2026 Will County Community Mental Health Board Grant

Traducción al español disponible en: https://bit.ly/3yPUE4P 2026 FUNDING GUIDELINES The purpose of the Will County Community Mental Health 708 Board (WCCMHB) is to aid individuals in the enhancement, maintenance, and/or restoration of their mental health within the context of their environment. As the local mental health authority for Will County the Board's focus is on Mental Illness, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use/Dependence/Addictions. The Community Mental Health Act (405 ILCS 20/1) provides that a Community Mental Health Board will plan, fund, coordinate, and evaluate public services for prevention and treatment of persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use challenges in its geographic area. The WCCMHB makes rules and regulations to administer services and facilities it directs, supervises, or funds consistent with the provisions of the Act. The Board is committed to being a responsible trustee of Will Counties community mental health tax. This document sets forth the service, financial, and administrative accountability requirements of the Board. Furthermore, these requirements and guidelines explain the criteria by which the Board monitors and evaluates compliance with the Board's service, fiscal, and administrative requirements. MISSION STATEMENT To provide leadership to ensure support, prevention, mitigation and treatment of mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse by identifying, planning, coordinating and contracting quality services for the citizens of Will County, Illinois. VISION STATEMENT • Empower individuals and families toward mental wellness and resiliency. • Committed to transforming lives and systems through advocacy, planning and collaboration. • Provide education and offer support for services in mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse. • Improve community perception and decrease stigma surrounding mental health services. PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES Essential for demonstrating the best value for grant dollars is clarity about how the program will benefit the people it serves. Are people’s lives better because of the program? Simple, measurable outcomes are often the best way to communicate this. For each program/service, the application will identify a measurable target, timeframe, assessment tool, and assessment process. CREATING EQUITY IN ACCESS AND CARE Programs should move the local service systems toward equitable care resulting in optimal health and quality of life for all community members. For this, barriers specific to some groups must be addressed and eliminated or overcome. Proposed programs should improve access and offer appropriate care for people from historically underserved communities. PROMOTING INCLUSION AND REDUCING STIGMA Programs should increase community integration. People feel better when they have a sense of belonging and purpose. People are safer when they have routine contacts with co-workers, neighbors, members of a faith community, and acquaintances at drop in or recreation centers or in social networks. Positive community involvement can build empathy, redefine our sense of group identity, reduce stress, and decrease stigma. Stigma inhibits individual participation, economic self-sufficiency, safety, and confidence. Stigma harms communities and people, especially those who have been excluded due to sexuality, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or person first language. The WCCMHB has an interest in nurturing resilience, inclusion, and community awareness, as well as challenging negative attitudes and discriminatory practices. Full inclusion aligns with values of other Will County services. Proposed programs should describe activities and strategies that expand community inclusion and social connectedness of the individuals to be served.

GRANT FUNDING The WCCMHB is determined to be good stewards of public dollars and an objective scoring rubric will be utilized in the evaluation of each grant application. Applicants should review the Strategic Priorities accompanying this document. Applicants who demonstrate achievement in the service categories will benefit in the point system. Each program application requires a budget narrative with text sections the applicant uses to describe: all sources of revenue for the organization and those related to the proposed program; the relationship between each anticipated expense and the program, clarifying their relevance; the relationship of direct and indirect staff positions to the proposed program; and additional comments. Each program application should outline a timeline featuring 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Quarter Achievement Goals. Each program application should be very specific about the benefits to residents of Will County. The budget narrative submitted with each proposal should outline the program’s relationship to larger systems and the applicant may highlight how they will leverage other resources or use the requested funding as a match for other resources. Programs offering services billable to Medicaid or other insurance should attest that they will not use WCCMHB funds to supplement those. They may identify non-billable activities which can be charged to the proposed contract. While WCCMHB funds should not pay for services billable to another payor, programs should maximize all resources, for their long-term sustainability and to ensure that WCCMHB funding does not supplant other public systems. In cases where Medicaid payment is received for a service, WCCMHB’s funding cannot be used to supplement the Medicaid rate for that service. Highlighting unique characteristics of the service approach, staff credentials, or funding mix of the organization or proposed program will work to your advantage in the scoring. Innovative or tailored responses to people’s support needs and preferences should be emphasized. Programs/services that are the sole provider for same should be identified. If WCCMHB funds will meet a match requirement, reference the funder requiring match and identify the match amount in the application budget narrative. Applications that demonstrate collaboration with other providers of similar or related services will benefit in the scoring. For an inclusive, efficient, effective system, applications should mention collaborative efforts and acknowledge other resources. This opportunity is a reimbursement grant. Applicants will expend funds for grant approved budget lines and then submit a Payment Request for reimbursement from the County. Requests for advanced payment will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with consideration of risk with both project and entity. Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $4 million. Awarded organizations can receive a maximum of $200,000.

Complete the following allocation schedule to communicate when your organization anticipates spending the grant awarded funds.

Two Technical Assistance Sessions will be offered on Thursday, January 15th in the Community Room at the Will County Health Department, 501 Ella Avenue, Joliet, Il 60433. Register by clicking on the link provided in the Technical Assistance Session section below. Attendance at one of the sessions is encouraged, but not required.

