Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention National Training and Technical Assistance Center
Purpose To facilitate systematic coordination of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP's) training and technical assistance resources for purposes of expanded coverage, increased responsiveness to practitioner needs, and enhanced quality of services provided. Background Sections 244, 245, and 246 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, authorize support of training and technical assistance programs for juvenile justice and other youth services personnel. OJJDP pursues its training mission through the award of grants and contracts to various organizational entities competent in training and technical assistance development and delivery in many different subject areas, as opposed to establishment of a centralized training institute. This approach has resulted in greater flexibility in responding to emerging needs and more variation in approaches for accomplishing OJJDP's training and technical assistance mission. The expertise of OJJDP award recipients and the management controls built into the applicant selection and subsequent project oversight process have generally resulted in high-quality training and technical assistance. However, training/technical assistance programs and materials generated under OJJDP auspices differ markedly in terms of format, method of delivery, scope of coverage, access, availability, and relevance to OJJDP's consumer audiences. OJJDP relies on professional organizations in the juvenile justice and youth service fields to meet the training/technical assistance needs in these areas through grants, contracts, and other appropriate means of funding. At the same time, OJJDP is interested in enhancing its training/technical assistance capability, coverage, and impact and increasing the cost effectiveness of its training efforts. OJJDP recognizes the expanding universe of juvenile justice and related programs, of advances in training technologies, and of growing training/technical assistance audiences. A competitive 3-year cooperative agreement was awarded with fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds to develop and operate the OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center (the Center). The mission of the Center is to upgrade and expand the professional skills of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention practitioners and increase their ability to reduce youth crime and improve the juvenile justice system. The Center also works to streamline access by the juvenile justice field to OJJDP-funded services, increase the dissemination of information about its training and technical assistance programs, increase communications across grantees, and facilitate the development and utilization of common protocols for development of training, delivery of technical assistance, and evaluation of training. This award will support the expansion and enhancement of OJJDP-supported services and the upgrading of services offered. This mission is pursued through the Center's collaborative work with more than 50 OJJDP-funded contractors and grantees to make the training and technical assistance offered more easily accessible to State and local agencies and other entities. In response to inquiries, the Center provides information on a variety of training and technical assistance resources that respond to the needs of juvenile justice practitioners. Training and technical assistance resources and products are identified, collected, and organized through a resource data base and clearinghouse. The OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center's clearinghouse function enables State and local agencies, OJJDP staff, contractors, and grantees to use an 800 number and a World Wide Web site to access information concerning the organizations representing the full spectrum of expertise in juvenile justice and delinquency prevention that provide training and technical assistance under OJJDP grants and contracts. A comprehensive listing and overview of these services and other information about the Center's activities are available through the Center's home page at www.nttac.com. To provide state-of-the-art information to the juvenile justice field, OJJDP contractors and grantees, participants in OJJDP-sponsored trainings, and OJJDP staff, the Center developed a training and technical assistance data base. This data base provides rapid access to information concerning (1) all OJJDP-scheduled training on selected topics, complete with locations, trainers, and dates; (2) a roster of OJJDP-certified trainers with expertise on various topics; (3) abstracts of training and technical assistance resources in the clearinghouse; (4) an overview of OJJDP contractor and grantee organizations, their projects, and available resources; and (5) general characteristics of OJJDP-provided training and technical assistance services, which include, but are not limited to, the number and nature of technical assistance requests, characteristics of the individual and/or agency making the request, and followup and outcome of requests. Through the use of the clearinghouse and resource data base, inquiries are answered and requests are referred to the appropriate resources. The brokering of training and technical assistance can be accomplished onsite or via a variety of electronic media. The Center is not expected to carry the financial burden of the delivery of technical assistance requested by the field, but from a modest set-aside, can supplement grantee/contractor expenses that cannot be met any other way. The training and technical assistance contract supported through the OJJDP Formula Grants Program has responsibility for responding to the needs identified in each State's Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Plan. Effective collaboration and coordination with the OJJDP State representatives and the State Formula Grant juvenile justice specialists will facilitate effective utilization of these training and technical assistance resources. The Center, in cooperation with the Training and Technical Assistance Division of OJJDP, facilitates the work of the Child, Youth, and Family (CYF) Affinity Group. The CYF Affinity Group consists of OJJDP contractors and grantees whose projects and programs address child advocacy, e.g., child abuse and neglect and family strengthening, and was formed to improve group members' individual and collective capabilities to assist agencies and communities in coordinating outreach and training and technical assistance efforts, sharing resources, exchanging