OJJDP: Enhancing Youth Defense Training and Technical Assistance (US)

Studies and numerous state assessments conducted by national organizations reveal that nearly every state falls short of its constitutional obligation to provide effective legal representation for children. Few children in this country currently receive access to a qualified youth defender. Unaddressed systemic gaps and needs lead to increased recidivism and potential adult criminal justice system involvement, decreased public safety, and diminished public trust and confidence in the juvenile justice system.

Through specialized training, tools, resources, and intensive training and technical assistance, this program supports states’ and localities’ efforts to implement sustainable system improvements that result in improved youth outcomes, reduced recidivism, safer communities, cost savings, and increased public confidence in the juvenile justice system.

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. OJJDP asks stakeholders to join them in sustainably integrating bold, transformative youth and family partnership strategies into their daily work. OJJDP believes in achieving positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities through meaningful engagement and active partnerships, ensuring they play a central role in collaboratively developing solutions. Depending on the nature of an applicant’s proposed project, youth and family partnership could consist of one or more of the following:

• Individual-level partnership in case planning and direct service delivery (before, during, and after contact with youth-serving systems).
• Agency-level partnership (e.g., in policy, practice, and program development, implementation, and evaluation; staffing; advisory bodies; budget development).
• System-level partnership (e.g., in strategic planning activities, system improvement initiatives, advocacy strategies, reform efforts).

Goals and Objectives

• Goal 1: Strengthen and improve the quality of youth defense practice nationally:
  • Objective 1: Ensure that youth defenders have access to high-quality, specialized legal training, practice tools, resources, publications, communities of practice, and leadership development opportunities.
• Goal 2: Help youth defender offices improve service delivery and build sustainable capacity:
  • Objective 1: Support OJJDP Enhancing Youth Defense grantees in implementing effective system-level enhancements that sustainably improve youth defense service delivery.
  • Objective 2: Identify and respond to youth defense gaps, needs, and emerging issues at the local, state, and regional levels.

Funding Information

• Total amount to be awarded under this funding opportunity: $900,000
• Anticipated Award Ceiling: up to $900,000
• Anticipated Period of Performance Duration: 36 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
    • Small businesses
• Small business grants may be awarded to companies meeting the size standards established by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for most industries in the economy.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.