[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 191 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58892-58899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25240]



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Part VI





Department of Justice





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Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention



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Program Announcement for the National Girls Institute; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 191 / Monday, October 2, 2000 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

[OJP (OJJDP)-1298]


Program Announcement for the National Girls Institute

AGENCY: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and 
Delinquency Prevention, Justice.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention 
(OJJDP) is requesting applications to establish a national-scope 
institute to raise public awareness of the underlying factors that 
place girls at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system and 
to advance promising prevention, intervention, treatment, education, 
detention, and aftercare programs and services within the context of an 
integrated continuum of care for delinquent and at-risk girls and their 
families. Multilevel and multidisciplinary training based on OJJDP's 
girl-focused curriculums is expected to improve the skills, knowledge, 
and performance of decisionmakers, administrators, and direct care 
professionals who work with or are concerned about girls' issues. 
Technical assistance support is expected to facilitate improved cross-
agency programming and systemic responses to girls at risk and young 
female offenders in the juvenile justice system. It is also expected 
that a working group of advisors and collaborators will be formed to 
plan and convene a symposium on girls in 2001.

DATES: Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on December 1, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: All application packages should be mailed or delivered to 
the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile 
Justice Resource Center, 2277 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, 
Rockville, MD 20850; 301-519-5535. Faxed or e-mailed applications will 
not be accepted. Interested applicants can obtain the OJJDP Application 
Kit from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638-8736. The 
Application Kit is also available at OJJDP's Web site at 
www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/grants/about.html#kit. (See ``Format'' later in 
this program announcement for instructions on application standards.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gwendolyn Dilworth, Program Manager, 
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 202-514-4822. 
[This is not a toll-free number.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

    The purpose of this project is to establish a National Girls 
Institute (NGI) to advance the understanding and application of 
promising prevention, intervention, treatment, education, detention, 
and aftercare programs and services for delinquent and at-risk girls. 
NGI will promote integrated and innovative programs that employ a 
comprehensive service delivery system appropriate to the unique 
developmental and culturally specific needs of girls and their 
families. The Institute will accomplish its mission through a broad 
range of activities, including program development and enhancement, 
research activities, training and technical assistance, information 
dissemination, collaboration with Federal and private agencies, and 
policy development.

Background

    For nearly a decade, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (OJJDP) has had considerable involvement in issues related 
to girls in the juvenile justice system. The Office recognizes the 
importance of increasing understanding of the factors that contribute 
to female juvenile offending and those that protect at-risk girls from 
becoming offenders.
    In the 1992 reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention (JJDP) Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.), 
Congress added language in Section 223 (8)(B) (i-ii) that specifically 
requires all States applying for Part B Formula Grants program funds to 
include in their plans: ``(i) An analysis of gender-specific services 
for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency, including the 
types of such services available and the need for such services for 
females; and (ii) a plan for providing needed gender-specific services 
for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency.''
    Congress also enacted the State Challenge Activities program under 
Title II, Part E, in the 1992 amendments. The Challenge Activities 
program provides incentives for States participating in the Title II, 
Part B, Formula Grants program to improve their juvenile justice 
systems by developing, adopting, or improving policies and programs in 
1 or more of 10 specified Challenge areas. Congress has provided $10 
million annually to States since fiscal year (FY) 1995 to address one 
or more of 10 statutorily identified Challenge areas.
    Several States have sought to meet the treatment needs of young 
females through the following State Challenge Activities:
    (A) developing and adopting policies and programs to provide basic 
health, mental health, and appropriate education services, including 
special education, for youth in the juvenile justice system; (B) 
developing and adopting policies and programs to provide access to 
counsel for all juveniles; (C) increasing community-based alternatives 
to incarceration by establishing programs (such as expanded use of 
probation, mediation, restitution, community service, treatment, home 
detention, intensive supervision, and electronic monitoring) and 
developing and adopting a set of objective criteria for the appropriate 
placement of juveniles in detention and secure confinement; * * * (E) 
developing and adopting policies to prohibit gender bias in placement 
and treatment and establishing programs to ensure female youth access 
to the full range of health and mental health services, including 
treatment for physical or sexual assault or abuse, self-defense 
instruction, parenting education, general education, and training and 
vocational services; * * * (G) developing and adopting policies and 
programs designed to remove status offenders from the jurisdiction of 
the juvenile court, when appropriate; (H) developing and adopting 
policies and programs designed to serve as alternatives to suspension 
and expulsion; and (I) increasing aftercare services for juveniles in 
the justice system by establishing programs and developing and adopting 
policies to provide comprehensive health, mental health, education, 
family, and vocational services to youth upon release from the juvenile 
justice system.
    Twenty-four States and the District of Columbia have used Challenge 
Grant funds to develop specific approaches that address the needs of 
female offenders in their juvenile justice systems; create public 
awareness and professional competence through staff training 
conferences, publications, and technical assistance; develop 
curriculums on gender specific topics; and produce program regulations, 
policies, and/or procedures.
    OJJDP has initiated a unique collaborative effort between 
Connecticut and Illinois. OJJDP is using the lessons learned from the 
Girls Link Juvenile Female Offender Project in Cook County, IL, to 
develop specialized delinquency prevention and detention programs for 
Connecticut girls. Needs and risk assessment instruments developed as 
part of the Girls Link Project have been incorporated into the

