Juvenile Diversion FY 2027.docx

MPS Diversion Pilot Grant: Juveniles and Emerging Adults (Ages 18 to 24) from Criminal Justice

The Massachusetts Probation Service A Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Diverting Children, Adolescents and Young Adults from Criminal Justice System Involvement

Entity:

Massachusetts Trial Court Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Address:

One Ashburton Place Room 405 Boston, MA 02108

RFR File Name/Title:

Diverting Children, Adolescents and Young Adults from Criminal Justice System Involvement

Bid # Bid BD-27-1107-TCOCP-TCOCP-131283

Primary Contact Person:

Michael Coelho, Deputy Commissioner for Program Services 617-727-5300

Purpose: The Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS) seeks to fund several Massachusetts cities and towns, acting either individually or in concert, to pilot or expand multidisciplinary approaches to diversion of children, adolescent and/or young adults formally entering the criminal justice system. This means funding community-based activities that intervene prior to the execution of an arrest or an arraignment through coordinated programs of prevention and/or alternative case processing.

This solicitation is focused on services delivered to clients. That is, MPS seeks to fund activities, projects or programs that can claim a direct diversionary impact on identifiable individuals through their operation. Successful proposals must provide a method of identifying these individuals within the limitations of confidentiality. Proven or promising programming delivered in innovative ways will be the critical factor in successful grant applications and in possible future renewals of funding.

As with all state funding, future rounds will be subject to appropriation of funds.

Target population(s): The pilot is intended to prevent juveniles (ages 11 to 18) and/or emerging adults (ages 18 to 24) from penetrating into the criminal justice system. The grant will fund efforts targeted to at-risk population(s) and their families.

Eligible Applicant(s): One or more Massachusetts cities and towns, either as the fiscal agent for a community based organization or as the direct services provider.

NOTE: in the past, MPS required that a single local governmental unit must act as the sole fiscal agent for the proposed programs and services. Police, public health, school and other local governmental departments were the only ones eligible to serve as lead applicants.

GRANT CHANGE Effective for FY2027 (Regarding Eligibility): Community based providers can function as the lead applicant, as long as they partner via a Memorandum of Understanding with a unit of local government to function as the fiscal agent- District Attorney’s office, Public Health Department, Police Department, School Department, etc. Local Units of Government can still also apply as the lead, and partner with a community-based provider, as previously awarded.

General Project Description: The MPS announces a competitive grant program to be administered by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation to cities and towns and community based providers, acting either individually or in concert, to pilot or expand multidisciplinary approaches to divert juveniles and emerging adults from the juvenile and criminal justice systems prior to arrest or arraignment. We seek to fund coordinated programs for prevention and intervention serving youths and their families, such as:

(a) connecting youth to mental health services;

(b) providing youth development activities and mentoring;

(c) engaging youth with their communities;

(d) promoting school safety, family home visits, juvenile diversion programs and restorative justice and mediation programs; and

(e) providing assistance for families and schools to navigate the legal system.

The grant encourages eligible applicants to partner with nonprofit organization(s) to provide programs and services.

Award limits: We anticipate making several awards of $50,000 to $100,000 for a total of $500,000. No project will be funded for more than $100,000. This funding may be used to start new programs or to enhance ongoing programs that have already been funded. Services may be delivered for a one-year project period from the date the contract is signed. Entities that receive a grant will be eligible to apply for continuation or expansion if funding is available. NOTE: Administrative costs for successful grant applications shall not exceed FIVE per cent (5%) of the value of the grant.

Timetable: The following schedule of events for this RFR identifies the key events and deadlines for this process, some of which are set forth in more detail in the sections that follow:

DATE EVENT

Awards to be made on a rolling basis as applications are received until the appropriation has been fully allocated.

RFP Closes October 16, 2026, or earlier if all funds have been awarded.

*The MPS reserves the right to amend or delay any of the dates or times reflected above as well as any other timeframes or deadlines referenced throughout this solicitation, if such a change is in the best interests of the MPS and the Trial Court.

**MPS will make awards on a rolling basis as applications are received, after scoring and determining appropriateness of the grant proposal and that minimum grant requirements are met.

Correspondence: All correspondence including Vendor Inquiries and Vendor Proposals related to this RFR should be submitted through the Bid Q&A Tool on COMMBUYS Selection Criteria: The Office of the Commissioner of Probation shall give preference to applications that:

(i) Have received funding in prior years;

(ii) clearly outline a comprehensive plan for municipalities to collaborate with law enforcement, schools, community-based organizations and government agencies to address juvenile delinquency and emerging adult crime;

(iii) include written commitments of municipalities, law enforcement agencies, schools, community-based organizations and government agencies to collaborate;

(iv) utilize evidence based or a promising practice in their approach.

