OJJDP FY 18 Second Chance Act Ensuring Public Safety and Improving Outcomes for Youth in Confinement and While Under Community Supervision | OJJDP 2018 13546

Opportunity Information: Apply for OJJDP 2018 13546

The OJJDP FY 18 Second Chance Act grant opportunity, titled "Ensuring Public Safety and Improving Outcomes for Youth in Confinement and While Under Community Supervision" (Funding Opportunity Number OJJDP 2018 13546), is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. It is designed to strengthen juvenile reentry and community supervision efforts by supporting practical, evidence-informed strategies that reduce reoffending and improve youth outcomes as they transition from secure confinement back into the community or remain under probation supervision. The overall focus is on addressing complex needs that commonly drive continued system involvement, especially behavioral health challenges and gang involvement, while also improving the quality and consistency of community supervision practices.

At the core of this solicitation is funding for reentry strategies that connect youth to meaningful services and supports at critical transition points. The program emphasizes three priority areas: (1) treatment services for youth with co-occurring substance use problems and mental health disorders, (2) targeted reentry services for gang-involved youth, and (3) training and technical assistance aimed at reviewing, enhancing, and professionalizing community supervision practices for juveniles on probation or returning from confinement. By combining service delivery with system improvement and capacity-building, the opportunity seeks to improve both public safety and long-term youth well-being, rather than relying on surveillance or short-term interventions alone.

The solicitation is organized into three distinct grant categories. Category 1, "Implementing Evidence-Based Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Services," supports programs that deliver proven or well-supported interventions for youth who have both substance use issues and mental health disorders. This category reflects the reality that many justice-involved youth present with overlapping behavioral health needs, and that treating one issue in isolation often leads to poor outcomes. Funding under this category is intended to help jurisdictions and providers implement interventions that are evidence-based, structured, and measurable, with an emphasis on continuity of care during and after confinement and on linking youth to appropriate community-based treatment options.

Category 2, "Reentry Antigang Strategies and Programs," focuses on youth who are gang-involved or at high risk of gang involvement and who are reentering the community. The intent is to support reentry plans that reduce gang-related risk factors, interrupt pathways back into group-driven violence or criminal activity, and connect youth to pro-social alternatives and credible support systems. While the solicitation summary does not list specific models, the category clearly prioritizes reentry approaches that are targeted, coordinated, and responsive to the unique risks and pressures faced by gang-involved youth, including safety planning, mentoring or credible messenger approaches where appropriate, family engagement, and connections to education, employment, and community supports.

Category 3, "Community Supervision Review and Enhancement Training and Technical Assistance," is aimed at improving how juvenile probation and related supervision agencies operate, particularly for youth placed on probation or released from secure confinement. Rather than primarily funding direct services to youth, this category emphasizes training and technical assistance to help agencies assess and upgrade their supervision practices. The goal is to promote approaches that are more effective, consistent, and developmentally appropriate, including improvements in case planning, the use of risk and needs information, coordination with service providers, and strategies that enhance compliance and positive youth development instead of relying on punitive responses that may increase violations and deeper system involvement.

In terms of funding details, awards under this opportunity have an award ceiling of $1,000,000, and OJJDP anticipated making approximately 5 awards. The program is listed under CFDA 16.812, which is associated with Second Chance Act funding. The solicitation was created on March 30, 2018, with an original closing date of May 24, 2018, indicating this was a competitive funding round with a defined application window.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple types of entities positioned to lead juvenile justice improvements or provide reentry services. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); small businesses; and other eligible entities as clarified in the solicitation's additional eligibility guidance. This range suggests OJJDP anticipated applications from juvenile justice agencies, community-based service providers, research or evaluation partners, and cross-sector collaborations that bring together supervision agencies, behavioral health providers, and community organizations.

Overall, this grant opportunity is structured to fund tangible improvements in juvenile reentry and supervision by focusing on high-need populations and on system practices that shape outcomes. By targeting co-occurring behavioral health needs, gang-involved youth reentry challenges, and the quality of probation and post-release supervision, the program aims to reduce recidivism, improve stability and functioning for youth returning to the community, and support safer communities through strategies that are evidence-based and oriented toward long-term success.

• The Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJJDP FY 18 Second Chance Act Ensuring Public Safety and Improving Outcomes for Youth in Confinement and While Under Community Supervision" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 30, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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