OJJDP FY 2010 National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the OJJDP FY 2010 National Evaluation of Safe Start Promising Approaches?

It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), to fund a single national evaluation of the Safe Start Promising Approaches Project.

2) What is the purpose of Safe Start?

Safe Start is an OJJDP initiative (in place since 1999) designed to help communities build and operate coordinated, cross-agency service responses that lessen the harm to children who have been exposed to violence.

3) How does this solicitation define "exposure to violence"?

Exposure to violence is defined broadly to include both being a direct victim and being a witness. It spans child abuse and neglect (child maltreatment), domestic violence, and community violence.

4) What is being funded through this opportunity?

The award funds a national evaluation that examines implementation and outcomes across multiple local project sites participating in Safe Start Promising Approaches.

5) How many awards did OJJDP expect to make?

OJJDP anticipated making one award (ExpectedAwards: 1).

6) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was listed as $766,000.

7) Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?

No award floor was stated in the opportunity information provided.

8) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed.

9) What type of funding instrument is this?

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement.

10) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial federal involvement. Recipients should expect closer coordination with OJJDP on evaluation design, performance measurement, site engagement, reporting, and any required refinements as the project proceeds.

11) What are the main goals of the national evaluation?

The evaluation is intended to document what is happening in participating communities and determine which intervention and service strategies are most effective in improving outcomes for children. It is also meant to deepen understanding of the overall scope and characteristics of children’s exposure to violence.

12) How many local sites were planned to participate in Safe Start Promising Approaches?

OJJDP planned to select up to 10 local sites during an initial 18-month budget period.

13) How long is the initial budget period for the local sites?

The initial budget period described was 18 months.

14) Is additional funding beyond the initial period possible?

Yes. OJJDP indicated it could provide supplemental funding for three additional one-year periods beyond the initial 18-month phase.

15) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on May 14, 2010.

16) What was the application due date and time?

Applications were due by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 25, 2010.

17) What was the archive date?

The archive date was July 25, 2010.

18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 16.730, Reduction and Prevention of Childrens Exposure to Violence.

19) What funding activity category does this grant fall under?

The funding activity category listed was Law, Justice and Legal Services.

20) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included public and private entities capable of conducting a rigorous national evaluation. Eligible applicants included state, county, city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments; independent school districts; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions under that category); small businesses; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.

21) Are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status were included as eligible applicants (excluding higher education institutions under that category).

22) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. Small businesses were eligible, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses were also listed as eligible.

23) Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments were listed as eligible applicants.

24) What types of applicants are most likely to be competitive?

Based on the description provided, the competition would likely favor organizations with strong evaluation capacity, experience working across multiple sites, familiarity with violence-exposure and child-serving systems, and the ability to manage complex data collection and analysis in collaboration with local partners and OJJDP.

25) What kind of work is the funded evaluator expected to do across sites?

The evaluator is expected to examine implementation and outcomes across multiple local project sites, assess which program strategies yield the strongest results for children, and support understanding of the scope and characteristics of children’s exposure to violence.

26) Where can applicants get help with Grants.gov submission technical issues?

Technical questions about Grants.gov submissions were directed to the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

27) What are the Grants.gov customer support hours listed for this opportunity?

The hotline hours were listed as 24/7 except federal holidays.

28) Where can applicants find additional program context about Safe Start?

Additional program context was available through the Safe Start program website at www.safestartcenter.org.