groups; Linkages to existing services
• Activities to Improve Fathers’ Level of Connectedness with their Community: Linkages to existing services; Advocacy

Provider will use community-based secondary prevention activities to support fathers and male caregivers in increasing:

1. Engagement in parenting classes. Father led workshops, classes or seminars that focus on effective communication skills, age-appropriate discipline strategies, and basic child development.
2. Attendance in support groups to promote deeper connections to their children’s social, emotional, and physical well-being, a place for fathers to connect and unpack the social and emotional traumas so that they can overcome challenges and have support through their process while sharing resources and other necessary resolutions. (bi-weekly, 90 minutes each)
3. Availability of trainings and workshops to build stronger family foundations with an emphasis on trainings that focus on maintaining positive relationships, strategies for bonding and spending quality time with the child(ren) and how to work collaboratively and effectively with the other parent/system.
4. Family mediation, legal, and custody related support including case navigation classes outcomes for children and families in and out of systems. Services include referral and minor fees associated with obtaining the right documentation to stabilize for being a placement resource to their children.
5. Opportunities for relationship building, co-parenting support, and father/child activities that facilitate and encourage father-child focused activities to build bonds between the father and child. This includes community and home-based activities. Provider will offer services to fathers and male caregivers that include working with a fatherhood engagement specialist that offers flexible meeting times that include evening and weekend support.

The Provider is required to participate in one or more of the following evaluation activities carried out by the Department over the course of the period of performance:
• Client data collection
• Interviews and focus groups with clients/project participants and Provider staff
• Direct program observation
• Client assessments/surveys
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REFERRAL DECISION-MAKING CRITERIA

The Provider will accept all eligible fathers and male caregivers referred from, but not limited to, community based social service providers, DCFS/child welfare professionals, self-referrals and court systems. The Provider will maintain a process to track referrals. Information requested on the referral form includes living situation, phone number, child welfare involvement status, and their willingness to participate
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TREATMENT GOALS/SERVICE PLANS

Provider will adhere to the evidence based/ evidence informed model/curriculum identified and agreed upon under this Agreement. The Provider will partner with participants by providing father friendly support utilizing a trauma informed, family-centered approach through the implementation of applicable support groups, educational trainings, one on one coaching sessions, case navigation classes, male-only parenting classes, and workshops that promote the protective factors. Progress will be assessed through outcome and evaluation data collected and analyzation tools specific to the curriculum/model.
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STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS

Direct Service -
Fatherhood Coordinator: Minimum supervisory staff qualifications: bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or related field from an accredited school, or bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with combination of experience and knowledge of basic child welfare and development. Masters degree preferred.

Facilitator: facilitates bi-weekly parent classes and workshops specifically for fathers. Minimum qualifications: bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology or related field from an accredited school, or bachelor’s degree from an accredited school with combination of one year experience and knowledge of basic child welfare program facilitation, counseling, or education, with a focus on fathers.

Intake Coordinator: Minimum qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor’s from an accredited school preferred.
Supervisory –
Executive Director/Program Supervisor: minimum of a bachelor’s degree in area of human services from an accredited school and at least 5 years’ social service experience. Manages key program personnel/designee overseeing program quality assurance and contract deliverables.
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MINIMUM STAFFING EXPECTATIONS

Father-specific parenting classes, client to staff ratio 15:1
Support groups (bi-weekly, 90 minutes each), client to staff ratio 15:1
Trainings and workshops, client to staff ratio 15:1
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TARGET POPULATION

Client: Fathers and male caregivers (18 and older) and their children (newborn to 17 years old).

Inclusions:
The Provider’s primary focus will be targeted to reach fathers and male caregivers 18 years and older, who are parents, caregivers and youth not yet involved in the child welfare system, but referrals may include both DCFS and non DCFS involved individuals. 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.

Exclusions:
Individuals may be excluded if they are not able to function safely due to mental illness, alcohol, drug abuse/impairment, or past demonstration of verbal or physical threats of aggression towards staff. Exclusions are determined on a session-by-session basis.

Client Capacity Under DCFS Agreement: 175
Capacity at Any Given Time: 43

Client Capacity Under Program: 200
Capacity at Any Given Time: 50

Average Length of Services: 12-16 weekly parenting skills sessions (90 minutes-2 hours each); father specific workshops/events monthly; one on one mentoring varies based on client needs

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

• At least 85% of enrolled clients shall demonstrate a consistent weekly attendance during the contract term.
• At least 85% of clients participating in trainings and workshops report increased knowledge and application upon completion.
• At least 90% of coaching and mentoring participants shall report a satisfactory relationship during the service period.
• At least 70% of clients completing the parenting support curriculum shall agree or strongly agree at program completion.
• At least 70% of curriculum completers shall agree or strongly agree by the end of services.
• At least 70% of curriculum completers shall demonstrate understanding upon completion.
• At least 70% of curriculum completers shall agree or strongly agree at program completion.
• At least 70% of participants shall agree or strongly agree upon completion of co-parenting support services.
• At least 70% of participants shall report improved boundary-setting skills by program completion.

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 – Positive Relationships
• Assistance Listings Number: 93.669
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $220,644.00
• 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.