Dementia Early Planning Workshop Series for Diverse Populations

The Illinois Department of Public Health is offering funding through the Dementia Early Planning Workshop Series for Diverse Populations program to support the development and delivery of culturally tailored workshops for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. This initiative is part of the state’s broader Alzheimer’s Disease Plan and reflects a commitment to improving access to culturally competent care and early planning resources. The program specifically targets underserved populations including African American, Asian American, Hispanic or Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities, recognizing disparities in diagnosis, care access, and advance planning completion across these groups. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to create high-quality, culturally responsive educational workshops that address early planning needs for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. These workshops are expected to cover topics such as legal and financial planning, advance directives, guardianship, and caregiver support. Applicants must design programming that is tailored to the cultural, linguistic, and social needs of the target populations, and should involve subject matter experts from both the dementia care field and the communities being served. Workshops may be delivered as single sessions or as a series and must include measurable learning objectives and evaluation methods. Funding for this program totals 320000 dollars, with individual awards ranging from 60000 to 260000 dollars. The funding is sourced from the State of Illinois general revenue fund and does not require cost sharing or matching contributions. Indirect costs are permitted without specific restrictions, provided applicants comply with state guidelines regarding indirect cost rate elections. Funds must be used strictly for program-related activities and may not be applied to prohibited uses such as construction, political activities, or research and clinical care. Eligible applicants include public and private nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit entities that demonstrate the capacity to develop and implement culturally appropriate dementia education programs. All applicants must complete the State of Illinois prequalification process, including registration in the GATA system, maintaining an active SAM registration, and meeting financial and compliance requirements. Applicants must also be in good standing with relevant state oversight bodies and not appear on exclusion or sanction lists. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Illinois Department of Public Health’s EGrAMS system. Required components include a detailed project narrative, work plan, budget and budget justification, personnel information, and risk assessment documentation. Applicants must also provide a marketing plan outlining strategies for community engagement and recruitment, as well as evaluation plans to measure program effectiveness. The application period opens on May 1, 2026 and closes on June 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Awards are expected to support a project period running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Applications will be evaluated through a merit-based review process using a 100-point scoring rubric. Criteria include the quality and feasibility of the proposed scope of work, clarity of the work plan and objectives, qualifications of personnel, and reasonableness of the budget. Successful applicants will be required to submit quarterly progress and financial reports and demonstrate measurable outcomes related to workshop delivery and participant impact. Final reporting is due within 30 days of the project end date. Program oversight and administration will be conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health, with key contacts including Allissa Hall and Elizabeth Simonton. The program does not currently indicate a recurring cycle but may consider renewal funding for subsequent years based on performance and available resources. This opportunity represents a strategic investment in addressing health disparities and improving early planning outcomes for vulnerable populations affected by dementia.

Provide detailed culturally tailored programming plans include measurable objectives and strong community recruitment strategies align work plan with evaluation criteria demonstrate subject matter expertise