To All Tribal Leaders:
California Indian Legal Services encourages tribes to review and apply for a new grant through the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). The 2018 Budget Act established grant programs to focus on diverting youth who commit low-level offenses from initial contact with the juvenile justice system. The current funding amount of the Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program is approximately $1 million, and the funding for this grant is up for reauthorization this year. We encourage tribes to apply for the grant as a demonstrated interest in the funding will show support and need for funding in this area. We will send out another Tribal Alert soliciting support for an increase in the Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program funding on a later date.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was released on January 17, 2019, for the two new grant programs with proposals due for on March 29, 2019.
Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program
Current funding for this Program is $1,119,000.00 and is available only to federally recognized tribes in California. The funding must be used for a program that utilizes trauma-informed, community-based, and wellness-based interventions. The proposal may be a new or existing program – but if an existing program, this funding shall not replace existing funds from other federal, state, or local sources.
Examples of possible program proposals:
– Youth Diversion Court: where youth offenders attend an alternative court for resolution of the case instead of formal action with the juvenile justice system;
– Youth Courts: where youth offenders appear before their peers for resolution of a case;
– Early Intervention and Diversion Programs: where identified youth are referred to a community organization for coordinated support services to prevent the youth from entering the juvenile justice system; or
– Multidisciplinary Support Teams: where a team comprised of professionals from the mental health, education, juvenile justice, and/or drug/alcohol specialist provide supportive services to youth as an alternative to the formal juvenile justice system.
The examples above are not the only types of programs a tribal applicant must adhere to, and the Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program also allows mentoring or tutoring programs to apply. Preference points will be given to regional applications that include an effort by more than one tribe. If your organization wishes to apply under this grant, the RFP details that there must be one lead tribal applicant and the participant tribes must submit a tribal council resolution detailing the tribe’s support and participation. A tribe will not need to meet a funding match requirement to be eligible.
Youth Reinvestment Grant Program
While funding under the Tribal grant is approximately $1 million, current funding under the Youth Reinvestment Grant is $37 million with awards of $500,000 – $1 million. Tribal organizations that work with tribal populations whose tribes are out-of-state and non-federally recognized tribes should apply for this grant. In preparing an application for this grant, the tribal organization will need to collaborate with a local government. This grant requires a funding match from the local government applicant.
Deadlines
An applicant may submit a non-binding Letter of Intent. The time period of submitting Letters of Intent for the Grants was due on February 20 and February 21, 2019. However, Letters of Intent are not required. Failure to submit a Letter of Intent DOES NOT disqualify an applicant.
Proposals for both Grants are due March 29, 2019, at 5:00 P.M. Applicants must submit a hard and electronic copy to the BCSS.
Please review both Requests for Proposals (RFPs) at http://www.bscc.ca.gov/s_youthreinvestmentgrant. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Mica Llerandi at mllerandi@calindian.org. Thank you.