The Criminal Justice Information Authority, Illinois, provided detailed guidance on writing program narratives for grant applications, saying that a clear narrative helps reviewers understand a project’s purpose, implementation and expected outcomes. The presenter said the narrative should explain the problem, the goals, who will be served and how services will be delivered.

The presenter said the program summary is often the first section reviewers read and should answer three basic questions: "What are you doing? Who are you serving? And how will you deliver those services?" That framing, the presenter said, helps reviewers unfamiliar with an organization quickly evaluate fit and impact.

Presenters urged applicants to support statements of need with data and research, and to balance community challenges with existing assets. "Show that your insights are based on direct knowledge, not guesses," the presenter said, advising inclusion of cultural or historical context where relevant.

On implementation planning, the presenter described the schedule as a roadmap: list tasks, assign them to staff positions (titles, not personal names), set realistic deadlines, and highlight milestones and deliverables that will demonstrate progress. The session emphasized aligning staffing entries with the budget and naming a grant compliance contact responsible for reporting and adherence to ICJA requirements.

The session also covered performance measurement. The presenter distinguished process measures (activities and outputs) from outcome measures (changes achieved) and recommended that applicants define what success looks like, choose measurable indicators, set time frames, and describe data collection and reporting methods.

As a closing note, the presenter warned of common pitfalls—vague problem statements, insufficient supporting evidence, incomplete implementation plans, or poorly defined performance measures—and encouraged applicants to be concrete, avoid jargon, and "think like a reviewer" when drafting narratives.

The presenter closed by thanking attendees and wishing them success in preparing narratives for their applications.