FY27 TLS Educational Mentoring

FY27 TLS Educational Mentoring

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 mission of the Educational Mentoring Program is to assist youth in gaining the skills and confidence to reach their full academic and developmental potential through a meaningful and supportive mentoring relationship. This relationship inspires youth in care’s educational and employment success and thereby facilitates positive youth development.

The goals established by the Educational Mentoring Program improve the academic, professional and social skills of youth in DCFS care through:
• Coordination of youth’s multi-disciplinary team. For the purpose of the program, the team includes the youth, foster parent/caretaker; youths identified positive social supports, and DCFS/CWCA agency service providers.
• Engagement of youth and providing youth with a well-defined role which will give youth a voice in the development of youth-led, task-centered goals.
• Using the relationship and knowledge of Cook County educational institutions, such as Chicago Public Schools and Alternative School Network, community colleges, as well as accredited vocational programs to assist in creating personalized educational plans.
• Connecting youth to resources available in the community and through DCFS, so that youth will be able to establish long term supports.
• Education Coaches provide advocacy to reduce and/or eliminate barriers to success.
• The Mentoring Program will provide training, support and monitoring to track progress and needs.

The vision of the Mentoring Program is that at-risk youth gain the academic, personal, and professional skills needed to become self-sufficient leaders. The program is community-based. Education Coaches work to engage youth who may be out of school, in a transition year (middle school to high school, high school to college) in danger of unsuccessfully leaving school or requiring alternative educational planning. Education Coaches provide support to re-engage the youth in creating and executing an appropriate educational plan. A summary of the program services includes:

• Educational Services – Educational achievement for participating youth will be supported through Education Coaches’ advocacy and increased knowledge of the various educational programs available for youth. In addition to coaches being well-versed on CPS and DCFS education policies and resources to support and eliminate and educational barriers for participating youth. coaches will build relationships with CPS, ASN, and other educational institutions to promote educational knowledge, options to promote youth’s educational achievement. Coaches will provide 1:1 support to youth in learning proper skills such as study habits, understanding academic expectations, and how to effectively advocate for academic needs. Education Coaches will provide ongoing monitoring and advocacy with multidisciplinary teams to promote, support and pursue youth’s educational objectives. Education Coaches will also encourage and emphasize the pursuit of higher education.
• Vocational/Employment Services – Education Coaches will also take into account that many youths will face barriers that limit their opportunities to obtain a high school diploma/GED or go into higher education. These barriers include dislike of school setting, financial limitations, school anxiety, parenting stressors, academic performance, placement status, mental health issues, and/or trauma history. As a result, coaches will identify the need to increase services around youth vocational/employment goals. The aim is to provide the necessary support services for our youth who choose to focus on employment rather than education due to specific circumstances.
• Social Supports – Expanding youth’s positive long term social supports has been correlated to improved self-sufficiency. Education Coach and youth will discuss the need and benefits of having positive social supports and identify current persons who fulfill this role in the youth’s life during the engagement process and reassess each support quarterly and upon case closure.
• Barrier Reduction –Education Coaches will identify potential barriers for youth to enroll or participate in educational, vocational and employment programs that require immediate financial assistance. The program will ensure that these barriers are addressed in a timely manner to ensure steady progress is made in the youth’s defined goals.
• E-Mentoring – Education Coaches may attempt to connect youth to social media accounts to learn about educational/vocational programs, resources, job fairs, etc. They will also engage youth through phone, email and text communications. This approach will be supplemental to the face-to-face mentoring relationship.

Mentoring services may continue for up to 12 weeks after emancipation/case closure to ensure that the youth’s emancipation plan and/or self-sufficiency will not be compromised in regard to their educational, vocational, and/or independent living goals. All extensions of service must be approved by DCFS.

Education Coaches meet with youth on their caseload in the field, in the youth’s community, school, placement, or other location agreed upon by both parties. Education Coaches support youth in meeting Life Plan goals by addressing the goal from more creative and activity-based angles.

Goals can include, but are not limited to:
• Assisting the youth with selecting appropriate educational/vocational programs for themselves.
• Helping with completing employment, school, financial aid, and/or social security applications and identification of and application to scholarships.
• Improve employment readiness by assisting with resume writing, building interview skill, following up after interviews and developing “soft skills” such as conflict resolution.
• Encouraging youth in areas of school completion, job retention, and/or progress towards living independently.
• Modeling appropriate social skills.
• Acting as a source of motivation.

The Life Plan will be reviewed quarterly for progress on goal completion, in a formal Quarterly Report that is also shared with the youth and caseworker. Upon completion of all Life Plan goals, the referral may be closed, or new goals may be created (based on the needs of the youth). Upon case closure, the Education Coach will complete a formal Discharge Summary; complete a closing case note in Evolv, and which are also shared with the youth and caseworker.

Education Coaches plan to remain open on a case for at least 18 months in order to build a supportive mentoring relationship. Cases may be closed prior to one year of service in the case that the youth meets all their service goals, and no longer requires mentoring services, disengages with the program, or emancipates from DCFS.
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TREATMENT GOALS/SERVICE PLANS

During the engagement phase of the service, the Education Coach is working closely with the youth to complete his/her assessment and Life Plan. This report is youth-centered, and completed almost entirely by the youth, with the support and assistance of the Education Coach. Goals are focused around the youth’s education or employment aspirations. Once this report is approved by the youth and Program Coordinator and all parties sign it, it is shared with the youth’s caseworker. The Education Coach has then completed the engagement phase of service, and moves into full service, meaning each visit should be focused on completing the goals in the Life Plan.

