OJJDP FY25 Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program | O OJJDP 2025 172452

FAQs: OJJDP FY25 Regional Children's Advocacy Centers Program

What is the OJJDP FY25 Regional Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) Program?

It is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), within the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is designed to fund four regional Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) to provide coordinated training and technical assistance (TTA) across their regions, with the broader goal of strengthening community responses to child abuse and neglect.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to strengthen multidisciplinary practice so that child abuse investigations are more effective, prosecutions are better supported, and child victims and their families receive more consistent, trauma-informed services from the first report through case resolution and recovery.

Who is the federal sponsor for this opportunity?

The sponsor is OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), which is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice.

What type of award will be made (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

Funding will be awarded through cooperative agreements, not a traditional hands-off grant. This typically means OJJDP expects substantial involvement during the project period.

What does "substantial involvement" usually mean in a cooperative agreement?

Based on the opportunity description, substantial involvement often includes collaboration with OJJDP on project direction, deliverables, performance measurement, coordination with other federally funded efforts, and participation in OJJDP-led learning communities or reporting structures.

How many awards does OJJDP expect to make?

OJJDP expects to make four awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The maximum award amount is $1,125,000 per award.

What is the program expected to fund at a high level?

The program is expected to fund four regional CACs that operate as training and technical assistance hubs, helping communities and multidisciplinary teams strengthen operations, coordinate partners, and adopt best practices in child abuse response.

What kinds of activities or improvements does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes improving multidisciplinary practice and coordination among key partners, enhancing prosecution support through stronger case preparation and trauma-informed interviewing, and improving access to services that address the needs of children and non-offending caregivers.

Which partners are typically part of the multidisciplinary response highlighted in the opportunity?

The opportunity specifically references coordination among law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical and mental health professionals, and victim advocates.

What is meant by "regional" in this program?

"Regional" means the awardees are expected to provide coordinated training and technical assistance across a broader region rather than serving only a single local community. The description indicates this may involve coordinating across states or large multi-jurisdictional areas.

Who is eligible to apply?

The listing describes eligible applicants as "Others," and the narrative specifies local public and private nonprofit children's advocacy center agencies and organizations. The intent is that applicants should be established CAC entities with the capacity to deliver training and technical assistance at regional scale.

Is this opportunity aimed at organizations outside the CAC field?

Based on the description provided, the competition is aimed at CAC-focused organizations (local public or private nonprofit CAC agencies and organizations) with the infrastructure and expertise to support a region through training, technical assistance, and coordination.

What makes this program different from funding for a single local CAC?

This program is designed to support regional hubs that strengthen and standardize practice across many local jurisdictions, rather than funding direct operations for a single community site.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) is 16.758.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O-OJJDP-2025-172452.

What activity category is this opportunity listed under?

It is listed under the Law, Justice and Legal Services activity category.

When is the application closing date?

The original application closing date is October 6, 2025.

When was the notice created?

The notice was created on September 12, 2025.

What outcomes or results are applicants likely expected to show?

Because the awards are regional and focused on improving practice, applicants will likely be expected to show how they will track outcomes and ensure training and technical assistance translate into measurable improvements in multidisciplinary practice.

What does the opportunity say about trauma-informed services?

The opportunity emphasizes delivering consistent, trauma-informed services to child victims and their families, beginning at first report and continuing through case resolution and recovery.

What does "prosecution support" refer to in this context?

In the description provided, prosecution support includes strengthening case preparation and using trauma-informed interviewing to better support effective prosecutions.

Will awardees need to coordinate with other federally funded efforts?

Yes. The cooperative agreement description indicates coordination with other federally funded efforts is commonly part of OJJDP's substantial involvement and partnership model for this program.

Should applicants expect participation in learning communities or additional reporting?

Yes. The description notes that cooperative agreements often include participation in OJJDP-led learning communities or reporting structures.

What is the overall long-term goal of the program?

The larger goal is to strengthen how communities respond to child abuse and neglect by elevating and standardizing multidisciplinary practices and improving the consistency and quality of services provided to child victims and their families.