Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Patient Navigation Grant

The Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Patient Navigation Grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Office of Women’s Health and Family Services. The program originates from legislation establishing the Ticket for the Cure instant lottery, with net proceeds dedicated to supporting breast cancer initiatives across Illinois. This funding opportunity is part of the state’s broader commitment to reducing disparities in breast cancer outcomes, particularly among populations experiencing higher mortality rates, such as African American women. The program emphasizes advancing health equity by directing resources to communities with the greatest need and encouraging applications from organizations operating in high-impact counties including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Peoria, and St. Clair. The primary purpose of this grant is to support patient navigation services that guide individuals through the complex continuum of breast cancer care. Patient navigation is defined as individualized assistance that helps patients overcome barriers to timely screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship support. Funded programs may either expand existing navigation services or establish new patient navigation programs. Activities include identifying priority populations, providing culturally competent education, addressing logistical and financial barriers, coordinating care, and ensuring follow-up throughout diagnosis and treatment. The program underscores a client-centered approach, requiring services to be tailored to individual needs while maintaining cost-effectiveness and measurable outcomes. Funding for this opportunity is provided through state resources, with an estimated total program funding of 3,000,000 dollars and approximately 8 to 15 awards anticipated. Each award is up to 300,000 dollars for a 12-month project period spanning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Allowable costs include staff salaries, training, travel, supplies, educational materials, and support services such as childcare or transportation assistance for patients. Certain expenses, including vehicles, gift cards, entertainment, and real estate purchases, are explicitly prohibited. Indirect costs are permitted without restriction, and no cost sharing or matching requirement is imposed. Eligibility is limited to Illinois-based health departments and community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Applicants must complete the State of Illinois prequalification process, including registration in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act system, maintaining an active SAM.gov registration, and obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier. Organizations must demonstrate good standing with regulatory bodies and not appear on exclusion or sanction lists. Only one award may be granted per organization, and while applicants may apply for multiple related programs, only one award will ultimately be issued. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Electronic Grants Administration and Management System. A complete application includes required forms, a project narrative, work plan, budget, budget narrative, organizational documentation such as a W-9, and resumes for key personnel. The submission window opens April 15, 2026 and closes May 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Central Time. A non-mandatory technical assistance session is scheduled for April 23, 2026 to support applicants in understanding requirements and expectations. Applications are evaluated through a competitive review process based on a 100-point scoring system. Criteria include the quality and feasibility of the proposed scope of work, organizational capacity, clarity of objectives, alignment with SMARTIE principles, and justification of the proposed budget. Additional considerations include demonstrated community need, experience serving target populations, and the ability to track and evaluate outcomes. Funding decisions are influenced by application scores, geographic distribution priorities, and available funding. Award announcements are anticipated in June 2026, with the project period beginning July 1, 2026. Grantees are required to comply with reporting requirements, including monthly reimbursement certifications, quarterly reports, and end-of-year reporting through the EGrAMS system. Performance metrics include demographic data, service delivery outcomes, and measures related to patient navigation effectiveness. The program emphasizes continuous monitoring and accountability to ensure that funded activities contribute to improved access to care and reduced disparities in breast cancer outcomes across Illinois. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact Louise Yale at the Illinois Department of Public Health via email or phone as listed in the funding notice.

Ensure strong alignment with SMARTIE framework and clearly demonstrate community need and measurable outcomes; prioritize health equity and target high mortality populations; provide detailed scope of work and evaluation methods