FY27 TLS Youth in Care – College Advocate Program

FY27 TLS Youth in Care – College Advocate 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 Youth in Care – College Advocate Program (Y-CAP) will partner youth with lived experience in care more college experience, to assist with navigating their college experience, building a support network, gaining a sense of belonging and ultimately completing their programs of study.

Start Up Activities
Provider must participate in collaborative meetings with the Postsecondary Education for Youth in Care (PEYC) workgroup to develop and implement the Y-CAP. The PEYC workgroup includes representation from DCFS, research partners, and representatives from the participating schools.

This will consist of weekly planning meetings, completion of assigned tasks outside of the meetings, and providing training as requested. The Provider must recruit, vet, train, and support 8-12 Peer Advocates on four community college and four university campuses so that they participate in all phases of the Y-CAP development and implementation.

Peer Advocates Y-CAP will provide the following services:

1. On-campus advocacy for students with lived experience in foster care
2. Annual recruitment drives to introduce perspective participants to the program services and support
3. Guidance in the development of a personalized success plans with each Y-CAP participant.
4. Weekly check-ins with Y-CAP participants (less often if requested) to support goal attainment, provide service referrals and build a support network for the Y-CAP participant
5. Provide notification to program participants of important campus dates/deadlines
6. Partnership with HOUSE Campus Liaisons to increase their understanding of the unique needs of youth with lived experience in foster care, increase their knowledge of supports offered by DCFS
7. Advocacy with community programs and other state departments to obtain needed service for Y-CAP participants
8. Monthly campus events to build a sense of belonging and community for youth with lived experience in foster care
9. Annual acknowledgement of Y-CAP participant accomplishments.
10. Identification of DCFS post-secondary financial supports

Program Supervisor will monitor Ongoing Activities In coordination with Campus HOUSE Liaisons and DCFS-OETS staff, the provider will recruit, vet, train, and support Peer Advocates (PA) on each participating college campus annually. Initially, Provider will recruit, vet, train, and support 8-12 Peer Advocates on four community college and four university campuses so that they, in turn, can support youth with lived experience in care on those campuses. Peer Advocates will attend an overnight, in-person Summer Training Summit to create a sense of community among one another and with the Y-CAP program staff. They will be trained on the requirements of their job and given opportunities to shape the program to the unique needs of their campus. They will be given tools and best practices about overcoming the effects of trauma and helping youth succeed in higher education, but also some creative license to use what they bring from their own experiences of being a youth in care on campus. The Campus HOUSE Liaisons will be invited to participate.

The provider will coordinate with DCFS-Office of Education and Transition Services to reach all students involved in DCFS post-secondary programs on each college campus. The provider will work closely with campus HOUSE Liaisons to find additional eligible youth on campus. Those students will be invited to a kickoff meeting during the first month of school. The students’ case workers (if applicable) will also receive a letter and/or email to alert them that the student is being invited to attend the group. The caseworker will be asked to share the information with the student’s caregiver, if applicable.

Ongoing contact is maintained through Y–CAP program staff calling campus HOUSE Liaisons monthly and contact with Peer Advocates weekly. Group support calls will take place every quarter among all campus HOUSE Liaisons and Peer Advocates across campuses with the Y-CAP program staff coordination.
The Y-CAP Program Supervisor is expected to attend quarterly events held on the campuses, rotating campuses, and offer to Peer Advocates to attend quarterly events held by the Peer Advocates on other campuses. The goal is to build a structured relationship with the institution.

Y-CAP participants will receive the following contact:
• Weekly check-ins (less often if requested)
• Development of a personalized success plan
• Monthly campus group events/celebrations
• Annual campus recruitment drive
• Scheduled office or virtual office appointments upon request
• Support Service referrals as needed

Peer Advocate - former or current Youth in care (or youth with lived-in care experience) who is employed by the Provider and is enrolled at or is an alumni of the participating college campus.

Campus HOUSE Liaisons - Campus staff responsible through state legislation to prioritize the needs of foster youth and homeless youth.

OETS – DCFS Office of Education and Transition Services responsible for education of youth in care pre-k through post-secondary, transition planning for older youth in care to prepare for successful independence, and employment readiness programs.
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REFERRAL AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES

Referral Decision-Making Criteria: The Provider will coordinate with DCFS-Office of Education and Transition Services to contact all students involved in DCFS post-secondary programs on each college campus. Referrals may also come from DCFS Caseworkers or Child Welfare Contributing Agency (CWCA), Casework teams. The Provider will work closely with campus HOUSE Liaisons, and other campus staff, to identify additional eligible youth on campus to participate in Y-CAP services.

DCFS/CWCA workers may refer any youth interested in participating in Y-CAP programs to Provider or House Liaison. Provider Staff will follow up with each referral and invite the youth to attend meetings.
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STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS

DIRECT SERVICE:
The Youth in Care – College Advocate Program (Y-CAP) is a peer-led mentoring and support program for youth with lived experience in foster care. Y-CAP Peer Advocates are required personnel for this program. The development of a Y-CAP Peer Advocate legacy process is critical to ensure program continuity.

