OJJDP FY24 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment – Training and Technical Assistance and Program Development | O OJJDP 2024 172127

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main goal of this OJJDP FY24 funding opportunity?

The goal is to expand youth access to community-based treatment by strengthening diversion efforts for justice-involved youth (or youth at high risk of entering the juvenile justice system) who have substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring mental health and substance use needs. The emphasis is on connecting youth to appropriate treatment early and reducing deeper involvement in the formal juvenile justice process.

Which federal office is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

What type of award is this?

This funding is offered as a cooperative agreement. That means the selected awardee should expect substantial federal involvement or collaboration during implementation.

How many awards does OJJDP intend to make?

OJJDP intends to make a single award to one organization.

What is the maximum funding amount available (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $6,000,000.

What is the general approach or strategy behind the program?

The strategy is to prevent youth from moving deeper into formal juvenile justice processing by steering them toward community-based treatment that addresses behavioral health needs. The approach combines national training and technical assistance (TTA) with local program development through demonstration sites.

Who is the program intended to help?

The program focuses on justice-involved youth, or youth at high risk of entering the juvenile justice system, who have substance use disorders and/or co-occurring mental health and substance use needs.

What is meant by "diversion" in this opportunity?

Based on the solicitation description, diversion refers to pathways that keep youth out of formal juvenile justice processing when appropriate by connecting them to community-based treatment and supports that address substance use and co-occurring behavioral health needs.

What will the selected organization be expected to do at the national level?

The selected applicant will lead a national training and technical assistance (TTA) program designed to build the capability and capacity of diversion programs that serve youth with SUD and co-occurring disorders.

What kinds of topics or improvements will the national TTA effort focus on?

The TTA effort is described as helping jurisdictions and service providers improve how they identify youth needs, connect youth to treatment, coordinate across juvenile justice and behavioral health systems, and implement more effective diversion pathways.

What are "local demonstration sites" in this program?

Local demonstration sites are communities funded through subawards to serve as on-the-ground examples of improved approaches to diversion and treatment linkage for youth with SUD and co-occurring mental health conditions.

Is there a subaward component?

Yes. A major component is administering a subaward program that provides funding to local demonstration sites.

What responsibilities does the lead awardee have related to subawards?

The lead awardee is expected to distribute and oversee subawards to local demonstration sites and provide those sites with guidance, tools, and problem-solving support. The lead awardee is also expected to use lessons learned from the sites to inform the broader field.

What is the intended outcome of funding demonstration sites?

The intention is to develop practical models that can be replicated, adapted, and scaled in other jurisdictions, improving outcomes for youth while reducing unnecessary justice system penetration.

Does the opportunity focus more on national work, local work, or both?

Both. The opportunity is designed to fund one lead organization that operates at a national scale to deliver TTA, while also building and supporting local demonstration projects through subawards.

What category does this funding opportunity fall under?

The opportunity falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA number is 16.838.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding universities in the nonprofit category listed), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.

Is this opportunity limited only to nonprofits?

No. The eligibility list includes nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.

Is this intended for an organization that can work nationally?

Yes. OJJDP intends to fund one organization that can operate at a national scale and lead a national TTA program, while administering and supporting local demonstration sites.

When was the solicitation created?

The solicitation was created on May 9, 2024.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was June 24, 2024.

What is the core problem this program is trying to address?

The program is trying to address the need for stronger diversion and better connections to community-based treatment for youth with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health needs, so youth can receive appropriate behavioral health services early rather than becoming more deeply involved in the justice system.

How does this program aim to reduce justice system involvement?

It aims to reduce justice system involvement by improving diversion pathways and strengthening how jurisdictions and providers identify needs, coordinate across systems, and connect youth to community-based treatment.