Opportunity Information: Apply for BJA 2018 13633
The BJA FY 18 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program (Funding Opportunity Number: BJA-2018-13633) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), created under the broader Second Chance Act effort. The core purpose is to help communities plan strong, coordinated reentry and employment strategies for adults returning from incarceration. The program is focused on two linked outcomes: improving successful reentry into the community and workforce, and reducing recidivism by addressing the practical and systemic barriers that often lead people back into the justice system.
This FY 2018 program specifically funds strategic planning rather than direct service expansion. It builds on a prior BJA pilot called the Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies project, which tested a more integrated approach that aligns reentry supports with employment readiness and job placement efforts. The intent now is to help additional jurisdictions replicate that pilot framework by supporting the upfront work required to design a comprehensive local strategy. In practical terms, the grant is meant to pay for the planning process: bringing the right partners together, assessing needs and gaps, selecting evidence-informed practices, aligning roles and responsibilities across agencies, and producing a clear, actionable plan that can guide implementation and future funding.
The opportunity sits at the intersection of law and justice, community development, and employment and training, reflecting the reality that reentry is not only a corrections issue. Returning citizens often face overlapping challenges such as limited work history, skills gaps, housing instability, behavioral health needs, transportation barriers, and the collateral consequences of conviction records that can restrict employment and licensing. This program’s emphasis on collaborative strategy development signals that BJA is looking for planning efforts that connect corrections, supervision, workforce development systems, community-based service providers, and employers into a single coordinated approach rather than a set of disconnected programs.
Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations, including small businesses. The funding instrument is a grant, associated with CFDA number 16.812, which is commonly linked to BJA Second Chance Act funding streams and related reentry work.
Financially, the award ceiling is $200,000 per award, with an expected total of six awards. The posting date was May 2, 2018, and the original application deadline was June 18, 2018. Because the program is framed as a strategic planning grant with a defined ceiling and a limited number of awards, it is geared toward jurisdictions or organizations prepared to move quickly into a structured planning process and to demonstrate readiness to coordinate multiple stakeholders.
Overall, the program is best understood as seed funding for planning a comprehensive adult reentry and employment strategy that mirrors the integrated approach tested in BJA’s earlier pilot. It supports communities in developing a practical roadmap for improving job readiness and employment outcomes for people leaving incarceration, strengthening cross-system collaboration, and ultimately lowering the likelihood of reoffending by stabilizing returning citizens through work and aligned reentry supports.Apply for BJA 2018 13633
- The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance in the community development, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda), information and statistics, law, justice and legal services, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification), science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY 18 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.812.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 02, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 18, 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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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FAQs: BJA FY 18 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program (BJA-2018-13633)
What is the BJA FY 18 Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), under the broader Second Chance Act effort. The program funds strategic planning to help communities design strong, coordinated reentry and employment strategies for adults returning from incarceration.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to support the upfront planning work needed to build an integrated, cross-system reentry and employment strategy. The program centers on two connected outcomes: improving successful reentry into the community and workforce, and reducing recidivism by addressing practical and systemic barriers that contribute to justice system involvement.
Is this funding for direct services or for planning?
This FY 2018 opportunity is specifically for strategic planning, not direct service expansion. The grant is intended to fund the planning process itself (for example, coordination, assessment, partner alignment, and development of an actionable plan).
What kinds of activities does the grant support?
Based on the description provided, supported planning activities include bringing the right partners together, assessing local needs and service gaps, selecting evidence-informed practices, aligning roles and responsibilities across agencies, and producing a clear, actionable plan to guide implementation and future funding.
What outcomes is BJA trying to achieve through this program?
The program is designed to improve reentry and employment outcomes for adults leaving incarceration and to reduce recidivism. It emphasizes reducing barriers that can destabilize returning citizens and lead to reoffending, especially barriers related to employment and coordinated reentry support.
How does this program relate to the Second Chance Act?
The opportunity is described as being created under the broader Second Chance Act effort. It aligns with reentry-focused goals commonly associated with Second Chance Act funding streams, including coordinated strategies that support successful community reintegration and reduce recidivism.
What does "integrated reentry and employment strategies" mean in this context?
It refers to an approach that aligns reentry supports with employment readiness and job placement efforts so that they function as a coordinated strategy rather than separate, disconnected programs. The intent is to connect corrections and supervision with workforce development systems, community providers, and employers.
Is this program connected to a previous BJA pilot?
Yes. The FY 2018 program builds on a prior BJA pilot called the Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies project. The current program aims to help additional jurisdictions replicate the framework tested in that pilot by funding the strategic planning needed to design a comprehensive local approach.
Who is the target population for the strategy being planned?
The focus is on adults returning to the community from incarceration, with an emphasis on improving community and workforce reintegration and reducing the likelihood of returning to the justice system.
What barriers is the planning effort expected to address?
The opportunity highlights barriers commonly faced by returning citizens, including limited work history, skills gaps, housing instability, behavioral health needs, transportation barriers, and collateral consequences of conviction records that can restrict employment and licensing.
Why does the program emphasize collaboration across multiple systems?
The description frames reentry as more than a corrections issue. Because employment and stability are shaped by multiple systems, BJA is looking for planning that links corrections, supervision, workforce development, community-based services, and employers into a single coordinated approach.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations, including small businesses.
Are institutions of higher education eligible as nonprofits under this opportunity?
No. The eligibility description explicitly notes that nonprofit organizations are eligible, but institutions of higher education are excluded.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 16.812.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $200,000 per award.
How many awards does BJA expect to make?
The expected total number of awards is six.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date was May 2, 2018.
What was the application deadline for this FY 2018 opportunity?
The original application deadline was June 18, 2018.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BJA-2018-13633.
What is this grant meant to produce at the end of the planning period?
The program is intended to support development of a practical, comprehensive, and actionable local plan (a roadmap) that guides implementation and helps position the community for future funding.
How is this program positioned in terms of policy areas?
The opportunity sits at the intersection of law and justice, community development, and employment and training, reflecting that successful reentry depends on coordinated responses across these areas.
Why might a jurisdiction or organization be a good fit for this program?
The description suggests it is geared toward applicants ready to move quickly into a structured planning process, coordinate multiple stakeholders, and design an integrated strategy that aligns reentry supports with employment readiness and placement.
What is the overall role of this funding in a community's reentry work?
It is best understood as seed funding for planning: it supports the design of a comprehensive adult reentry and employment strategy that strengthens cross-system collaboration, improves job-related outcomes for returning citizens, and aims to reduce recidivism through stability and coordinated support.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development, Employment, Labor and Training, Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Information and Statistics, Law, Justice and Legal Services, Other (see text field entitled Explanatio
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