Post-Secondary Education Opportunities for Child Protection Professionals (US)

This program will provide grants to eligible applicants to develop, expand, or enhance curricula in an effort to ensure that every mandated reporter and child protection professional receives training in multiple evidence-based methods for identifying and screening children for exposure to violence and a mandated reporter’s nondiscrimination obligations under federal civil rights laws. The curricula should be integrated into undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs for these professionals to have maximum access to training opportunities

Goal

• The goal of this program is to increase the knowledge base and skills of mandated reporters and child protection professionals to recognize and appropriately address the impact of violence and psychological trauma on children.

Objectives

• OJJDP has identified the following specific program objectives:
  • Increase the availability of training in university undergraduate and graduate programs (as well as continuing education programs) on multiple evidence-based methods for identifying and screening children for exposure to violence.
  • Improve the preparedness and awareness of child- and family-serving professionals about the scope and seriousness of children exposed to violence and psychological trauma.
  • Improve mandated reporters’ understanding of their nondiscrimination federal civil rights obligations when considering making reports to officials.

Priority Areas

• In order to further OJP’s mission, OJP will provide priority consideration when making award decisions to the following:
  • Applications that propose project(s) that are designed to meaningfully advance equity and remove barriers to accessing services and opportunities for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization.
    • To receive this consideration, the applicant must describe how the proposed project(s) will address identified inequities and contribute to greater access to services and opportunities for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization. Project activities under this consideration may include, but are not limited to, the following: improving victim services, justice responses, prevention initiatives, reentry services, and other parts of an organization’s or community’s efforts to advance public safety. Applicants should propose activities that address the cultural (and linguistic, if appropriate) needs of communities, outline how the proposed activities will be informed by these communities, and implement culturally responsive and inclusive outreach and engagement.
  • Applicants that demonstrate that their capabilities and competencies for implementing their proposed project(s) are enhanced because they (or at least one proposed subrecipient that will receive at least 40 percent of the requested award funding, as demonstrated in the Budget web-based form) are a population-specific organization that serves communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, adversely affected by inequality, and disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization.
    • To receive this additional priority consideration, applicants must describe how being a population-specific organization (or funding the population-specific subrecipient organization(s)) will enhance their ability to implement the proposed project(s) and should also specify which historically underserved populations are intended or expected to be served or have their needs addressed under the proposed project(s).
• Note: Addressing these priority areas is one of many factors that OJP considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration for one or more priority areas does not guarantee an award.

Funding Information

• Anticipated Total Amount To Be Awarded Under This Solicitation: $800,000
• Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount per Award: Awards will be up to $400,000
• Period of Performance Duration (Months): Up to 36 months

Eligibility Criteria

• State governments
• City or township governments
• Public- and state-controlled institutions of higher education
• County governments
• Native American Tribal governments (federally recognized)
• Native American Tribal organizations (other than federally recognized Tribal governments)
• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the 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
• Private institutions of higher education
• For-profit organizations other than small businesses.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.