fy15 ojjdp casa competitive solicitation.pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329

U.S. Department of Justice Approval Expires 07/31/2016

Office of Justice Programs

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for funding under its FY 2015 Court-Appointed Special Advocates Membership and Accreditation Program and Training and Technical Assistance. This program furthers the Department’s mission by ensuring that court-appointed special advocates are available to all victims of child abuse or neglect and that they receive high quality representation in dependency court hearings.

OJJDP FY 2015 Court-Appointed Special Advocates Membership and Accreditation

Program and Training and Technical Assistance

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are nonprofit (including tribal nonprofit) organizations. As set forth in the authorizing language in 42 U.S.C. Section 13013, the successful applicant shall be: (1) a national organization that has broad membership among court-appointed special advocate programs (OJJDP defines as having a network of volunteers representing the interests of abused and neglected children operating in a minimum of 40 of the nation’s 56 states and territories) and in providing training and technical assistance to court-appointed special advocate programs; or (2) a local public or not-for-profit agency that has demonstrated the willingness to initiate, sustain, and expand a court-appointed special advocate program.

For additional eligibility information, see Section C. Eligibility Information.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. In addition, OJP urges applicants to submit applications 72 hours prior to the application due date. All applications are due to be submitted and in receipt of a successful validation message in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on May 26, 2015.

All applicants are encouraged to read this Important Notice: Applying for Grants in Grants.gov.

For additional information, see How To Apply in section D. Application and Submission Information.

http://www.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm

OJJDP-2015-4135

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800-518-4726 or 606-545-5035, or via e-mail to support@grants.gov. Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except federal holidays.

Applicants who experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond their control that prevent them from submitting their application by the deadline must e-mail the OJJDP contact identified below within 24 hours after the application deadline and request approval to submit their application. Additional information on reporting technical issues is found under “Experiencing Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues” in the How To Apply section.

For assistance with any other requirements of this solicitation, contact the Response Center by telephone at 800-851-3420, by e-mail at responsecenter@ncjrs.gov, or by Web Chat at https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp. Answers to frequently asked questions that may assist applicants are posted at www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2015/FAQ/CASAFAQ.pdf.

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: OJJDP-2015-4135

Release date: April 8, 2015 mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:responsecenter@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp http://www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2015/FAQ/CASAFAQ.pdf

Contents

A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

Evidence-based programs or practices

B. Federal Award Information

Type of award

Financial management and system of internal controls

Budget Information

Preagreement cost approvals

Limitation on use of award funds for employee compensation; waiver

Prior approval, planning, and reporting of conference/meeting/training costs

Costs associated with language assistance (if applicable)

C. Eligibility Information

Cost sharing or match requirement

Limit on number of application submissions

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

How To Apply

E. Application Review Information

Selection Criteria

Review Process

F. Federal Award Administration Information

Federal Award Notices

Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements

General Information about Post-Federal Award Reporting Requirements

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information

Provide Feedback to OJP

Application Checklist

OJJDP FY 2015 Court-Appointed Special Advocates Membership and Accreditation

Program and Training and Technical Assistance

(CFDA #16.756)

A. Program Description

Overview

The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, as amended (Public Law 101-647), contains provisions that support efforts to ensure that all abused and neglected children involved in dependency proceedings have access to a court-appointed special advocate. Through the Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, OJJDP seeks to ensure that abused and neglected children receive high quality representation in dependency court hearings.

The successful applicant will provide:

membership, accreditation, and subgrants to regional, state, and local CASA organizations who represent abused and neglected children in dependency hearings and will partner with other public and private child welfare system stakeholders at the local, state, regional, and national levels; and information, technical assistance, and training to volunteer advocates who represent abused and neglected children in dependency hearings and to other child welfare system stakeholders at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

This program is authorized by the Victims of Child Abuse Act, 42 U.S.C. § 13013.