Questions will be answered within a timely fashion. A compiled list of all submitted questions and answers will be available online Monday, January 26, 2026.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING The Will County Community Mental Health 708 Board may provide supplemental funding for an entity that demonstrates the ability to provide mental health, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or substance use/addiction services to the residents of Will County and that have operated for a minimum of one fiscal year. Applicants will demonstrate the appropriate academic certification/licensure, and experience. Applicants will demonstrate service, fiscal, and administrative accountability. Again, the focus of the WCCMHB is on what constitutes the best value to the community in those 3 categories: mental health, intellectual/developmental disability, and/or substance use/addiction services to the residents of Will County. Any organization that meets the following criteria is eligible to receive funding from WCCMHB: - Organization must be a not-for-profit entity or a governmental unit. - Organization must demonstrate the appropriate professional staff with the required academic certification/licensure and experience to provide the requested services. - Organization must demonstrate sound fiscal policies and financial reliability and stability. - Organization must demonstrate programmatic, fiscal, and administrative accountability in accordance with these funding guidelines as well as federal, state, and local requirements. - Applicant will complete a standard application. Before applying for any grant, all entities must be registered through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal at www.grants.illinois.gov/portal and in Good Standing for all pre-qualification requirements. The County may request verification of the following required criteria: -Applicant has valid FEIN number -Applicant is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List -Applicant is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State -Applicant is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list -Applicant is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list Entities on the Illinois Stop Payment List and/or the Federal Excluded Parties List at time of application submission will not be considered for an award. Pursuant to the policy of the Illinois Office of the Comptroller, to receive grant funds from the State of Illinois, a grantee must be considered a regarded entity by the IRS for federal income tax purposes. Disregarded entities will not be eligible to receive grant funds. The Will County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) is under no obligation to review applications that fail to comply with the above requirements. Failure to meet the application deadline may result in the WCCMHB returning applications without review or may preclude the WCCMHB from making the award.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2026 FUNDING CYCLE: 1). Crisis Supports and Service Gaps: The Will County Community Behavioral Health Needs Assessment identifies a lack of programs and services that focus on the early identification and timely support of mental health, substance use and/or developmental disability challenges for early childhood, youth and young adults and their families. The WCCMHB is eager to partner with providers to increase education, raise awareness and improve clinical and peer support programs and services. Families often carry the responsibility of obtaining services, coordinating care and working hard to meet the needs of family members with mental health, substance use and/or developmental disability challenges. Case Management and peer support are valued services for families who are facing the challenges of finding, obtaining and maintaining support and assistance for their loved one. Prisons and jails incarcerate a disproportionate number of individuals with current or past mental health conditions, yet these facilities often struggle to meet the demand for adequate treatment. Successful transition back into the community requires specialized support and coordinated assistance. The WCCMHB seeks to collaborate with local providers to implement case management services for individuals discharged from the Will County Jail, ensuring they receive the continuity of care needed for stability and recovery. 2). Intellectual and Developmental Disability (I/DD): People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) benefit most when they have access to a coordinated set of supports that promote independence, inclusion, safety, and quality of life. The WCCMHB is eager to provide funding to providers that offer direct care and supervision in community-based settings for the purpose of promoting social, physical, and emotional well-being in a structured setting. Additional consideration will be given to services that provide relief for unpaid family or primary care givers, who are currently meeting all service needs of the customer . 3). Early Intervention and Prevention: Experiencing a mental health challenge or substance use disorder can be overwhelming. Yet recovery is possible when individuals have access to the right tools and supportive systems. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use remains pervasive in our communities. This stigma can have serious consequences—sometimes even causing individuals experiencing suicidal ideation before seeking the support they need. Early intervention is crucial for individuals living with a mental health challenge or substance use disorder, as it can significantly improve outcomes and support long-term recovery. Beyond the impact of stigma, individuals frequently encounter practical barriers to accessing care, including the cost of services, limited provider availability, and insufficient transportation options. These obstacles can significantly delay or prevent people from obtaining the timely and appropriate support they need. Suicide prevention involves identifying risk factors early, increasing access to care, reducing stigma, and ensuring individuals receive timely, compassionate support. Implementing prevention for mental health and substance use requires a layered, community-wide approach that strengthens protective factors, reduces risk, and ensures that children, youth and young adults receive support early—before challenges escalate. The Will County Community Mental Health Board is committed to funding providers who prioritize early intervention and prevention and demonstrate a strong commitment to collaborative service delivery across agencies. 4). Transportation: Transportation is a persistent barrier to mental health services, particularly for individuals who lack access to a personal vehicle, live in areas with limited public transit, or face mobility limitations. These challenges often result in missed appointments, delayed treatment, and inconsistent engagement in care. The Will County Community Mental Health Board seeks to fund agencies who have practical solutions when a lack of transportation is a barrier to efficient and effective services. 5). Workforce Development: Increasing the supply of behavioral health professionals is one way to work toward increasing access to behavioral health, substance use and intellectual/developmental services in Will County. The 2026 MAPP IPlan again makes clear that there is a shortage of mental health professionals resulting in limited availability of services and extended wait times for psychiatric, medication management and counseling services. The WCCMHB seeks to collaborate with area providers to incentivize individuals to enter the social services field of study.

Recipients must submit quarterly financial reports, quarterly performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart D - Performance and Financial Monitoring and Report of the Federal Uniform Requirements (see link below for additional information). Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent. Quarterly Performance Reports should be completed according to the following timeline: Quarter 1 - May 15 (March 13 - April 30) Quarter 2 - August 15 (May 1 - July 31) Quarter 3 - November 15 (August 1 - October 31) Quarter 4 - March 12 (November 1 - February 28) 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart D - Performance and Financial Monitoring and Reporting: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/subject-group-ECFR36520e4111dce32

If expense has not been established or begun on or before November 1, 2026 then the grant may be subject to termination.