Implementing Gatekeeper Training within the Illinois Department of Corrections and Juvenile Detention Centers in Disproportionately Affected Communities

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), through its Office of Performance Management and the Violence and Injury Prevention Section, is offering a federal pass-through grant to expand suicide prevention efforts in correctional and juvenile detention facilities. The initiative supports evidence-based gatekeeper training programs such as Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and safeTALK, developed by LivingWorks. The project aims to equip correctional staff and community partners to identify and respond to individuals at risk of suicide, particularly justice-involved females ages 10–19 and justice-involved males over age 50 in specified Illinois counties. This program aligns with the CDC’s Expansion of Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Across the U.S. and supports the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan 2020. Funding will be awarded to one organization for the period from December 15, 2025, through September 14, 2026. The total funding available is $168,903, provided through federal funds under CFDA 93.136 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Indirect costs are allowed up to 15% unless a federally negotiated rate agreement is provided. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Funds must be used for eligible program activities such as training implementation, partnership coordination, and reporting. The program excludes expenditures for research, clinical care, food, promotional items, and travel outside Illinois. Monthly expenditure documentation and quarterly reports are required to ensure compliance and accountability. Eligible applicants include public or nonprofit entities registered and prequalified under the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA). Applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration and UEI number, be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State (if applicable), and free of suspension or debarment. Organizations should demonstrate experience in suicide prevention, training delivery, and partnership development with correctional or community systems. Individuals conducting trainings within correctional facilities must pass background checks. Applicants without ASIST trainers must partner with LivingWorks to secure training certification. Applications must be submitted electronically through IDPH’s Electronic Grants Administration and Management System (EGrAMS) at www.idphgrants.com. The application window opens October 15, 2025, and closes November 14, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. CST. Required components include a project narrative describing need, activities, work plan, and measurable objectives; resumes for key personnel; a detailed budget and justification; and risk assessment questionnaires. Applications received after the deadline or incomplete will not be reviewed. No technical assistance sessions are planned for this round. Proposals will be reviewed using a merit-based 100-point scoring rubric: 60 points for scope of work, 25 points for work plan quality, and 15 points for budget reasonableness. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of State Award via EGrAMS in November 2025. Quarterly performance and fiscal reports are due March 31, June 30, and September 30, 2026. The program’s outcomes are expected to demonstrate a 10% reduction in suicide morbidity and mortality among targeted populations and contribute to measurable statewide progress in suicide prevention. For further information, applicants may contact Kathryn Endress, Violence and Injury Prevention Section Chief, Office of Health Promotion, Illinois Department of Public Health, 535 West Jefferson Street, 2nd Floor, Springfield, IL 62761. Email: Kathryn.Endress@illinois.gov; Phone: (217) 299-8044; TTY: (800) 547-0466.