OJJDP FY25 Opioid Affected Youth Initiative | Apply Online

OJJDP FY25 Opioid Affected Youth Initiative (O-OJJDP-2025-172510) - FAQs

What is the OJJDP FY25 Opioid Affected Youth Initiative?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The initiative focuses on helping jurisdictions address harms that opioid, stimulant, and other substance use disorders can cause for children, youth, and families.

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The purpose is to support practical, service-oriented prevention and intervention efforts that help communities better identify when youth and families are affected by substance use, respond in a timely way, connect them to treatment when appropriate, and provide longer-term supports so families can stabilize and youth can remain safe and on track developmentally and educationally.

Is the program focused only on crisis response?

No. The emphasis is both on responding to immediate needs and on building local capacity to spot needs earlier, coordinate help across systems, and reduce delays in accessing appropriate care and support.

What kinds of activities does this initiative aim to support?

The opportunity emphasizes prevention and intervention strategies, including approaches that reduce risk factors, increase protective factors, and strengthen local service networks. It also highlights improving identification of affected youth and families, strengthening referral pathways and service coordination, and expanding access to evidence-informed supports.

Who is the funding intended to serve?

The funding is intended to benefit children, youth, and families who are affected by opioid, stimulant, and other substance use disorders, including those experiencing trauma, instability, or involvement with multiple systems linked to substance use in their homes or communities.

Which systems are expected to be involved in local responses supported by this grant?

The initiative reflects that affected youth often interact with multiple systems, including juvenile justice, schools, child welfare, behavioral health, and community-based providers. Projects are expected to strengthen coordination across the systems that touch youth and families.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a Grant.

Is this a formula grant or a competitive grant?

This is discretionary funding, which means awards are made through a competitive process rather than by formula.

What is the activity area for this opportunity?

The activity area is Law, Justice, and Legal Services.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number?

The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing 16.842.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The listing also indicates eligibility for other units of local government, subject to the eligibility rules in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Why does eligibility focus on government applicants?

The broad government eligibility is designed to encourage applications from public-sector entities that are positioned to coordinate cross-agency responses locally, including working with community organizations and service providers to deliver programming.

What is the maximum award amount?

The anticipated award ceiling is $750,000 per award.

How many awards does OJJDP expect to make?

OJJDP expects to make approximately 12 awards.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is O-OJJDP-2025-172510.

What is the application deadline?

The original closing date listed is May 4, 2026.

When was this opportunity posted/created?

The opportunity record shows a creation date of March 25, 2026.

What is OJJDP looking for in strong project approaches?

The initiative is described as a targeted investment in coordinated, youth- and family-centered responses to substance use impacts. Strong projects typically focus on strengthening how communities identify affected youth and families, improving referral pathways and service coordination, expanding access to evidence-informed prevention or intervention supports, and ensuring services are responsive to the needs of children and adolescents.

Where can this work be implemented?

OJJDP is aiming to fund work that can be implemented by state, local, and Tribal jurisdictions.

Does the opportunity mention partnering with community organizations?

Yes. The description notes that eligible governmental bodies may coordinate cross-agency responses locally, including partnering with community organizations and service providers to deliver programming.

What is the overall emphasis of the initiative?

The overall emphasis is on coordinated prevention and intervention that improves identification, timely response, appropriate connection to treatment when needed, and longer-term stabilization supports for families, helping youth remain safe and maintain developmental and educational progress.