Federal Grant Award Summary

Equip For Equality, Inc. received a Formula Grant award of $369,267 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services under the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program (CFDA 93.138). The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, supports Equip For Equality's provision of legal advocacy and rights protection services to adults with Significant Mental Illness (SMI) and children with Significant Emotional Disturbances (SED) in Illinois. The organization pursues administrative, legal, and other remedies to address complaints of abuse, neglect, and rights violations affecting vulnerable populations, with service priority for individuals at risk while residing in care or treatment facilities.

The PAIMI program funding enables Equip For Equality to enforce constitutional, federal, and state statutory protections for individuals with mental health challenges through comprehensive advocacy services. The organization, serving as Illinois's designated Protection and Advocacy system, collaborates with sub-grantees including the University of Illinois and Equal Justice Works to expand service delivery through training, outreach, and technical assistance on rights protections and disability advocacy. The 24-month award funds systemic efforts to ensure equal access to constitutional protections and civil rights for individuals with serious mental illness across the state.