PKG00248541-instructions..pdf

OMB No. 1121-0329 Approval Expires 12/31/2020

U.S. Department of Justice 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 the fiscal year (FY) 2019 Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting mentoring programs to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse (especially opioid abuse), victimization, and problem and high-risk behaviors such as truancy.

OJJDP FY 2019 Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative

Applications Due: April 22, 2019

Eligibility

Category 1—National Mentoring Programs. Eligible applicants are limited to national organizations, defined as organizations that have active chapters or subawardees in at least 45 states. Applicants must include a list of active chapters or subawardees and the states where they are located as an attachment to their application. For the purposes of this solicitation, 2 or more independent organizations that form a collaborative to meet the 45-state requirement do not satisfy OJJDP’s definition of a national organization. The organization’s national headquarters must submit the application. OJJDP encourages applicants to minimize their administrative costs in an effort to subaward at least 90 percent of this award to active chapters or subrecipients, located in at least 38 states, while at the same time allowing for effective subrecipient oversight.

Category 2—Multistate Mentoring Programs. Eligible applicants are limited to multistate organizations, defined as organizations that have operated an established mentoring program for at least 3 years and have active chapters or subawardees in at least 5 states but fewer than 45 states. Applicants must include a list of active chapters or subawardees and the states where they are located as an attachment to their application. For the purposes of this solicitation, two or more independent organizations that form a collaborative to meet the five-state requirement do not satisfy OJJDP’s definition of a multistate organization. The organization’s headquarters must submit the application.

Category 3—Mentoring Programs for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System.1

1 For the purposes of this solicitation, “youth involved in the juvenile justice system” refers to those youth who have been arrested or referred for intake to a public agency (state, tribal, city, or county) legally responsible for handling juvenile crime, delinquency, and youth in need of guidance, treatment, or rehabilitation due to problematic behavior (truancy, running away, ungovernable, etc.).

https://www.usdoj.gov/ https://ojp.gov/ https://www.ojjdp.gov/ https://www.ojjdp.gov/

OJJDP2019-15004

Eligible applicants are limited to private organizations (nonprofit organizations2 and for-profit organizations, including tribal nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations). Joint applications from two or more eligible applicants are welcome; however, one applicant must be clearly indicated as the primary applicant (for correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the others indicated as coapplicants.

To be eligible in Category 3, applicants must at the time of application:

Have operated an established mentoring program for at least 1 year.

Have a demonstrated partnership (via a memorandum of understanding) with a public agency legally responsible for handling juvenile crime and delinquency in a state, tribe, city, or county (hereafter referred to as juvenile justice agency).

Category 4—Mentoring Strategies for Youth Impacted by Opioids (Project Sites). Eligible applicants are limited to private organizations (nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations, including tribal nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and faith-based organizations). Joint applications from two or more eligible applicants are welcome; however, one applicant must be clearly indicated as the primary applicant (for correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the others indicated as coapplicants.

To be eligible in Category 4, applicants must at the time of application:

Have operated an established mentoring program for at least 1 year.

Have a demonstrated partnership (via a memorandum of understanding) with a public or private substance abuse treatment agency.

Category 5—Statewide and Regional Mentoring Initiative for Youth Impacted by Opioids.

Eligible applicants are limited to national organizations (as defined in Category 1), states (including territories), and federally recognized tribal governments as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Eligible applicants must provide mentoring services to youth who are 17 years old or younger at the time of admission to the program.

An organization that applies for funding in Category 1 may also be eligible to apply for Category 5, but is ineligible to apply for funds in Categories 2, 3, and 4. An organization that applies for funding in Category 2 may also apply to receive funds in Categories 3 and 4. Note the following:

OJJDP FY 2019 Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative

Category 1 National Mentoring Programs Funding limited to national organizations*

Category 2 Multistate Mentoring Programs Funding limited to multistate organizations*

Category 3 Mentoring Programs for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System

Funding limited to multistate and private organizations

Category 4 Mentoring Strategies for Youth Impacted by Opioids (Project Sites)

Funding limited to multistate and private organizations

2 See https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/OrganizationalRequirements.htm for additional information on demonstrating nonprofit status.

https://ojp.gov/funding/Explore/SolicitationRequirements/OrganizationalRequirements.htm

Category 5 Statewide and Regional Mentoring Initiative for Youth Impacted by Opioids

Funding limited to national organizations, states, and federally recognized tribes

*See above for full eligibility criteria.