information on lessons learned and successful strategies, and supporting the work and projects of other CYF members. The work of the group is carried out through regular teleconference meetings, an active listserv, annual planning meetings, and individual communication. Additional information on the CYF Affinity Group is available on the Center's home page. The Center also compiles and disseminates annually the Training and Technical Assistance Resource Catalog, which provides an overview of OJJDP contractors and grantees that provide training and technical assistance on behalf of the Office and a listing of all OJJDP-sponsored training events. The catalog describes the training and technical assistance resources that are available and contains information on organizations and descriptions of the programs funded by OJJDP each fiscal year. The catalog is also available online through the OJJDP home page at www.ncjrs.org/ojjhome.htm. The Center publishes a bimonthly newsletter, National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) News, which highlights the Center's services and activities and future training opportunities. The newsletter also features in depth profiles on OJJDP training and technical assistance contractors and grantees. The Center collaborates with the OJJDP Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse and with information data bases related to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. The purpose of this collaboration is to maximize the Center's ability to provide state-of-the-art information to practitioners. Another vital function of the Center is conducting ongoing assessments of emerging juvenile justice trends and issues and training and of technical assistance needs of elected officials, practitioners, citizen advocates, and youth. The Center also identifies and coordinates a training and technical assistance network of leading planners, practitioners, and scholars to assist State and local agencies in responding to these trends and issues. To address identified trends and issues, the Center has begun to develop a proactive and comprehensive set of Jurisdictional Technical Assistance Packages to assist State and local jurisdictions. The first package, Corrections, is scheduled to be completed in August 1998. The specific objectives of Jurisdictional Technical Assistance Packages are to assess a problem or need, define desired outcomes, engage appropriate decisionmakers in moving toward a solution, provide technical expertise to achieve the desired solutions in ways that build capacity and local expertise in the process, and establish a mechanism to monitor and fashion desired outcomes. Goals To develop, enhance, and expand the professional skills of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention practitioners; improve the functioning of the juvenile justice system; and enhance the capability of the juvenile justice system to increase the social competence and accountability of youth served by collaboration with the full spectrum of juvenile justice technical assistance and training service providers and by proactive assessment of the field's needs and effective coordination of OJJDP-supported services. Objectives
Program Strategy Applicants are expected to conceptualize and present a design for the operation of the OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center that reflects knowledge of OJJDP contractor and grantee capabilities, an understanding of their relationship with OJJDP, and the applicant's ability to form effective collaborative working relationships with contractors and grantees. Applicants should provide recommendations on how the existing Center's operations or specific services could be enhanced and refined. Particular emphasis will be placed on the applicant's ability to provide a detailed description of organization, staffing, management, and enhancement of the Center's operations. It is expected that OJJDP technical assistance and training contractors and grantees will provide requested materials and share responsibility for developing shared training and technical assistance materials. The grantee will have access to appropriate OJJDP records and staff in carrying out its responsibilities under this project. The tasks involved in the deliverables are consistent with the stated OJJDP goals and objectives. Applicants are encouraged to be creative and innovative in their proposals to implement the overall project, particularly with respect to enhancements and refinements of current Center operations. An annual breakdown of expected activities and accomplishments is provided as a guide. Modifications are expected as the work of the Center evolves and needs assessments are conducted. While OJJDP does not intend to support an elaborate or costly physical plant, the project's office, equipment needs, location, and access to training facilities and resources are significant considerations to be addressed in the application. Applicants are encouraged to be realistic in costing out the deliverables as well as in developing timelines for the implementation schedule. Deliverables Deliverables that continue throughout the 3-year project period are:
The deliverables assigned to the 3 project years are subject to modification, based on the priorities of OJJDP, the annual assessment of training and technical assistance needs, and direction provided by OJJDP's contractors and grantees. The following deliverables reflect current priorities as envisioned at this point over the 3-year project period: Year 1
Year 2
Year 3 This 12-month budget period should be programmatically structured for the continuation and, where appropriate, for the completion of work started in the 2 previous project years. The year's program should reflect the Center as an enhanced and refined entity with cyclical aspects to its activities (e.g., the ongoing need to update the catalog of OJJDP training and technical assistance programs and program materials). Additional deliverables for year 3 include the following:
