NOFO: Taskforce

Awardees are required to adhere to the requirements outlined in the following:

• Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708
• Illinois Administrative Code, Government Contracts, Title 44, Part 7000
• Grantmaking, Procurement, and Property Management, and federal regulations under Grants and Agreements, 2 CFR 200
• Public Act 101-0027, referred to as the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (The Act)
• The requirements and policies outlined in the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) Contractual Policy Manual, if applicable

It is critical to interrupt the loss of life stemming from opioid use in Black and Brown communities in Chicago. In 2013, 1,072 people in Illinois died of an opioid overdose.[1] In 2020, the number of fatal overdoses reached 2,000, and, in 2021 and 2022, surpassed 3,000.[2] To address this alarming trend, the Illinois Department of Human Services has deployed multiple strategies to reverse the impact on Illinoisians, including robust distribution of medication-assisted recovery (MAR) options, enhanced distribution of naloxone, and an “all hands on deck” statewide strategy to raise public awareness and provide tools to disrupt the impact of harmful opioid use on lives, families, and communities (see the Illinois Opioid Settlements Initiative for additional information).

The opioid overdose epidemic has also accelerated nationwide.[3] People were six times more likely to die from a drug overdose in 2021 than they were in 1999. In 2021, opioids accounted for nearly 75 percent of all drug overdose deaths, which translates to an alarming 107,000 people who died due to opioid-related drug use.[4]

Like other health problems, the opioid crisis is not felt evenly. Statewide, non-Hispanic Black individuals are 3.5 times more likely to experience an OOD than non-Hispanic White individuals.[5] The disproportionate impact on Black individuals living in urban centers must be understood and addressed in the context of historical, social, economic, and political underinvestment. Chicago, like other major cities, has continued to experience increasing rates of OODs: “By 2019 when statewide OOD levels stabilized, Chicago OODs increased to 145% of 2013. In 2020, Chicago OODs rose sharply to 259% of 2013 rates, 72% year-to-year 2019-to-2020.”[6]

About IDHS/SUPR

The mission of IDHS/SUPR is to provide a recovery-oriented system of care along the continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support where individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), those in recovery, and those at risk are valued and treated with dignity and where stigma, accompanying attitudes, discrimination, and other barriers to recovery are eliminated. IDHS/SUPR is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity and to prioritize and maximize diversity throughout its service provision process. This work addresses existing institutionalized inequities, aims to create transformation, and operationalizes equity and racial and social justice. It also focuses on creating a culture of inclusivity for all, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability. This comprehensive approach that includes robust prevention, treatment, and recovery services is supported in part by the funds generated by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (CRTA).

A.2 Background References

[1] Illinois Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Opioid data dashboard. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from http://idph.illinois.gov/opioiddatadashboard/.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Illinois Department of Public Health. (2022, March). State of Illinois Overdose Action Plan. https://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27896/documents/By_Division/SUPR/State-of-Illinois-Overdose-Action-Plan-March-2022.pdf.

[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Understanding the opioid overdose epidemic. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/epidemic.html.

[5] Illinois Department of Public Health. (2023, October). Statewide semiannual overdose report. https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/publications/idph/topics-and-services/opioids/idph-data-dashboard/semiannual-overdose-report_102023.pdf.

[6] Gondré-Lewis, M. C., Abijo, T., & Gondré-Lewis, T. A. (2022). The opioid epidemic: A crisis disproportionately impacting Black Americans and urban communities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10(4), 2039–2053. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01384-6.

Within Chicago, the prevalence of OODs has been far greater in clusters of community areas within the South Side and the West Side. Of Chicago’s 77 community areas, all 25 with the highest all-drug mortality rates from 2018 through 2022 are located on the South Side (19 community areas) or West Side (6 community areas, including 5 of the 7 with the highest mortality rates).[1]

West Side community areas with the highest mortality rates are West Garfield Park (155 fatalities per 100,000), North Lawndale (151), East Garfield Park (137), Austin (100), and Humboldt Park (93). South Side community areas with the highest rates are Fuller Park (118), Englewood (107), West Englewood (89), Washington Park (78), and South Shore (74). More than 90 percent of residents in the listed community areas are Black or Hispanic,[2] and the areas also rank among the highest poverty rates in Chicago.[3]

References

[1]Chicago Health Atlas. (2024). Drug overdose mortality rate. https://chicagohealthatlas.org/indicators/VRDOR?tab=table

[2] Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. (n.d.). Community data snapshots. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/data/community-snapshots

[3] Hill, B. (2023, November 8). Black, Brown Chicago neighborhoods endure highest poverty rates. Illinois Policy Institute. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/black-brown-chicago-neighborhoods-endure-highest-poverty-rates/.

