The Communities of Color Special At Risk Population (COCSP) grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), specifically through its Center for Minority Health Services. This initiative is funded by the State of Illinois' general revenue and is designed to support HIV prevention, education, testing, and care programs aimed at communities of color. It places special emphasis on reaching minority populations at elevated risk for HIV, such as men who have sex with men, individuals experiencing homelessness, ex-offenders, sex workers, those with histories of mental illness or substance abuse, and other marginalized or hard-to-reach groups.
The program operates under Illinois statute 20 ILCS 231/2310.25 and provides project grants to eligible applicants, including nonprofit and government organizations. To qualify, applicants must utilize the IDPH EGRAMS database for submissions and meet requirements laid out by the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA). This includes prequalification steps such as having an active UEI number, maintaining good standing with relevant state agencies, and undergoing fiscal and administrative risk assessments. All applicants must provide documented evidence of experience, training, and the organizational capacity to implement services effectively.
Eligible applicants must have at least two years of experience conducting CDC HIV interventions for the specified populations and must demonstrate the ability to provide HIV counseling and testing. Required documentation includes training completion, proof of organizational capacity, and linkage agreements. Evaluation of proposals will be based on design, scope, quality, SMART objectives, budget justification, and compliance, with an optimal score totaling 100 points. Applications failing to meet format or completeness standards will be excluded from review.
Applications are submitted electronically through the EGRAMS portal, with detailed instructional resources available. The grant supports a one-year term from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and is part of a three-year funding cycle that includes two years of non-competitive renewals, contingent on performance and funding availability. The maximum allowable funding request is $90,000 and the minimum is $25,000. The 2024 fiscal year funding for the program is listed at $1.6 million, with notable awardees including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and the Illinois Public Health Association.
Contact for this grant is Jorge De La Fuente, who can be reached at (217) 720-0236 or via email at jorge.delafuente@illinois.gov. The deadline for application submission is August 8, 2024, and the review and award process typically takes up to 30 days. Audit and reporting requirements are in line with federal and state regulations, and recipients must maintain detailed financial and programmatic records for a minimum of three years post-award. Monthly reporting of work plans and reimbursements through the EGRAMS system is also required.