All recipients and subrecipients (including any for-profit organization) must forgo any profit or management fee.

OJJDP may elect to fund applications submitted under this FY 2019 solicitation in future fiscal years, dependent on, among others considerations, the merit of the applications and the availability of appropriations.

Deadline

Applicants must register with Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html prior to submitting an application. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. eastern time (ET) on April 22, 2019.

To be considered timely, an application must be submitted by the application deadline using Grants.gov, and the applicant must have received a validation message from Grants.gov that indicates successful and timely submission. OJP urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours prior to the application due date to allow time for the applicant to receive validation messages or rejection notifications from Grants.gov, and to correct in a timely fashion any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.

OJP encourages all applicants 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.

Contact Information

For technical assistance with submitting an application, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 800–518–4726 or 606–545–5035, at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html, or at support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except on federal holidays.

An applicant that experiences unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond its control that prevent it from submitting its application by the deadline must email the National Criminal Justice Reference Service Response Center (Response Center) at grants@ncjrs.gov within 24 hours after the application deadline to request approval to submit its application after the deadline. Additional information on reporting technical issues appears 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 or TTY: 301–240–6310 (hearing impaired only) or by email at grants@ncjrs.gov. Response Center hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on the solicitation close date. General information on applying for OJJDP awards can be found at https://www.ojjdp.gov/funding/funding.html.

https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Grants-govInfo.htm https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html mailto:support@grants.gov mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov https://www.ojjdp.gov/funding/funding.html

Answers to frequently asked questions that may assist applicants are posted at https://www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2019/FAQ/MentOpps.pdf.

A preapplication webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. EST. This webinar will provide a detailed overview of the solicitation and allow an opportunity for interested applicants to ask questions. Preregistration is required for all participants. Registration information can be found here. OJJDP encourages potential applicants to review the solicitation and submit any questions they may have in advance of the webinar. Submit your questions to grants@ncjrs.gov with the subject as “Questions for OJJDP FY 2019 Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative Webinar.” Questions should be submitted no later than Monday, March 18, 2019.

Grants.gov number assigned to this solicitation: OJJDP-2019-15004

Release date: February 20, 2019 https://www.ojjdp.gov/grants/solicitations/FY2019/FAQ/MentOpps.pdf https://events-na8.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/1110525827/en/events/event/shared/default_template_simple/event_registration.html?connect-session=na8breezyqiayf6wzqqvt7u4&sco-id=2483582056&_charset_=utf-8 mailto:grants@ncjrs.gov

Contents A. Program Description

Overview

Program-Specific Information

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

Encouraging Program Investments in Economically Distressed Communities (Qualified Opportunity Zones)

B. Federal Award Information

Type of Award

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Budget Information

Cost Sharing or Match Requirement

Preagreement Costs (also known as Preaward Costs)

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

D. Application and Submission Information

What an Application Should Include

How To Apply

E. Application Review Information

Review 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

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552 and 5 U.S.C. 552a)

Provide Feedback to OJP

Appendix A: Performance Measures Table

Appendix B: Application Checklist

OJJDP FY 2019 Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative

CFDA #16.726

A. Program Description

Overview

This solicitation supports applicant organizations as they strengthen and/or expand their existing mentoring activities with active chapters or subawardees and/or other mentoring organizations.

Mentoring activities include direct one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types of mentoring services for at-risk and juvenile justice system-involved youth populations. Successful mentoring programs include matches between a mentor and one or more youth. Mentoring can take place in multiple and informal settings and in a school or program context.

Mentoring promotes positive behaviors, attitudes, and outcomes for youth and reduces risk factors associated with delinquency, victimization, self-harm, and juvenile justice system involvement, such as poor school attendance, school failure, and alcohol and drug abuse. It has been shown to improve academic performance and/or social or job skills, support behavioral or other personal development, and reduce consumption of alcohol and other drugs.3

However, one survey estimates that more than one in three young people never had an adult mentor of any kind while they were growing up.4 OJJDP supports the expansion of high-quality mentoring services for targeted youth across the country to help close this gap.