Program-Specific Information

Abused and neglected children face a complex child welfare system and significant barriers in their search for safe, stable homes. Instability arising from transient placements can have a lasting impact on a child’s emotional, social, and educational development. This program seeks to serve and improve outcomes for children in the dependency system; provide effective advocacy for abused and neglected children, to include foster care youth; fund programs that support cultural diversity and competency; and build on the training and technical assistance program that OJJDP has developed in collaboration with the National CASA Association. This program also seeks to expand the national membership and accreditation program for state and local CASAs that OJJDP developed in collaboration with the National CASA Association. Through this program, OJJDP makes available training and technical assistance to support existing and new local and state CASA programs across the nation and support CASA services in communities where representation rates are low, the numbers of abused and neglected children are high, and service systems do not meet the needs of families and children. In addition, the program provides training and technical assistance in volunteer advocate recruitment and retention, volunteer advocate training, diversity, data collection and reporting, sustainability, and program standards.

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

The goals of the CASA program are to improve outcomes for children in the foster care system and those who are dual system-involved, provide effective advocacy for abused and neglected children, and fund programs that support cultural diversity and competency.

Under the membership, accreditation, and subgrant activities, OJJDP has established the following objectives:

increase the number of children receiving services under CASA programs.

increase the number of volunteer advocates serving children under CASA programs.

increase the percentage of recruited and trained volunteer advocates who have similar ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds to the children that CASA programs serve.

increase recruitment of volunteer advocates under CASA programs.

The successful applicant will develop and administer a membership accreditation and subgrants program for local and state CASA programs to assist those organizations in meeting the objectives described above. This activity includes providing screening, training, and supervision of court-appointed special advocate programs in accordance with national standards including ensuring that:

a court-appointed special advocate association program has a mission and purpose in keeping with the mission and purpose of the National CASA Association and that it abides by the National CASA Association Standards for Programs.

a court-appointed special advocate association program operates with access to legal counsel.

the management and operation of a court-appointed special advocate program assure adequate supervision of court-appointed special advocate volunteers.

a court-appointed special advocate program keeps written records on the operation of the program in general and on each applicant, volunteer, and case.

a court-appointed special advocate program has written management and personnel policies and procedures, screening requirements, and training curriculum.

a court-appointed special advocate program not accept volunteers who have been convicted of, have charges pending for, or have in the past been charged with, a felony or misdemeanor involving a sex offense, violent act, child abuse or neglect, or related acts that would pose risks to children or to the court-appointed special advocate program's credibility.

a court-appointed special advocate program has an established procedure to allow the immediate reporting to a court or appropriate agency of a situation in which a court-appointed special advocate volunteer has reason to believe that a child is in imminent danger.

a court-appointed special advocate volunteer is an individual who has been screened and trained by a recognized court-appointed special advocate program and appointed by the court to advocate for children who come into the court system primarily as a result of abuse or neglect.

a court-appointed special advocate volunteer serves the function of reviewing records, facilitating prompt, thorough review of cases, and interviewing appropriate parties to make recommendations on what would be in the best interests of the child.

The successful applicant will develop and administer a subgrant program for local and state CASA programs to assist those organizations in meeting the objectives described above.

Subgrantees will use their awards to develop new CASA programs and provide CASA services in communities where representation rates are low, the numbers of abused and neglected children are high, and service systems are not meeting the needs of families and children. State CASA organization subgrantees may use their awards to strengthen their capacity to provide services to local programs. The successful applicant will design and implement the following activities to achieve the above goals and objectives:

drafting a request for proposals for subgrant applicants to submit plans in one of the following areas:

o new program development in unserved areas.

o expansion of existing programs in areas with unmet need.

o urban program demonstration projects to deliver new programs and services in urban areas.

designing and administering the competitive process through which applicants will submit proposals.

conducting an expert panel review of applications and selecting successful applicants.

administering subgrant funds and monitoring the activities of subgrantees.

holding subgrantees accountable for providing data on performance measures that reflect the program objectives identified above.

reporting subgrantee performance measures to OJJDP semi-annually.

developing a process to certify that subgrantees comply with program standards that the National CASA Association has established and identifying subgrantees that will receive appropriate assistance to support accreditation.

developing and disseminating publications to increase recruitment of CASA volunteer advocates and share best practices with volunteers and other stakeholders within the dependency system, as OJJDP approves.

engaging partner organizations to improve services to children, families, volunteer advocates, and other stakeholders within the child welfare system.

