Elder Abuse Prevention Demonstration Project: Planning Phase | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Elder Abuse Prevention Demonstration Project: Planning Phase (NIJ 2016-9018)?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The project supports the planning stage of a larger, multi-year demonstration effort focused on preventing elder abuse among community-residing older adults who have been identified as being at risk.

Who is offering and administering this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

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

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. NIJ expects to be actively involved with awardees during the project, rather than only providing funds with minimal federal interaction.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The purpose is to launch a rigorous demonstration effort that leads toward scientifically credible evidence about what prevents elder mistreatment. The planning phase is intended to support designing a prevention intervention that can later be piloted and, ultimately, evaluated for effectiveness.

What types of elder mistreatment does the solicitation focus on?

The solicitation is specifically concerned with preventing abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation of older adults.

Can an applicant focus on only one form of elder mistreatment, or must it address multiple forms?

Applicants may focus on one type of elder mistreatment (for example, financial exploitation) or address multiple forms at once (such as abuse, neglect, and exploitation together).

Who is the target population for the intervention?

The target population is community-residing older adults who have been identified as being at risk for elder mistreatment.

What does the planning phase support, and how long is it?

The initial award supports an 18-month planning phase. During this period, the grantee is expected to design a prevention intervention with a clear, testable foundation.

Is there an opportunity for additional funding after the planning phase?

Yes. NIJ indicates that if the planning phase is completed successfully, additional funding may be made available for an 18-month pilot study to implement the intervention and begin building evidence about performance in practice.

What is the long-term direction or end goal of this program?

The long-term direction is a scientifically rigorous evaluation of effectiveness, with the goal of determining whether the intervention reduces elder mistreatment and can be credibly recommended for broader use.

What does NIJ mean by requiring a clear theory of change?

NIJ expects the application to explain the logic for how and why the intervention is expected to reduce abuse, neglect, or exploitation. This includes describing the mechanisms the intervention targets and the outcomes that should change as a result.

Does NIJ expect applicants to create an intervention from scratch?

No. NIJ expects applicants to build on evidence-based violence prevention interventions from related fields, rather than starting from scratch with an untested concept. Competitive proposals should explain how prior evidence informs the elder-focused approach and how strategies are adapted to community-residing older adults.

What is required regarding participant selection and recruitment?

Applicants must provide a rationale and strategy for selecting participants, since the target population is older individuals who are at risk. Proposals should consider how risk will be identified, how participants will be recruited or referred, and how the intervention will reach the intended population in a practical and ethically sound way.

What does it mean that the intervention should be designed for replication and scale?

NIJ emphasizes that the intervention should have clear procedures, defined components, and implementation guidance. The idea is that, if it proves effective, it can be expanded to other settings and independently evaluated by researchers not involved in its development.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 16.560.

What activity category does this funding fall under?

It falls within the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount listed is $800,000.

How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?

NIJ anticipated making two awards.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; and for-profit organizations (including small businesses).

When was the solicitation posted and when was it due?

The solicitation was posted on February 9, 2016 (and created the same day). The closing date was May 2, 2016.

Is this opportunity competitive?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity, which indicates NIJ makes competitive funding decisions rather than awarding funds by formula.

What makes an application more competitive based on the solicitation description?

Based on the information provided, competitive applications propose a well-specified intervention grounded in a clear theory of change; build on evidence-based violence prevention approaches from related fields; present a strong plan for identifying and reaching at-risk, community-residing older adults; and develop an intervention that is clearly documented for replication and scale.