Statutory Authority: Any awards under this solicitation would be made under a statutory authority provided by an act appropriating funds for the Department of Justice for FY 2019.

Program-Specific Information

This program supports the implementation and delivery of one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types of mentoring services to youth populations that are at risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization, and juvenile justice system involvement through applicant mentoring organizations and their active chapters or subawardees. This program also supports enhancements to both improve access to and the impact of mentoring services. For the purposes of this solicitation, mentoring programs should support a structured relationship between an adult or trained peer and one or more youth. Successful applicants should implement programs that recognize and address the factors that can lead to or serve as a catalyst for delinquency or other problem behaviors in targeted youth, with a special emphasis on youth impacted by opioids. Enhancement of mentoring activities should create new opportunities for mentees’ achievement.

3 Office of Justice Programs. Mentoring Practice Profile. Available at CrimeSolutions.gov, https://www.crimesolutions.gov/PracticeDetails.aspx?ID=15.

4 Bruce, M., and Bridgeland, J. 2014. The Mentoring Effect: Young People’s Perspectives on the Outcomes and Availab ility of Mentoring. Washington, DC: Civic Enterprises with Hart Research Associates for MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership. Available at http://www.mentoring.org/mentoringeffect.

https://www.crimesolutions.gov/PracticeDetails.aspx?ID=15 http://www.mentoring.org/mentoringeffect

This solicitation offers five program categories and applicants must designate the category for which they are applying. An organization that applies for funding in Category 1 may also be eligible to apply for Category 5, but is ineligible to apply for funds in Categories 2, 3, and 4. An organization that applies for funding in Category 2 may also apply to receive funds in Categories 3 and 4. For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee. Applicants in all categories must initiate mentoring services to youth who are 17 years old or younger at the time of admission to the program.

Category 1—National Mentoring Programs. This category supports organizations with the widest reach and capacity to provide youth mentoring services across the country. Only national organizations are eligible to apply in this category. (For the definition of a national mentoring program, see the eligibility information above.) OJJDP encourages applicants to minimize their administrative costs in an effort to subaward at least 90 percent of this award to active chapters or subrecipients, located in at least 38 states, while at the same time allowing for effective subrecipient oversight.

Priority considerations for Category 1 include the following (applicants must describe how they will respond to these considerations in their application):

Target population. The target population should include those youth who are identified as being at risk for delinquency or victimization and/or are involved in the juvenile justice system. OJJDP requires applicants to develop and implement a plan to serve American

Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, both on and off reservations, with these grant funds. OJJDP strongly encourages applicants to target mentoring services that incorporate opportunities for youth and law enforcement engagement.

OJJDP also encourages applicants to consider how best to serve children of parents on active military duty, children of incarcerated parents, youth with disabilities, youth with opioid/substance abuse problems, and youth in rural5 communities. Mentoring programs serving these populations should highlight how the anticipated services would best support the unique needs of these populations, such as with key partnerships or specialized curricula.

At-risk youth. For the purposes of this solicitation, OJJDP defines at-risk youth as those youth who are most likely to engage in delinquent behavior, be victimized, and/or have a risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system because they possess certain predictive/correlative characteristics and/or reside in environments that have high rates of parental incarceration, community violence, drug markets, gang concentration, and failing schools. Risk factors for juvenile delinquency are multidimensional across individual, family, community, peer, and school factors. (For additional background on risk factors for juvenile delinquency, see the OJJDP Model Programs Guide Literature Review on Risk Factors.) Applicants should fully address how the behaviors, characteristics, factors, etc. identified for at-risk youth relate to involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Category 2—Multistate Mentoring Programs. This category supports youth mentoring services provided by organizations in at least 5 states but fewer than 45 states. Only multistate

5 Refer to https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf. “Rural” encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within an urban area.

https://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/litreviews/Risk%20Factors.pdf https://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg/litreviews/Risk%20Factors.pdf https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf organizations are eligible to apply in this category. For a definition of a multistate mentoring organization, see the eligibility information above.

