Purpose

To develop and implement arts-based programming for juvenile offenders in juvenile detention and corrections facilities.

Background

This program implements Section 261(a)(6) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, and Section 5(o) of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended.

Developmental studies of young people who have succeeded despite coming from high-risk environments highlight "self-righting tendencies that move children towards normal adult development under all but the most persistent adverse circumstances" (Werner and Smith, 1992). The positive developmental outcomes of this research mirror the characteristics that the creative arts enhance in youth (Benard, 1991; Sautter, 1994). These characteristics include all aspects of social competence; responsiveness to others; empathy; caring, communication, and problem-solving skills; a sense of identity and self-worth; and a sense of purpose and future.

Arts-based programs have been shown to be particularly effective in promoting positive youth development. Ross, Fabiano, and Ross (1988) studied research of corrections interventions during an 18-year period and examined components of effective programs. They found evidence that offenders often experience delays in cognitive skills (Ross, 1990). Combining the best techniques from the most effective programs, Ross, Fabiano, and Ross developed a model that addresses social skills, interpersonal communication and problem solving, creative and critical thinking, values enhancement, and emotional management (Ross, 1989).

The creative arts teach valuable skills such as logic, organizational teamwork, and patience and they incorporate the knowledge that "failure" is a critical element of discovery and learning. Studies by the National Arts Education Research Center show that integrating the creative arts into all learning experiences enhances academic, social, and personal developmental outcomes (Ross, 1991).

Coordinators of juvenile offender programs have learned that youth receive positive benefits from participation in arts programming and that arts programming tends to have a positive impact on self-image and self-esteem. These programs are more than opportunities to be expressive. Contact with the arts offers a positive stimulus that can interrupt the drift into a negative lifestyle. Arts programs have been shown to empower a population that few programs have been able to reach.

Calabrese and Adams (1990) found that incarcerated juvenile delinquents have significantly higher levels of total alienation, isolation, and feelings of powerlessness compared to nonincarcerated youth. It has been documented that one significant value of arts programs in prisons is their capacity to reduce inmate violence, improve security, and lower recidivism. As a result of Hillman's (1993) efforts to bring arts programs into juvenile detention and corrections facilities, he has found that, "Coordinators of juvenile offender programs have learned that youth are even more apt to receive positive benefits from participation in the arts." He further states that, "Direct contact with the arts and professional artists provides positive stimulus and personal reinforcement which interrupts the slide into . . . negative lifestyles."

Arts-based programs for juvenile offenders are highly empowering and transforming for the participants. These programs support the premise that participation in arts programming reduces risk factors that cause youth to be more susceptible to problem behaviors and crime (e.g., social alienation, school failure, impulsivity) and enhances protective factors that reduce the impact of risk factors and enable youth to lead productive lives (e.g., by increasing communication skills, conflict management techniques, and positive peer associations).

Goal

To implement arts-based programming for juvenile offenders in juvenile detention and corrections facilities.

Objectives

	To provide juvenile offenders in detention and corrections facilities with arts programming to enhance the youths' cognitive, linguistic, social, and civic development.
	To provide, promote, and coordinate collaborative arts programs in the community for juveniles coming out of correctional programs, so they can continue their arts experience.

Program Strategy

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, will undertake a national initiative composed of three elements:

1. A Pilot Demonstration Project to develop and implement a new arts-based program for adjudicated youth utilizing direct technical assistance provided through this national initiative.

2. An Enhancement Sites Project to demonstrate practices that have achieved sustainable programs, and to serve as case studies for the development of technical assistance materials to support program development in new sites. Grants to the Enhancement Sites Project will enable these existing programs to strengthen their infrastructure through staff training and improved program design and/or expansion of current activities.

3. Technical Assistance and Training to the Pilot Demonstration Project and Enhancement Sites Project for the purpose of ensuring focused, professional technical support for program development and implementation, including program design, artist selection and training, and interaction between arts organizations and the juvenile justice system. The technical assistance materials that will be developed through this national initiative will provide a blueprint for communities throughout the Nation that seek to undertake similar programs.

I. Pilot Demonstration Project

OJJDP will fund one project at up to $100,000 each year for a 2-year project period to serve as a pilot site for the establishment of an arts program in juvenile detention or youth corrections facilities with a community extension component. OJJDP invites applications from public and private nonprofit community-based agencies, institutions, and organizations that have not yet implemented a comprehensive arts program for juvenile offenders. However, it is expected that said applicants will have identified a need, initiated a cooperative relationship with a counterpart organization in juvenile justice or the arts, and established a strategy for implementing an arts program that will satisfy the objectives described above. While technical assistance will be provided to the successful applicant, the applicant's initial program design should emphasize hands-on learning and/or mentoring through artist/apprentice relationships. There should be sufficient community linkages available to the project to facilitate community expansion and ensure continued arts programming for youth reintegrating into the community from juvenile justice facilities.

