BSCC Approves $35m Juvenile Diversion Grant RFP

SACRAMENTO (Jan. 17, 2019) – A $35 million grant designed to help cities and counties divert young people away from the criminal justice system was approved for release today by the Board of State and Community Corrections.

The Request for Proposals for the Youth Reinvestment Grant will be available on the BSCC homepage beginning January 18. The grant was established in the 2018 Budget Act.

The competitive grant requires that local jurisdictions contract with community-based organizations for programs that are evidence-based, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant. Preference will be given to underserved communities with both high rates of juvenile arrests and ethnic disproportionality in those arrests.

The target populations are young people under age 18 who otherwise would be facing involvement – or further involvement — in the juvenile justice system. Proposals that specifically incorporate plans to help tribal youth will receive preference points.

Cities and counties may apply for up to $1 million, and may submit multiple applications for varying strategies. Applicants must provide a 25 percent local match, or 10 percent if they have a high need with little or no diversion infrastructure in place. Local governments must pass through 90 percent of the award to community-based organizations.

Proposals are due back March 29, 2019. The grant runs from July 1, 2019 to Feb. 28, 2023.

An additional $1.1 million is specifically earmarked for tribal youth through a separate RPF process following a similar timetable. Unique statutory requirements that established funding for the Youth Reinvestment Grant required the BSCC to separate the funding and eligibility criteria into the Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program.

Eligible applicants for this pool of funds are federally recognized tribes in California. Tribes may apply for up to the full $1.1 million.  Preference points will be awarded to multiple tribes that apply jointly to form a regional approach to juvenile diversion.

For more information place contact Kimberly Bushard at Kimberly.bushard@bscc.ca.gov or at 916-324-0999