Priority considerations for Category 2 include the following (applicants must describe how they

Broadest reach. Applicants should address how the proposed mentoring approach will reach a diverse and broad population of youth. OJJDP will consider the following factors in this determination: number of states where the applicant organization can show a history of providing mentoring services through subawards, number of states where the applicant organization proposes to use the awarded grant funds to provide mentoring services, number of program sites where the applicant organization can demonstrate a history of providing mentoring services through subawards, number of program sites where the applicant organization proposes to use the awarded grant funds to provide mentoring services, number of youth served, number of mentors recruited, and diversity in the youth being served.

Target population. The target population should include those youth who are identified as being at risk for delinquency or victimization and/or are involved in the juvenile justice system (see above for definition of at-risk youth). In addition, OJJDP strongly encourages applicants to target mentoring services that incorporate opportunities for youth and law enforcement engagement.

OJJDP also encourages applicants to consider how best to serve children of parents on active military duty, children of incarcerated parents, youth with disabilities, youth with opioid/substance abuse problems, and youth in rural6 communities. Mentoring programs serving these populations should highlight how the anticipated services would best support the unique needs of these populations, such as with key partnerships or specialized curricula.

Category 3—Mentoring Programs for Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System. This category seeks to support youth mentoring organizations that have a demonstrated partnership (via a memorandum of understanding) with a juvenile justice agency. See the eligibility section above for more information. The focus of this category is to provide mentoring services to those system-involved youth screened as being low risk to public safety by a juvenile justice agency as part of an overall diversion approach, with a goal of rehabilitation and accountability. The program is intended to be a resource for juvenile justice agency staff (i.e., probation officers) to make available to those youth on their caseload who are in need of and most appropriate for community-based supervision and/or diversion services.

Priority considerations for Category 3 include the following (applicants must describe how they

Target population. The priority target population includes those youth who are screened as being low risk to public safety by a juvenile justice agency. Services may also be provided to youth post-adjudication as part of an alternative-to-detention approach authorized by the court and supportive services while on probation or community supervision. Youth returning from residential placement who are under court

6 Refer to https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf. “Rural” encompasses all population, supervision and deemed low risk to public safety are eligible for these services. OJJDP also encourages applicants to consider youth with opioid/substance abuse problems and youth in rural7 communities as a part of the target population.

Demonstrated partnership. Applicant mentoring organizations must have established a formal relationship with a juvenile justice agency to be eligible for Category 3. Evidence of this formal relationship must be a fully executed memorandum of understanding between the agencies, and can be established specifically in response to this funding opportunity. However, agencies demonstrating existing relationships with a juvenile justice agency will receive priority consideration.

Youth and law enforcement engagement. OJJDP encourages applicant organizations to provide opportunities for youth and law enforcement engagement as part of their program model or approach. This can include using law enforcement personnel as mentors or creating activities where targeted youth have positive interactions with law enforcement personnel.

Applicants will develop and implement mentoring programs and strategies designed for youth referred to a juvenile justice agency. Applicants are expected to incorporate best practices in mentoring derived from research and related literature. Applicants are encouraged to consider a variety of mentoring approaches, such as one-on-one, group, student/peer, team, educational, and sports mentoring; professional development coaching; and other approaches best suited to meet the needs of the target population.

Category 4—Mentoring Strategies for Youth Impacted by Opioids (Project Sites). This category supports youth mentoring organizations that have a demonstrated partnership (via a memorandum of understanding) with a public or private substance abuse treatment agency.

See the eligibility section above for more information. The focus of this category is to provide mentoring services as part of a prevention, treatment, and supportive approach for those youth impacted by opioids. It is expected that mentoring organizations will develop and implement innovative mentoring approaches for this target population of youth. This may include a variety of practices, including but not limited to those informed by research on cognitive behavioral, contingency management, or any 12-step facilitation interventions and techniques. In addition, while funding may be used to support activities as part of the proposed mentoring model (i.e., recreational activities, skill-building activities for the youth focused on relapse prevention, drug prevention education, transportation, incidental costs for the mentor), it may not be used to fund direct service delivery as part of the model (i.e., mental health/substance abuse counselor, residential placement services).

