FBO Grant Writer Helps Heartlife Ministries Secure $325,000 for Faith-Based ROSC Councils in Three Illinois Counties

Recovery Movement Consulting is proud to announce that we successfully supported Heartlife Ministries in securing a total of $325,000 in funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR). This award includes $150,000 for Will County, $100,000 for Grundy County, and $75,000 for Kankakee County to lead Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) Councils rooted in faith-based leadership. As their FBO grant writer, we helped Heartlife Ministries design and articulate a strategic plan grounded in faith, equity, and lived experience that clearly aligned with the state’s ROSC goals of reducing stigma, promoting harm reduction, increasing service delivery, and prioritizing underserved communities.

Leading Faith-Based Prevention and Recovery Across Grundy and Kankakee Counties

In both Grundy and Kankakee Counties, Heartlife Ministries will lead two core projects over the next three years that integrate faith communities into the regional response to substance use disorder. The first project focuses on delivering youth substance use prevention, recovery education, and harm reduction in school and church settings. Designed for youth ages 12 to 18, this initiative includes faith-informed curriculum development, outreach presentations to churches and schools, and the distribution of over 4,500 harm reduction kits across the three-year grant period. By meeting young people where they are—at the intersection of community, spirituality, and family—Heartlife Ministries is normalizing prevention conversations and building culturally relevant tools to encourage help-seeking behavior.

The second project centers on equipping local churches to become recovery-ready hubs through workshops, Narcan training, certification as recovery-supportive congregations, and the development of faith-based warm handoff protocols. Churches will partner with treatment and recovery providers to strengthen referral systems and ensure continuity of care for those in crisis. As the designated FBO grant writer, we worked closely with Heartlife Ministries to design an approach that not only meets state deliverables but also honors the values and leadership of faith institutions as trusted spaces in these rural communities.

Will County ROSC Council Anchored in Faith and Youth Engagement

In Will County, Heartlife Ministries will build on its long-standing commitment to spiritual care and recovery leadership by delivering faith-centered prevention and harm reduction programming across 25 churches and multiple schools each year. The youth-focused prevention project mirrors those in Grundy and Kankakee, but with expanded reach and a Youth Mental Health and Recovery Summit in Year 2. Through ongoing partnerships with schools and youth organizations, the project will deliver over 4,500 harm reduction kits across the life of the grant and create a replicable Youth Prevention Toolkit for use in other counties.

The second project in Will County will continue to deepen church engagement in harm reduction and recovery support. Through workshops, toolkits, and direct resource distribution—including Narcan and fentanyl test strips—Heartlife Ministries will establish a network of recovery-informed churches that are equipped to respond to overdoses, reduce stigma, and serve as referral partners for treatment providers. Faith-based organizations will also be integrated into the ROSC Council decision-making process to ensure sustained leadership from the spiritual sector. As an experienced FBO grant writer, we ensured that Heartlife’s plan met the expectations of IDHS/SUPR while remaining grounded in the faith-based values that drive their mission.

Why Choose an FBO Grant Writer for Faith-Led Initiatives

This award demonstrates the importance of working with an FBO grant writer who understands how to translate spiritual values into evidence-based programming that meets state and federal funding criteria. At Recovery Movement Consulting, we specialize in helping faith-based organizations secure and implement grants that expand their impact, increase sustainability, and position them as central players in the behavioral health ecosystem. From writing the initial proposal to supporting implementation, our team brings both strategy and lived experience to every project.

When organizations like Heartlife Ministries succeed in building multi-county, faith-based ROSC Councils, it proves what is possible when spiritual care and public health join forces. As your FBO grant writer, we help you navigate that intersection with credibility, clarity, and purpose.

Partner With a Proven FBO Grant Writer

Whether your organization is rooted in faith, service, or both, Recovery Movement Consulting offers specialized grant writing services tailored to the unique needs of faith-based nonprofits. If you're planning to apply for IDHS/SUPR funding or launch a faith-based initiative for prevention, recovery, or harm reduction, we’re here to help. Our work with Heartlife Ministries reflects our deep commitment to helping FBOs access the funding and tools they need to lead with impact.

Contact Recovery Movement Consulting today to learn how an expert FBO grant writer can help you secure the funding that brings your faith-based vision to life.