Opportunity Information: Apply for OJJDP 2018 13704
The OJJDP FY 2018 Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking grant (Funding Opportunity Number OJJDP 2018 13704) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). It falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services category (CFDA 16.726) and is designed to strengthen how communities and organizations respond to children and youth who have been commercially sexually exploited or subjected to domestic sex trafficking. The central aim is capacity-building: helping applicants put stronger, more effective mentoring and service approaches in place so that young people at risk of, or already experiencing, CSE/DST can be identified sooner, connected to trustworthy adults, and supported with services that match the realities of trafficking victimization.
At its core, the program emphasizes mentoring as a specialized, structured intervention rather than a generic volunteer match. OJJDP expects funded organizations to develop or enhance mentoring service models and mentor training that are grounded in best practices and tailored to the needs of trafficking-impacted youth. This typically implies trauma-informed mentoring approaches, a clear understanding of exploitation dynamics, and preparation for common challenges such as safety planning, complex trauma responses, high mobility or instability, distrust of systems, and ongoing contact from exploiters. The opportunity is not limited to creating something entirely new; it also supports improving existing mentoring programs by refining curricula, policies, and procedures so mentors are better equipped and programs are more consistent and effective for this specific population.
A major priority is improving recruitment and retention strategies for mentors, with explicit attention to reaching "identified and underserved populations." In practical terms, applicants are expected to think intentionally about who mentors are, how they are recruited, how they are screened and supported, and how programs maintain stable mentor-youth relationships over time. This can involve creating pipelines for culturally responsive mentors, strengthening supervision and support structures to reduce mentor burnout, and removing barriers that keep certain communities from participating. The emphasis on maintaining mentors signals that OJJDP is looking for sustainable mentor engagement, not just short-term recruitment campaigns.
Another key expectation is strengthening the ability to find and enroll youth who need these services. Many trafficking victims are not easily reached through traditional referral routes, and they may be hidden from view or misidentified within schools, child welfare, juvenile justice, healthcare, or runaway and homeless youth systems. OJJDP therefore anticipates that grantees will begin or expand targeted efforts to identify youth in need, enroll them in mentoring and related supports, and then deliver the services those youth require. While the opportunity summary does not list specific service categories, the language points to a wraparound orientation: mentoring is positioned as part of a broader service response, meaning programs should be prepared to connect youth to needed supports and ensure those supports are accessible and appropriate.
The grant instrument is a standard grant award, with a maximum award amount (award ceiling) of $450,000. OJJDP anticipated making about 3 awards under this solicitation, making the opportunity competitive. The solicitation was created March 16, 2018, with an original closing date of May 15, 2018, indicating a roughly two-month application window typical of many DOJ discretionary funding announcements.
Eligibility is broad and includes public sector entities and a wide range of private organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as clarified in the solicitation's additional eligibility language. This broad eligibility suggests OJJDP intended to attract applications from direct service providers, mentoring organizations, victim service agencies, community-based nonprofits, academic partners capable of building training and evaluation components, tribal and local governments, and cross-sector collaborations that can implement mentoring alongside victim-centered services.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted investment in specialized mentoring and related supports for child and youth victims of sex trafficking, with OJJDP pushing applicants toward models that are evidence-informed, survivor- and trauma-responsive, and operationally strong in three places: mentor model and training quality, mentor recruitment and retention (especially for underserved groups), and proactive identification and enrollment of youth who need help.Apply for OJJDP 2018 13704
- The Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OJJDP FY 2018 Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.726.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the OJJDP FY 2018 Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OJJDP 2018 13704.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
What category does this funding opportunity fall under?
It falls under the Law, Justice and Legal Services category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this solicitation?
The CFDA number listed is 16.726.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The central purpose is capacity-building to strengthen how communities and organizations respond to children and youth who have been commercially sexually exploited or subjected to domestic sex trafficking. The program aims to help applicants build stronger mentoring and service approaches so youth can be identified earlier, connected to trustworthy adults, and supported with services that reflect the realities of trafficking victimization.
Who is the program intended to serve?
The program is intended to serve children and youth who are at risk of, or already experiencing, commercial sexual exploitation and/or domestic sex trafficking (often referenced as CSE/DST).
Is the focus only on mentoring, or does it include other supports?
Mentoring is emphasized as a core intervention, but it is framed as part of a broader, wraparound service response. The program language points to mentoring plus connections to related supports that youth need, with an expectation that services will be accessible and appropriate for trafficking-impacted youth.
How does OJJDP describe the type of mentoring expected under this grant?
The solicitation emphasizes mentoring as specialized and structured, not a generic volunteer match. Funded organizations are expected to develop or enhance mentoring models and mentor training grounded in best practices and tailored to the needs of trafficking-impacted youth.
Does the grant allow organizations to improve an existing mentoring program, or only create a new one?
It supports both. The opportunity is not limited to building something entirely new; it also supports improving existing mentoring programs by refining curricula, policies, and procedures so mentors are better equipped and programming is more consistent and effective for this population.
What kinds of mentoring challenges does the program expect applicants to plan for?
The description signals that mentoring should be prepared for common challenges seen with trafficking-impacted youth, such as safety planning needs, complex trauma responses, high mobility or instability, distrust of systems, and ongoing contact from exploiters.
What does the grant prioritize in mentor recruitment and retention?
A major priority is improving recruitment and retention strategies for mentors, with explicit attention to reaching identified and underserved populations. The emphasis on retention indicates OJJDP is looking for stable, sustained mentor-youth relationships rather than short-term recruitment campaigns.
What does "identified and underserved populations" mean in the context provided?