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the estimated relapse rate for drug abuse treatment programs is between 40 and 60 percent. The increased stress of leaving treatment and returning to a home or community with multiple risk factors without adequate supports can contribute to relapse and additional criminal behavior.8 This category will use the impact of high-quality mentoring services to help prevent relapse and will provide training to mentors to understand the signs and symptoms of opioid abuse for those at risk of using opioids.

7 Refer to https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf. “Rural” encompasses all population, 8 Refer to https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2018/02/stressful-experiences-affect-likelihood-remission-drug-dependence-continued-drug-use-relapse.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2018/02/stressful-experiences-affect-likelihood-remission-drug-dependence-continued-drug-use-relapse https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/2018/02/stressful-experiences-affect-likelihood-remission-drug-dependence-continued-drug-use-relapse

Priority considerations for Category 4 include the following (applicants must describe how they

Target population. The priority target population must include those youth impacted by opioids. This includes youth who are currently using or have used opioids, youth at high risk for using opioids (i.e., presence of individual, family, and community risk factors for substance abuse), and youth with family members who are currently using or have used opioids. The goal of the mentoring and supportive services is to help prevent the youth from using opioids in the first place, ensure that youth who have used opioids are successful in their recovery efforts, and provide support and guidance to youth with family members who are currently using or have used opioids. To demonstrate how they are serving communities with highest need and targeting not only youth who are using or at high risk for using opioids but also those youth who are seriously impacted by parents or family members who are addicted to opioids, applicants could discuss how they will target those communities that have high per capita levels of primary treatment admissions for opioids.

Demonstrated partnership. Applicant mentoring organizations must have established a formal relationship with a public or private substance abuse treatment agency. Evidence of this formal relationship must be a fully executed memorandum of understanding between the agencies, and can be established specifically in response to this funding opportunity. However, agencies demonstrating existing relationships with a substance abuse treatment agency will receive priority consideration.

Rural communities. OJJDP is interested in expanding the presence of mentoring services in rural communities. For this category, priority will be given to those applicants that target services to youth in rural communities across the country as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the basis of the “Standards for Delineating Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas.”9

Category 5—Statewide and Regional Mentoring Initiative for Youth Impacted by Opioids.

This category will support a more broad-based approach to building mentoring program capacity in targeted regions throughout the country to help youth impacted by opioids. Only states, federally recognized tribes, and national organizations (as defined in Category 1) are eligible to apply for this category. Through this category, OJJDP is interested in supporting statewide or regional approaches to expanding mentoring services for these targeted youth. This may include states providing subgrants to mentoring organizations in particular regions (especially rural communities), tribes supporting various mentoring programs operating throughout a reservation, and national organizations funding active chapters or subrecipients in specific regions across the country (especially rural communities) with demonstrated high levels of opioid abuse. It is expected that mentoring organizations will develop and implement innovative mentoring approaches for this target population of youth. This may include a variety of practices, including but not limited to those informed by research on cognitive behavioral, contingency management, or any 12-step facilitation interventions and techniques. In addition, while funding may be used to support activities as part of the proposed mentoring model (i.e., recreational activities, skill-building activities for the youth focused on relapse prevention, drug prevention education, transportation, incidental costs for the mentor), it may not be used to fund

9 Refer to https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf. “Rural” encompasses all population, direct service delivery as part of the model (i.e., mental health/substance abuse counselor, residential placement services).

Priority considerations for Category 5 include the following (applicants must describe how they

Target population. The priority target population must include those youth impacted by opioids. This includes youth who are currently using or have used opioids, youth at high risk for using opioids (i.e., presence of individual, family, and community risk factors for substance abuse), and youth with family members who are currently using or have used opioids. The goal of the mentoring and supportive services is to help prevent the youth from using opioids in the first place, ensure that youth who have used opioids are successful in their recovery efforts, and provide support and guidance to youth with family members who are currently using or have used opioids. To demonstrate how they are serving communities with highest need and targeting not only youth who are using or at high risk for using opioids but also those youth who are seriously impacted by parents or family members who are addicted to opioids, applicants could discuss how they will target those communities that have high per capita levels of primary treatment admissions for opioids.

