OJJDP FY24 Child Abuse Training for Judicial and Court Personnel | O OJJDP 2024 172082

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the OJJDP FY24 Child Abuse Training for Judicial and Court Personnel grant?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). It is intended to strengthen how courts handle child abuse and neglect cases by supporting training and technical assistance (TTA) and by encouraging improvements in court operations and administration.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to improve day-to-day judicial practice and broader juvenile and family court operations in child abuse and neglect matters. The opportunity supports skill-building for key professionals and emphasizes reforms that improve court procedures, consistency, and overall system performance in child welfare-related cases.

Who is the grant designed to help (target audience)?

The primary audience includes the professionals who most directly shape outcomes in child abuse and neglect cases, especially judges, court personnel, and attorneys working in juvenile and family courts.

What types of activities does the grant support?

Based on the description provided, supported activities include training and technical assistance (TTA) for judicial and court professionals and efforts that promote administrative reform within juvenile and family courts to improve procedures and system performance in abuse and neglect cases.

Does the opportunity focus only on training, or also on court reforms?

It covers both. In addition to practitioner skill-building and guidance, it emphasizes administrative reform within juvenile and family courts, aiming to improve procedures, consistency, and overall performance in child welfare-related matters.

What is meant by "training and technical assistance (TTA)" in this opportunity?

TTA refers to training, guidance, and support intended to strengthen professional practice and improve how courts and related professionals handle child abuse and neglect proceedings. The opportunity specifically highlights TTA for judges, court personnel, and attorneys, and it also expects experience providing TTA to child welfare personnel and lay child advocates.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates a more hands-on partnership between the recipient and the federal agency than a standard grant.

How many awards does OJJDP expect to make?

The solicitation anticipates making a single award.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $4,500,000.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The program is listed under CFDA number 16.757.

How is this opportunity categorized?

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

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on April 22, 2024.

What was the application deadline?

The original application deadline was June 10, 2024.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is narrowly defined. Applicants are limited to organizations that (1) have broad membership among juvenile and family court judges and (2) can demonstrate substantial experience providing training and technical assistance to judges and attorneys, as well as to child welfare personnel and lay child advocates.

Why is eligibility restricted to judge-membership organizations with national reach?

The eligibility requirement reflects the program's intent to fund a nationally positioned, judge-connected organization capable of delivering credible, widely adopted training and reform support across jurisdictions, while also working effectively with the broader child welfare and court community involved in abuse and neglect cases.

What kinds of professional groups must the applicant have experience supporting?

The applicant must be able to demonstrate substantial experience providing training and technical assistance to judges and attorneys, and also to child welfare personnel and lay child advocates.

What court systems are emphasized in this opportunity?

The opportunity emphasizes juvenile and family courts, particularly in relation to child abuse and neglect cases and broader child welfare-related matters.

What outcomes is OJJDP trying to improve through this grant?

The overall goal is a more effective and responsive judicial approach to protecting children and ensuring that abuse and neglect cases are handled with appropriate expertise, coordination, and administrative capacity. The opportunity also aims to improve decision-making, case handling, and court processes.

How does this grant aim to improve case handling in child abuse and neglect matters?

It supports targeted education and guidance for the professionals most directly involved in these cases, along with system-level improvements and administrative reforms intended to strengthen procedures and consistency across juvenile and family courts.