DHS 2014 Community Youth Employment Program Request forApplication (RFA)

NOTICE OF GRANT OPPORTUNITY

IL Department of Human Services

DHS 2014 Community Youth Employment Program - Request for Application (RFA)

 

BACKGROUND

The Department of Human Services will administer a grant program that provides eligible youth with age appropriate job training, life skills, counseling, work-readiness skills and supervised work experience.  This program presents an opportunity to connect youth to the skills that are needed to enter and advance in the workforce. 

 

ELIGIBILE APPLICANTS / PROGRAM TIMELINE

Eligible applicants must have the administrative and fiscal capacity to administer the program according to the Department’s requirements and have the capability to be the “EMPLOYER OF RECORD” including the administration of a payroll system for the employed youth.   Priority will be given to projects that will target activity during the Summer of 2014 (starting June 1, 2014).  Eligible applicants include:

·         Community-based organizations throughout Illinois that have received state grant funds and successfully administered a summer youth employment program.

·         Community-based organizations that have not received state grant funds (for summer youth programs) that can demonstrate the capacity to run a summer youth employment program in the following counties: Adams, Alexander, Coles, Cook, Crawford, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kankakee, Macon, Marion, Massac, Peoria, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sangamon, St. Clair, Union, Vermilion, Williamson, Winnebago.

 

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

Eligible youth that can participate in the program must be the age of 16 to 24 and be served under one of the following programs or meet the income requirement:

·         National School Lunch Program

·         Workforce Investment Act

·         Food Stamp / SNAP Program

·         Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or

·         Family income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

·         Court-involved or at-risk youth

·         Youth with disabilities

 

APPLICATION INFORMATION & DEADLINE

DHS applications for funding are due by April 25, 2014.  Funding is subject to appropriation in the DHS Fiscal Year 2015 budget.  Please note that the 2014 Summer Youth Program with be coordinated with multiple state agencies.  Organizations will not be awarded contracts and/or grants from multiple agencies to administer the summer program.  Organizations that have administered the program in previous years are encouraged to apply to that same state agency.  The participating agencies include:

·         Department of Human Services

·         Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

·         Department of Natural Resources

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Additional information regarding this program is posted on-line at,  http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=70566. Questions regarding this program should be directed to DHS Grant Manager Ashley Hooks Williams at DHS.CYEP@Illinois.gov or 312-793-4637.

 

 

Ashley Hooks Williams

Acting Associate Director

Division of Family and Community Services

Illinois Department of Human Services

401 South Clinton | 4^th Floor | Chicago, Illinois 60607