Y-CAP Peer Advocate Qualifications:
1. Youth in care (or youth with lived experienced in foster care) who have a minimum of one year of college attendance at the participating college or are alumni of the participating college campuses.
2. The ability to commit 20 hours weekly to providing peer mentoring and support services.
3. In good academic standing.
4. Proficient in the use of email, texting/chat applications, Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams and progress reporting

Y-CAP Peer Advocate Responsibilities:
• Host annual informational events to identify youth with lived experience in foster care on their respective college campuses.
• Host on-campus informal monthly “get-togethers” for youth with lived experience in foster care to increase connections and build a sense of community
• Provide weekly check-ins for active participants in the Y-CAP program (contact maybe less frequent at the request of the participant).
• Develop personalized success plans with Y-CAP program participants.
• Document participant contact, referrals and progress toward success plans.
• Make referrals for services and supports.
• Maintain a caseload of no up to 10 Y-CAP participants.
• Work with HOUSE Campus Liaisons, DCFS staff and other stakeholders to identify resources and support for Y-CAP participants.
• Organize annual FAFSA campaign to ensure Y-CAP participants complete their annual FAFSA no later than October 31st.
• Participate in quarterly professional development activities with Y-CAP Peer Advocates on other college campuses.
• Meet weekly with supervisor to staff current caseload
• Complete all required trainings
• Develop written materials to promote campus resources and other resources for youth with lived experience in care, including maintaining a presence within the campus Student Services network.
• Maintain a calendar of important dates and deadlines, and send reminders to Y-CAP participants

SUPERVISORY:
Program Supervisor: Must have completed at least a bachelor's degree, Master's preferred, in education, social work, or a related field. Experience with youth in care or other vulnerable populations, and a clinical background, is required. May require nights/weekends/holidays.

The Program Supervisor’s job description must include:
• Recruiting, training, and supporting Peer Advocates
• Helping with recruiting and supporting Y-CAP students on campus
• Coordinating with HOUSE Liaisons and providing annual training
• Planning and executing training sessions and special activities for Peer Advocates and overseeing all Peer Advocate activities
• Connecting child welfare agencies and resources to the students
• Measure and track the success of the program
• Help build positive relationships with and among students and partners
• Help manage communications through media relations, social media etc.
• Reporting to DCFS on the success and impact of the program
• Other tasks as assigned to support the success of students/organization

Department will consider justified exceptions to these qualifications in writing to the Deputy of OETS who will approve or deny in writing.

MINIMUM STAFFING EXPECTATIONS
Peer Advocates: Participants 1:10
Program Supervisors: Peer Advocates 1:10
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TARGET POPULATION
DCFS Client Capacity Under DCFS Agreement: 150 college students
DCFS Client Capacity at Any Given Time: 150 college students
Agency Client Capacity Under Program: N/A
Agency Client Capacity at Any Given Time: N/A

Average Length of Services: Length of service varies based on time needed to complete the program of study. Students participating in Y-CAP may only participate if they are an enrolled student on a participating campus.

CLIENT: Youth in care (or youth with lived-in care experience) from Illinois or another state, who are enrolled at a participating college campus and participating in Y-CAP activities.

Inclusions:
Students with lived experience in care on participating college campuses will be invited to participate in the Youth in Care – College Advocate Program facilitated by the campus Peer Advocate. These students may have experienced care in states other than Illinois.

Exclusions:
Youth who have never been in care.
Youth who have a recent history of aggressive and disruptive behaviors are deemed to be inappropriate.
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PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND METRICS

The Y-CAP program’s purpose is to cultivate a knowledgeable and supportive network of young adults with lived experience in care who can advocate for themselves and their peers; and connect them to the resources they need to succeed through degree or credential attainment.

The goal for each client is to develop skills and supports in their life to successfully address the demands of adulthood and the completion of a postsecondary education by equipping them with a community of support. Y-CAP participants will be given the opportunity to develop a plan to meet this goal.

80% of Y-CAP participants will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by October of each year.

Y-CAP participants must complete the FAFSA by October 1st. Program staff must verify that each student has submitted the FAFSA properly and in a timely manner to ensure the student receives the maximum financial aid.

85% of Y-CAP participants with identified housing needs must receive referrals to possible housing choices or options.

Y-CAP participants and their Peer Advocates must identify viable housing options for the academic year and breaks from school, including remaining in their current placement, moving on campus, securing an apartment, staying with a friend’s family, identifying a host family, etc. Program staff must keep track of students’ housing plans through check-in calls before the student enrolls and before breaks begin.

60% of Y-CAP participants will maintain eligibility for DCFS programs and financial aid each term.

Y-CAP participants must work with their Peer Advocates to seek out multiple forms of financial aid by collaborating with program staff, DCFS OETS team, the school’s financial aid office, and the HOUSE Liaisons. Y-CAP participants will also become knowledgeable and comply with eligibility requirements for DCFS programs, including Youth in Scholarship, Youth in College, and the ETV as applicable. Y-CAP participants will also maintain eligibility for private and institutional scholarships to create a financial aid package that covers as much of their cost of attendance as possible.

90% of Y-CAP will say the program has helped them reach their post-secondary goals.

Y-CAP participants will be given multiple informal opportunities to reflect on the program throughout the year and are formally surveyed annually to assess the impact the program has had on them thus far. Y-CAP participants can also highlight challenges and goals the program has helped with.

100% of Y-CAP participants can identify individuals and resources in their web of supports to help them through social, emotional, and academic challenges, as demonstrated on an annual survey

75% of participants will continue or complete their programs of study.

65% of participants will complete a degree program.

Details

• Awarding Agency: Department Of Children And Family Services
• CSFA Number: 418-00-2820
• CSFA Popular Name: Y-CAP
• Funding Opportunity Number: 418 - Youth in Care – College Advocate Program
• Assistance Listings Number: State
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $275,448.00
• 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.