U.S. Department of Justice: Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is seeking applications for the Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative, which supports organizations in strengthening or expanding existing mentoring activities with active chapters, subawardees, or other mentoring organizations. Mentoring activities include direct one-on-one, group, or peer mentoring, or a combination of those mentoring services—for at-risk and underserved youth populations. Mentoring programs should support a structured relationship between an adult or trained peer and one or more youth. Successful applicants should implement programs that will recognize and address the factors that can lead to or serve as a catalyst for delinquency or other problem behaviors.
There are three categories available for funding; applicants must indicate under which category they are applying:
- Category 1 – National Mentoring Programs: This category supports organizations with the widest reach and capacity that provide youth mentoring services across the country. Applicants must initiate mentoring services to youth who are 17 years old or younger. The target population should include those youth who are identified as at risk or high risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system. Applicants must develop and implement a plan to serve American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth with these grant funds, both on and off reservations. OJJDP also encourages applicants to target mentoring services to underserved populations, including children of parents on active military duty; children of incarcerated parents; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth; youth with disabilities; and youth in rural communities.
- Category 2 – Multistate Mentoring Programs: This category supports youth mentoring services in at least five states but fewer than 45 states. Applicants should address how the proposed mentoring approach will reach a diverse and broad population of youth. Applicants must initiate mentoring services to youth who are 17 years old or younger. The target population should include those youth who are identified as at risk or high risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system. In addition, OJJDP encourages applicants to target mentoring services to underserved populations, including AI/AN youth both on and off reservations, children of parents on active military duty, children of incarcerated parents, LGBTQ youth, youth with disabilities, and youth in rural communities.
- Category 3 – Collaborative Mentoring Programs: Eligible applicants must be part of a collaborative of at least three and as many as five mentoring organizations. OJJDP encourages multistate organizations to participate, but the participation of a multistate organization is not required. Applicants must initiate mentoring services to youth who are 17 years old or younger. The target population should include those youth who are identified as at risk or high risk for involvement in the juvenile justice system.
Amount: Varies by category:
- Category 1 – National Mentoring Programs: Not stated; applicants should request an award amount that covers the entire proposed project period and be based on the cost of implementing the proposed program
- Category 2 – Multistate Mentoring Programs: Applicants that meet the minimum requirement of having active chapters or subawardees in at least five states may request as much as $2,000,000; and those applicants that demonstrate the broadest reach may request as much as $5,000,000
- Category 3 – Collaborative Mentoring Programs: Up to $1,250,000
Eligibility: Varies by category:
- Category 1 – National Mentoring Programs: National organizations, defined as organizations that have active chapters or subawardees in at least 45 states
- Category 2 – Multistate Mentoring Programs: Multistate organizations, defined as organizations that have operated an established mentoring program for at least 3 years and have active chapters or subawardees in at least five states but fewer than 45 states
- Category 3 – Collaborative Mentoring Programs: Collaboratives of at least three and as many as five mentoring organizations, that each provide services in at least one location that is independent of the other mentoring organizations; all must implement the same program design
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