OJJDP FY25 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment | Apply Online

FAQs: OJJDP FY25 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment (O-OJJDP-2025-172517)

What is the OJJDP FY25 Expanding Youth Access to Community-Based Treatment grant?

This is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). It is intended to strengthen community-based treatment services for justice-involved youth under age 18, with a core focus on youth with substance use disorder (SUD), including youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder needs.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The primary goal is to expand practical, local, community-based treatment options that meet youth where they are, reduce barriers to care, and support better behavioral health outcomes in ways that help keep youth from deeper or continued involvement in the formal juvenile justice system.

Who is the program designed to serve?

The program is designed to serve justice-involved youth under age 18 who have substance use disorder (SUD). It also specifically includes youth with co-occurring (dual-diagnosis) needs, meaning they experience both substance use and mental health needs at the same time.

What does "justice-involved youth" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the opportunity description, the focus is on young people who are involved with the juvenile justice system and who would benefit from strengthened, treatment-centered community supports intended to prevent further formal justice system involvement.

What does "community-based treatment" mean here?

In this opportunity, community-based treatment refers to treatment services available locally in the community, rather than relying primarily on detention-based services or responses that are driven solely by the justice system. The intent is to increase access to appropriate treatment in settings that are practical and accessible for youth.

What types of needs are prioritized?

Substance use disorder (SUD) is the core priority. The opportunity also prioritizes services for youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use needs, emphasizing treatment access that addresses both when they occur together.

How does this grant approach youth substance use differently from detention-based responses?

The opportunity is intended to improve identification, engagement, assessment, and treatment in the community, positioning treatment and community supports as the primary lever for change rather than responding mainly through detention-based services or purely justice-system-driven approaches.

What kinds of project activities does OJJDP expect funded sites to pursue?

Funded projects are expected to strengthen the local response to youth substance use and behavioral health needs. Examples described in the opportunity include expanding service capacity, building or enhancing referral pathways, improving coordination among juvenile justice and behavioral health partners, and ensuring youth can access treatment that addresses both substance use and mental health needs when those issues occur together.

Is the program focused on prevention of further justice involvement?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes improving outcomes that can keep youth from deeper or continued involvement in the formal juvenile justice system and aligning services with the goal of preventing further formal justice system involvement.

Are services expected to be developmentally appropriate for adolescents?

Yes. The opportunity states that improvements should be developmentally appropriate for adolescents.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is O-OJJDP-2025-172517.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity lists CFDA 16.838.

What type of funding instrument is this?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is law, justice, and legal services, reflecting the program emphasis on supporting justice-involved youth while using treatment and community-based supports to improve outcomes.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education).

Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?

No. The eligibility list explicitly excludes institutions of higher education for both categories of nonprofits mentioned.

Are federally recognized Tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.

What is the maximum award amount?

The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $600,000.

How many awards does OJJDP expect to make?

OJJDP expects to make about 10 awards under this notice of funding opportunity.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on March 25, 2026.

What is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is May 4, 2026.

Is this a discretionary federal funding opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary federal funding opportunity from OJJDP.

What is the intended impact at the community level?

The intended impact is to strengthen community-level treatment access and cross-system collaboration so youth can more readily access appropriate care, barriers to care are reduced, and better behavioral health outcomes help reduce the likelihood that substance use and co-occurring mental health needs lead to additional court involvement, placement, or deeper justice interventions.

Does the opportunity emphasize coordination between juvenile justice and behavioral health systems?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentions improving coordination among juvenile justice and behavioral health partners and strengthening the local response through cross-system collaboration.

What does "meeting youth where they are" imply in this opportunity?

Within the description provided, it refers to expanding practical, local treatment options and reducing barriers to care so youth can access appropriate services in the community rather than being limited to detention-based or purely justice-system-driven responses.