• Consumer Advocacy Council of DeKalb County Request for Funds

    The Consumer Advocacy Council of DeKalb County (CACDC) provides one-time financial assistance to eligible DeKalb County residents living with chronic and persistent mental illness. Funding is intended to help providers address an immediate need that is impacting a client's mental health, stability, or overall well-being while supporting long-term success.

  • Upcoming Meetings & Due Dates

    Program Year 2027 is 7/1/2026-6/30/2027

    Application Due Date

    (by 5:00pm CST)

    		 Meeting / Decision Date Notification Date
    September 10 September 15 September 17
    October 1 October 6 October 8
    October 15 October 20 October 22

    Dates are subject to change.

     

    Understanding the Timeline

    • Application Due Date: Complete applications, including all required supporting documentation, must be submitted by this date to be considered at the corresponding CACDC Advisory Committee meeting.
    • Meeting / Decision Date: The CACDC Advisory Committee meets to review applications and make funding decisions. Applicants do not attend Committee meetings.
    • Notification Date: Referring providers will be notified of the Committee's decision by this date. Notification is intentionally delayed to allow time for Committee debriefing, administrative review, documentation, and coordination of payment processing.

  • NOTICE TO CACDC PROVIDERS

    Due to the volume and dollar amount of requests we are receiving, the CACDC Committee is asking all providers to carefully review the Provider Reference Guide before submitting applications.

    For FY2027, CACDC has approximately $27,000 available to distribute. This equates to an average of about $2,300 per month.

    However, between July 1 and August 1, providers submitted more than $22,000 in requests. Additionally, the average request is currently around $1,500, which is not sustainable given the funding available.

    To help ensure funding remains available throughout the year:

    • Follow the Provider Reference Guide, including all maximum allotments, and submit complete applications with all required documentation.
    • Seek and document other available funding sources before submitting a CACDC request.
    • Submit requests only for the amount necessary. Before submitting, you should consider:
      • Can the client contribute a portion of the cost?
      • Can another agency or funding source cover part of the expense?
      • Can family members or other natural supports assist with a portion?
      • Can the vendor offer a payment plan or reduced balance?
    • Be aware that large-dollar requests, particularly rental assistance requests, are unlikely to be approved due to limited funding and the need to serve as many individuals as possible.

    CACDC is intended to be a payer of last resort. The Committee must balance each individual request with the responsibility of maintaining funding throughout the fiscal year.

    We appreciate your partnership and your commitment to submitting thoughtful, well-documented requests that maximize the impact of this limited funding.

  • Provider Reference Guide

    Don't skip this. This guide exists to help you. The vast majority of preventable denials result from providers not following the guidance in this document. Reading it first will save you time and improve your chances of approval.
  • Before You Begin: Please confirm the following before completing this application. Incomplete applications or requests that do not meet CACDC eligibility requirements will be returned or denied prior to Committee review.*

  • Thank You

    Thank you for partnering with CACDC to support individuals in our community. Before beginning this application, please review the CACDC Provider Resource Guide. Strong, complete applications help the CACDC Advisory Committee make timely, informed funding decisions and reduce delays in the review process.

  • Provider Information

  • Client Information

    The following demographic information is used for grant reporting and program evaluation. Demographic information is not used to determine eligibility or influence funding decisions.

  • Please write in third person.

    "Client is engaged in case management and counseling." | "Receiving rental assistance would allow the client to focus on mental health services."
  • Race/Ethnicity*
  • Gender Identity*
  • Are there any special circumstances? (select all that apply)*

  • Client Story

    Provide detailed, specific responses that clearly connect the client's current circumstances to their mental health, stability, and need for financial assistance.
  • Which professions are currently on the client's care team related to mental health and wellbeing? (select all that apply)*
  • What outcome are you hoping this funding will achieve? (select all that apply)*

  • Before you answer the next question:

    Remember that CACDC is a payer of last resort. Clearly explain what resources have already been explored and why they were insufficient. For larger-dollar requests, describe how the client, other agencies, payment plans, family support, or other funding sources will contribute whenever possible. Applications that do not demonstrate efforts to reduce the amount requested may be less competitive for funding.

  • Request

    Providers are encouraged to limit requests to no more than two funding categories.

  • Request-Specific Information

  • The following pages collect additional information based on the type of assistance requested. Only complete the page(s) that apply to your request. If a page does not apply to your request, simply select Next to continue.