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Connecticut project. A focus of the project involves systemic reforms 
at the State level to improve the way female juvenile offenders are 
treated. Creating a hierarchy of sanctions, with specific provisions 
for pregnant girls and teen mothers, and making effective use of 
Medicaid/Medicare reimbursements are two strategies being employed.
    Also, OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and 
Chronic Juvenile Offenders (Wilson and Howell, 1993) assists 
communities in developing a working blueprint for measurably reducing 
juvenile offending (Howell, 1995). The Comprehensive Strategy pilot 
sites (Fort Myers and Jacksonville, FL, and San Diego, CA) and local 
jurisdictions in eight Comprehensive Strategy States (Florida, Iowa, 
Maryland, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin) have 
completed an extensive strategic planning process that included 
identifying the service needs of girls at risk or involved with the 
juvenile justice system. In a unique partnership, PACE (Practical, 
Academic, Cultural Education Center for Girls, Inc.) and the National 
Council on Crime and Delinquency are assisting the pilot sites in the 
design and development of a comprehensive continuum of services for 
girls, their families, and--where applicable--their children.
    In addition to State-level support, OJJDP has provided guidance 
directly to the field to support promising or effective gender-specific 
strategies. For example, in October 1999, OJJDP's Juvenile Justice 
journal published ``Investing in Girls: A 21st Century Strategy,'' 
which examined the troubling effects of the factors and life 
circumstances that are often precursors for girls in or on the edge of 
the juvenile justice system (Acoca, 1999). Also included in that issue 
of Juvenile Justice were two articles about exemplary efforts: ``The 
Female Intervention Team,'' which discussed a gender-specific program 
for girls adjudicated delinquent by the Maryland State court system 
(Daniel, 1999), and ``National Girls' Caucus,'' which spotlighted an 
advocacy group that focuses national attention on the specific needs of 
girls involved with the juvenile justice system (Ravoira, 1999).
    Similarly, OJJDP, in collaboration with Greene, Peters, & 
Associates (GPA), published Guiding Principles for Promising Female 
Programming: An Inventory of Best Practices (1998). This inventory 
highlights exemplary and effective gender-specific program practices 
for use by State and local jurisdictions. GPA has contracted with the 
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Oregon to produce three 
gender-focused curriculums designed to build professional understanding 
and capacity in addressing girls needs.
    OJJDP also supports the Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP), which 
focuses on providing mentors for youth at risk of delinquency, gang 
involvement, educational failure, or dropping out of school. JUMP sites 
in California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and South 
Carolina provide gender-specific programming for girls. Despite these 
efforts by OJJDP and the States, statistics demonstrate that more needs 
to be done to meet the critical needs of girls.

Juvenile Female Arrests and Involvement in At-risk and Delinquent 
Behavior Continue To Rise at an Alarming Rate

