NOFO: OJJDP – National Mentoring Resource Center (US)

Deadline: 3 March 2025

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is accepting applications to support an extensive portfolio of mentoring programs for high-risk and at-risk youth across the country.

OJJDP supports the implementation and delivery of mentoring services to youth who are at risk of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice system involvement. OJJDP continues to Mentoring services can be one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types.

With the continued investment of the National Mentoring Resource Center, OJJDP strives to build on its history and leadership in mentoring by providing the mentoring field and practitioners with comprehensive resources and training materials on the OJJDP National Mentoring Resource Center website; convening an expert Research Board that reviews the evidence base for specific program models, populations, and outcomes; and providing training and technical assistance for OJJDP grantees to support youth mentoring programs in implementing safe, quality, and effective practices.

OJJDP envisions a juvenile justice system centered on the strengths, needs, and voices of youth and families. Young people and family members with lived experience are vital resources for understanding and reaching persons involved or at risk of involvement with youth-serving systems.

Goal

The overall goal of this program is to operate OJJDP’s National Mentoring Resource Center (NMRC) and enhance the capacity of mentoring organizations to develop, implement, and expand effective mentoring practices across the nation.

Objectives

Maintain and enhance an interactive, practitioner-friendly comprehensive online repository of resources on the NMRC website, including, but not limited to the following core functions:
- A “what works in mentoring” section highlighting key mentoring research and evidence-based practices and implementation resources.
- A section highlighting current issues and best practices to meet the mentoring needs of at-risk and high-risk youth populations. Mechanisms to facilitate cross-sharing of evidence-based information and resources across organizations involved with mentoring.
- A section highlighting OJJDP investments in mentoring, including a catalog of OJJDP grantees and any related grantee-produced materials and resources.
Raise awareness of and continue the development of mentoring best practices. This can include the following activities:
- Review research regarding the effectiveness of specific mentoring programs, as well as specific practices and resources for use in mentoring programs.
- Develop information/tools highlighting evidence-based practices and programs.
- Develop performance measurement information, tools, and research in conjunction with OJJDP.
Provide training and technical assistance for mentoring organizations and communities interested in developing mentoring programs. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Develop and deliver web-based and in-person trainings on mentoring topics for OJJDP mentoring grantees and the broader field. This should include trainings that are specific to mentoring services for youth impacted by opioid and other substance misuse and mentoring for youth in the juvenile justice system.
- Develop and deliver specific trainings for OJJDP-funded grantees.
- Support and develop smart tools that provide self-guided assistance as a precursor to receiving technical assistance.
- Deliver technical assistance in response to requests submitted through the NMRC website.

Funding Information

Total Amount to Be Awarded Under This Funding Opportunity: $2,650,000. Applicants may propose a budget that is less than the anticipated award ceiling amount. The budget should be reasonable for conducting the proposed project and be within the applicant’s capacity to manage
Anticipated Award Ceiling: up to $2,650,000
Anticipated Number of Awards: 1
Anticipated Period of Performance Start Date: October 1, 2025
Anticipated Period of Performance Duration: 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria

The types of entities that are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:
- Educational Organizations:
  - Public- and state-controlled institutions of higher education
  - Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit Organizations:
  - Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
  - Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For-Profit Organizations:
  - Organizations other than small businesses.