Peacekeepers Program (24-444-80-3013-02) Notice of Funding Opportunity

Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name	Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name	Office of Firearm Violence Prevention; FCS Bureau of Violence Prevention Services
Agency Contact	LaTanya Law DHS.FirearmViolencePrevention@illinois.gov
Announcement Type	Initial Announcement
Funding Opportunity Title	Peacekeepers Program
Funding Opportunity Number	24-444-80-3013-02
Application Posting Date	April 11, 2023
Application Date Range	Start Date: 4/11/2023 End Date: 5/15/2023 End Time: 12:00pm NOON
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number	444-80-3013
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name	Peacekeepers Program
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	21.027
Award Funding Source	These awards will be funded with Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSFRF). These awards may also be partially funded with General Revenue Funds.
Estimated Total Program Funding	Approximately $30M will be made available for a 12-month project period (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Anticipated Number of Awards	2
Award Range	Average award amount: Up to $30,000,000 for 12-month project period (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement	Cost sharing or matching is allowed but is not required.
Indirect Costs Allowed	Indirect Costs are allowed
Restrictions on Indirect Costs	Indirect Cost Rate must be approved. See Section C. Eligibility and Grant Funding Requirements; 8. Grant Fund Use Requirements for any funding restrictions.
Technical Assistance Session	Session Offered: Yes Session Mandatory: No Date/Time:  4/18/23 10:00am Central Time (us and Canada) Registration Link: https://uic.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqfu-qqTMiHNd8XJK5NsA1kwQpYU57hcG7
NOFO / Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)	Submit questions to: DHS.FirearmViolencePrevention@illinois.govDue date for submitting questions: 5/10/2023 FAQs will be updated frequently, and a final, complete list will be posted to the IDHS website on 5/12/2023.

Program Description

1. Program Summary
   Firearm violence has deeply harmed neighborhoods, communities, and the entire State of Illinois, both through the immediate loss of life and the long-term, harmful effects of trauma experienced by victims, witnesses, and others. To reduce firearm violence, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) (430 ILCS 69). The RPSA calls for a comprehensive approach to reducing firearm violence through targeted, integrated behavioral health services and economic opportunities. It also created the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) in the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS or the Department), which has authority over this effort.
   Per RPSA, the OFVP’s Firearm Violence Research Group identified 26 Chicago community areas as locations and 16 Greater Illinois Municipal service areas with the most concentrated firearm violence, as defined by the number of and per capita of fatal/non-fatal firearm-shot victims, excluding self-inflicted incidents, from 2016 through 2020. Four (4) additional Chicago community areas and additional Greater Illinois Municipal service areas were selected by the OFVP, using further data-driven analysis. A complete list of Chicago and Greater Illinois communities and a full description of the process for identifying these communities with the highest concentration of firearm violence is available here: IDHS: Report of the IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, June – December 2021 (state.il.us). 
   Across these communities, families are facing a staggering array of economic demands and social challenges that have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic: devastating health concerns, lack of employment, education loss, mental health issues, social support disruption, and increased family and community violence. In Chicago, during the early months of COVID, firearm violence increased by over 50% from pre-pandemic levels. Since then, discrete neighborhoods in Chicago and Greater Illinois have been experiencing concentrated and perpetual firearm violence that has contributed to increased firearm homicide rates. Within these neighborhoods, firearm violence is highly concentrated among teens and young adults who have chronic exposure to violence, criminal legal system involvement, and related trauma.
   To reduce firearm violence, the OFVP has initiated the Peacemakers Program based on the FLIP (Flat Lining Violence Inspires Peace) model. The Peacekeepers Program uses a proven strategy to create a safe presence and has been implemented in Chicago’s most highly impacted blocks during afternoon to late-night hours, mid-week, and through the weekend. The model advances street outreach work and develops a diverse and sustainable workforce by engaging young people who live in neighborhoods that are at a high risk for violence to serve as “Peacekeepers.” These individuals are given a daily stipend and training to mediate and de-escalate conflict in their own communities. Peacekeepers leverage their relationships and training to intervene before violence erupts. By being physically present around hotspots 1 and through their own personal networks, Peacekeepers can reach people and conflicts that street outreach teams might not otherwise be able to due to capacity constraints. 2
   While serving as Peacekeepers, individuals are also provided with the supports and resources for professional growth. Peacekeeper supports will include job readiness training, GED support, other trainings such as financial literacy, expungement, domestic violence education, etc., as well as emergency supports.
   The IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) seeks to fund one or two applicants to reach each of the RPSA eligible communities in Chicago and Suburban Cook County to engage subrecipient organizations to implement and maintain the Peacekeepers program model year-round.

Chicago Communities:

Suburban Cook County Communities:

1. Berwyn-Cicero Cluster
2. Calumet City Cluster (Calumet City, Harvey, Dolton, Riverdale, South Holland, Markham, Lansing
3. Chicago Heights Cluster (Chicago Heights, Park Forest, Sauk Village)
4. Maywood-Bellwood

In line with the White House’s commitment to advancing equity and opportunity for people of color and communities across the country, IDHS and the OFVP share the goals of addressing systemic racism, which includes advancing equity and racial justice.

 

MORE INFO CAN BE FOUND HERE: DHS.STATE.IL.US