OJJDP Grant for State and Local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Programs

OJJDP’s guiding philosophy is to enhance the welfare of America’s youth and broaden their opportunities for a better future. To bring these goals to fruition, OJJDP is leading efforts to transform the juvenile justice system into one that will Treat Children as Children; Serve Children at Home, With Their Families, in their Communities; and Open Up Opportunities for System-Involved Youth. OJJDP encourages all proposed applications that work with youth to highlight how the proposed program aligns with these priorities.

OJJDP envisions a juvenile justice system centered on the strengths, needs, and voices of youth and families. Young people and family members with lived experience are vital resources for understanding and reaching persons involved or at risk of involvement with youth-serving systems. OJJDP asks stakeholders to join us in sustainably integrating bold, transformative youth and family partnership strategies into our daily work. OJJDP believes in achieving positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities through meaningful engagement and active partnerships, ensuring they play a central role in collaboratively developing solutions.

Applicants must describe how their proposed project/program will integrate and sustain meaningful youth and family partnerships into their project plan and budget. Depending on the nature of an applicant’s proposed project, youth and family partnership could consist of one or more of the following:

Individual-level partnership in case planning and direct service delivery (before, during, and after contact with youth-serving systems).
Agency-level partnership (e.g., in policy, practice, and program development, implementation, and evaluation; staffing; advisory bodies; budget development).
System-level partnership (e.g., in strategic planning activities, system improvement initiatives, advocacy strategies, reform efforts).

Court appointed special advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers appointed by the family or juvenile court to advocate for the best interests of children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers ensure that the psychological, educational, and social needs of abused and neglected children in dependency courts are met and support the goal of achieving safe, stable, and permanent homes for these children. These volunteers work with child welfare professionals, educators, and service providers to ensure that judges have the information needed to make the best decisions for each child.

With this solicitation, OJJDP will select an organization to develop and administer a subgrants program for local and state CASA programs. Subgrantees will use their awards to initiate, sustain, and expand CASA programs and provide CASA services in communities where representation rates are low, the numbers of abused and neglected children are high, and service systems are not meeting the needs of families and children. State CASA organization subgrantees may use their awards to strengthen their capacity to provide services to local programs. The successful applicant will also provide training and technical assistance services to help subgrant applicants and sub-awardees apply for, implement, and administer their subawards over the life of the project period.

OJJDP’s guiding philosophy is to enhance the welfare of America’s youth and broaden their opportunities for a better future. To bring these goals to fruition, OJJDP is leading efforts to transform the juvenile justice system into one that will Treat Children as Children; Serve Children at Home, With Their Families, in their Communities; and Open Up Opportunities for System-Involved Youth. OJJDP encourages all proposed applications that work with youth to highlight how the proposed program aligns with these priorities.

OJJDP envisions a juvenile justice system centered on the strengths, needs, and voices of youth and families. Young people and family members with lived experience are vital resources for understanding and reaching persons involved or at risk of involvement with youth-serving systems. OJJDP asks stakeholders to join us in sustainably integrating bold, transformative youth and family partnership strategies into our daily work. OJJDP believes in achieving positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities through meaningful engagement and active partnerships, ensuring they play a central role in collaboratively developing solutions.

Applicants must describe how their proposed project/program will integrate and sustain meaningful youth and family partnerships into their project plan and budget. Depending on the nature of an applicant’s proposed project, youth and family partnership could consist of one or more of the following:

Individual-level partnership in case planning and direct service delivery (before, during, and after contact with youth-serving systems).
Agency-level partnership (e.g., in policy, practice, and program development, implementation, and evaluation; staffing; advisory bodies; budget development).
System-level partnership (e.g., in strategic planning activities, system improvement initiatives, advocacy strategies, reform efforts).

Court appointed special advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers appointed by the family or juvenile court to advocate for the best interests of children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers ensure that the psychological, educational, and social needs of abused and neglected children in dependency courts are met and support the goal of achieving safe, stable, and permanent homes for these children. These volunteers work with child welfare professionals, educators, and service providers to ensure that judges have the information needed to make the best decisions for each child.

With this solicitation, OJJDP will select an organization to develop and administer a subgrants program for local and state CASA programs. Subgrantees will use their awards to initiate, sustain, and expand CASA programs and provide CASA services in communities where representation rates are low, the numbers of abused and neglected children are high, and service systems are not meeting the needs of families and children. State CASA organization subgrantees may use their awards to strengthen their capacity to provide services to local programs. The successful applicant will also provide training and technical assistance services to help subgrant applicants and sub-awardees apply for, implement, and administer their subawards over the life of the project period.