Under the training and technical assistance activity, OJJDP seeks to increase the number of:

children receiving services from CASA volunteer advocates.

children of color represented by a CASA volunteer advocate.

volunteer advocates that CASA programs recruit.

volunteer advocates trained in the CASA program curriculum and standards.

volunteer advocates from diverse backgrounds that CASA programs recruit.

The successful applicant will design and implement the following activities to achieve the above goals and objectives:

provide training sessions (on-site, cross-site/peer-to-peer, telephone, web-based, etc.)

for local, state, regional, and national programs and stakeholders. The applicant will propose the topics, types, quantity, duration, audiences, timing, and means of delivery of training sessions and identify trainers with relevant expertise and audiences with significant need. The applicant will utilize OJJDP’s TTA360, a centralized system for tracking, monitoring, managing, and reporting on training and technical assistance requests and services. The applicant will include plans for evaluating the training sessions to include measuring changes in participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.

develop training and technical assistance plans that include specific strategies to address:

o effective methods to increase youth and family engagement (parents, relatives, or adoptive parents).

o applying a developmental and trauma-informed approach to addressing the needs of foster care system and juvenile justice system-involved youth.

o assistance to identify and address racial and ethnic disparities.

provide technical assistance for state and local CASA programs that seek to increase :

(1) the number and quality of services they provide; (2) their recruitment of volunteers to work effectively with diverse populations of children, including victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking; girls; American Indian and Alaska Native youth;

African American youth; Latino/a youth; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth; and/or, (3) their recruitment of volunteers whose backgrounds match those of the children they serve. The applicant will require that the CASA programs provide screening, training, and supervision of court-appointed special advocates in accordance with standards that the National CASA Association.

coordinate and partner as appropriate with organizations that have experience working with diverse populations, trauma informed care, and developmental approaches.

develop publications addressing training and technical assistance needs for the benefit of volunteer advocates, local and state programs, and stakeholders. The applicant will indicate the topics, types, quantity, audiences, and production schedules of proposed publications. The applicant will identify the authors and contributors. The applicant will create a plan to disseminate the publications. The applicant will create a plan for measuring the impact of the publications, at a minimum, collecting data on the number disseminated and the number of times online versions are accessed and by whom (e.g., CASA volunteers, CASA program staff, other child advocates, etc.). Publication topics may include:

o the unique needs of children who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.

o the unique needs of girls.

o the unique needs of American Indian/Alaska Native youth.

o effective methods to increase youth and family engagement (parents, relatives, or adoptive parents).

o applying a developmental approach to addressing the needs of foster care system and juvenile justice system-involved youth.

o assistance to identify and address racial and ethnic disparities.

submit quarterly data collection from local CASA programs and reports to OJJDP on the Data Collection and Technical Assistance Tool, as directed. The data will address established CASA performance measures (as the Government Performance and Results Act requires) and aggregate data on the gender, race and ethnicity of children receiving CASA services. Applicants should include detailed plans for how they will collect, store, manage, and analyze the data. Applicants must describe how they will ensure that local CASAs submit required data.

disseminate information about the CASA program through partnerships with public and private partners to expand public awareness.

OJJDP training and technical assistance awardee standards. OJJDP has developed the Core Performance Standards for Training, Technical Assistance, and Evaluation to promote among providers the consistency and quality of OJJDP-sponsored training and technical assistance, and to advance common expectations of performance excellence. The standards present minimum expectations that providers must meet for effective practice in the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of training. Award recipients must coordinate with OJJDP’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) in the assessment and delivery of services to ensure the effective use of OJJDP grant funding. For additional information, go to OJJDP’s NTTAC web site.

Requirements related to coordination of activities will include, but are not limited to:

Coordination with OJJDP NTTAC. OJJDP requires all training and technical assistance projects to coordinate their activities with OJJDP NTTAC by complying with all OJJDP/NTTAC protocols to ensure coordinated delivery of services among providers and effective use of OJJDP grant funding. OJJDP reserves the right to modify these protocols at any time with reasonable notice to the grantee prior to project completion.