Rural communities. OJJDP is interested in expanding the presence of mentoring services in rural communities. For this category, priority will be given to those applicants that target services to youth in rural communities across the country as defined by OMB on the basis of the “Standards for Delineating Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas.”10

Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables

The program’s goal is to improve outcomes (such as improved academic performance and reduced school dropout rates) for at-risk and system-involved youth, and reduce negative outcomes (including juvenile delinquency, substance use, and gang participation) through mentoring. To achieve this goal, objectives focus on supporting eligible programs to (1) provide quality mentoring services tailored to the needs of the identified youth target population and (2) align grantees’ mentoring programs with research and evidence on effective mentoring practices.

OJJDP has identified the following program objectives:

1. Provide mentoring services tailored to the needs of the identified at-risk and system-involved youth populations. Applicants under all categories should describe the proposed target population(s) and identify in what way(s) they are at risk or system involved.

Successful applicants should implement programs that recognize and address the factors that can lead to or serve as a catalyst for delinquency, victimization, or involvement in the juvenile justice system (e.g., lack of education or employment opportunities, high-crime neighborhoods, lack of parental supervision). Applicants should:

a. Clearly define the target population(s).

10 Refer to https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-06-28/pdf/2010-15605.pdf. “Rural” encompasses all population,

b. Identify the risk factors and service needs associated with the target population(s).

c. Explain how the proposed mentoring approach will appropriately respond to the unique needs of the target population(s) in a way that is likely to promote positive outcomes.

2. Develop and implement program design enhancements that further align with research and evidence on effective mentoring approaches. Applicants should be responsive to the following areas:

a. Address each of the six areas of core practice standards listed in Elements of Effective

Practice for Mentoring,11 as highlighted on OJJDP’s National Mentoring Resource Center website, to explain the current mentoring approach being used by the mentoring organizations. These six practice areas are:

Recruitment.

Screening.

Training.

Matching and initiation.

Monitoring and support.

Closure.

b. Identify and implement program design enhancements in one or more of the six core practice areas to integrate additional evidence-based practices. This may include implementing changes to better align with the benchmarks identified in Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring; integrating findings from the programs, practices, and resources highlighted on the "What Works in Mentoring" section of the OJJDP National Mentoring Resource Center; or applying other similar types of research. Applicants should clearly identify the source of the research evidence they are using as the basis for the enhancement.

c. Address how the applicant will further promote family engagement as part of the program design or approach. Research indicates that mechanisms that support and involve parents in mentoring programs increase the chances for positive outcomes in the mentoring relationship.12 This includes but is not limited to discussing how families will be engaged in an orientation process, receiving program information, understanding expectations, assisting with any substance abuse treatment recommendations, and participating in specific activities that the mentoring organization hosts or that provide additional outreach to parents. Parents include both official and unofficial caretakers.

The Goals, Objectives, and Deliverables are directly related to the performance measures that demonstrate the results of the work completed, as discussed in Section D. Application and Submission Information, under Program Narrative.

11 Mentor. Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, 4th edition. Available at http://www.mentoring.org/images/uploads/Final_Elements_Publication_Fourth.pdf.

12 Dubois, D.L., Holloway, B.E., Valentine, J.C., and Cooper, H. 2002. Effectiveness of Mentoring Programs for Youth: A Meta-Analytic Review. American Journal of Community Psychology 30(2):157–197.

http://www.nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org/index.php/what-works-in-mentoring/elements-of-effective-practice-for-mentoring.html http://www.nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org/index.php/what-works-in-mentoring/elements-of-effective-practice-for-mentoring.html http://www.nationalmentoringresourcecenter.org/index.php/what-works-in-mentoring/elements-of-effective-practice-for-mentoring.html http://www.mentoring.org/images/uploads/Final_Elements_Publication_Fourth.pdf

Evidence-Based Programs or Practices

OJP strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policymaking 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.

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 website at https://www.crimesolutions.gov and the OJJDP Model Programs Guide website are two resources that applicants may use to find information about evidence-based programs in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services.

