Illinois Family Planning Program

The Illinois Family Planning Program (IFPP) is a comprehensive initiative managed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) through its Office of Women's Health and Family Services (OWHFS). The program aims to provide voluntary and comprehensive family planning services to low-income individuals of reproductive age throughout Illinois. The purpose is to reduce unintended pregnancies, prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and improve maternal and infant health by supporting personal choice in determining the number and spacing of children. This initiative focuses on health equity, ensuring services are accessible regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or geographic location. The program offers a wide range of medically approved family planning methods, including contraceptive counseling, basic infertility services, pregnancy testing and counseling (covering all options), STI diagnosis and treatment, HIV education, and cancer screenings (breast, cervical, and testicular). Services are available to individuals regardless of marital status, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Participation in family planning services is entirely voluntary, and applicants will not be coerced into any particular method of family planning. Additionally, the program addresses health equity, particularly for populations historically marginalized due to socioeconomic or other social determinants of health. For the fiscal years 2026-2027, the IDPH seeks to distribute approximately $7,353,000 in federal and state funds to delegate agencies to provide these services throughout the state. The number of anticipated awards ranges from 1 to 40, with single award amounts varying between $20,000 and $2,000,000. Funding will be allocated to hospitals, community health centers, and other qualified non-profit community-based healthcare organizations that have experience in providing family planning and reproductive health services. Applicants are encouraged to form regional partnerships to ensure comprehensive service coverage in identified areas. Eligible applicants must be registered and prequalified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) system and have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Additional eligibility criteria include demonstrating experience in delivering family planning services, having qualified clinical staff, and providing a broad range of acceptable family planning methods and services. Preference will be given to programs that can ensure a minimum of two delegate agencies in each IDPH region, except in areas already covered by Title X programs. The application submission period is from May 15, 2025, to June 16, 2025, with the anticipated program start date set for July 1, 2025. A technical assistance session will be offered on May 28, 2025, but attendance is not mandatory. The session will provide guidance on the application process and address any applicant inquiries. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Illinois Department of Public Health's EGrAMS system, with all required documents, including the project narrative, budget, and other specified attachments. For further information, applicants can contact Lisa Upshaw-Smith, the Family Planning Program Administrator, at the Office of Women’s Health and Family Services. Lisa can be reached via email at Lisa.Upshaw-Smith@illinois.gov or by phone at 312-814-8704. Additional contacts include Natacha Saintilus-McGowan, the Family Planning Clinical Coordinator, reachable at Natacha.Saintilus-McGowan@illinois.gov or by phone at 312-814-4519.

Applicants should emphasize health equity in their responses, ensuring that programs address disparities among marginalized populations. Additionally, aligning proposed activities with the IDPH Health Equity Checklist will be critical for scoring well in the review process.