Applicants must describe a strategy for establishing an arts-based program for juvenile offenders. Applicants are given broad flexibility to design a program most relevant for the target population.

	Applications should define the target population, including age, gender, ethnicity, and characteristics that indicate risk.
	The strategy should include a mission statement with identified goals and objectives. Some objectives should be measurable.
	Applicants should provide evidence that proposed activities will require professional artists and that the activities will be stimulating and culturally relevant for the defined population. Parental and community involvement should be encouraged to the extent possible.
	Applicants should identify and describe activities that will provide a lasting benefit to the community and the youth who participate (i.e., activities that will last beyond the program funding cycle and will contribute to the community and/or provide skills to the youth).
	The applicant must commit to establishing a data collection mechanism for gathering pre/post data of behavior measurements (e.g., attendance, probation reports, or other relevant indicators).

Eligibility Requirements

OJJDP invites applications from public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions, and individuals who can demonstrate the capability to undertake activities related to this solicitation. Proposals should describe a detention or corrections facility site or sites to host the core arts-based program, arts and detention or corrections resources to be employed in the implementation of the project, and letters, or other documentation, that provide evidence of a partnership between the arts agency/organization and the juvenile detention or corrections authority. A preliminary budget should be attached.

The successful applicant must also commit to providing training for artists and detention/corrections staff, and using the services of the national technical assistance provider available under the program. From each site, at least two staff (an artist and a detention/corrections staff member directly involved in the project) must be willing to attend an arts-in-detention/corrections training institute.

II. Enhancement Sites

OJJDP will fund up to three programs at up to $25,000 each year for a 2-year project period to enhance existing arts programs in juvenile detention or corrections facilities. These grants will be provided to applicants who have already demonstrated innovative and creative strategies in providing arts programs for detained or adjudicated youth and wish to enhance or expand their existing program.

Applicants must describe their current program and their strategy for expanding the arts-based program for juvenile offenders. Applicants are given broad flexibility to design a program enhancement most relevant for the target population. Explanation must be provided and should describe how this strategy will enhance and complement their existing program and meet project objectives.

	Applicants should define the target population, including age, gender, ethnicity, and characteristics that indicate risk.
	The strategy should include a mission statement with identified goals and objectives. Objectives should be quantifiable and measurable.
	Applicants should provide information on how the proposed activities will require professional artists and demonstrate that the activities will be stimulating and culturally relevant for the defined population. Parental and community involvement should be encouraged to the extent possible.
	The applicant should describe how participating youth will be integrated into arts programming in the community following their release from the facility.
	Applicants should identify and describe activities that will provide a lasting benefit to the community and the youth who participate (i.e., activities that will last beyond the program funding cycle and will contribute to the community and/or provide skills to the youth).
	The applicant must commit to establishing a data collection mechanism for gathering pre/post data of behavior measurements (e.g., attendance, probation reports, or other relevant indicators).

Eligibility Requirements

OJJDP invites applications from public and private nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions, and individuals who can demonstrate the experience and capability to undertake activities related to this solicitation. Those submitting proposals must demonstrate current coordinated and collaborative efforts related to the project. Examples of this commitment and strong evidence of partnership and collaboration should include a chart of program resources listing the amount of funds currently committed to the applicant's arts programs for detained or adjudicated youth and a current overall project description.

The initiative seeks to identify and support arts programs for adjudicated youth that can serve as models for similar programs. To this end, applicants will be required to cooperate with the gathering of data, document strategies, and implementation efforts of the project. From each site, at least two staff (an artist and a detention/corrections staff member directly involved in the project) must be willing to attend an arts-in-detention/corrections training institute. Technical assistance will be provided to successful applicants.

III. Technical Assistance and Training

OJJDP and the National Endowment for the Arts will jointly fund a separate, noncompetitive training and technical assistance award to support program development and implementation; provide ongoing technical assistance; and publish documents/monographs on the implementation of arts programming in juvenile corrections and detention.

Selection Criteria

As noted above, OJJDP will select one pilot demonstration application and up to three enhancement site applications. Applications received in these two areas will be rated by a peer review panel on the extent to which applications meet the following criteria.

Problem(s) To Be Addressed (20 points)

Applicants must describe the juvenile crime problem in their jurisdiction. Applicants must also describe the target population and the opportunities or lack of opportunities for positive youth development, including opportunities for arts programming.

Goals and Objectives (10 points)

Applicants must provide succinct statements demonstrating an understanding of the goals, objectives, and tasks associated with the project. Objectives must be quantifiable and measurable. Applicants must convey a clear understanding of the purpose, work, and expected results of the project.

Project Design (30 points)

Applicants must clearly describe program activities that are culturally relevant and engage community participation. The arts activities can include performing arts, visual arts, or other arts activities that enhance youth development. There must be a demonstrated commitment to establish a mechanism for data collection. The project design must clearly relate to the goals and objectives for this project and contain elements that are clearly linked to the successful implementation of the project.