OJJDP funded webinars. The award recipient must comply with OJJDP’s Webinar Guidelines, as described in the core performance standards. Minimally, OJJDP training and technical assistance providers will submit to OJJDP NTTAC information in advance of all events for the online calendar, use the approved OJJDP presentation template, and record events and upload the files onto NTTAC’s Online University.

Training information sharing. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be collecting information from its program offices on OJP-funded training and technical assistance events. Award recipients must use OJJDP’s standard electronic training request form and submit information to NTTAC on all training events (i.e. name of requestor, description of request, dates of event, etc.) 30 days in advance of the event date and report additional data as OJJDP requires.

Family engagement. OJJDP envisions a transformed juvenile justice system that recognizes and builds upon the strengths, values, and diversity of families and communities to best serve the children and youth who come into contact with the system and to improve both safety and quality of life for all. This system will honor and support families before, during, and after their children have contact with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Applicants should describe how the proposed program will include a family engagement component.

Evidence-based programs or practices. OJP strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policy making and program development in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. OJP is committed to:

improving the quantity and quality of evidence OJP generates;

integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within OJP and the field; and improving the translation of evidence into practice.

OJP considers programs and practices to be evidence-based when their effectiveness has been demonstrated by causal evidence, generally obtained through one or more outcome evaluations. Causal evidence documents a relationship between an activity or intervention (including technology) and its intended outcome, including measuring the direction and size of a change, and the extent to which a change may be attributed to the activity or intervention. Causal evidence depends on the use of scientific methods to rule out, to the http://www.nttac.org/ extent possible, alternative explanations for the documented change. The strength of causal evidence, based on the factors described above, will influence the degree to which OJP considers a program or practice to be evidence-based. The OJP CrimeSolutions.gov Web site and OJJDP’s Model Program Guide Web site are two resources that applicants may use to find information about evidence-based programs in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services.

Additional resources. OJJDP encourages applicants to review the recommendations from the National Research Council’s Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approach and Implementing Juvenile Justice Reform, the Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence, and the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence and consider incorporating the recommendations into their applications, where applicable.

B. Federal Award Information

OJJDP expects to make one award of as much as $5,228,268 for a 12-month project period beginning October 1, 2015. OJJDP may, in certain cases, provide supplemental funding in future years to awards under this solicitation for as much as 3 years total. Important considerations in decisions regarding supplemental funding include, among other factors, the availability of funding, strategic priorities, assessment of the quality of the management of the award (for example, timeliness and quality of progress reports), and assessment of the progress of the work funded under the award. All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.

Type of award1. OJJDP expects to make any award from this solicitation in the form of a cooperative agreement, which is a particular type of grant used if OJJDP expects to have ongoing substantial involvement in award activities. Substantial involvement includes direct oversight and involvement with the grantee organization in implementation of the grant but does not involve day-to-day project management. See Administrative, National Policy, and other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration, for details regarding the federal involvement anticipated under an award from this solicitation.

Financial management and system of internal controls. If selected for funding, the award recipient must:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the nonfederal entity is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in “Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government” issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

1 See generally 31 U.S.C. §§ 6301-6305 (defines and describes various forms of federal assistance relationships, including grants and cooperative agreements (a type of grant)).

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/MPG/ http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685 http://sites.nationalacademies.org/dbasse/claj/implementing_juvenile_justice_reform/ http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/pages/attachments/2014/11/18/finalaianreport.pdf http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/defendingchildhood/pages/attachments/2014/11/18/finalaianreport.pdf

(b) Comply with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the federal awards.

(c) Evaluate and monitor the nonfederal entity's compliance with statute, regulations, and terms and conditions of federal awards.

(d) Take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified, including noncompliance identified in audit findings.

