Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 08 242
Apply for PA 08 242
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Reducing Risk Behaviors by Promoting Positive Youth Development (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Aug 15, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education County governments Small businesses State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Special district governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Reducing Risk Behaviors by Promoting Positive Youth Development (R03)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-08-242) was a discretionary grant program designed to support small, focused research studies that strengthen the evidence base for positive youth development approaches. The core goal was to improve understanding of which youth development strategies work, for whom they work, and why they work, with a specific emphasis on identifying the mechanisms that lead to healthier developmental and health-related outcomes. Rather than focusing only on preventing specific problems after they arise, this announcement emphasized building and studying assets and supportive conditions that help children and adolescents thrive and, in turn, reduce engagement in risk behaviors.
This opportunity invited Research Project Small Grant (R03) applications proposing research on effective positive youth development programs and the pathways through which they produce benefits. NIH highlighted several example directions: researchers could evaluate particular components of new or existing youth development programs to determine which elements are most responsible for positive change; examine child and adolescent assets, behaviors, and developmental processes that shape positive trajectories over time; and assess how family, community, and broader social conditions act as assets or liabilities that either support or obstruct healthy youth development. The underlying theme was that youth outcomes are shaped by interacting influences across individual development and the surrounding environment, so strong proposals would be positioned to speak to those relationships and clarify how positive development translates into reduced risk behavior.
Because the scientific focus centered on development, the announcement explicitly noted that investigators and/or key colleagues should have strong knowledge of child development. This emphasis signals that NIH expected applicants to ground their projects in developmentally appropriate theory, measures, and analytic approaches, and to interpret findings in a way that reflects how children and adolescents change across stages, contexts, and social environments.
The R03 mechanism was used because it is intended for smaller-scale projects that can be completed relatively quickly and with limited resources. Under this announcement, the R03 format was positioned to support pilot and feasibility studies (for example, early testing of an intervention component or recruitment strategy), secondary analyses of existing datasets, small self-contained research projects, development of research methodologies (such as improved measurement tools for youth assets or program engagement), and development of new research technology relevant to studying youth development. Consistent with R03 expectations, the supported work was intended to be achievable in two years or less, making it suitable for tightly scoped studies that generate preliminary findings, refine program theory, or produce foundational evidence needed for later, larger-scale research.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was posted on August 15, 2008, and remained open until its closing date of September 7, 2011, with an archive date of October 8, 2011. It carried multiple CFDA program associations, reflecting NIH interests that cut across health domains where youth development may influence risk and long-term outcomes: 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs), 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs), 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research), and 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research). The breadth of these categories suggests NIH viewed positive youth development research as relevant to substance use prevention, broader behavioral health, and longer-term disease prevention pathways as well as general child and adolescent health and development.
Eligibility was intentionally broad. Eligible applicants included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits), local and state government entities (such as city or township governments, counties, special districts, and independent school districts), and tribal governments and tribal organizations. The announcement also specified additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and foreign (non-U.S.) entities. No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed, meaning applicants were not required to provide matching funds as a condition of award.
In practical terms, this FOA was aimed at organizations capable of conducting rigorous, developmentally informed research on youth programming and the factors that enable young people to build strengths. Competitive projects under this announcement would typically be expected to define the youth development model being tested, specify measurable mechanisms (such as connectedness, self-regulation, competence, mentoring relationships, school engagement, or community supports), and show how those mechanisms plausibly lead to downstream reductions in risk behaviors and improvements in health and developmental outcomes. The overall intent was to move beyond broad claims that programs "help youth" and instead produce clearer, evidence-based explanations about what program features and contextual supports drive meaningful positive change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Reducing Risk Behaviors by Promoting Positive Youth Development (R03)".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-08-242.
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH Research Project Small Grant (R03) mechanism, intended for small, focused, and relatively short-duration research projects.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The main purpose is to support research that strengthens the evidence base for positive youth development approaches, with a focus on understanding which strategies work, for whom they work, and why. A key emphasis is identifying mechanisms that lead to healthier developmental and health-related outcomes and, in turn, reductions in youth risk behaviors.
How does this FOA differ from problem-focused prevention approaches?
Rather than focusing only on preventing specific problems after they arise, this announcement emphasizes building and studying assets and supportive conditions that help children and adolescents thrive, which can reduce the likelihood of engaging in risk behaviors.
