Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program (Discretionary Grants)

The purpose of the Title V Competitive SRAE Program is to fund projects to implement education exclusively on sexual risk avoidance that teaches youth participants to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity. Title V Competitive SRAE is a

The purpose of the Title V Competitive SRAE Program is to fund projects to implement education exclusively on sexual risk avoidance that teaches youth participants to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity. Title V Competitive SRAE is a prevention education program targeted to youth ages 10 to 19.

Eligible applicants for FY2024 awards are limited to local organizations and entities or consortia with the capacity to develop and implement Title V Competitive SRAE projects in states and territories that did not accept Title V State SRAE funding. Applicants located in and/or proposing to manage a project from an ineligible state cannot propose a project that serves an eligible state. Funds are not available for FY2024 new awards in Delaware, Kansas, North Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands as a portion of FY2024 allocations will be used to fund the second year of the two-year project of competitive grants awarded in FY2023. Eligible applicants for FY2024 new awards are organizations and entities, including faith-based organizations or consortia, in the following states and territories: Alaska, California, Connecticut, D.C., Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and New Mexico.

The beneficiaries include youth ages 10-19 years. Title V Competitive SRAE Program may target services to vulnerable youth populations to include, but not limited to, the following: youth living in under-resourced regions and areas with high rates of teen births and STIs; culturally underrepresented youth populations, especially Hispanic, African American, or Native American teenagers; youth in or aging out of foster care or adjudication systems; youth who are victims of trafficking; youth who have runaway or left home without permission; youth experiencing homelessness; youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, and/or two spirit (LGBTQIA2S+), and other vulnerable or underserved youth populations. The needs of LGBTQIA2S+ youth are taken into consideration in recipient's program design.

Non-profit organizations must submit proof of non-profit status. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

The Title V Competitive SRAE discretionary grant program supports funding to projects that provide educational services for youth ages 10 to 19 that normalizes the optimal health behavior of avoiding non-marital sexual activity. Title V Competitive SRAE Programs are designed to teach youth the benefits associated with personal responsibility; self-regulation; goal setting; healthy decision-making; focusing on the future; and preventing youth risk behaviors such as underage drinking and illicit drug use.

Discretionary awards will have a 24-month project period with two 12-month budget periods. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Recipients are notified that funds have been awarded through a Notice of Award (NoA) issued by the Administration for Children and Families.

Applicants may find and apply to Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) on https://www.grants.gov.

The criteria for selecting proposals will be published in the NOFO .

Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process. After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider them when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description section and in the Application Review section of the NOFO. For example, ACF may reserve the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations, including those populations located in pockets of poverty. In addition, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering the geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

See the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for deadline information.

Applications recommended for approval in the merit review process, but not selected for award, may receive funding if additional funds become available in the current Fiscal Year. For those applications determined as "approved but unfunded," notice will be given of the determination by email.

Non-Competing Continuation (NCC) applications are required to request award funds for each new budget period of the project period, and to ensure that proposed programmatic activities are consistent with the scope of the NOFO. Non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with award terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. The recipient will receive notification through the Grant Solutions system when the Non-Competing Continuation Application is available for completion. The recipient must submit a Non-Competing Continuation packet through Grant Solutions by the due date indicated.

There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. For existing recipients, appeals regarding disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A .