Management and Organizational Capability (30 points)

Applicants should provide a succinct history of the organization (including years of operation, recent budgets, sources of funding, and advisory boards) and a description of the current organizational structure. Applicants should provide specific details of youth and arts programs they have administered or are currently administering. Applicants must describe training and experiences directly related to this project and work with juveniles in detention/corrections facilities. Applicants should describe their management plans for undertaking the proposed project (number of staff persons and specific responsibilities).

In addition, applicants should specifically describe coordination and collaboration efforts related to the project. Applicants need to clearly demonstrate any existing efforts through memorandums of understanding, interagency agreements, letters of commitment with specified arrangements, and other formal commitments of bona fide partnership (e.g., pooled funding streams, wraparound services, multiservice centers, in-kind support, and procedures for service coordination). These documents may be attached as appendixes. However, the collaborativerelationship must be clearly described in the application. Applicants should also describe any obstacles to the success of the project and how they intend to overcome these obstacles.

In addition to describing and demonstrating organizational capability, applicants must address plans for sustaining the program beyond the funding cycle for this project and the capability to access additional funds. Staff résumés or job descriptions should be submitted as an appendix.

Budget (10 points)

Applicants must provide a proposed budget that is complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost-effective for the activities to be undertaken.

Format

Applications are limited to no more than 25 double-spaced pages in a standard 12-point font. Applicants are not required to count Federal application forms as part of the 25-page maximum. However, all five of the selection criteria must be addressed within the 25-page proposal. Applicants may submit examples, such as work products, job descriptions, and brochures to demonstrate a capacity to carry out the scope of work described in this solicitation in appendixes. Appendixes will not be counted in the 25-page maximum for the application. Appendixes are limited to no more than 15 pages.

Applicants are also encouraged to submit materials in the appendixes that demonstrate active and existing collaboration activity and firm letters of commitment with specified in-kind support and dollar amounts of contribution.

Award Period

Grantees selected for award will be funded for 2 years in two 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

A total of $100,000 is available for the initial 1-year budget period for one Pilot Demonstration Project. A total of $75,000 is available for the Enhancement Site Projects. First-year funding will be up to $25,000 per site. A maximum of three projects will be selected.

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 16.541. This form is included in OJJDP's Application Kit, which can be obtained by calling the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638-8736, or by 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:

	Efforts for the same purpose (i.e., the proposed award would supplement, expand, complement, or continue activities funded with other Federal grants).
	Another phase or component of the same program or project (e.g., to implement a planning effort funded by other Federal funds or to provide a substance abuse treatment or education component within a criminal justice project).
	Services of some kind (e.g., technical assistance, research, or evaluation) to the program or project described in the application.

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, the applicant must clearly write "Arts Programs for Juvenile Offenders," and add whether you are applying for the Demonstration Project or the Enhancement Project.

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 Eric Stansbury, Program Manager, Special Emphasis Division, 202-307-5914, or send an e-mail inquiry to stansbur@ojp.usdoj.gov.

References

Benard, B. 1991. Fostering resiliency in kids: Protective factors in the family, school, and community. Portland, OR: Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.

Calabrese, R.L., and Adams, J. 1990. Alienation: A cause of juvenile delinquency. Journal of Adolescence 25(98):435-440.

Coffey, A. 1994. Effective practices in juvenile correctional education: A study of the literature and research 1980-1992. Alexandria, VA: The National Office for Social Responsibility.

Heath, S.B., and Roach A.A. 1998. The arts in the nonschool hours. Menlo Park, CA: Stanford University and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Hillman, G. 1993 (Winter). Arts programs for juvenile offenders in Texas. Texas Recreation and Park Society, pp. 6-7.

Howell, J.C. (Ed.), 1995. Guide for implementing the comprehensive strategy for serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, pp. 67-70.

Randall, P. 1997. Art Works! Prevention Programs for Youth & Communities. Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts.

Ross, J. 1991 (September 4). Q and A. Education Week.

Ross, R.R., Fabiano, E., and Ross, R. 1988. (Re)Habilitation through education: A cognitive model for corrections. Journal of Correctional Education 39(2):44-47.

Ross, R.R., and Ross, B.D. 1989. Delinquency prevention through cognitive training. Educational Horizons 67(4):124-130.

Ross, R.R. 1990. Time to Think: A Cognitive Model of Offender Rehabilitation and Delinquency Prevention. Ottawa, Canada: University of Ottawa.

Sautter, C.R. 1994 (February). An arts education school reform strategy. Phi Delta Kappan.

Weitz, J. 1996. Coming Up Taller. Washington, DC: President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Werner, E., and Smith, R. 1992. Overcoming the Odds: High Risk Children from Birth to Adulthood. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.