     

    Title of Page Complete This Page If You Are Requesting...
    Rental Assistance Related Requests

    Rental arrears, future rent, first month's rent, last month's rent, or a security deposit.
    Utility Assistance Related Requests

    Electric, gas, water, internet, or other utility assistance.
    Auto Repair Related Requests

    Vehicle repairs necessary to maintain reliable transportation.
    Clothing & Essential Item Related Requests

    Clothing, household essentials, hygiene items, bedding, furniture, cleaning supplies, kitchen supplies, or other essential household items.
    Other Requests Childcare, medical expenses, driver's license or state ID fees, books or employment/training supplies, hotel stays, assistive or mobility devices, transportation assistance (fuel or ride share gift cards), or any request not covered by the pages above.

     
    Please Note: Complete only the page(s) that correspond to your request. 

  • What type of request are you submitting? (select no more than two)*

  • Rental Assistance Related Requests

    Please provide the information below regarding the rental assistance request. Upload all supporting documentation before continuing.
  • Type of Rental Request
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  • Is the client currently protected by renters' insurance?

  • Utility Assistance Related Requests

    Please provide the information below regarding the utility assistance request. Upload all required supporting documentation before continuing.
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  • Transportation Related Requests

    Please provide the information below regarding the transportation request. Upload all required supporting documentation before continuing.
  • Type of Transportation Request

  • If seeking vehicle repairs

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  • If seeking vehicle repairs or fuel/gas cards

  • Does the client own the vehicle?
  • If the vehicle is not owned, are the payments current?
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  • Clothing & Essential Item Related Requests

    Please provide the information below regarding the clothing and/or essential item request. Upload all required supporting documentation before continuing.

  • Important

    Requests for clothing and other personal items are limited to the identified client only. Do not include clothing, shoes, or other personal-use items for children or other household members. Shared household essentials, such as beds, furniture, cookware, or linens, may include items needed for the household when appropriate and should be identified accordingly.
  • Request Type (Select all that apply)
  • Preferred Retailer (select one)

  • Shopping List Disclaimer

    If you are requesting both household essentials (such as furniture, cookware, linens, or household items) AND clothing, please list them as two separate itemized lists. This allows the Committee to apply the appropriate funding limits and review each request accurately.

  • Shipping Disclaimer

    Please verify the shipping address before submitting. CACDC is not responsible for replacing items that are delivered to an incorrect address provided on the application or items that are lost, stolen, or damaged after confirmed delivery.
  • Where should the items be shipped?

  • All Other Requests

    Please provide the information below regarding this request. Upload all required supporting documentation before continuing.
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  • Process & Overview

  • Would you be willing to provide a brief follow-up report on how this funding impacted the client's stability and mental health? (this response will not impact the funding decision)*

  • Special Review Requests

    Expedited Reviews
    Expedited reviews are reserved for very rare situations in which waiting until the next scheduled CACDC Advisory Committee meeting would likely result in immediate and significant harm to the client. Expedited reviews are not guaranteed and are approved on a case-by-case basis by the CACDC Advisory Committee Chair. If requesting an expedited review, submit the application first, then email CAP@fsadekalbcounty.org.

     

    Confidential Reviews
    Requests involving employees, volunteers, board members, or other sensitive situations may be eligible for a confidential review process. If requesting a confidential review, submit the application first, then email CAP@fsadekalbcounty.org with a brief explanation of the circumstances.

  • Submission

    • Applications must be submitted by an eligible provider (e.g., case manager, counselor, therapist, social worker, or other behavioral health professional) on behalf of a client.
    • Applications submitted directly by individuals will not be reviewed.
    • Complete applications, including all required supporting documentation, must be submitted by the published application due date to be considered at the corresponding CACDC Advisory Committee meeting.
    • To submit additional documentation, update an existing application, or request a copy of your submission, please email CAP@fsadekalbcounty.org.

  • After Submission

    • The CACDC Advisory Committee reviews applications according to the published meeting schedule.
    • Referring providers will be notified of the Committee's decision following the meeting. Notification may take several business days to allow time for Committee debriefing, administrative review, and documentation.
    • If additional information is needed after approval, Family Service Agency will contact the referring provider.
    • Approved funding is contingent upon timely response from the referring provider. Requested documentation or information must be submitted within 10 business days of notification unless otherwise approved by Family Service Agency.
    • If the requested information is not received within 10 business days, the award may be forfeited and a new CACDC application may be required.

  • By Signing: I certify that the information provided in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge and that I have obtained the client's consent to submit this request.

  • Should be Empty: