FY15 OJJDP Successful Fatherhood.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 the Second Chance Act Strengthening Relationships Between Young Fathers and Their Children Reentry Mentoring Project. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting efforts to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for young fathers returning to their families and communities.

OJJDP FY 2015 Second Chance Act Strengthening Relationships

Between Young Fathers and Their Children: A Reentry Mentoring Project

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, tribal, and community nonprofit organizations) and federally recognized Indian tribes.

Applicants must submit letters of support or memoranda of understanding with juvenile justice or adult correctional agencies that oversee the reentry process for young fathers (younger than 25 years old). Applicants may choose to partner with other community-based agencies to provide some reentry services, including the mentoring component. However, one eligible entity must be the applicant and the others must be proposed as subrecipients. The applicant must be the entity with primary responsibility for administering the funding and managing the entire project.

OJJDP will consider only one application per lead applicant; however, subrecipients may be part of multiple proposals.

OJJDP may elect to make awards for applications submitted under this solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on the merit of the applications and on the availability of appropriations.

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 March 2, 2015.

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

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 http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm

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

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.

Grants.gov number assigned to this announcement: OJJDP-2015-4053

Release date: December 31, 2014 mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:responsecenter@ncjrs.gov https://webcontact.ncjrs.gov/ncjchat/chat.jsp

OJJDP-2015-4053

Contents A. Program Description

Overview

Program Specific Information

Goals and Objectives

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Pre-Agreement 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

Appendix A: Adapted for Second Chance Act Grantees: What You Need to Know To Ensure Your Program Is Built on Principles of Effective Practice

Appendix B: Evidence-Based Mentoring Practices

Appendix C: Application Checklist

OJJDP FY 2015 Second Chance Act Strengthening Relationships

Between Young Fathers and Their Children: A Reentry Mentoring Project

(CFDA #16.831)

A. Program Description

Overview

The fiscal year 2015 Second Chance Act Strengthening Relationships Between Young Fathers and Their Children: A Reentry Mentoring Project helps ensure that the transition young fathers make from secure confinement facilities and out-of-home placement back to their families and their communities is successful and promotes public safety. This solicitation will fund mentoring and comprehensive transitional services that emphasize development of parenting skills in offenders who are young fathers.

This program is authorized pursuant to Section 211 of the Second Chance Act, Pub. L. No.

110-199.

Program Specific Information

The growth in parental incarceration over the past two decades has significant implications for children and families. An estimated 1.7 million youth younger than 18 years old in the United States have at least one parent in prison, and millions more have a parent currently in jail1. An estimated 30 percent of incarcerated teen males are fathers.2 Incarcerated parents and their children are a heterogeneous group, and associations between parental incarceration and developmental outcomes are complicated. However, research has shown that having an incarcerated parent can present individual and environmental risks for the child and increase the likelihood of negative outcomes.3

The problem of father-absent homes has become more acute in American society and collaborative efforts involving families, faith-based and community organizations, and private and public agencies are needed to address the dynamic environment that young incarcerated fathers leave behind. Incarcerated young fathers have needs that, if not addressed while in custody, during the reentry process, and after release, will negatively impact their ability to live productive, prosocial, crime-free lives in the community. A

1 Maruschak, L.M., Glaze, L.E., and Mumola, C.J. 2010. Incarcerated parents and their children: Findings from the

Bureau of Justice Statistics. In J.M. Eddy and J. Poehlmann (Eds.), Children of incarcerated parents: A handbook for researchers and practitioners (pp. 33–54). Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.

2 Nurse, A. 2002. Fatherhood Arrested: Parenting from within the Juvenile Justice System. Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press.

3 Jarjoura, R., DuBois, D., Shlafer, R., and Haight, K. 2014. Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents: A Synthesis of Research and Input from the Listening Session Held by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the White House Domestic Policy Council and Office of Public Engagement. Washington, DC: U.S.

Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

mentoring program specifically for young fathers will help ensure they successfully transition from secure confinement to their communities.

Section 211 of the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations (including faith-based, tribal, and community organizations) to provide mentoring and other transitional services, family programming, and employment assistance to help juvenile ex-offenders transition successfully from out-of-home placement and incarceration to the community. This program supports the implementation and delivery of transitional/reentry services that include one-to-one, group, and peer mentoring services to offenders who are young fathers. Transitional services include a broad range of activities, including providing case management, targeting offender needs that affect recidivism, supporting comprehensive services to promote responsible fatherhood and family engagement, and implementing strategies that enhance the life skills and future of young fathers and their families. To aid in the reentry planning and service coordination, OJJDP will require a formal partnership with the out-of-home placement and juvenile correctional agency/facility in which youth are returning from and the agency supervising youth in the community, which may or may not be the same agency. For the purpose of this solicitation, mentoring is a structured relationship between an adult or trained peer and one or more young fathers. Applicants should demonstrate a strong partnership between the mentoring organization and the department/entity for the state/local/tribal secure confinement facility or facilities holding the identified target population.

OJP encourages applicants to consider a partnership with a local research organization that can assist with data collection, performance measurement, and local evaluations. One resource that applicants may use is the e-Consortium for University Centers and Researchers for Partnership with Justice Practitioners. The e-Consortium provides resources to local, state, federal, and other groups who seek to connect to nearby (or other) university researchers and centers on partnerships and projects that are mutually beneficial to the criminal justice community. Find the e-Consortium online here. OJJDP will expect successful applicants to coordinate with the Office and its partners regarding common performance measure definitions and collection.

Purpose

This initiative will support the successful and safe transition of young fathers from secure confinement back to their families and communities. To this end, OJP will provide grants to support mentoring and transitional services to offenders who are young fathers reintegrating into their communities. Mentoring and transition services should start during secure confinement and continue through the transition back to the community and post-release.

Goals and Objectives

The goals of this solicitation are to reduce recidivism among young fathers; improve outcomes for young fathers, their children, and family members; and promote responsible fatherhood. The objectives of this project are to provide young fathers with mentoring and transitional services in both confinement and in the community──based on and matched to their assessed risks and parenting needs──that support their successful reentry. Programs should target services to increase positive parenting behaviors, which include but are not limited to homework assistance, words of encouragement/support, limit setting, affection/ hugging/praise, family/child activities, and other behaviors that the applicant identifies.

http://www.gmuconsortium.org/

Transitional services should include a broad range of activities, such as providing case management, that target offender needs affecting recidivism and support comprehensive services and implementation of strategies to promote responsible fatherhood. These activities may be accomplished through a variety of approaches, such as program enhancement, improved data collection, and new training. As part of the transitional services, applicants should focus on strengthening and/or expanding mentoring services to improve parenting and develop life skills for young fathers. OJJDP expects successful applicants to integrate evidence-based or culturally specific mentoring principles into the mentoring services. A list of some evidence-based mentoring practices are in Appendix B on page 36.

Collaboration with Other Federal Agencies. OJJDP and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) are collaborating closely on the Second Chance Act implementation to support both juvenile and adult reentry efforts. Similarly, BJA and OJJDP are working with the National Institute of Justice to support the research and evaluation activities called for in the Act. For more information on the implementation of the Second Chance Act initiatives and frequently asked questions, visit the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) Web site. OJJDP will expect successful applicants to work with NRRC for limited training and technical assistance and coordination of performance measures.

Note: For those interested in submitting applications to adult offender demonstration reentry projects, visit the BJA Web site.

Target Population. The target population for this initiative is medium-to-high risk offenders.

Targeted young fathers must be confined (held in secure confinement facilities, such as a juvenile detention center, juvenile correctional facility, staff-secure facility, jail, or prison of a local or state juvenile or adult correctional agency) and admitted to the program prior to their 25th birthday. However, award recipients may continue to implement a reentry plan for these individuals beyond their 25th birthday. OJJDP does not have a set timeline for terminating these services; they can continue as long as is deemed therapeutically necessary. For nonprofit organizations serving tribal members, individuals may be housed in a tribal, regional, county, or local detention or corrections center pursuant to state or tribal law.

Jurisdictions may choose to target specifically young fathers who are:

assessed as high risk.

returning to a specific community, neighborhood, or zip code.

housed in the same facility.

Applicants must provide their reason for selecting this target population and supporting documentation to justify their decision.

Deliverables and Allowable Use of Funds

Successful applicants will develop a collaborative approach to providing mentoring and transition services to young fathers. OJJDP expects grantees to use their award to implement activities in alignment with the offender’s reentry strategic plan and that advance the adoption, integration, and effective implementation of the principles and practices http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/ http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA identified for reentry programs in Appendix A and mentoring programs in Appendix B of this solicitation.

