THIS WEEK IN SOCIAL CARE CAPITAL & CAREERS: ILLINOIS' NEW SOCIAL CARE ECOSYSTEM, TINY HOMES IN PALM BEACH
Also, IPH needs a project manager to help them turn CBO referrals into payable Medicaid work.
In this edition: Illinois’ Medicaid CBO network, Elevance’s payer-ready food-bank rails, HHS safe-home care model, jobs in CIE, housing, payer ops
Illinois Social Health Care Network NOFO
Illinois is offering $8M annually to select one statewide entity to build a Medicaid-ready network of CBOs delivering HRSN/social-health services. The award range is $5M-$8M, applications closed yesterday, and at least $3M in FY27 must flow as capacity-building subgrants to CBOs. New York, North Carolina, California and Oregon have similar structures but Illinois is seeking one statewide intermediary as opposed to regional divisions.
WHO ILLINOIS IS LOOKING FOR:
Role: Statewide SHCN lead - One Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with statewide CBO experience, grant-management capacity, and at least 50% Illinois-based staff. MCOs, health plans, hospitals, and health systems cannot be the lead. Pathways to Health/AgeOptions and Help. Guide. Thrive seem to be plausible contenders.
Regional lead agencies: Optional/subcontracted local organizations that help the statewide lead cover all six HFS regions.
CBO providers: Community organizations delivering Medicaid-billable social care:housing navigation, tenancy supports, medical respite, CHW services, doula services, lactation support, nutrition, reentry case management, etc.
Medicaid MCOs: All Illinois Medicaid MCOs are required to contract with the SHCN once awarded.
HFS and tech: HFS is also tying this to ICARRS, the state’s closed-loop referral system and a future billing/claims system for CBO reimbursement.
There are also new openings adjacent to the buildout now:
Illinois Public Health Institute (also very plausible for the statewide lead as a systems convener) is hiring a Project Manager of the Chicago Community Information Exchange, a Senior Program Manager of Community & Healthcare Integration, and a Program Manager of Health & Housing Strategy.
AgeOptions is hiring a Program Specialist in Information & Benefits.
HCSC/BCBS Illinois is hiring a Government Programs Care Manager III.
HCSC is also hiring a Sr. Project Manager touching Medicaid Market/Value Improvement Projects.
Housing Action Illinois is hiring various Corps positions for housing CBO capacity-building roles across the state.
NOTEBOOK
Inbox me your questions now for the Midyear Social Care Market Briefing on Friday, July 24. I’ll review the biggest procurement, policy, investment, and market signals from the first half of 2026 and what they mean for the rest of the year. I’ll also answer questions from paid subscribers.
Also, here’s a podcast episode to save before your next social care vendor pitch, pilot decision or investment review. Learn a clear way to judge social care programs beyond mission statements. Especially useful for health plan leaders, investors and operators evaluating food, housing, transportation or other social care models. I unpack the framework with Omar Haq, an actuary with 30+ years in managed care who previously led analytics at a $20B+ Medicaid payer.