(e) Take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information and other information the federal awarding agency or pass-through entity designates as sensitive or the nonfederal entity considers sensitive consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

In order to better understand administrative requirements and cost principles, award applicants are encouraged to enroll, at no charge, in the Department of Justice Grants Financial Management Online Training available here.

Subgrantee monitoring. OJJDP will require the recipient to follow the “Requirements for Pass-through Entities” as stated in 2 CFR § 200.331 and in the corresponding guidance provided in the Financial Guide.

Budget Information

Cost sharing or match requirement. This solicitation does not require a match. However, if a successful application proposes a voluntary match amount, and OJP approves the budget, the total match amount incorporated into the approved budget becomes mandatory and subject to audit.

Preagreement cost approvals. OJP does not typically approve preagreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. If approved, pre-agreement costs could be paid from grant funds consistent with a grantee’s approved budget, and under applicable cost standards. However, all such costs prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred at the sole risk of an applicant.

Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting federal funding for those costs. Should there be extenuating circumstances that appear to be appropriate for OJP’s consideration as pre-agreement costs, the applicant should contact the point of contact listed on the title page of this announcement for details on the requirements for submitting a written request for approval. See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the Financial Guide, for more information.

Limitation on use of award funds for employee compensation; waiver. With respect to any award of more than $250,000 made under this solicitation, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the award recipient at a rate that exceeds 110 percent of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year.2 The 2015 salary table for SES employees is available at the Office of Personnel Management website. Note:

2 This limitation on use of award funds does not apply to the nonprofit organizations specifically named at Appendix

VIII to 2 C.F.R. part 200.

http://gfm.webfirst.com/ http://ojp.gov/financialguide/index.htm http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/15Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx

A recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with non-federal funds. (Any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds where match requirements apply.)

The Assistant Attorney General for OJP may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual basis, the limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant requesting a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of the application. Unless the applicant submits a waiver request and justification with the application, the applicant should anticipate that OJP will request the applicant to adjust and resubmit the budget.

The justification should include the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of the service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the program or project being undertaken with award funds, and a statement explaining that the individual’s salary is commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work to be done.

Prior approval, planning, and reporting of conference/meeting/training costs. OJP strongly encourages applicants that propose to use award funds for any conference-, meeting-, or training-related activity to review carefully – before submitting an application

– the OJP policy and guidance on conference approval, planning, and reporting. OJP policy and guidance (1) encourage minimization of conference, meeting, and training costs;

(2) require prior written approval (which may affect project timelines) of most such costs for cooperative agreement recipients and of some such costs for grant recipients; and (3) set cost limits, including a general prohibition of all food and beverage costs.

Costs associated with language assistance (if applicable). If an applicant proposes a program or activity that would deliver services or benefits to individuals, the costs of taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to those services or benefits for individuals with limited English proficiency may be allowable. Reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to services or benefits may include interpretation or translation services where appropriate.

For additional information, see the "Civil Rights Compliance" section under “Solicitation Requirements” in the OJP Funding Resource Center.

C. Eligibility Information

For additional eligibility information, see the title page.

Cost sharing or match requirement. For additional information on cost sharing and match requirement, see Section B. Federal Award Information.

Limit on number of application submissions. If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OJJDP will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted. For more information on system-validated versions, see How To Apply.

http://ojp.gov/financialguide/PostawardRequirements/chapter15page1.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

Applicants should anticipate that if they fail to submit an application that contains all of the specified elements, it may negatively affect the review of their application; and, should a decision be made to make an award, it may result in the inclusion of special conditions that preclude the recipient from accessing or using award funds pending satisfaction of the conditions.

Moreover, applicants should anticipate that applications that are determined to be nonresponsive to the scope of the solicitation, do not request funding within the funding limit, or that do not include the application elements that OJJDP has designated to be critical, will neither proceed to peer review nor receive further consideration. Under this solicitation, OJJDP has designated the following application elements as critical: Program Narrative, Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative.

Applicants should review the “Note on File Names and File Types” under How To Apply to be sure that they submit their applications in the permitted formats.

