OJJDP FY24 Youth Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program | O OJJDP 2024 172115

FAQs: OJJDP FY24 Youth Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program

What is the OJJDP FY24 Youth Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program?

It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) focused on improving how communities respond to young people involved with the juvenile justice system who also have mental health needs. The program centers on strengthening coordination between juvenile justice agencies and behavioral health systems to improve youth outcomes while supporting public safety goals.

What is the main goal of this grant?

The main goal is to strengthen cross-system collaboration so youth justice entities and behavioral health agencies/providers work together rather than in separate silos. The intent is to improve how youth needs are identified, how referrals to treatment happen, and how cases are handled when mental health and/or substance use concerns contribute to system involvement.

Who is the program intended to serve?

The program targets youth under age 18, as well as youth who may be older but are still under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system, when those youth have mental health disorders (MHD) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs).

What types of youth needs does the program focus on?

The focus is on mental health disorders (MHD) and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs) among youth who are involved with (or touch) the juvenile justice system.

What does "cross-system collaboration" mean in this program?

Cross-system collaboration means building partnerships and shared approaches between youth justice entities (such as juvenile courts, probation, and detention) and mental health/substance use agencies and providers. The emphasis is on coordinated processes for screening, assessment, planning, referrals, and case response.

What kinds of activities or approaches does the grant encourage?

Based on the program description, collaboration in practice often includes coordinated screening and assessment, shared service planning, smoother referral pathways to treatment, joint problem-solving among agencies, and efforts to reduce service gaps when youth move between community settings and justice supervision.

Is the grant focused on providing services directly, or improving systems?

The emphasis is on improving the way systems work together rather than providing services in isolation. The overall intent is earlier identification, more effective referrals, coordinated service delivery, and interventions that address underlying mental health and substance use issues in ways that can reduce justice involvement.

What category is this funding opportunity under?

The opportunity is categorized under Law, Justice and Legal Services.

What type of funding instrument is used?

This opportunity uses a grant funding instrument.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The associated CFDA number is 16.745.

How many awards does OJJDP expect to make?

OJJDP expected to make about 6 awards under this solicitation.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $650,000 per award.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O OJJDP 2024 172115.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on April 30, 2024.

What was the application closing date?

The original application closing date was June 18, 2024.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Are federally recognized tribes eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit or for-profit mental health organizations eligible to apply directly?

Only under specific conditions. Nonprofit or for-profit mental health organizations can apply only if (1) they are designated by the state mental health authority to provide services as a unit of state or local government, and (2) they include documentation that proves and supports that designation.

What documentation is required for a nonprofit or for-profit mental health organization to apply?

The solicitation states that these organizations must include documentation that proves and supports their designation by the state mental health authority to provide services as a unit of state or local government.

Why does the solicitation limit eligibility for non-governmental mental health organizations?

The stated purpose of the requirement is to ensure that non-governmental entities applying under this program are formally operating in a government-authorized capacity within the behavioral health system.

What types of juvenile justice agencies are relevant to this program?

The program description references youth justice entities such as juvenile courts, probation, detention, and related local or state justice agencies.

What is the core idea behind the program's approach?

The core idea is that better coordination between juvenile justice agencies and behavioral health systems can lead to better outcomes for youth while also supporting broader public safety goals.

What kinds of communities is this grant designed for?

The grant is designed for communities that want to build or deepen coordinated responses for justice-involved youth with significant behavioral health needs.

How does the program address transitions between community settings and justice supervision?

The program description notes that collaboration efforts often include reducing gaps in services when youth move between community settings and justice supervision.