(v) Community based providers engaged in new or promising activities can provide preliminary data on positive outcomes or early successes.

(vi) Provide a grant application that clearly identifies:

1. Target population(s) to be impacted,

2. Effort/activities - activities to be undertaken by applicant,

3. Evidence of performance - quality of effort undertaken by applicant,

4. Outcome(s) - products or results of identified effort,

5. Milestone mapping - progress toward expected impact(s) expressed in clear, realistic milestones, and

6. Expected impact(s) - on the target population(s) identified with baseline and expected change to be achieved within the timeframe of the project scope.

Example, for illustration purposes only:

1. Target population – 20 at risk girls in two middle schools identified based on involvement in the school discipline process.

2. Effort/activities – deliver community based, one on one therapeutic mentoring services focused on creating healthy relationships with supportive adults, increasing resiliency, and increasing knowledge of and engagement with the community.

3. Evidence of performance of effort(s) – contract signed and 4 mentors will be recruited, trained and on site serving 20 identified clients by X date.

4. Outcome(s) – 20 at risk middle school girls will receive high quality one on one mentoring services based in the community.

5. Milestone mapping of projected progress toward expected impact(s):

a. Expected award April 1

b. Six-week recruitment followed by

c. Two-week training (May 1 through May 14),

d. Clients identified and assigned June 15.

e. Pretest base-lining of knowledge and attitudes by June 30.

f. Service span July 1 through Dec 31

g. Posttest of knowledge and attitude by January

6. Expected impact(s) – 20 at risk middle school girls will engage in a six-month supporting and health mentoring relationship with an adult, demonstrate measurable increases in their resiliency to resist engaging in antisocial activities, as well as increased engagement with their community. Success will be measured by reduced school disciplinary issues, higher scores on the resiliency scale, and increased connection to positive recreational and learning activities in the community.

Application process:

Official Publication Solicitation and Related Documents:

The Commonwealth Procurement and Solicitation System (“COMMBUYS”) – http://www.commBUYS.com is the Commonwealth’s sole online procurement record site. All clarifications, notifications, addenda or other document or information related to this solicitation are officially published through the COMMBUYS website. Hardcopy communications from MPS to any vendor is provided as a courtesy. Vendors should access the COMMBUYS website frequently for official communications related to this solicitation from the MPS.

***BID SUBMISSION DEADLINE***

Rolling Applications accepted until October 16, 2026 Electronic Notification for Grant Award Decisions

The Massachusetts Probation Service will establish a grants application review committee to make the final selection(s) based on the applications deemed to provide the strongest response to the preferred selection criteria (above). All decisions are final. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application. The MPS reserves the right to make no award, one award or more awards based on the strengths of the applications received.

If your application is successful, the MPS will notify you via an electronic Grant Award Notification e-mail with directions on next steps. The email will be sent to the email you provide as that of the project director and certifying municipal representative. It is crucial that your application include correct email addresses for both the project director and certifying representative.

Applications must include the following:

1.) Cover letter 2.) Cover Sheet 3.) Application Narrative 4.) Budget Summary Page 5.) Budget Narrative 6.) Commitments of active partnership and participation 7.) Support Letters 8.) Appendices:

· Any supportive materials directly related to the project and referenced in the Application Narrative.

Additional mandatory documents per application:

· Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

· Contractor Authorized Signatory “CASL” form Mandatory documents submitted through Commbuys to complete the application must be done a 1 (one), or single upload.

Application process (continued)

A Department of the Massachusetts Trial Court Pilot Grant: Diverting Juveniles and Emerging Adults from Criminal Justice System Involvement

GRANT APPLICATION COVER SHEET

Project Title:

Date Submitted:

Applicant (Municipality Acting as Fiscal Agent):

Contact Information:

Authorizing Individual’s Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Office Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Fiscal Agent of Applicant Contact Information:

Individual’s Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Office Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Project Director Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Active Project Partner Individual(s)/Community Based Organization(s) funded through this grant

Partner 1 Agency/Individual Name Contact Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Partner 2 Agency/Individual Name Contact Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip Partner 3 Agency/Individual Name Contact Name:

Prefix First Middle Initial Last Title:

Email: Telephone Number:

Mailing Address:

Municipality/Agency (Municipal or Non Profit) Affiliation Address 1 Address 2 City/Town State Zip

Total Amount Requested

APPLICATION NARRATIVE

BUDGET SUMMARY PAGE:

1. Personnel – Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

2. Fringe Benefits

3. Travel – in-state mileage only at State rate - .55/mile

4. Supplies - Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

5. Contractual - Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

6. Other - Total (Itemize in budget narrative)

7. Total Direct Costs

8. Allowable 5% administrative costs (.05 X Total Direct Costs)

9. Total Application Amount Requested (Item 7 + Item 8)

BUDGET NARRATIVE

Note: include description of matched and in-kind contributions.