OJP strongly recommends that applicants use appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Program Narrative,” “Budget Detail Worksheet and Budget Narrative,” “Timelines,” “Memoranda of Understanding,” “Resumes”) for all attachments. Also, OJP recommends that applicants include resumes in a single file.

1. Information to Complete the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

The SF-424 is a required standard form used as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications, applications, and related information. Grants.gov and OJP’s Grants Management System (GMS) take information from the applicant’s profile to populate the fields on this form. When selecting "type of applicant," if the applicant is a for-profit entity, select "For-Profit Organization" or "Small Business" (as applicable).

Intergovernmental review. This funding opportunity (program) is not subject to Executive Order 12372. (In completing SF-424, applicants are to make the appropriate selection in response to question 19 to indicate that the “Program is not covered by E.O.

12372.”)

2. Project Abstract

Applications should include a high-quality project abstract that summarizes the proposed project in 400 words or less. Project abstracts should be— written for a general public audience.

submitted as a separate attachment with “Project Abstract” as part of its file name.

single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font (Times New Roman) with 1-inch margins.

As a separate attachment, the project abstract will not count against the page limit for the program narrative.

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html

The abstract should briefly describe the project’s purpose, the population to be served, and the activities that the applicant will implement to achieve the project’s goals and objectives. The abstract should describe how the applicant will measure progress toward these goals. The abstract should indicate whether the applicant will use any portion of the project budget to conduct research as described in Note on Project Evaluations on page 19.

3. Program Narrative

Applicants must submit a program narrative that presents a detailed description of the purpose, goals, objectives, strategies, design, and management of the proposed program. The program narrative should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins, not exceeding 30 pages of 8½ by 11 inches, and use a standard 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman. Pages should be numbered “1 of 30,” etc. The tables, charts, pictures, etc., including all captions, legends, keys, subtext, etc., may be single-spaced and will count in the 30-page limit. Material required under the Budget and Budget Narrative and Additional Attachments sections will not count toward the program narrative page count. Applicants may provide bibliographical references as a separate attachment that will not count toward the 30-page program narrative limit. If the program narrative fails to comply with these length-related restrictions, OJJDP may consider such noncompliance in peer review and in final award decisions.

The program narrative should address the following selection criteria: (1) statement of the problem; (2) goals, objectives, and performance measures; (3) program design and implementation; and (4) capabilities/competencies. The applicant should clearly delineate the connections between and among each of these sections. For example, the applicant should derive the goals and objectives directly from the problems to be addressed. Similarly, the project design section should clearly explain how the program’s structure and activities will accomplish the goals and objectives identified in the previous section.

The following sections should be included as part of the program narrative:

a. Statement of the problem. Applicants should briefly describe the need for a national membership and accreditation program for state and local CASA programs.

The applicant should use data to provide evidence that the need exists. Applicants should describe the target population and any previous or current experience administering a national subgrant program and publishing resources for court-appointed special advocates.

The applicant should also describe the national training and technical assistance program for CASA volunteers using data to provide evidence that the need exists for this program. Applicants should describe any previous or current attempts to implement a national training and technical assistance program.

Applicants should describe any research or evaluation studies that relate to the problem and contribute to the applicant’s understanding of its causes and potential solutions particularly with regard to diverse populations of children. While OJJDP expects applicants to review the research literature for relevant studies, they should also explore whether unpublished local sources of research or evaluation data are available.

b. Goals, objectives, and performance measures. Applicants should describe the goals of the proposed program and identify its objectives. When formulating the program’s goals and objectives, applicants should be cognizant of the performance measures that OJJDP will require successful applicants to provide. (See Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables delineated on pages 5-8.)

Goals. Applicants should describe the program’s intent to change, reduce, or eliminate the problem noted in the previous section and outline the project’s goals.

Program objectives. Applicants should explain how the program will accomplish its goals. Objectives are specific, quantifiable statements of the project’s desired results.

They should be clearly linked to the problem identified in the preceding section and measurable. (Examples of measurable objectives include the following: to increase the number of public and private partnerships supporting CASA goals, to increase the number of Hispanic children being served, to increase the number of CASA programs serving children in rural areas, to increase the number of volunteers who exemplify the racial and ethnic composition of the children they serve.)

