OJJDP FY 2023 Arts Programs for Justice-Involved Youth | O OJJDP 2023 171601

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OJJDP 2023 171601

The OJJDP FY 2023 Arts Programs for Justice-Involved Youth grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), focused on supporting high-quality arts programming for youth who are involved in the juvenile justice system. The central purpose is to help reduce juvenile delinquency, recidivism, and related high-risk or problem behaviors by using arts-based interventions as a structured, positive alternative that can build skills, strengthen protective factors, and address risk factors tied to justice system involvement. A core emphasis of the solicitation is strengthening partnerships between arts organizations and juvenile justice agencies so programs are not isolated activities, but are integrated interventions that connect to youth needs, supervision requirements, and broader rehabilitation goals.

The opportunity is framed within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) priorities, including advancing civil rights and racial equity, expanding access to justice, supporting people impacted by the justice system, improving community safety, responding to evolving threats, and building trust between law enforcement and communities. OJJDP specifically situates this arts-focused work inside its broader juvenile justice vision: "Treat Children as Children," serve youth at home with their families and in their communities whenever possible, and expand opportunities for system-involved youth. Applicants proposing arts programs are expected to show how their design aligns with that youth-centered approach, particularly by focusing on youth development, community-based supports, and constructive pathways that help young people succeed during and after system involvement.

A defining requirement of the solicitation is meaningful and sustainable youth and family partnership. OJJDP makes clear that youth and family members with lived experience should not be treated as an afterthought or consulted only informally. Instead, applicants must explain how they will integrate youth and family voice into the project plan and the budget in a way that lasts. The solicitation recognizes several levels of partnership: at the individual level (for example, involving youth and families in case planning and direct service decisions before, during, and after system contact), at the agency level (such as participation in program design, implementation, evaluation, staffing, advisory boards, and budget development), and at the system level (including strategic planning, reform and improvement initiatives, and coordinated advocacy strategies). In practical terms, competitive proposals would typically show how youth and families will shape program decisions, how they will be supported to participate effectively, and how their involvement will influence real choices about services and operations.

In terms of eligible applicants, OJJDP opened the competition to a wide range of entities that might be positioned to run or coordinate arts programming connected to juvenile justice systems. Eligible applicants include county governments and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under those nonprofit categories). This structure supports both direct juvenile justice system applicants (like local governments) and community-based or arts-based partners (like nonprofit arts organizations) that can collaborate with justice agencies.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number O-OJJDP-2023-171601 and the CFDA number 16.548. The solicitation set an award ceiling of $50,000, anticipated making about five awards, and listed an original closing date of April 6, 2023 (with a creation date of February 15, 2023). Funding is offered as a grant under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category. Overall, the opportunity is designed to help communities develop, expand, or enhance arts interventions that are tightly connected to juvenile justice goals, grounded in equity and youth development principles, and built in true partnership with youth and families who have direct experience with the system.

• 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 2023 Arts Programs for Justice-Involved Youth" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.548.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 15, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 06, 2023. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for O OJJDP 2023 171601

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