Information Regarding Potential Evaluation of Programs and Activities

The Department of Justice has prioritized the use of evidence-based programming and deems it critical to continue to build and expand the evidence informing criminal and juvenile justice programs to reach the highest level of rigor possible. Therefore, applicants should note that OJP may conduct or support an evaluation of the programs and activities funded under this solicitation. Recipients and subrecipients will be expected to cooperate with program-related assessments or evaluation efforts, including through the collection and provision of information or data requested by OJP (or its designee) for the assessment or evaluation of any activities and/or outcomes of those activities funded under this solicitation. The information or data requested may be in addition to any other financial or performance data already required under this program.

Encouraging Program Investments in Economically Distressed Communities (Qualified Opportunity Zones)

Under this program for Categories 3 and 4, OJP will, as appropriate, give priority consideration in award decisions to applications that propose projects that directly benefit federally designated Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs).13 In order to assist OJP in considering this factor, applicants for Categories 3 and 4 should include information in the application that specifies how the project will enhance public safety in the specified QOZs. For resources on QOZs, and for a current list of designated QOZs, see the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s resource webpage at https://www.cdfifund.gov/pages/opportunity-zones.aspx.

13 See Public Law 115–97, Title I, Subtitle C, Part IX, Subpart B, Sec. 13823.

https://www.crimesolutions.gov/ https://www.crimesolutions.gov/ http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg http://www.ojjdp.gov/mpg https://www.cdfifund.gov/pages/opportunity-zones.aspx

B. Federal Award Information

Under Category 1, an application may be for a period of performance of as long as 3 years. The requested award amount should cover the entire proposed period of performance and be based on the allowable costs associated with the program, including but not limited to the costs of planning and implementing the proposed program. OJJDP encourages applicants to minimize their administrative costs in an effort to subaward at least 90 percent of this award to active chapters or subrecipients, located in at least 38 states, while at the same time allowing for effective subrecipient oversight. Based on the availability of funding, OJJDP may request that an applicant selected for funding reduce their proposed budget. OJJDP plans to make up to five awards in this category.

Under Category 2, an application may be for a period of performance of as long as 3 years.

Applicants that meet the minimum requirement of having active chapters or subawardees in at least five states may request as much as $2 million, and those applicants that demonstrate the broadest reach (as detailed above) may request as much as $4 million. See the priority considerations for Category 2 listed on pages 7–8. The requested award amount should cover the entire proposed period of performance and be based on the cost of implementing the proposed program. Based on the availability of funding, OJJDP may request that an applicant selected for funding reduce their proposed budget. OJJDP plans to make up to twelve awards in this category.

Under Category 3, an applicant may request as much as $500,000 for a period of performance of as long as 3 years. The requested award amount should cover the entire proposed period of performance and be based on the cost of implementing the proposed program. Based on the availability of funding, OJJDP may request that an applicant selected for funding reduce their proposed budget. OJJDP plans to make up to nine awards in this category.

Under Category 4, an applicant may request as much as $500,000 for a period of performance of as long as 3 years. The requested award amount should cover the entire proposed period of performance and be based on the cost of implementing the proposed program. Based on the availability of funding, OJJDP may request that an applicant selected for funding reduce their proposed budget. OJJDP plans to make up to nine awards in this category.

Under Category 5, an applicant may request as much as $1,250,000 for a period of performance of as long as 3 years. The requested award amount should cover the entire proposed period of performance and be based on the cost of implementing the proposed program. Based on the availability of funding, OJJDP may request that an applicant selected for funding reduce their proposed budget. OJJDP plans to make up to six awards in this category.

When making final award decisions, OJJDP will consider geographic coverage; the provision of services to specific populations, including rural and tribal communities; and the peer review results. OJJDP expects to award grant funds under this solicitation no later than September 30, 2019.

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 Award

OJJDP expects to make any award under this solicitation in the form of a grant. See Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements, under Section F. Federal Award Administration Information, for a brief discussion of important statutes, regulations, and award conditions that apply to many (or in some cases, all) OJP grants.

