OJJDP FY24 Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success – Training and Technical Assistance – Invited to Apply | O OJJDP 2024 172225

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled OJJDP FY24 Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success - Training and Technical Assistance - Invited to Apply.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, specifically the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The main purpose is to support training and technical assistance (TTA) that helps jurisdictions strengthen how they prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system and improve how they respond when youth are already involved.

Is this grant meant to fund direct services for youth?

The solicitation emphasizes that the core focus is not direct service expansion by itself. Instead, the funding is aimed at structured TTA that helps communities plan, assess, and align prevention and intervention services into a coherent continuum of care.

What does "Building Local Continuums of Care" mean in this context?

It refers to helping communities develop an organized, community-based set of prevention and intervention supports so youth can access the right services at the right time, without falling through gaps between agencies or systems. The work includes understanding what programs already exist, identifying service gaps, using research to determine what works, and improving coordination across local systems.

What types of activities does the training and technical assistance (TTA) support?

Based on the description provided, the TTA supports activities such as helping local leaders:

• Assess what programs and services currently exist in their community
• Identify gaps in prevention and intervention supports
• Use research to prioritize promising and evidence-based approaches
• Align services across agencies into a coordinated continuum of care
• Use data to guide decisions and refine practices over time

What outcomes is OJJDP trying to improve through this program?

A central theme is building sustainable, research-based, and data-informed approaches to reducing recidivism and lowering youth justice system involvement over time. The program is designed to support reforms that lead to measurable improvements in youth outcomes.

How important is data use in this program?

Data use is a core expectation. OJJDP emphasizes that jurisdictions should use data to guide decisions about policies, practices, and programming, and then continue refining decisions as results are observed.

What does "research-based" or "evidence-based" mean here?

The solicitation highlights aligning a set of promising and evidence-based prevention and intervention services. In practical terms, this means prioritizing approaches supported by research and using evidence to determine what is most likely to improve youth outcomes and reduce reoffending.

What is the "reinvestment" concept described in the opportunity?

The long-term vision includes using any cost savings created by reforms that lower system involvement and reoffending to reinvest strategically in prevention and intervention efforts that are proven to help youth succeed.

What kinds of underlying needs does the opportunity suggest communities should address?

The description points to root causes and needs that can contribute to justice involvement, including:

• Unmet behavioral health needs
• Disrupted schooling
• Family stressors
• Substance use
• Trauma exposure
• Lack of stable connections to pro-social supports

What is the funding opportunity number and Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?

The opportunity is identified as OJJDP 2024 172225 under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 16.827.

How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services.

What does "Invited to Apply" mean for this solicitation?

The opportunity is labeled "Invited to Apply", which typically indicates a limited, continuation-leaning competition rather than an open nationwide solicitation.

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others". In context, this generally aligns with an invited or limited applicant pool rather than broad eligibility.

Are any specific organizations named in the solicitation?

Yes. The solicitation names the Institute for Intergovernmental Research, JBS International, Inc., and the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, signaling that these organizations are intended recipients or key partners for delivering the TTA and supporting jurisdictions.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $500,000.

How many awards does OJJDP expect to make?

OJJDP expects to make three awards.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting/creation date was August 16, 2024, and the original closing date was August 21, 2024, indicating a short application window consistent with an invited or continuation-type announcement.

Is this a new program or a continuation?

It is described as a continuation cooperative agreement program.

What is the overall way to think about this grant?

Overall, this grant is best understood as a capacity-building investment. It is intended to equip communities with guidance, tools, and expert support to design and maintain a coordinated continuum of care that is evidence-driven, data-informed, and capable of producing measurable improvements in youth outcomes while reducing repeated justice involvement over time.