FY27 TLS Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account Education Program

FY27 TLS Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account Education Program

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 primary objective of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Education program is to support youth in care with ABLE accounts across Illinois in developing an increased understanding of their accounts as well as an improved ability to manage their accounts. Because each youth’s engagement with their ABLE account, in terms of both their access to the account and their responsibilities to manage their account, will be unique to their own abilities. ABLE accounts are a type of financial product that make it possible for people with disabilities and their families to save and invest their money for expenses related to living with a disability without impacting their benefits.

The Provider will provide both video education regarding ABLE accounts as well as guided, online educational simulation, and print resources. The Provider will provide 4 modules of education for this program, customized based upon the youth’s age and specific life situation (when the youth will transition from care, will the youth have a payee or manage their funds independently, etc.). All the educational materials provided will be prepared in consultation with educational specialists that specifically serve youth in care with disabilities as well as occupational therapists to ensure that the materials are as accessible as possible. The Provider will also consult with the Illinois State Treasurers Office, ABLE program, to review and approve all educational materials. The Provider will include input from a diverse group of youth contributors to ensure the materials produced are culturally competent, and the Provider will consider and apply the principles from the organization’s Resiliency Guide developed with the National Traumatic Stress Network in 2019 to ensure the program education is trauma informed.

The initial (6) months of this agreement will include the development of the IDCFS ABLE Education program which will include: technology development of an online learning environment, content development in consultation with subject matter experts including the Office of the Illinois Treasure, print educational materials, evaluation methods and outreach/referral processes.

Upon completion of the development period the Provider will offer educational videos within a Learning Management System (LMS), and provide the IDCFS ABLE Education Program in accordance with the below outline:

Age 14: ABLE 101
Age 16: ABLE 102
Age 18: ABLE for Adulthood
Age 18+: ABLE for Adulthood Virtual Workshops

The Provider will track completion of the ABLE education program at 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days. The permanency worker will receive a reminder at 30 and 60 days regarding the requirements for the ABLE education, and then if the ABLE education is still not completed at 90 days the provider will report to DCFS-FFP and the assigned program monitor.

Completion will be tracked by an assessment which the facilitator guides the youth to finish. This assessment will highlight the education that was completed and include responses to a few basic knowledge/behavior measures. A mechanism for the instructor to report or flag concerns will be provided via free response questions; instructions will be provided of a contact person regarding additional supports that may be required if facilitators have concerns with the youth’s understanding of the ABLE account.

The provider will also offer weekly “office hour” time slots during which the youth and/or permanency worker can join to ask live virtual questions about ABLE and the ABLE education process. These are optional but available as needed.

Client: Youth aged 14-21(up to their 21st birthday) served by DCFS who are eligible for an ABLE account.

Unit of Service: The Department will pay per the payment rates listed in Exhibit F “Pricing/Rate Schedule” based on invoice amounts consistent with the approved Budget and subject to an annual close-out process consisting of line-item review audited cost review.

ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Account: A taxed-advantaged savings account that allows individuals with disabilities to save and invest money to meet qualified disability expenses without impacting their eligibility for certain government benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP): Develops comprehensive financial plans to help clients achieve their financial goals, covering areas like retirement planning, investments, insurance, taxes, and estate planning. CFPs meet rigorous education, experience, and ethical requirements, including a strict fiduciary duty to act in their clients’ best interest. They analyze a client’s entire financial picture, provide tailored advice and strategies, and monitor plans to adapt to life changes.
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REFERRALS

The provider will receive a client list from the DCFS Federal Financial Participation (FFP) Unit, identifying all DCFS youth in care who have an ABLE account. This list will include youth demographics, placement details, and the names and contact information of the assigned permanency worker and supervisor. Upon receiving the list, the provider must contact the youth’s permanency worker during the first month of the quarter in which the youth’s birthday falls, each year from age 14 to 21. The provider will give further instructions at that time to support the implementation of the ABLE account education program.

Provider will accept all referred youth on a no- decline basis.
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STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS

Direct Service:
All direct services staff will have at least 3 years of youth development work experience as well as an associate degree from an accredited school. Financial or business experience or education experience is preferred but not required. All staff must complete advanced training with the Provider and complete supervised instruction with the provider’s staff. All direct service staff receive yearly reviews.

Supervisory:
All supervisory staff will have 5-7 years of youth development experience as well as a bachelor’s degree or associate degree in a related financial or education field from an accredited school. Master’s degree and business or education experience is preferred.

MINIMUM STAFFING EXPECTATIONS

Provider must maintain sufficient staffing to provide required trainings to clients and DCFS/CWCA staff.
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TREATMENT GOALS/SERVICE PLANS

Youth with ABLE accounts will successfully complete the ABLE education program requirements upon enrollment and annually until they reach 21 years or exit DCFS care.

Youth who meet the requirements for referral to a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) will be referred and complete a financial advisory consultation.

Permanency workers with youth on their caseloads with ABLE accounts will ensure youth complete the necessary ABLE education annually.

Requirements include completing a required annual module. This module is determined based on the youth’s age and if the youth manage their ABLE account independently. Requirements will also include a referral to a CFP for youths who will independently manage their ABLE account and are near transition age.
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TARGET POPULATION

Inclusions:
The Provider will serve youth ages 14-20 that are recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and for whom DCFS has opened an ABLE account starting at age 14.

Exclusions:
Youth prior to their 14th birthday or after their 21st birthday, any youth that is not currently under DCFS care, and youth who do not qualify for ABLE accounts.

Client Capacity Under DCFS Agreement: 1,000
Capacity at Any Given Time: 1,000

Client Capacity Under Program: 1,000
Capacity at Any Given Time: 1,000

Average Length of Services: 2-4 hours annually

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

75% of youth with ABLE accounts will successfully complete the initial education requirements and assessments.
75% of youth with ABLE accounts will successfully complete ongoing education requirements and assessments.
75% of youth enrolled will demonstrate an increased understanding of ABLE accounts.

Details

• Awarding Agency: Department Of Children And Family Services
• CSFA Number: 418-00-3676
• CSFA Popular Name: ABLE Education Program
• Funding Opportunity Number: 418 - Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account Education Program
• Assistance Listings Number: State
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $256,584.00
• Expected Number of Awards: 1
• Funding Sources: State
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2026-04-24
• 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)

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.