Progress on the Life Plan is reviewed by the youth and Education Coach on a quarterly basis in a formal Quarterly Report completed by the Education Coach, and shared and reviewed with the youth. The caseworker also receives a copy of this report. During each quarterly reporting time, goals may be completed and new goals formed, based on current needs. Also based on the client’s current need, mentor/client visit expectations may change and will be documented in these quarterly reports.

Upon completion of service goals, or client emancipation, the mentor referral will be closed and the Education Coach will complete a formal Discharge Report shared with the youth and the caseworker. This report will highlight the overall work that has been accomplished by the youth and progress on all service goals.
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STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS

Direct Service:
Program staff will hold at least an Associate’s Degree and have two years of experience working with youth in either child welfare, an academic learning center or programs serving youth and adolescents.

Supervisory:
Program Staff will be supervised by a Program Coordinator with a Master of Human Service from an accredited college/university who has at least three years of experience working with youth in the child welfare system and supervisory experience. The Program Coordinator reports to the Director who will assist with program monitoring and oversight.
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MINIMUM STAFFING EXPECTATIONS

Direct service staff, Program Coordinator, and the Associate Director will guide the program. Education Coaches maintain a youth ratio of 1:20 for Full Time Employee, and 1:10 for Part-Time Employee. Ratio may increase if the visit expectations for youth go below weekly.
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TARGET POPULATION

Education Mentoring recipients will be active youth in care, between the ages of 12-20 years old, who reside in Cook County, and have been identified as high-risk youth. High-risk youth are those exhibiting one or more of the following behaviors:
• Youth is demonstrating minimal academic progress and/or exhibiting social and emotional behaviors that can lead to expulsion, truancy, or grade retention
• Youth dropped out of school and is not working
• Youth is engaging in delinquent behavior that can lead to incarceration
• Youth has negative social relationships that can impact youth academic/employment progress
• Youth with multiple placements within a year.

Inclusions:
Eligible youth are those who are in the care of DCFS, between the ages of 12 and 20 years, who reside in the Cook County area, and have been identified as high-risk youth.

Exclusions:
Youth under the age of 12, youth 21 or older, youth who reside outside the Cook County service area, and youth not meeting the “at risk” factor, youth with an IQ of 70 or lower. Youth who has been physically aggressive towards and adults within six months. Youth who are under the age of 12 must receive approval from the DCFS.

Client Capacity Under DCFS Agreement: 50
Capacity at Any Given Time: 50

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

Average Length of Services: 18 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

85% of classes taken by participating youth will achieve a passing grade.
METRIC: Education Coach will collect report cards for all youth currently in a school program at the end of each school semester, in order to calculate the total number of passed classes. Youth not in school will be excluded from this calculation.

65% of youth enrolled in school do not exceed 10 full day absences per quarter if enrolled in elementary or high school and semester if enrolled in college.
METRIC: Education Coach will collect report cards/attendance records for all youth currently in a school program at the end of each school semester, in order to calculate the total number of absences. Youth not in school will be excluded from this calculation.

80% of youth make progress on 1 or more goals in the areas of Educational/ Vocational, Employment or Social Support.
METRIC: Education Coaches will complete internal monthly reports submitted to the Program Supervisor. These reports will highlight the progress made on each goal in the youth’s Life Plan. Goals will be coded as either: Achieved, Discontinued, In-Progress Successful, In-Progress Unsuccessful, or On Hold. All goals coded as Achieved and In-Progress Successful will be counted towards the 80% success expectation. A goal is considered “in-progress successful” if the youth is actively working toward achieving it, while a goal is considered “unsuccessful” if the youth is not. Goals are “discontinued” if they have not been completed, are no longer appropriate or if the youth does not want to work toward achieving a goal anymore. A goal would typically be placed “on hold” if the youth is choosing to focus on other goals, is overwhelmed with other life stressors, has other service commitments (i.e. school, work, therapy, parenting groups, etc.), or is incarcerated.

80% of youth receive a successful rating on program discharge.
METRIC: Education Mentoring Program defines a successful completion of services when a youth has achieved anticipated outcomes for service plan goals. Successful completion will be determined based on the quarterly reports, case notes, and self-report during supervision. This will include at least one of the following program goals: educational progress and stability, degree achievement, employment attainment, and connection to at least one positive long term social support. The final status of progress towards goals will be reported in Evolv and on the youth’s Discharge Summary.

90% of youth have positive social supportive relationships upon discharge.
METRIC: Specific social supports will be listed on the youth Discharge Summary completed by the Education Coach. If a youth has identified supports, they will be counted towards the 90%. Number of positive supports per youth is also reported in the internal mentor monthly reports submitted to the Program Coordinator.
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GEOGRAPHIC/SERVICE PROVISION AREA(S)

Cook County, IL

Details

• Awarding Agency: Department Of Children And Family Services
• CSFA Number: 418-00-3608
• CSFA Popular Name: Educational Mentoring
• Funding Opportunity Number: 418 - Educational Mentoring
• Assistance Listings Number: State
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $202,356.00
• Expected Number of Awards: 1
• Funding Sources: State
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2026-04-28
• 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.