BJA FY24 Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Outcomes for Adults in Reentry | O BJA 2024 172030

FAQs: BJA FY24 Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Outcomes for Adults in Reentry

What is the BJA FY24 Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Outcomes for Adults in Reentry grant?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). It supports projects that strengthen substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery supports for adults who are incarcerated and then returning to the community.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The core purpose is to help jurisdictions and community partners improve how evidence-based SUD treatment and recovery supports are delivered across the incarceration-to-reentry transition, with the practical goal of reducing crime and recidivism while improving public health outcomes.

How does the program connect public safety and public health goals?

The program is framed around the idea that consistent, clinically appropriate treatment combined with recovery supports and coordinated reentry planning can stabilize individuals, reduce substance-related criminal behavior, and improve community safety. It also responds to the heightened overdose risk and relapse vulnerability that often occur after release.

Who is the target population for funded projects?

The focus is on adults who are incarcerated and who will be returning to the community, particularly those who need SUD treatment and recovery supports during incarceration and after release.

What types of activities or projects does the grant support?

The opportunity supports projects that establish new services, expand existing programs, or improve the quality and continuity of care across incarceration and reentry. This can include building or enhancing treatment and recovery support services inside correctional settings, creating strong reentry linkages, and ensuring continued access to care after release.

Does the grant prioritize continuity of care after release?

Yes. A central emphasis is preventing gaps in care as people transition from custody to the community, including strengthening transition planning prior to release and ensuring connections to community-based treatment and recovery supports after reentry.

Are evidence-based approaches required or preferred?

The solicitation emphasizes evidence-based approaches and long-term recovery outcomes rather than short-term or fragmented interventions. Competitive proposals are expected to be grounded in practices backed by research.

What does the solicitation mean by improving the "quality and continuity of care"?

Based on the description, this refers to strengthening services and coordination so treatment and recovery supports are consistent and clinically appropriate during incarceration, aligned with reentry planning, and maintained after release through effective community connections.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are also eligible. Community-based nonprofit organizations may apply as well, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

Can a nonprofit apply if it does not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The eligibility information indicates that nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, provided they are community-based nonprofits and are not institutions of higher education.

Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are nonprofits?

No. The eligibility statement specifies that eligible community-based nonprofits include those with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

Why does eligibility include both government agencies and community-based organizations?

The solicitation reflects that reentry and treatment systems typically require coordination across corrections, behavioral health providers, community supervision, and local service networks. The broad eligibility supports multi-partner solutions.

What is the maximum amount that can be awarded per grant?

The award ceiling is $833,000 per award.

How many awards does BJA expect to make?

BJA anticipated making about 6 awards under this solicitation.

Is this funding offered as a grant or another funding mechanism?

This opportunity is structured as a grant.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O-BJA-2024-172030.

What is the CFDA number associated with this solicitation?

The solicitation is associated with CFDA number 16.812.

When was the solicitation created?

The solicitation was created on March 11, 2024.

What was the application closing date?

The original application closing date was May 6, 2024.

The category field lists "Humanities." Is this actually a humanities grant?

Even though the category field is listed as "Humanities," the administering agency (BJA) and the described purpose clearly indicate the program is a criminal justice and behavioral health reentry initiative focused on SUD treatment access, recovery supports, and recidivism reduction.

What kinds of project elements are likely expected in an application?

At a high level, applicants would typically be expected to propose a plan that improves treatment access during incarceration, strengthens transition planning prior to release, and ensures connections to community-based care and recovery supports after reentry. Competitive approaches generally emphasize partner coordination, continuity of care, and evidence-based practices.

What outcomes is the program trying to improve?

The program aims to improve long-term recovery outcomes and reduce crime and recidivism. It also emphasizes addressing heightened overdose risk and relapse vulnerability after release by supporting ongoing treatment and recovery supports.

Does the opportunity allow projects that expand existing programs, or only new programs?

It supports both. The description states funding can be used to establish new services, expand existing programs, or improve the quality and continuity of care.

Where can services be delivered under this program?

The opportunity supports treatment and recovery services delivered inside correctional settings as well as services and supports that connect people to community-based care after reentry, with an emphasis on maintaining continuity across the transition.

What is the overall "theory of change" described for this program?

The stated theory of change is that consistent, clinically appropriate treatment combined with recovery supports and coordinated reentry planning can stabilize individuals, reduce substance-related criminal behavior, and improve community safety.