Applicants should address deliverables for a planning phase and implementation phase of the project and include the following:

Planning Phase. Successful applicants will submit a draft and final plan that addresses the implementation phase items identified below. OJJDP and its designated partners will review and comment on the draft and approve the final implementation plan. During the planning phase, the successful applicants will also work with OJJDP and its designated partners to submit baseline performance measures prior to the implementation of the program.

Implementation Phase. During the implementation phase, award recipients should implement the strategies outlined in their implementation plan. This should include:

providing mentoring programs for young fathers. A key component of the reentry services for young fathers should include mentoring. In many cases the role of a mentor who works with a high-risk mentee requires a major commitment of time on the part of the mentor. While many volunteer mentors make the time to go above and beyond investing in the lives and addressing the needs of their mentees, they often do not have the time to complete intensive training to be optimally effective in their role. Applicants may consider expanding the traditional role of a mentor to a combination of a “Friend/Case Manager/Coach/Advocate.” In cases where the role of mentors is expanded, grantees may use funds to compensate these individuals either as part or full-time staff of the project. Mentoring services should support the structured relationship between an adult or trained peer and one or more young fathers. While mentoring will not look the same across all programs, there are some underlying principles of quality mentoring that provide the foundation around which effective mentoring systems are built. These principles are highlighted in Appendix B.

providing targeted transitional and reentry services to support young fathers and responsible fatherhood that include the following four key strategies. Applicants should outline how will they include each of the strategies and integrate the research-informed practices identified in Appendix A within these strategies:

o provide a comprehensive range of services for young fathers. OJJDP urges applicants to make available a comprehensive range of programs and a process for addressing the needs of young fathers, based on their risk/needs assessment.

Besides mentoring activities, grantees may use funding to provide job training, placement activities, and referrals; basic skills remediation; educational services;

occupational skills training; on-the-job training; and work experience. OJJDP expects the applicant to coordinate with other programs and entities to provide substance abuse treatment services, mental health services, or housing services to the eligible young fathers.

o address needs that affect recidivism. While young fathers reentering the community have a variety of treatment and behavioral needs, applicants should focus especially on addressing the dynamic risk factors that are most closely associated with reoffending behavior. Examples include history of antisocial behavior, having delinquent peers, gang involvement, and problems with substance abuse. OJJDP urges applicants to use the results of needs and risk assessments to identify the most urgent needs to address.

o provide sustained case planning/management in the community. Reentry programs for young fathers should ideally begin when the individual is first incarcerated and continue when he is released to the community. Since most young fathers are at the greatest risk of rearrest the first few months after release, services should be most intensive at the time of release to the community. OJJDP strongly urges applicants to use consistent pre- and post-release case management and supervision sustained over at least 6 months to respond especially to the young father’s transition from incarceration to the community.

o provide adequate staff training. Reentry programs should provide adequate staff training on the appropriate use of cognitive-behavioral interventions and strategies as part of evidence-based programs and practices.

collecting robust performance measures of implementation and impact. OJJDP will expect successful applicants to collect the performance measures identified on page 16.

OJJDP will also expect successful applicants and their research partners to coordinate with the National Reentry Resource Center and other entities, as OJJDP identifies, to determine appropriate partners, measurement definitions, and protocols for performance measure collection. During the planning phase, OJJDP will expect successful applicants to submit baseline measures for the impact measures noted below.

Applicants should also address how they will implement a reliable and systematic process to collect performance measures, including whether they will partner with an individual or organization with research expertise. Applicants, when possible, should collect official records to supplement individual reports.

Priority Considerations

OJJDP will give priority consideration to all applicants who address the following. Applicants are not required to address all of the priority considerations.

include a plan to implement activities that have been demonstrated effective in facilitating the successful reentry of offenders.

provides for an independent evaluation of the project that includes, to the maximum extent feasible, random assignment of offenders to program delivery and control groups. For purposes of this solicitation, this may include the collection of robust performance measures as identified above.

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 system.

Applicants should describe how the proposed program will include a family engagement component. The proposed program should provide a continuum of engagement opportunities to increase and engage the family by fostering fatherhood and parenting, reconnecting families, and promoting family involvement and engagement activities.

Applicants should utilize existing documents and examples of promising practices to develop these strategies.

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 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

This demonstration project is consistent with and in furtherance of President Obama’s policy initiative on Responsible Fatherhood. OJJDP, with guidance from the DOJ Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, collaboratively seek to promote responsible fatherhood, strengthen families, and support young fathers, their children, and families. Find more information on this initiative here. Find additional information about national fatherhood programs at the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. OJJDP encourages applicants to review the White House report on Promoting Responsible Fatherhood.