Effective January 1, 2020, Public Act 101-0027, Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, provides that the purchase, possession, and use of cannabis as stipulated are lawful and shall not be a criminal or civil offense under State law or the law of any political subdivision of this State or be a basis for seizure or forfeiture of assets under State law for persons 21 years of age or older. The funds generated by CRTA support robust prevention, treatment, and recovery services and help to do the important work of rebuilding communities that have been devastated by budget cuts, the war on drugs, structural racism, violence, and economic despair. The CRTA allocates 20 percent of the funds to address mental illness and SUDs, including treatment, education, and prevention.

In April 2023, IDHS/SUPR awarded Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) a grant to serve as the Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA). The RCCA administers sub-awards to support IDHS/SUPR initiatives. These sub‑awards are intended for organizations providing prevention, intervention, treatment, and harm reduction services for people with SUDs in accordance with State-approved strategies.

The RCCA is now accepting applications to fund up to two community task forces to address opioid misuse and overdose deaths in West Side and South Side community areas with the highest rates of OODs. Applications will only be accepted through the online application available at the Illinois Regional Care Coordination Agency website.

Taskforce subrecipients will organize all operations of the taskforce, whose primary work is to assemble and engage community members and stakeholders in a collaborative campaign that includes outreach, education, harm reduction, and referral activities. The community must be involved in every aspect of the work; the work must demonstrate cultural humility and accountability and be informed by an understanding and consideration of traumatic experiences (e.g., early childhood, historical, cultural, primary, and secondary).

In addition to meeting award administration requirements detailed in Task 1 within this section, a taskforce subrecipient must

• Convene and maintain the taskforce,
• Complete assessment and planning activities,
• Coordinate and monitor taskforce activities,
• Evaluate and report on taskforce activities and community needs.

This section details the deliverables required and associated performance measures, standards, and potential metrics to be collected.

Task 1. Fulfill Award Administration Requirements

The subrecipient must fulfill obligations outlined in section G. of the NOFO, Award Administration Information, including

• Organizational needs assessment,
• Implementation and sustainability plan development,
• Equity and racial justice plan development,
• Performance reporting,
• Fiscal reporting, and
• Participating in training and technical assistance (TTA).

Task 2. Convene and Maintain the Taskforce

The subrecipient must convene and maintain a taskforce with representation from people and organizations with demonstrated interest or involvement in reducing OODs in the affected area. Specifically, the subrecipient must do the following:

• Hire or identify dedicated staff who manage overall leadership and direction of the taskforce, backend administrative and fiscal support, taskforce coordination and operation, and communications and marketing.
• Define the geographic area of Chicago on which it will focus based on OOD rates and other indicators of opioid misuse. The geographic area does not need to be limited to the specific community areas identified above, but it must be limited to areas on the West Side and/or South Side of Chicago that have high poverty rates and OOD rates.
• Ensure the taskforce includes representation from members of the community, people with lived experience (e.g. people who use illicit drugs), local social service organizations, harm reduction organizations, drug user unions or peer recovery groups, outreach providers, healthcare providers, researchers studying harm reduction practices, and government representatives including the Chicago Mayor’s Office, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Department of Public Health, City of Chicago epidemiologist team with oversight of opioid/substance use and overdose, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Department of Human Services, alderpersons whose districts are part of the proposed taskforce, and other interested persons or organizations.
• Convene the task force on a no less frequent than quarterly basis. Convenings, at a minimum, should discuss opioid use, overdose, and death surveillance data; plan and report on education and outreach activities; be an opportunity for taskforce training and development; communicate updates and feedback on policy developments across the continuum of care; and be a space for collaboration and coordination among taskforce entities and representatives.
• Train taskforce members. The subrecipient must ensure at least 75 percent of taskforce participants are trained in culturally accountable care, trauma-informed care as it relates to substance use, and harm reduction services and strategies. The subrecipient must ensure at least 75 percent of taskforce participants are trained in effective outreach models/services, self-care, Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) services, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if needed.
• Manage agreements with partner organizations who may support tactical activities such as outreach and education. These agreements may or may not include administrative and financial arrangements between the organizations to accomplish the taskforce’s work.

