The information below has been provided by Scott Shortenhouse of the U.S. Department of Labor.

The U. S. Department of Justice has recently made available a number of grant opportunities to faith-based and community organizations involved in different areas of prisoner reentry. The various programs open to faith-based and community organizations are listed below, along with the date applications are due. All of these funding opportunities can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/.

Support for Mentoring Initiatives

Deadline:  June 8, 2007

Summary:  This solicitation invites applicants to propose the implementation of initiatives that will assist in the development and maturity of community programs to provide mentoring services to populations that are underserved due to locations, shortage of mentors, special, physical or mental challenges of the targeted population, or other such situations identified by the community in need of mentoring services.

Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Programs

Deadline:  June 8, 2007

Summary:  The purpose of this grant is to foster innovations and advancements in juvenile justice and child protection-related practice at the local, state, and tribal government levels. OJJDP is particularly interested in programs or strategies that address substance abuse problems in an integrated, comprehensive, communitywide approach that focuses on change not only at the individual level, but also at the family and community levels.

Prevention and Intervention Programs

Deadline:  June 8, 2007

Summary:  The purpose of this grant is to foster innovations and advancements in juvenile justice and child protection-related practice at the community level. OJJDP is interested in programs that focus on reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors to prevent youth from becoming victims or from entering the juvenile justice system. Special consideration will be given to intermediary organizations that provide mini grants to encourage community organizations, including faith-based organizations, to support juvenile delinquency prevention and/or intervention efforts.

National Juvenile Justice Programs

Deadline:  June 8, 2007

Summary:  The purpose of the grant is to provide support to programs that focus on combating juvenile delinquency, reducing the victimization of children, and improving the juvenile justice system. They also must support OJJDP's mission to provide national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization.

 High-Risk Youth Offender Reentry and Family Strengthening Initiatives

 Deadline:  June 8, 2007

 Summary:  Under this initiative, OJJDP will fund (1) high risk youth offender reentry strategies and programs designed to promote collaboration among Departments of Juvenile Corrections, faith-based and community-based organizations and providers committed to providing services for youth offenders upon release and (2) family strengthening strategies and programs. OJJDP will give priority to family strengthening programs that focus on families of at-risk youth; it is particularly interested in programs that address family strengths and needs in an integrated, comprehensive manner.

Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program

Deadline:  June 25, 2007

Summary:  This grant program helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs.

 Weed and Seed Communities Competitive Program

 Deadlines:        Notice of Intent-May 31, 2007

                        Draft-August 9, 2007

                        Application (only on grants.gov)-11:59 pm ET, August 30, 2007                      

Summary:  The Weed and Seed strategy aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, criminal drug-related activity, and gang activity. The Weed and Seed strategy is a community-based, comprehensive multi-agency approach.

 Expansion and Maintenance of the Model Programs Guide

 Deadline:  June 8, 2007; 8:00 pm ET, February 28, 2007

 Summary:  This grant seeks applicants to maintain and further develop the Model Programs Guide, an online database of evidence-based juvenile justice programs.

 Helping Outreach Programs to Expand

 Deadline: No deadline; available as funds are available

 Summary: This funding program is available to support those organizations that directly provide services for crime victims.