Performance measures. To assist the Department with fulfilling its responsibilities under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, and the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–352, applicants that receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measure the results of their work done under this solicitation. OJP will require any award recipient, post award, to provide the data requested in the “Data Grantee Provides” column so that OJP can calculate values for the “Performance Measures” column. Mandatory performance measures for this solicitation are as follows:

Objective Performance Measure(s)

Description Data Grantee Provides

To increase the number of active local CASA programs.

Percentage of new active local CASA programs.

The number of active and new CASA local programs implemented during the reporting period.

Total number of local CASA programs active during the reporting period.

Total number of new local CASA programs active during the reporting period.

To enhance the matching of children to volunteer advocates.

Percentage of volunteer advocates who are new recruits.

The number of new advocate volunteers recruited and available to serve children during the reporting period. New volunteer advocates are defined as those volunteers who became available to serve during the reporting period.

Total number of new volunteer advocates available to serve children during the reporting period.

Total number of volunteer advocates.

To increase the number of volunteer advocates serving children under the CASA program.

Percentage increase in the number of advocate volunteers serving children.

The number of new advocate volunteers recruited and available to serve children during the reporting period. New volunteer advocates are those volunteers who became available to serve during the reporting period.

Total number of new volunteer advocates available to serve children during the reporting period.

Total number of volunteer advocates recruited and available to serve (new and existing).

To increase the number of children receiving CASA volunteer advocacy services.

Number of program youth served during the reporting period.

An unduplicated count by gender, race or ethnicity, of the number of youth served by the program during the reporting period. The number of youth served for a reporting period is the number of program youth carried over from previous reporting period, plus new admissions during the reporting period.

Number of program youth carried over from the previous reporting period.

New admissions during the reporting period.

Number and percentage of youth served with whom an evidence-based best practice model was used.

The number and percentage of youth with whom a best practice was used. Best practice models include program models that have been shown, through rigorous evaluation and replication, to be effective at preventing or reducing juvenile delinquency or related risk factors, such as substance abuse.

Model programs can come from many valid sources (e.g., Blueprints for Violence Prevention, OJJDP’s Model Programs Guide, SAMHSA’s Model Programs, State model program resources, etc.).

Number of youth served using an evidence-based best practice model or program during the reporting period.

The number of youth served during the reporting period.

Percentage increase in the number of new children receiving CASA volunteer advocacy services.

Percentage of children with a current report of substantiated or indicated child abuse or neglect during the

Percentage of children who exited the CASA program through reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship since the most recent admission to foster care.

An unduplicated count of the number of children who started receiving services by the CASA volunteer during the reporting period. Definition of the number of children served for a reporting period is the number of children carried over from the previous reporting period, plus new children who started receiving services by a CASA volunteer advocate during the reporting period.

An unduplicated count of the number of children who were victims of substantiated or indicated child abuse, including children who were victims of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, and/or neglect served during the reporting period.

Of the total number of children who exited CASA programs, the number to exit either to reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship.

Total number of children who started receiving services during the reporting period.

Total number of children served during the reporting period.

Number of youth served during the reporting period.

Number of those youth served during the reporting period with a current report of substantiated child abuse or neglect.

Number of CASA youth, at the time of their most recent entry into foster care, that left foster care during the

Number of those CASA youth, at the time of their most recent entry into foster care, that left foster care during the reporting period either to reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship.

To recruit and train volunteer advocates of the CASA program to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.

Percentage increase in the number of volunteer advocates that are new recruits.

The number of new advocate volunteers recruited and available to serve children during the reporting period. New volunteer advocates defined as those volunteers that became available to serve during the reporting period.

Number of enrolled volunteer advocates during the reporting period.

Total number of volunteer advocates at the end of the previous reporting period.

Number of volunteer advocates recruited with ethnic, cultural, or racial backgrounds similar to the children who the CASA program serves.

Number of volunteer advocates trained.

