Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Grant

The Illinois Department of Human Services, through its Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, is offering the Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care grant to support recovery-focused systems of care in Illinois. IDHS/DBHR has incorporated recovery-oriented principles into its behavioral health system since implementation of the federally funded Access to Recovery program in 2004 and launched Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Councils across Illinois in 2018. ROSC Councils are local collaborations of stakeholders intended to improve the support communities provide to individuals on pathways to recovery. This funding opportunity is specifically for service to the IDHS Region 2 Lake County coverage area and anticipates one award. The program is intended to establish community-level system change that reduces stigma, broadens support, increases access to recovery resources, and strengthens a recovery-oriented system of care. ROSC Councils are expected to promote a culture that nurtures recovery, build capacity and infrastructure, and develop a commitment to implement, enhance, and sustain recovery-oriented systems. Program goals include reducing stigma, promoting Medication Assisted Recovery and other evidence-based practices, promoting harm reduction, ensuring effective service delivery, and prioritizing equity. The funded council will identify two to three community challenges and establish goals and objectives for addressing them through assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Approximately $150,000 in state general revenue funding is expected to be available. IDHS anticipates making one award in Lake County, with an individual award ranging from $75,000 to $150,000. No cost sharing or matching contribution is required. Pre-award costs are not allowable. Indirect costs may be charged when the organization has an applicable negotiated indirect cost rate or elects the 15 percent de minimis rate; grantees may also elect not to claim indirect costs. Subcontractor agreements and budgets must receive prior Department approval, and the recipient remains responsible for subcontractor performance and monitoring. The initial grant period is expected to begin no sooner than October 1, 2026 and continue through June 30, 2027, subject to appropriation. Successful applicants may be eligible for two subsequent one-year renewals based on appropriation, satisfactory performance, timely reporting, and continued good standing. Eligible applicants are private or public nonprofit organizations, including local governments, academic institutions, and other community-based organizations. Applicants must satisfy Illinois registration and prequalification requirements before the application deadline. Requirements include State of Illinois Grantee Portal registration, a valid FEIN and UEI, applicable good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, SAM.gov registration, and absence from applicable State, IDHS, SAM.gov exclusion, and Medicaid sanctions lists. Each applicant is limited to one application. The funded organization must employ one FTE ROSC Council Coordinator and may propose up to one additional FTE when justified in the budget. The council is also expected to participate in the Statewide ROSC Learning Collaborative and complete required strategic planning, meetings, performance measurement, and reporting activities. The application requires a Program Narrative, Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure, and a budget entered, electronically signed, and submitted through the CSA system. The narrative may not exceed eight single-spaced pages and must address Capacity and Experience, Project Description, Performance Reporting/Monitoring and Evaluation, and Sustainability Plan. Applicants must describe their organization and community, the two to three focused community projects they propose to address, partnerships and stakeholder involvement, staffing, anticipated obstacles, measurable outcomes and data collection capacity, and plans for sustaining the ROSC Council's impact. The complete application package must be emailed to DHS.DBHR.Grant.Implementation@Illinois.gov with the NOFO number and agency name in the subject line. Applications submitted to another email address or by fax, hard copy, disk, or thumb drive will not be considered. Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale: Capacity and Experience is worth 25 points, Project Description 35 points, Performance Reporting/Monitoring and Evaluation 20 points, and Sustainability Plan 20 points. The numerical score is not necessarily the sole award criterion; IDHS may also consider factors including geographic distribution, demonstrated need, and prior performance as a State of Illinois grantee. The application posting date was July 1, 2026. A Letter of Intent was strongly encouraged by July 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST, but the notice does not make the Letter of Intent a required gate to submission. Full applications were due July 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Responsiveness review was scheduled for August 3 through August 12, 2026, with an anticipated award date of October 1, 2026. Questions regarding the NOFO may be directed to Johanna Gonzalez at Johanna.Gonzalez@illinois.gov. The notice does not state that this funding opportunity recurs annually or on another regular application cycle; the two potential one-year renewals apply to successful grantees and do not establish recurring application rounds.

Focus the narrative on two to three clearly defined community projects tied to the five ROSC goals and supported by community demographics, overdose rates, challenges, and resources. Demonstrate strong partnerships, grant and coalition-building capacity, realistic staffing, measurable quarterly outcomes, data collection capability, and a credible sustainability plan. Follow the eight-page narrative limit and prescribed formatting. Ensure every required document is included because IDHS will not contact applicants for missing items, and confirm the CSA budget is electronically signed and submitted for program review.