FY27 CAR Father Engagement Pilot – Supervised Parenting Time and Education

FY27 CAR Father Engagement Pilot – Supervised Parenting Time and Education

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 Pilot Program (Supervised Parenting Time & Education) 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 of fatherhood initiatives and interventions that improve children’s safety, permanency, and well-being.

The Supervised Parenting Time & Education program will make available supervised parenting time to non-custodial fathers and their children to help reunify families in a safe environment. Due to domestic violence, substance abuse, or neglect, orders of protection may be a barrier to visitation for fathers, who as a result, have been away from their children for a significant amount of time and have had little to no communication with their children or with the other parent. The Provider will offer a supervisor for visits to reduce child stress and anxiety when visiting with their father in a supervised, safe, and comfortable environment. Fathers will have the support of the Provider’s staff and have a witness to the interaction between them and their children.

Additionally, fathers will participate in the 16-week evidence based, Nurturing Parenting classes for DADS and attend workshops while receiving supervised visits with their children. Parent coaching will be offered as needed to each father to help them be successful.

Service deliverables of the Father Engagement Pilot include:
• Supervised parenting time between non-custodial fathers and their children
• Father-specific workshops
• Client meetings
• Crisis management
• Testimony in court, if needed

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; Coaching; Advocacy
• Activities to Improve Parenting Skills and Knowledge: Curriculum-based parenting education; 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

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 must accept all fathers and male caregivers referred by family court judges, drug court, guardianship court judges, guardian ad litems, family law attorneys, probation, family, and self-referrals.

Information requested on the referral form must include 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 -
Parent Educator: Minimum qualifications: bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology or related field from an accredited school, or bachelor’s degree with combination of experience and extensive knowledge of basic child welfare and development.

Program Assistant/Supervised Visitation Monitor: Minimum qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent minimum age of 18, and successful completion of a comprehensive background check. Valid Driver’s License and insurance required and must be maintained throughout employment. Must have completed 10 hours of continued education focusing on child welfare and/or parent skills trainings.

Supervisory –
Program Supervisor. Minimum supervisory staff qualifications: bachelor’s degree in social service administration, child welfare or related field from an accredited school and at least 5 years’ social service experience.
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MINIMUM STAFFING EXPECTATIONS

• Family Education and Support programs for DAD client to staff class ratio is 15:1
• One-on-One/Family Support Sessions client to staff ratio is 8:1
• Supervised Parenting Time client to staff ratio is 8:1
• Workshops client to staff ratio is 12:1
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TARGET POPULATION

Client: Fathers and male caregivers (18 and older) and their children (newborn to 17 years old). In some cases, other parents, or caregivers may participate in the program.

Inclusions:
Fathers and male caregivers (18 and older) and children (newborn to 17 years old). In some cases, mothers and female caregivers, 18 years and older, may be included.

Exclusions:
Participants who have open/intact cases or investigations of abuse/neglect with the Department.

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: N/A
Capacity at Any Given Time: N/A

Client Capacity Under Program: 30 parents / 60 children
Capacity at Any Given Time: 10 parent / 20 children

Average Length of Services: 16 weeks

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 – Supervised Parenting Time and Education
• Assistance Listings Number: 93.669
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $112,956.00
• 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.