Eligibility Requirements OJJDP invites applications from public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals. Private, for-profit organizations must agree to waive any profit or fee. Joint applications from two or more eligible applicants are acceptable; however, one applicant must be clearly indicated as the primary applicant (for correspondence, award, and management purposes) and the others indicated as coapplicants. Selection Criteria Applicants will be evaluated and rated by a peer review panel according to the following criteria outlined below. Conceptualization of the Need (10 points) The applicant must convey a clear understanding of the purpose, program(s), work requirements, and related issues addressed in this program announcement. In particular, the applicant must present a clear concept of the Center's structure, functions, and capabilities. The applicant must further convey understanding of the expected results and benefits of this effort and of possible obstacles to their achievement. Goals and Objectives (5 points) The goals and objectives to be achieved by the project must be clearly defined and expressed in operational terms consistent with the issues and performance requirements set forth in the conceptualization of need and benefits to the field section of the application. Project Design (30 Points) The application must include a project design, indicating a workplan, specific procedures to be carried out, projected performance schedules, expected accomplishments, and products. The design must correspond with the project's goals and objectives and with the conceptualization of the Center. Obstacles to achieving the expected results should be identified, reasons discussed, and alternative options identified with supporting rationale for their selection. Management and Organizational Capability (45 points) The project's management structure and staffing must be appropriate for the successful implementation and management of the Center. Key staff must also demonstrate experience in juvenile justice programs, training, and technical assistance delivery; management; production development; and the performance of other work outlined in this announcement. When staff are identified, résumés must be provided in the appendix. When staff have not been identified, job descriptions must be provided in the appendix. Key staff must demonstrate experience with program implementation and accomplishments in collaboration and coordination with persons and organizations whose participation is crucial to the success of the effort. The applicant organization's ability to administer the project successfully must be clearly demonstrated in the proposal. The documentation must include organizational experience in the subject areas and with projects of the type described in this program announcement and an organizational infrastructure that would support the technological requirements of this project, i.e., computer and production capabilities. Because of the complexity of this program, applicants may find it more cost effective to establish contractual relationships to provide technical or specialized functions that the Center has responsibility for maintaining, e.g., clearinghouse, document production, and data base functions. Where anticipated, these relationships should be described in detail. Further, because this is a cooperative agreement and requires major involvement by OJJDP staff, the grantee must demonstrate the capability to accomplish this fairly intense collaboration with OJJDP staff in a cost-effective manner. Budget (10 points) Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost effective in relation to the activities proposed to be undertaken. OJJDP will consider recommendations for modification of the schedule of deliverables to accommodate cost considerations. Where such recommendations are made, justification and alternatives should be proposed. Format The narrative portion of this application must not exceed 60 pages (excluding forms, assurances, and appendixes) and must be submitted on 8½- by 11-inch paper, double spaced on one side of the paper in a standard 12-point font. This is necessary to maintain fair and uniform standards among all applicants. If the narrative does not conform to these standards, OJJDP will deem the application ineligible for consideration. Award Period This project will be funded for 3 years in three 1-year budget periods. Funding after the first budget period depends on grantee performance, availability of funds, and other criteria established at the time of award. Award Amount Up to $600,000 is available for the initial 1-year budget period. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number For this program, the CFDA number, which is required on Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, is 16.542. This form is included in OJJDP's Application Kit, which can be obtained by calling the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638-8736 or sending an e-mail request to puborder@ncjrs.org. The Application Kit is also available online. (See the Introduction for more contact information.) Coordination of Federal Efforts To encourage better coordination among Federal agencies in addressing State and local needs, the U.S. Department of Justice is requesting applicants to provide information on the following: (1) active Federal grant award(s) supporting this or related efforts, including awards from the U.S. Department of Justice; (2) any pending application(s) for Federal funds for this or related efforts; and (3) plans for coordinating any funds described in items (1) or (2) with the funding sought by this application. For each Federal award, applicants must include the program or project title, the Federal grantor agency, the amount of the award, and a brief description of its purpose. "Related efforts" is defined for these purposes as one of the following:
Delivery Instructions All application packages should be mailed or delivered to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile Justice Resource Center, 2277 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 20850; 301-519-5535. Note: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, you must clearly write "OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center." Due Date Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the original and five copies of the application package are received by 5 p.m. ET on August 17, 1998. Contact For further information, call Michael Goodnow, Program Manager, Training and Technical Assistance Division, 202-307-3676, or send an e-mail inquiry to goodnow@ojp.usdoj.gov. References and Resources National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) News. Available by calling the OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center or online. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 1997. Training and Technical Assistance Resource Catalog. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. OJJDP Child, Youth, and Family Affinity Group listserv. OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center (800-830-4031). OJJDP National Training and Technical Assistance Center Web site.
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