NOFO Reimbursement for Legal Services

The Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) Grants Management Unit (GMU) seeks qualified legal organizations or agencies to partner with child welfare agencies in leveraging Title IV-E funding for child and parent legal representation. The purpose of the Title IV-E Reimbursement program for Legal Services is to provide funding to counties or agencies to support the statewide program expansion for an agency attorney, or through agreement, an attorney providing independent representation of a child who is a candidate for Title IV-E foster care or is in Title IV-E foster care and an attorney providing independent representation to such a child’s parent in legal proceedings. The key services include: • Independent investigation of the facts of the case • Meeting with clients or making home or school visits • Attending case planning meetings • Providing legal interpretations • Preparing briefs, memos, and pleadings • Obtaining transcripts • Interviewing and preparing clients and witnesses for hearings • Hearing presentation • Maintaining files • Supervising attorneys, paralegals, investigators, peer partners or social workers that support an attorney in providing independent legal representation to prepare for and participate in all stages of foster care legal proceedings The program aims to ensure that parents, children, and youth receive high-quality legal representation at all stages of child welfare proceedings and to maximize allowable Title IV-E administrative reimbursement for children in Title IV-E foster care and their parents in foster care legal proceedings.