What kinds of research projects were encouraged under this R03?
The FOA encouraged small, self-contained studies such as:
- Pilot and feasibility studies (for example, early testing of an intervention component or a recruitment strategy)
- Secondary analyses of existing datasets
- Small, focused research projects that can be completed with limited resources
- Development of research methodologies (such as improved measurement tools for youth assets or program engagement)
- Development of new research technology relevant to studying youth development
How long were projects expected to take under this R03?
Consistent with the R03 mechanism, supported work was intended to be achievable in two years or less.
What scientific themes or questions were emphasized?
The announcement emphasized understanding pathways and mechanisms by which positive youth development programs produce benefits, including how interacting influences across individual development and the surrounding environment shape outcomes over time.
What are examples of research directions NIH highlighted?
NIH highlighted examples such as:
- Evaluating specific components of new or existing youth development programs to identify which elements are most responsible for positive change
- Examining child and adolescent assets, behaviors, and developmental processes that shape positive trajectories over time
- Assessing how family, community, and broader social conditions act as assets or liabilities that support or obstruct healthy youth development
What does NIH mean by focusing on "mechanisms" in youth development research?
Within the context provided, mechanisms refer to measurable processes or pathways through which youth development strategies plausibly lead to improved developmental and health outcomes and reduced risk behaviors (for example, improved connectedness, self-regulation, competence, mentoring relationships, school engagement, or community supports).
Was expertise in child development important for applicants?
Yes. The announcement explicitly noted that investigators and/or key colleagues should have strong knowledge of child development, signaling an expectation that projects be grounded in developmentally appropriate theory, measures, analytic approaches, and interpretation.
What kinds of outcomes or impacts was this FOA trying to clarify?
The FOA aimed to clarify how positive youth development approaches translate into healthier developmental and health-related outcomes and reductions in risk behaviors, moving beyond general claims and producing evidence-based explanations of what drives meaningful change.
When was this funding opportunity posted, and when did it close?
It was posted on August 15, 2008, and remained open until September 7, 2011. The archive date was October 8, 2011.
Is this opportunity associated with particular CFDA program areas?
Yes. It carried multiple CFDA associations:
- 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs)
- 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs)
- 93.393 (Cancer Cause and Prevention Research)
- 93.865 (Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research)
What does the range of CFDA associations suggest about the FOA's relevance?
Based on the information provided, the breadth suggests NIH viewed positive youth development research as relevant across multiple health domains, including substance use prevention, behavioral health, long-term disease prevention pathways, and broader child and adolescent health and development.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits)
- Local and state government entities (such as city or township governments, counties, special districts, and independent school districts)
- Tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Regional organizations
- Foreign (non-U.S.) entities
Were foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement specified that foreign (non-U.S.) entities were eligible applicants.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA listed no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning matching funds were not required as a condition of award.
What types of organizations was this FOA aimed at in practical terms?
It was aimed at organizations capable of conducting rigorous, developmentally informed research on youth programs and the factors that help young people build strengths, with projects that can be completed within the small-grant scope of an R03.
What characteristics would a competitive project typically include under this FOA?
Based on the description provided, competitive projects would typically:
- Define the youth development model being tested
- Specify measurable mechanisms (for example, connectedness, self-regulation, competence, mentoring relationships, school engagement, or community supports)
- Explain how those mechanisms plausibly lead to downstream reductions in risk behaviors and improvements in health and developmental outcomes
Did the FOA encourage studying context (family, community, broader social conditions)?
Yes. The FOA explicitly encouraged assessing how family, community, and broader social conditions act as assets or liabilities that can support or obstruct healthy youth development.
Could applicants propose secondary analyses of existing datasets?
Yes. The R03 was positioned to support secondary analyses of existing datasets as one of the encouraged project types.
Could applicants propose measurement or methodology development work?
Yes. The announcement included development of research methodologies (such as improved measurement tools for youth assets or program engagement) and the development of new research technology relevant to youth development research.
Was the focus limited to studying entire programs, or could it focus on program components?
It was not limited to whole-program evaluations. NIH highlighted that researchers could evaluate particular components of new or existing youth development programs to determine which elements are most responsible for positive change.
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Previous opportunity: Reducing Risk Behaviors by Promoting Positive Youth Development (R01)
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