OJJDP encourages applicants to review the recommendations from 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 the National Research Council’s Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approach and Implementing Juvenile Justice Reform and consider incorporating the recommendations into their applications, where applicable.

http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/MPG/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ofbnp/policy/fatherhood http://www.fatherhood.gov/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/fatherhood_report_6.13.12_final.pdf 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 http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685 http://sites.nationalacademies.org/dbasse/claj/implementing_juvenile_justice_reform/

Performance Partnership Pilots. Applicants under this OJJDP program grantees may also be eligible to apply for participation in the Performance Partnership Pilots program (P3) authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, Division H, Section 526. The performance partnership pilots program is a project that seeks to identify cost effective, outcome-focused strategies at the state, regional and local level that support improved outcomes for disconnected youth (individuals between the ages of 14 and 24, who are low income and either homeless, in foster care, involved in the juvenile justice system, unemployed, or not enrolled in, or at risk of dropping out of an educational institution). The P3 program is particularly designed for organizations that have multiple sources of federal, state or private funding. More information about the P3 program and the application process may be found at http://findyouthinfo.gov/youth-topics/reconnecting-youth/performance-partnership-pilots.

B. Federal Award Information

OJJDP estimates that it will make as many as 10-ten awards of as much as $420,000 for an estimated total of $4,200,000.

The initial award period will be 36 months with the possibility of no-cost extensions for completion of the project, if necessary. Grantees may take as long as 12 months to complete their project planning. During the planning phase, grantees will have access to $50,000 for activities related to addressing the mandatory requirements and planning phase deliverables.

Once they complete the planning phase and OJJDP has approved satisfactory progress toward or completion of all deliverables, grantees will gain access to the remaining award balance. Grantees may then proceed into the implementation phase and complete project activities.

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 Award4

OJJDP expects to make any award from this solicitation in the form of a grant.

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 non-federal 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

4 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://findyouthinfo.gov/youth-topics/reconnecting-youth/performance-partnership-pilots http://findyouthinfo.gov/youth-topics/reconnecting-youth/performance-partnership-pilots

States and the “Internal Control Integrated Framework”, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

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

(c) Evaluate and monitor the non-federal entity's compliance with statute, regulations and the 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 non-federal 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.

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.

Pre-Agreement Cost Approvals. OJP does not typically approve pre-agreement 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% 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.5 The 2014 salary table for SES employees is available at www.opm.gov/salary-tables. Note: A recipient may compensate an

5 This limitation on use of award funds does not apply to the non-profit 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/14Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx 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.

D. Application and Submission Information http://ojp.gov/financialguide/PostawardRequirements/chapter15page1.htm http://ojp.gov/funding/index.htm

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, 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 or 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 the 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.

The abstract should briefly describe the project’s purpose, the population to be served, project partners, and the activities that the applicant will implement to achieve the http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12372.html 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. All project abstracts should follow the detailed template.

Permission to Share Project Abstract with the Public. It is unlikely that OJJDP will be able to fund all promising applications submitted under this solicitation, but it may have the opportunity to share information with the public regarding promising but unfunded applications, for example, through a listing on a webpage available to the public. This public posting would allow other possible funders to become aware of such proposals.

The abstract template asks applicants to indicate whether they give OJP permission to share their project abstract (including contact information) with the public. Granting (or failing to grant) this permission will not affect OJP’s funding decisions, and, if the application is not funded, granting permission will not guarantee that abstract information will be shared, nor will it guarantee funding from any other source.

Note: OJP may choose not to list a project that otherwise would have been included in a listing of promising but unfunded applications, should the abstract fail to meet the format and content requirements noted above and outlined in the project abstract template.

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 nature and scope of the problem that the program will address. The applicant should use data to provide evidence that the problem exists, demonstrate the size and scope of the http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/ProjectAbstractTemplate.pdf http://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/ProjectAbstractTemplate.pdf problem, and document the effects of the problem on the target population and the larger community. Applicants should describe the target population and any previous or current attempts to address the problem.

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. 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.

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.

The applicant should also include the proposed number of father’s that will be served during the project period.

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: Enroll 40 young fathers in prerelease services, enroll 40 young fathers in post-release services.)