Financial Management and System of Internal Controls

Award recipients and subrecipients (including recipients or subrecipients that are pass-through entities14) must, as described in the Part 200 Uniform Requirements15 as set out at 2 C.F.R.

200.303:

(a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that [the recipient (and any subrecipient)] 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).

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

(c) Evaluate and monitor [the recipient’s (and any subrecipient’s)] compliance with statutes, 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 recipient (or any subrecipient)] considers sensitive consistent with applicable Federal, state, local, and tribal laws regarding privacy and obligations of confidentiality.

To help ensure that applicants understand the applicable administrative requirements and cost principles, OJP encourages prospective applicants to enroll, at no charge, in the DOJ Grants Financial Management Online Training, available at https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/. (This training is required for all OJP award recipients.)

Also, applicants should be aware that OJP collects information from applicants on their financial management and systems of internal controls (among other information), which is used to make

14 For purposes of this solicitation, the phrase “pass-through entity” includes any recipient or subrecipient that provides a subaward ("subgrant”) to a subrecipient (subgrantee) to carry out part of the funded award or program.

Additional information on proposed subawards is listed under What an Application Should Include, Section D of this solicitation.

15 The "Part 200 Uniform Requirements” means the DOJ regulation at 2 C.F.R . Part 2800, which adopts (with certain modifications) the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

https://ojpfgm.webfirst.com/ award decisions. Under Section D. Application and Submission Information, applicants may access and review a questionnaire – the OJP Financial Management and System of Internal Controls Questionnaire – that OJP requires all applicants (other than an individual applying in his/her personal capacity) to download, complete, and submit as part of the application.

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.

For additional information on cost sharing and match requirements, see the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.3b.htm.

Preagreement Costs (also known as Preaward Costs) Preagreement costs are costs incurred by the applicant prior to the start date of the period of performance of the federal award.

OJP does not typically approve preagreement costs; an applicant must request and obtain the prior written approval of OJP for all such costs. All such costs incurred prior to award and prior to approval of the costs are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant. (Generally, no applicant should incur project costs before submitting an application requesting federal funding for those costs.) Should there be extenuating circumstances that make it appropriate for OJP to consider approving preagreement costs, the applicant may contact the point of contact listed on the title page of this solicitation for the requirements concerning written requests for approval. If approved in advance by OJP, award funds may be used for preagreement costs, consistent with the recipient’s approved budget and applicable cost principles. See the section on Costs Requiring Prior Approval in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide at https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm 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, a recipient may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation (salary plus cash bonuses) to any employee of the 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.16 The 2019 salary table for SES employees is available on the Office of Personnel Management website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/19Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx. Note: A recipient may compensate an employee at a greater rate, provided the amount in excess of this compensation limitation is paid with nonfederal funds. (Nonfederal funds used for any such additional compensation will not be considered matching funds, where match requirements apply.) If only a portion of an employee's time is charged to an OJP award, the maximum allowable compensation is equal to the percentage of time worked times the maximum salary limitation.

The Assistant Attorney General for OJP may exercise discretion to waive, on an individual basis, this limitation on compensation rates allowable under an award. An applicant that

16 OJP does not apply this limitation on the use of award funds to the nonprofit organizations listed in Appendix VIII to 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf https://ojp.gov/funding/Apply/Resources/FinancialCapability.pdf https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/PostawardRequirements/chapter3.3b.htm https://ojp.gov/financialguide/DOJ/index.htm https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/19Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/19Tables/exec/html/ES.aspx requests a waiver should include a detailed justification in the budget narrative of its application.

An applicant that does not submit a waiver request and justification with its application should anticipate that OJP will require the applicant to adjust and resubmit the budget.

The justification should address—in the context of the work the individual would do under the award—the particular qualifications and expertise of the individual, the uniqueness of a service the individual will provide, the individual’s specific knowledge of the proposed program or project, and a statement that explains whether and how the individual’s salary under the award would be commensurate with the regular and customary rate for an individual with his/her qualifications and expertise, and for the work he/she would do under the award.

Prior Approval, Planning, and Reporting of Conference/Meeting/Training Costs OJP strongly encourages every applicant that proposes to use award funds for any…