Public Hearing on Challenge Grant Program
January 24, 2007 in Sacramento and January 26, 2007 in Glendale
Questions and Answers
- Is a match required?
No match is required, but it is not precluded either.
- Who is an eligible applicant for grant consideration?
As determined by enabling legislation, a county agency or a nonprofit organization must be the lead applicant. Nonetheless, the lead agency is encouraged to collaborate and can contract with multiple partners, one or more of which may be an organization(s) that is for – profit or a city entity.
- What is the difference between innovative and evidenced based models?
A program or approach will be considered "innovative" if it is one or more of the following:
a) promising (defined as "supported by theory or research indicating potential effectiveness; may have shown positive results in other areas, but may not have been replicated or researched sufficiently with the target population to demonstrate proven results for that population");
b) new to the applicant jurisdiction;
c) a new combination of proven elements or components; or
d) an expansion or extension of an evidence based program or model. Innovative is based on the principles of effective intervention, but may not have data to reflect it as “evidence based.”
"Evidence based" programs or models are those that include or are anchored in a model that has been proven by documented research to have been effective in reducing the target population's involvement in the criminal or juvenile justice system. (See pages 3-4 in the RFP).
- How will we get referrals from the local parole and probation Units?
This needs to be part of your program design and proposal. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Parole Unit(s) and/or probation department(s) they intend to serve to design the referral and service approach. This may vary by project, but it is the responsibility of the prospective bidders to determine how this will happen and to incorporate this into the proposal.
- Can you get referrals from more than one parole Unit or probation department?
Yes. To determine the service areas of each, applicants should contact the local Supervising Parole Agent for your area (See final appendix of the RFP) and the local probation department.
- What is a sanction?
Proposals should address what will constitute violations or rule infractions of the program being proposed and how these will be dealt with, i.e., what kinds of sanctions will be used (e.g., loss of program points or privileges, etc.) Projects that are funded will be expected to share information about violations and penalties with parole staff. Parole staff will make the determination whether or not the violation of sanctions will result in a recommendation to the parole board to continue on parole or revocation. Ultimately, the parole board will make the final decision.
- Can the parole board mandate our proposed program as a term or condition of parole?
Unless the program is a sanction in lieu of revocation, it will not be ordered or mandated for individual participants. If a project is being designed to intervene in lieu of revocation, the proposal should explain how the project is to be used and how the provider will work with DJJ Parole to deliver services in lieu of revocation.
- Can we apply or be funded for 25% and target only the local juvenile court offenders?
No, a proposal could not apply for funding only for local offenders. However, there may be partner agencies or organizations within the proposal that only target a specific population. The language of the enabling legislation allows up to 25% of "each grant award" to be used for local offenders, but each application must propose services primarily for DJJ parolees. While a proposal may use up to 25% of its grant for services to non-parolees, it could not do so exclusively. If a service provider wanted to work only with that population, it could seek to contract or partner with an agency that was working with the parolee population to provide services to the local population as part of the total grant program. For purposes of identifying potential partnering possibilities of that sort, a list of all those who attended the RFP workshops is available on the DJJ grant website.
- When can we begin to provide services to offenders?
You may begin delivering your program as soon as your grant contract is completed. You may begin working with individuals who are still in facilities but are scheduled or projected to be released on parole during the grant funding period.
- How can we work in or access the facility settings?
Part of your proposal may include providing assessment and pre parole or parole readiness services in DJJ facilities. Prospective applicants for whom this is the case should contact their local Supervising Parole Agent(s) to assist in the identification of the facility(s) from which the target population may be released and the people to contact for entry into those institutions as necessary.
- If a stipend is given, what are the logistics of taking money out for restitution (restorative justice model)?
No. Monies can not be used from restitution funds.
- Who disburses funds when several entities collaborate on the RFP?
The lead agency is the contracted entity. Grant funds will be sent to the lead agency's project director. The lead agency is expected to work with all its partners relative to payment for grant related services and personnel.
- Can you explain the 75% and 25% split?
As determined by enabling legislation, a minimum of 75% of your proposed budget shall be for providing services to individuals on parole from the Division of Juvenile Justice. The remainder, up to 25%, may be used for individuals under the jurisdiction of the local juvenile court. (See # 8 above.)
- What are criminogenic needs?
Criminogenic needs are issues, risk factors, characteristics and/or problems that relate to a person's likelihood of reoffending or recidivism. There is a number of what are called "static" factors such as age at first arrest, criminal history, etc. that programming cannot change. The criminogenic factors that programming can address are the "dynamic" factors related to an offender’s current behavior, values, and attitudes. The kinds of dynamic factors that can be changed include, for example, anti-social personality; anti-social attitudes and values; anti-social associates; family dysfunction; poor self-control; poor problem-solving skills; substance abuse; lack of employment/employment skills. These are criminogenic needs if they are related to the individual's criminality and/or likelihood of reoffending. If, for example, an offender’s educational deficiencies impair his/her ability to retain employment and thus lead him/her to commit crimes, then education is a criminogenic need; if the offender’s educational achievement level does not negatively affect his/her ability to secure and retain employment, then education is not a criminogenic need. Criminogenic is a risk factor that can be directly correlated to delinquent behavior (i.e. substance abuse and selling drugs). It is based on an assessment. Not all risk factors are criminogenic.