Applicants should identify objectives regarding increases in positive parenting behaviors. This includes, but is not limited to:

homework assistance words of encouragement/support limit setting affection/hugging/praise family/child activities other behaviors that the applicant identifies.

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 who receive funding under this solicitation must provide data that measure the results of their work done under this solicitation. Further, section 211(d) of the Second Chance Act on “Strategic performance outcomes” requires that applicants “identify specific performance outcomes related to the long-term goal of stabilizing communities by reducing recidivism (using a measure that is consistent with the research undertaken by [BJS] under [42 USC 17551(b)(6)] and reintegrating offenders into the community.” 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. OJJDP will require award recipients to submit semiannual performance metrics of relevant data through the

Data Reporting Tool (DCTAT) located at www.ojjdp-dctat.org/. Performance measures for this solicitation are as follows:

Objective Performance Measure Description

Provide mentoring programs for young fathers.

Number of youth enrolled in the program.

Number of program youth matched with a mentor during the reporting period.

Total number of youth enrolled in the program during the reporting period.

Percentage of program youth matched with a mentor during the reporting period (A/B).

Number of youth completing program requirements.

Number of program youth who exited the program having completed program requirements during the reporting period.

Total number of program youth exited the program during the reporting period (either successfully or unsuccessfully).

Percentage (A/B).

Percentage of youth in matches meeting mentoring program requirements.

Enter the intended minimum length of the match in months.

Number of youth whose match met the intended minimum match length during the reporting period.

Number of youth whose match exceeded the intended minimum match length during the reporting period.

Number of youth who had matches that closed early during the reporting period.

Enter the intended minimum hours per month that mentors and mentees were expected to meet (match meetings).

Number of youth whose mentor/mentee match meetings met for the minimum number of hours during the reporting period.

http://www.ojjdp-dctat.org/

Number of youth whose mentor/mentee match meetings exceeded the minimum number of hours during the reporting period.

Number of youth whose mentor/mentee match meetings did not meet the minimum number of hours during the reporting period.

Provide targeted transitional and reentry services to support young fathers and responsible fatherhood.

Percentage of youth served with whom an evidence-based best practice model was used.

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 (Auto fill from 1A).

Percentage (A/B).

Number of comprehensive service assessments met.

Number of youth assessed as needing substance use counseling/ services during the reporting period.

Number of youth enrolled in substance use counseling/services during the reporting period.

Number of youth assessed as needing mental health services during the reporting period.

Number of youth enrolled in mental health services during the reporting period.

Number of youth assessed as needing housing services during the reporting period.

Number of youth who successfully found housing during the reporting period.

Other.

Number of released youth served by reentry program.

Number of youth enrolled in the reentry program during the reporting period.

Percentage of program youth who were adjudicated during the reporting period (short term/long term).

Number of program youth who exited the program 6–12 months ago and were recommitted to a juvenile residential facility as a result of a new adjudication during the reporting period.

Number of youth who exited the program 6–12 months ago and were sentenced to adult prison as a result of a new adjudication during the reporting period.

Number of youth who exited the program 6–12 months ago and were given some other sentence as a result of a new adjudication during the reporting period.

Number of program youth who exited the program 6–12 months ago and were tracked for new adjudications during this reporting period.

Percentage ((A+B+C)/D).

Percentage of program youth who had technical violations during the reporting period (short term).

Number of program youth who were committed to a juvenile residential facility as a result of a technical violation during the reporting period.

Number of youth who were sentenced to adult prison as a result of a technical violation during the reporting period.

Number of youth who received some other sentence as a result of a technical violation during the reporting period.

Number of program youth tracked for technical violations during this reporting period.

Percentage ((A+B+C)/D).

Percentage of program youth who earned their GED, completed high school, or finished occupational skill training.

Number of program youth served during the reporting period who completed their GED, high school diploma, or occupational skills training.

Total number of youth receiving services for target behavior during the reporting period.

Percentage (A/B).

Percentage of program youth who found employment.

Number of program youth who completed employment training or became employed during the reporting period.

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.

Total number of youth receiving services for target behavior during the reporting period.

Percentage (A/B).

Percentage of program youth who exhibited a change in targeted behaviors.

Number of program youth who exhibited a change in positive parenting behaviors. This includes changes in:

homework assistance words of encouragement/ support limit setting affection/hugging/praise family/child activities other.

Total number of program youth.

Percent (A/B).

Frequency with which program youth exhibited the targeted behavioral change.

The number of times in which program youth engaged positive parenting behaviors during the reporting…