(305 ILCS 5/12-4.104)

Sec. 12-4.104. Family and Community Development Grant Program.

(a) Subject to funding availability, a family and community development grant program shall be administered by the Department of Human Services. The program shall be designed to make services available to families who are at risk of long-term economic dependency and to work with communities to provide economic opportunities. The purpose of the program is to fund, evaluate, and provide recommendations on not less than 8 nor more than 10 projects to move 100 families at risk of long-term economic dependency to self-sufficiency through the family and community development program.

(b) As used in this Section only:

"Applicant" means a public or private organization that makes application for a grant through the request for proposals process.

"Council" means the Social Services Advisory Council.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Grant" means an award to fund a project approved by the Department with the advice of the Council.

"Grantee" means the recipient of a grant approved by the Department.

(c) The Social Services Advisory Council as established within the Department of Human Services shall, with respect to the family and community development grants administered by the Department, involve a representative of the Human Resource Investment Council in considering proposed projects and monitoring approved projects.

(d) The Council shall:

(1) Identify the factors and conditions that place Illinois families at risk of long-term dependency upon the AFDC program or its successor program. The Council shall seek to use relevant research findings and national and Illinois-specific data on TANF (formerly AFDC).

(2) Identify the factors and conditions that place Illinois families at risk of family instability, long-term economic dependency, and foster care placement.

(3) Report those findings to the Secretary of Human Services for his or her evaluation.

(4) Recommend grants to public or private organizations to provide family and community development services to families at risk of long-term economic dependency.

(5) In cooperation with the Illinois Community Action Association, use family and community development outcome measures to independently evaluate the effectiveness of demonstration projects.

(6) Seek the support of an Illinois accredited university to continue research and evaluation responsibilities.

(7) Seek additional support for the funding of family and community development grants.

(8) Make recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Secretary of Human Services on the effectiveness of family and community development intervention programs in Illinois.

(9) Evaluate and make recommendations regarding the cost and benefits to the expansion of the services provided under TANF (formerly AFDC) to include tuition for parenting skills programs, family support and counseling services, child development services, job readiness and job skill training, and transportation and child care expenses associated with the programs and services.

(e) In cooperation with the Illinois Community Action Association, the grantees shall identify families that receive TANF (formerly AFDC) payments that may place families at risk of long-term economic dependency.

(f) The Department shall adopt rules for the operation of this program.

(Source: P.A. 90-783, eff. 8-14-98.)