Task 3. Complete Assessment and Planning Activities

The subrecipient will manage assessment and planning activities to guide task force operations, and must do the following:

1. Conduct a community needs assessment and/or incorporate relevant information from other community needs assessment(s) and community data. Whether using prior materials or conducting a new assessment, there should be substantial input from members of the community on both the design of the needs assessment and the interpretation of the data resulting from the assessment. The purpose of the latter (interpretation) is to guard against inaccurate or potentially biased interpretations and to add the appropriate context to needs assessment data.
2. Produce a 3-year strategic action plan focused on the continuum of care and utilizing a systems approach. The plan must include a logic model detailing, at a minimum, the annual activities of the taskforce, the rationale, and the expected outcomes, and it must involve representatives of all community sectors. The plan must be completed within 6 months following award.

Task 4. Deliver, Coordinate, and Monitor Taskforce Activities

The subrecipient must coordinate and monitor the following taskforce activities:

1. Outreach. Outreach activities provided must be trauma-informed and emphasize harm reduction. Outreach areas and times must be selected based on surveillance data, heat maps, other relevant data, and intelligence collected from valid sources (e.g., people who use opioids/substances). Consequently, outreach must be done at times and locations for maximum effect, which may include late‑night/early‑morning services and services in identified high-risk/high-activity areas like public transportation, tent encampments, etc.
2. Education. In addition to educating community members through outreach, the subrecipient should use different modes of education dissemination to include in-person, classroom style, town halls, community events, social media, or other community-appropriate platforms/venues.
3. Distribution of Naloxone. Naloxone distribution, along with education on its use, must be incorporated into interactions with community members and community-based agencies. The taskforce should obtain naloxone through the IDHS/SUPR Access Narcan program and/or the Intramuscular Naloxone Distribution Hub when the latter begins operation.
4. Referrals. The taskforce should refer individuals contacted to appropriate follow-up services, which may include housing, medical care, harm reduction, or other social or support services.
5. Monitor overdose and overdose deaths within area of focus. Through surveillance activities and reports, taskforce members should compile information about OODs.

Task 5. Evaluate and Report on Program Activities and Community Needs

The subrecipient must conduct and/or participate in a program evaluation process that includes an evaluation of the program’s processes and outcomes and. Through surveillance activities and reports, on a quarterly or more frequent basis, produce reports on overdose and overdose death activities within the area of responsibility of the taskforce. The subrecipient must do the following:

1. Produce quarterly reports on program activities that include the following:
   1. Outreach efforts. Reports on outreach efforts will include location and basic demographic information on the people or organizations reached.
   2. Education activities. Reports on educational activities should indicate the location and mode of dissemination.
   3. Naloxone distribution. Reports on naloxone distribution should include distribution venue, location, and basic demographic information on the people or organizations distributed to.
   4. Referral services. Reports on referral services should include the number of people referred, the source of the referral (e.g., outreach, education), and what services they were referred for.
   5. Overdose and overdose deaths. The reports should indicate current and emerging areas where overdose crisis intervention services are needed.
2. Produce annual program evaluation reports that include the following:
   1. Summary of program activities.
   2. Indicated gaps in prevention, early intervention, referral, treatment, and recovery services in Chicago related to opioid use.

The following table details (a) the deliverables required according to the scope of services and (b) associated performance measures, standards, and potential metrics (subject to change) to be collected by task. Time periods refer to the days from the beginning of the period of performance. Standards for activities refer to percentages of those described in the project plan.

This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements and are subject to limitations described below:

1. Applicants must be a non-profit, for-profit, or tax-exempt entity located in Illinois.
2. Applicants must be able to fulfill the scope of services detailed in this funding notice.
3. Applicants must have the capacity to comply with the legal, fiscal, reporting, and programmatic requirements as described in this funding notice.
4. Applicants proposing the use of program funds to provide services that require state or federal licensure must be actively licensed.
5. All entities must be qualified to do business with the State of Illinois.
6. Applicants must complete the pre-qualification process described in this section.
7. Applicants must complete pre-award requirements described in this section.

Each application will be reviewed for completion and eligibility, and budgets will be reviewed to ensure costs are allowable, reasonable, and linked to the described objectives. Only applicants that meet these criteria will be considered for funding. All applicants that have submitted applications determined to be noncompliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be notified in writing, by email, upon determination. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification.

Per Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and GATA, all applicants must be qualified to receive an award. An eligible organization must

• Have an active System for Award Management (gov) public account,
• Have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number,
• Not be on the SAM.gov Exclusion List,
• Be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State (if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity’s organization type to be registered),
• Not be on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List,
• Not be on the Illinois Stop Payment List, and

To obtain the information required to achieve qualified status, complete the steps detailed in the following table.