- Assuming our proposal is funded and research proves it to be an exemplary program, how long may we be funded?
While you may be able to get funding from other sources once a project has been shown to be exemplary, the current Challenge Grants are able to provide funding for only the currently available two years with funding entered into prior to June 2007 and ending June 30, 2009.
- Is the funding for these Challenge Grants currently in DJJ's Budget?
Yes.
May those funds roll over into the second year?
Yes. Funding is currently available for two years.
- How many grants will be awarded?
While the intent is to fund multiple programs, there is no predetermined number of grants to be awarded. Therefore, applicants are discouraged from submitting an application for the total amount of funds available.
- If our proposal covers two separate geographical areas, do we submit one or two proposals?
You may submit one proposal.
- Can the proposal cover housing?
Yes.
- Can we propose to offer services to those individuals that are booked into our local juvenile halls?
Yes, if they are under the jurisdiction of the local juvenile court and are about to enter, or are in the process of, reentry after custody.
- Are individuals released from local camps included?
Yes.
- What happens if the non-violent offenders return to the local jurisdiction?
They may become part of the local offender 25% of the target population if they are under the jurisdiction of the local juvenile court and not under the jurisdiction of DJJ parole.
- If a county probation department collaborates with a non profit as a lead agency applicant, can costs for a probation officer qualify for a direct line item in the proposal?
Yes. A probation officer position would qualify whether the probation department was the lead agency or the non profit was the lead agency. In either instance, the position must be new (i.e., not supplanted) and must perform duties and responsibilities directly related to the proposed grant program.
- How do we get referrals?
This needs to be a part of your program design and proposal. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Parole Unit(s) and/or probation department(s) they intend to serve to design the referral and service approach.
- Can we approach parole staff with our program ideas?
Yes. They are available to assist you in identifying their specific service needs and to discuss your ideas for programs and services as these relate to the parolee population only. They may not assist you in writing your proposal.
- Can our proposal mix the targeted populations when we provide our services?
Yes, except that adults cannot be mixed with juveniles in the areas of housing and/or confinement. The separation of juveniles and adults is applicable only to housing or confinement.
- Can we extend grant services after a participant ends jurisdiction?
You may be able to extend services up to 90 days, but may have to pay for those services with other than grant funds. The grant is intended to serve the offender population while they are under the jurisdiction of the state or local counties, although it does intend to support effective reentry which may include aftercare.
- Do you have any gang data for our proposal?
Yes. The Supervising Parole Agents listed in the RFP's final Appendix can provide some gang data. Contact the S.P.A. for the specific area(s) in which you are interested.
- Is $8,000 - $9,000 a fair amount for a full menu of community services?
That depends entirely on the proposed program and/or array of services. The kind and quality of services will drive the per person dollar amount as well as the 'fairness' or appropriateness of the cost per person.
- Can we use benchmarks?
Yes. You are referring to activities or milestones. These would appear in the Expected Outcomes form in the column Activities to Support Objectives.
- Should the cost of collaboration with a research entity to evaluate the program be budgeted within the proposal?
Each proposal should include a description of, and funding for, the mechanism the project intends to use to collect data and participate in the research element of the grant. If an applicant intends to hire or contract with a researcher to assist with and/or augment the State's research, that should be described in the application and the costs should be included in the project budget.
- When can we start working with the offender? You may identify individuals projected to be released upon parole, but the bulk of the services are intended when the individual has reentered into the community. While many of these services will be provided in the community, successful programs have engaged youth prior to their release. The proposals can reflect the extent of that engagement.
- Should the cost of collaboration with a research entity to evaluate the program be budgeted within the proposal?
Each proposal should include a description of, and funding for, the mechanism the project intends to use to collect data and participate in the research element of the grant. If an applicant intends to hire or contract with a researcher to assist with and/or augment the State’s research, that should be described in the application and the costs should be included in the project budget.
- Is there an appeals process if an applicant is not selected for funding?
Yes. Appeals must be filed in writing with Mr. Bernard Warner, Chief Deputy Secretary, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) within 10 calendars of the date appearing on the notification letter advising that you were not selected for funding. The merits of the proposal or the rating scores are not the basis for an appeal; appeals based on these issues will not be considered. Applicants appealing must demonstrate that the DJJ did not follow the process described in the RFP, addressed at the RFP briefing workshops, or Questions and Answers posted on the DJJ web site for the re-entry program. The Chief Deputy Secretary for DJJ will notify applicants within 10 working days of receiving an appeal of the outcome of their appeal. The Chief Deputy Secretary for DJJ will make the final decision on appeals.
Mailing address: JJCRC Grant Program, Division of Juvenile Justice, CDCR, P. O. Box 942883 Sacramento, CA 94283-283-001
- Acronyms:
MH = Mental Health, SA = Substance Abuse, SO = Sex Offender, SORD = Sex Offender Referral Document