The number and percentage of volunteers trained during the reporting period. The number is the raw number of volunteer staff receiving any formal training relevant to the program or their position as volunteer. Include any training from any source or medium received during the reporting period as long as receipt of training can be verified. Training does not have to have been completed during the reporting period.

Number of volunteer advocates trained.

Number of hours of training volunteers receive.

The number of training hours provided to volunteers during the reporting period. Training hours include both in house and external training.

Number of hours of volunteer training delivered by program.

Percentage of volunteer advocates who are satisfied with the program training.

The number of volunteers who report being satisfied with the training in terms of areas such as content, pacing, relevance to child victimization-related programming, applicability, and related areas.

Preferred data source is self-report data collected using training evaluation or assessment forms.

Number of volunteers trained during the reporting period who report being satisfied with training as measured by a pre-and post-training survey tool.

Number of volunteers trained who filled out a survey.

Percentage of volunteer advocates trained who exhibit increased knowledge of the program area.

The number of trained volunteer advocates demonstrating increased knowledge of the program during the reporting period.

Total number of volunteers trained.

Number of volunteer advocates trained who exhibit increased knowledge of the program area, as a result of training (as measured by a pre-and post-training survey tool).

Number of program materials developed.

This measure represents the number of program materials that were developed during the reporting period. Include only substantive materials such as program overviews, client workbooks, lists of local service providers. Do not include program advertisements or administrative forms such as sign-in sheets or client tracking forms.

Count the number of pieces developed.

Number of program materials developed.

Number of program materials distributed.

This measure represents the number of program materials that were distributed during the reporting period. Include only substantive materials such as program overviews, client workbooks, lists of

Number of program materials distributed to programs, staff, volunteers, etc.

local service providers. Do not include program advertisements or adminstrative forms such as sign-in sheets or client tracking forms.

Count the number of pieces distributed.

Number of training requests received.

This measure represents the number of training requests received during the reporting period. Requests can come from individuals or organizations served.

Number of training requests received during the reporting period.

Number of technical assistance requests received.

This measure represents the number of technical assistance requests received during the reporting period. Requests can come from individuals or organizations served.

Number of technical assistance requests received during the reporting period.

Number of planning or training events held during the reporting period.

This measure represents the number of planning or training activities held during the reporting period. Planning and training activities include creation of task forces or interagency committees, meetings held, needs assessments undertaken, etc. Preferred data source is program records.

Number of planning or training activities held during the reporting period.

Number of program policies changed, improved, or rescinded during the reporting period.

This measure represents the number of cross-program or agency policies or procedures changed, improved, or rescinded during the reporting period. A policy is a plan or specific course of action that guides the general goals and directives of programs and/or agencies. Include polices that are relevant to the topic area of the program or that affect program operations. Preferred data source is program records.

Number of program policies changed during the reporting period.

Number of program policies rescinded during the

OJJDP does not require applicants to submit performance measures data with their application. Performance measures are included as an alert that OJJDP will require successful applicants to submit specific data as part of their reporting requirements.

For the application, applicants should indicate an understanding of these requirements and discuss how they will gather the required data, should they receive funding.

OJJDP encourages award recipients to use information from existing program records to fulfill performance measures reporting requirements rather than initiating new data collection activities for this purpose.

Note on project evaluations. Applicants that propose to use funds awarded through this solicitation to conduct project evaluations should be aware that certain project evaluations (such as systematic investigations designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge) may constitute “research” for purposes of applicable DOJ human subjects protection regulations. However, project evaluations that are intended only to generate internal improvements to a program or service, or are conducted only to meet OJP’s performance measure data reporting requirements likely do not constitute “research.” Applicants should provide sufficient information for OJP to determine whether the particular project they propose would either intentionally or unintentionally collect and/or use information in such a way that it meets the DOJ regulatory definition of research.

Research, for the purposes of human subjects protections for OJP-funded programs, is defined as, “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge” 28 C.F.R. § 46.102(d). For additional information on determining whether a proposed activity would constitute research, see the decision tree to assist applicants on the “Research and the Protection of Human Subjects” section of the OJP Funding Resource Center Web page.