Pre-Qualification Requirements

Per 2 CFR 200.332(b), the RCCA must evaluate each subrecipient’s risk of noncompliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the subaward for purposes of determining the appropriate subrecipient monitoring. These possible conditions are included in the Notice of Award and are described in Section G.1. The pre-award process includes establishing a risk profile through risk assessment of the organization’s financial stability, management systems and standards, history of performance, audit reports and findings, and ability to implement requirements of the award. This risk assessment is carried out with the aid of the following information:

• Administrative, fiscal, and internal controls information entered in Sections 1–4 of the online application
• Organizational and programmatic information detailed in Attachments B, C, and E.

The RCCA may also request additional information during the pre-award process.

Note: Risk assessments do not preclude entities from becoming grantees. Risk assessments are used to identify subrecipient TA needs.

Every agency that is awarded funds through this NOFO must also agree to comply with all applicable provisions of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment, and equal employment opportunity, including but not limited to

• The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1–101 et seq.),
• The Public Works Employment Discrimination Act (775 ILCS 10/1 et seq.),
• The U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended) (42 USC 2000a– and 2000H–6),
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794),
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.), and
• The Age Discrimination Act (42 USC 6101 et seq.).

Additionally, the agency must comply with the following:

• 45 CFR Parts 93 and 94
• The Adult Protective Services Act

Cost sharing is not required.

To charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a federal annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the de minimis rate.

Indirect Cost Rate Election

• Federally Negotiated Rate: Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with a federal cognizant agency. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA.
• De Minimis Rate: An organization may elect a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct cost (MTDC).** Once established, the de minimis rate may be used indefinitely. If programs elect to use the de minimis rate, it is critical that program budgets accurately calculate the MTDC base. Please see the regulation below and note the exclusions to MTDC.

**2 CFR § 200.68 [MTDC] states, “MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.”

• “No Rate”: Subrecipients have discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs. Subrecipients that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election of “No Indirect Costs” in the budget workbook.

Organizations must notify the RCCA of any changes to their previously established NICRA no later than 6 months after the close of the organization’s fiscal year.

An applicant is permitted to submit only one application in response to this funding notice.

All awarded applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions, and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of any applicable federal awards.

Please refer to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Part 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs in addition to the information in the following sections.

Allowable Costs

Unallowable Costs

Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Pre-Award Costs

Compliance with Funding Sources

Third-Party Contractual Requirements

Sectarian Issue

Applicants must be prepared to begin offering services starting July 1, 2024.

The applicant agrees to participate in site visits/quality reviews as requested by the RCCA.

Agencies awarded funds through this funding notice should have a computer that meets the following minimum specifications for the purpose of using any required web-based reporting system and the receipt/submission of the electronic program and fiscal information:

• Internet access, preferably high-speed
• Email capability
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• WebEx
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

The purchase of this technology would be an allowable expenditure under the grant and may be included in the budget as part of this application.

The RCCA encourages cultural diversity in the work environment and to promote employment opportunities through its programs. The program workforce should appropriately reflect the populations to be served, with special attention given to hiring individuals indigenous to those communities. Whenever a position becomes available, funded programs are encouraged to consider Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients for employment, contingent upon their qualifications (i.e., education and work experience).

Applicant shall have written COVID-19 policies and procedures that align with current guidelines from their local health department, IDPH, and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The applicant agrees that products produced for the RCCA under this award, including but not limited to research reports, data, analyses, and policy recommendations are the property of the RCCA and will not be published or distributed except as prescribed by the RCCA.

This document contains comprehensive instructions for application submission. Additional application materials, such as mandatory forms, are available at the IL RCCA website. Copies of all materials may be obtained by any of the following means:

Applicants must complete the online application narrative questions and upload attachments as described in this section. Detailed application questions and associated evaluation criteria are available in Appendix A.

Project attachments should be PDF documents, except for the project budget, which is an Excel workbook.

Mandatory forms, including the Prevention Budget Workbook and Conflict of Interest Disclosure, are linked in Section I., Mandatory Forms.

Online Application Narrative

The NOFO application is contained in an online fillable form, hosted by SurveyMonkey Apply. Applicants must have access to the internet. Use the application link to access the online application as early as possible to make sure you can log in. Instructions to complete the fillable form are included in the online application. You will be able to work on your online application, save your work, and return to it at your convenience. However, once the application is submitted, no further changes can be made. The link to the application is available at the Illinois Regional Care Coordination Agency website.

The online application includes 9 sections. Sections 1–4 contain information about your organization, including fiscal, administrative, and internal controls questions. Sections 1–4 are not scored as part of the merit-based review process but are used to fulfill pre-qualification and risk assessment criteria. Sections 5–9 are scored for a total of 100 possible points.

Please answer questions truthfully and completely and be sure to cite the source of any data included.