U.S. Department of Justice: Juvenile Justice Emergency Planning Demonstration Program

Emergencies, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, and floods can occur anytime and anywhere. All juvenile justice residential facilities need plans to prepare for, respond to, and recover from these emergencies to restore essential services and operations following an emergency. Other common emergencies include wildfires, hazardous material spills, extreme heat and cold, tsunamis, landslides, terrorist threats, civil unrest, nuclear accidents, aircraft accidents, war-related disasters, utility failures, hostage crises, bomb threats, and public health and medical emergencies. Juvenile justice emergency plans enable residential facilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from these incidents while protecting the youth in their care, keeping families informed, supporting the staff who provide essential services, and ensuring continuity of operations for the community. Emergency planning for juvenile facilities takes on even greater significance because children are among the most vulnerable population in disasters, and protecting them from physical harm and trauma is essential.

In general, funds may be used to cover costs associated with ensuring that the facility is prepared to maintain efficient continuation of operations, the reduction of risk to the physical plant, and, most importantly, the safety and well-being of youth and staff in juvenile justice residential facilities. Examples of activities that may be funded through this solicitation include, but are not limited to:

• Establishing and facilitating a planning team of juvenile justice facilities staff and agency representatives, law enforcement, emergency management officials, medical and mental health experts, emergency medical services providers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, juvenile and family court administrators, child welfare administrators, education partners, public works agencies, information technologists, and other key partners to design and implement the emergency plan
• Addressing gaps in, updating, and publishing the emergency preparedness plan
• Conducting vulnerability assessments and identifying essential functions
• Establishing agreements or contracts with organizations and professionals that can provide additional and necessary support during and following an emergency (e.g., educators, mental health professionals, and other support staff)
• Conducting assessment(s) of facility and staff preparedness for an emergency, including review of communication procedures, facility functioning, and staffing plans
• Engaging staff, youth, and family members in training for emergency preparedness, including cross-training and conducting drills and exercises, as appropriate
• Developing web-based services that the facility will use in case of an emergency (cloud-based facility backup files, notification services for families and partner agencies, and a communication system for youth to use in maintaining contact with family members)
• Purchasing of supplies or equipment for emergency preparedness (e.g., medical supplies, makeshift beds, generators, and communication equipment)

This program will support the development, improvement, and/or implementation of emergency planning activities for state, tribal, county, and local juvenile justice residential facilities. Specific objectives include the following:

• Encourage the development or refinement of juvenile justice facility emergency preparedness plans that address the principles outlined in the Emergency Planning for Juvenile Justice Residential Facilities guide
• Strengthen facility preparedness to maintain the efficient continuation of operations and reduce risk to the physical plant
• Ensure the safety and well-being of youth and staff in juvenile justice residential facilities

Amount: Approximately $350,000 is available to make four to seven awards ranging from $50,000-$150,000. The period of performance is 24 months.

Eligibility: States (including territories), units of local government, federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations, and institutions of higher education.

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=313120

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