Based on the description, it means applicants should intentionally focus recruitment and retention efforts on communities that are identified as underserved and may face barriers to participation. The opportunity expects thoughtful planning around who mentors are, how pipelines are built, and how barriers are reduced so participation is more equitable and culturally responsive.
What does OJJDP expect regarding mentor screening and support?
The description indicates applicants should think intentionally about how mentors are recruited, screened, supported, and supervised, and how programs maintain stable relationships over time. It also points to building support structures that reduce mentor burnout and improve retention.
Is proactive identification of youth a requirement or expectation?
Yes, it is a key expectation. OJJDP anticipates grantees will begin or expand targeted efforts to identify youth in need, enroll them in mentoring and related supports, and deliver appropriate services.
Why does the solicitation emphasize identification and enrollment?
The description notes that many trafficking victims are not easily reached through traditional referral routes and may be hidden from view or misidentified. Because of that, applicants are expected to strengthen how they find and enroll youth who need these specialized supports.
Which systems might be relevant for identifying trafficking-impacted youth, based on the description?
The description references youth being misidentified or hidden within schools, child welfare, juvenile justice, healthcare, and runaway and homeless youth systems.
What is the grant award type?
The instrument is a standard grant award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $450,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
OJJDP anticipated making about 3 awards under this solicitation.
Is this opportunity likely to be competitive?
Yes. With an anticipated 3 awards and an award ceiling of $450,000, the opportunity is described as competitive.
When was the solicitation created and when was it originally due?
The solicitation was created on March 16, 2018, and the original closing date was May 15, 2018.
How long was the application window?
Based on the dates provided (March 16, 2018 to May 15, 2018), the application window was roughly two months.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public sector entities and many types of private organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); private institutions of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities as clarified in the solicitation's additional eligibility language.
Can tribal governments apply?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
Can nonprofits apply even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible, with the noted exception language excluding institutions of higher education within those nonprofit categories.
Can colleges and universities apply?
Yes. Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are both listed as eligible applicants.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
What types of organizations does OJJDP appear to be trying to attract?
Based on the broad eligibility described, OJJDP appears to be seeking applications from direct service providers, mentoring organizations, victim service agencies, community-based nonprofits, academic partners that can help with training and evaluation components, tribal and local governments, and cross-sector collaborations capable of implementing specialized mentoring alongside victim-centered services.
What are the main areas where OJJDP wants applicants to be "operationally strong"?
The description highlights three operational focus areas: (1) mentor model and training quality grounded in best practices and tailored to trafficking-impacted youth, (2) mentor recruitment and retention with attention to identified and underserved populations, and (3) proactive identification and enrollment of youth who need help.
Does the opportunity describe the approach as evidence-informed or best-practice-based?
Yes. The mentoring model and mentor training are expected to be grounded in best practices, and the overall approach is described as survivor- and trauma-responsive and evidence-informed.
What is the simplest way to summarize what this grant funds?
This grant is a targeted investment in strengthening specialized mentoring and related supports for child and youth victims of sex trafficking, with an emphasis on improving mentoring models and training, strengthening mentor recruitment and retention (especially for underserved populations), and improving how youth are identified and enrolled into services.
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| OJJDP FY 18 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces: Forensic Capacity Hiring Program for Wounded Veterans Apply for OJJDP 2018 13545 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13545 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 National Juvenile Court Data Archive Apply for OJJDP 2018 13560 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13560 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Child Abuse Training for Judicial and Court Personnel Apply for OJJDP 2018 13521 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13521 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 VOCA Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Prosecutors Apply for OJJDP 2018 13720 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13720 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| BJA FY 18 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative Apply for BJA 2018 13570 Funding Number: BJA 2018 13570 Agency: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Corruption and Human Rights Curriculum Development in Armenia Apply for INL18CA0022 INLC DEVELOPARMENIA 03232018 Funding Number: INL18CA0022 INLC DEVELOPARMENIA 03232018 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| East Asia and Pacific Program to Combat Wildlife Trafficking Apply for SFOP0004266 Funding Number: SFOP0004266 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| NIJ FY18 Criminal Justice Requirements and Resources Consortium Apply for NIJ 2018 14121 Funding Number: NIJ 2018 14121 Agency: Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 VOCA Support for Children's Advocacy Centers Apply for OJJDP 2018 13504 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13504 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Improving Juvenile Reentry Programs Capacity for Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting Apply for OJJDP 2018 13707 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13707 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Mentoring Research Partners Program Apply for OJJDP 2018 13512 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13512 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Redesign Study of OJJDP's Juveniles in Corrections Data Collections Apply for OJJDP 2018 13564 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13564 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Juvenile Reentry Research and Evaluation Program Apply for OJJDP 2018 13708 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13708 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Initiative To Develop a Research-Based Practice Guide To Prevent and Reduce Youth Violence in Communities Apply for OJJDP 2018 13554 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13554 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Second Chance Act Ensuring Public Safety and Improving Outcomes for Youth in Confinement and While Under Community Supervision Apply for OJJDP 2018 13546 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13546 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Second Chance Act Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents With Minor Children Apply for OJJDP 2018 13502 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13502 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Vietnam Criminal Trial Advocacy Project Apply for INL18GR0027 EA TRIALADVOCACY 04112018 Funding Number: INL18GR0027 EA TRIALADVOCACY 04112018 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 Law Enforcement-Youth Field Initiated Research and Evaluation Program Apply for OJJDP 2018 13556 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13556 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| OJJDP FY 18 State System Enhancements for Youth Offenders Apply for OJJDP 2018 13510 Funding Number: OJJDP 2018 13510 Agency: Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Constituencies for Judicial Reform in Serbia Apply for 72016918RFA00005 Funding Number: 72016918RFA00005 Agency: Agency for International Development, Serbia USAID-Belgrade Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,300,000 |
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