    A review of recent statistical trends provides data on the rising 
number of girls entering the juvenile justice system. In 1998, females 
accounted for 27 percent or 697,000 of the 2,603,300 juvenile arrests 
(Snyder, 1999). The Juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate for 
females more than doubled between 1987 and 1994, then fell in each of 
the next 3 years. Nonetheless, the growth in juvenile violent crime 
arrest rates between 1994 and 1998 was far greater for females than for 
males in most offense categories. According to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the most serious 
increase in offenses for young females included aggravated assault (up 
7 percent), simple assault (up 29 percent), and drug abuse violations 
(up 43 percent) (Snyder, 1999). Even with the recent decline, the 
female violent crime arrest rate for 1997 was 103 percent above the 
1981 rate, while the male arrest rate was 27 percent above its 1981 
level. In 1998, females accounted for 22 percent of juvenile arrests 
for aggravated assault and running away from home. According to an 
analysis of juvenile arrest patterns and trends, female arrests for 
weapons law violations nearly tripled between 1981 and 1997, while male 
rates nearly doubled (Snyder, 1999). Further, delinquency cases 
involving females rose 76 percent between 1987 and 1996, compared with 
42 percent for males. The disparate growth in cases involving females 
outpaced the growth for males for all but drug offense cases. These 
statistics seem to indicate broad increases in the proportion and 
seriousness of delinquent acts committed by girls. However, the reasons 
for the leap in the number of cases involving girls are vigorously 
disputed by researchers, policymakers, and direct service personnel 
(Chesney-Lind and Shelden, 1997). For example, there is concern about 
``bootstrapping,'' which refers to relabeling a status offense (e.g., 
running away, curfew violation, truancy) as a delinquent offense. The 
debate over bootstrapping centers on the belief that it fosters the 
incarceration of a disproportionate number of girls in detention 
facilities far out of proportion to the seriousness of their offenses 
(Girls Inc., 1996; Chesney-Lind, 1999).
    Even more disturbing, leading academics who have examined the 
various elements of life circumstances prevalent among adult and 
juvenile female offenders have unveiled a distinct route into the 
justice system. Over 70 percent of the girls who enter the justice 
system report a history of physical, sexual, or emotional victimization 
and drug abuse. These childhood victimizations are now being correlated 
with lifelong health, learning, and behavioral disorders, including 
adolescent delinquency (Acoca, 1998). Moreover, leading researchers and 
academicians postulate that the abusive histories/backgrounds typically 
shared by adult and juvenile female offenders are a significant factor 
in the victim-to-offender pathway of female juvenile delinquency 
(Belknap and Holsinger, 1998). There is no single factor that puts 
girls at risk of delinquency. However, indicators of the underlying 
causes of female juvenile delinquency point to early victimization as a 
first step along a pathway into the juvenile justice system.
    The increasing numbers of girls involved in the juvenile justice 
system and the scarcity of information about gender and culturally 
specific programs and services that meet their changing and unique 
needs have prompted juvenile justice, public health, mental health, 
education, labor, corrections, and youth service professionals to 
reexamine the developmental and societal factors that place girls at 
risk for delinquent behavior.
    Although female and male juvenile offenders may experience similar 
educational, familial, and economic problems, several gender-specific 
factors can exacerbate the problems girls face. These include higher 
rates of sexual abuse, physical abuse, substance abuse, mental health 
needs, teen pregnancy, adolescent motherhood, alternative lifestyles, 
and problems associated with the early onset of puberty (Chesney-Lind 
and Freitas, 1999; Greene, Peters, & Associates, 1998). Although any 
one of these factors may contribute to girls' increased risk of 
delinquency, they seldom occur in isolation.

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    Ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in the female 
offender population (Bergsmann, 1989; Campbell, 1995; Community 
Research Associates, 1998). African American girls make up nearly half 
of all those in secure detention and Latinas constitute 13 percent 
(Bergsmann, 1994). Although Caucasians constitute 65 percent of the 
population at risk, they account for only 34 percent of girls in secure 
detention (Greene, Peters, & Associates, 1998). A census of private 
facilities in the early 1990's showed that well over half (53 percent) 
were Caucasian (Moone, 1997). Finally, 7 of every 10 cases involving 
Caucasian girls are dismissed, compared with 3 of every 10 cases for 
African American girls (Greene, Peters, & Associates, 1998).
    The emerging profile of women offenders parallels that of female 
delinquents, with similar risk factors impacting women's and girls' 
lives. More than 4 in 10 female adult inmates report a history of 
physical or sexual abuse. Nearly 6 in 10 grew up in a household with at 
least 1 parent absent. Women of color are similarly disproportionately 
represented among the adult female offender population. Women prisoners 
are likely to be poor, undereducated, and single parents. About 20 
percent of convicted adult female offenders were also adjudicated 
delinquent as juveniles (Snell, 1994; Belknap, 1996).

Efforts Are Under Way To Review the Circumstances Behind the Increases 
in Female Juvenile Delinquency Activities

    OJJDP and the National Institute of Mental Health are cosponsoring 
the research of Dr. Rolf Loeber at the University of Pittsburgh on the 
Development of Conduct Disorder in Girls project. The project, a 5-year 
longitudinal study, is designed to examine the development of conduct 
disorder in a sample of 2,500 inner-city girls between the ages of 6 
and 8 and will provide information on the etiology, comorbidity, and 
prognosis of conduct disorder in girls.
    In addition, OJJDP currently supports two field-initiated research 
projects that will specifically address the needs and issues of young 
women at risk of involvement or involved in the juvenile justice 
system. The first is an evaluation that is being conducted by 
researchers at the University of Michigan. The project, A Comparative 
Evaluation of Three Programs for Adolescent Female Offenders, is 
evaluating three Wayne County, MI, programs for adolescent female 
offenders. The second field-initiated research project, GIRLS (Gaining 
Insight Into Relationships for Lifelong Success), is being conducted by 
researchers at the University of Georgia Research Foundation to study 
ways to address female delinquency through a relational approach.

Awareness of the Essential Components of Promising or Effective 
Integrated and Innovative Programs for Girls Needs To Be Heightened

    Supported by training, technical assistance, and direct funding 
from OJJDP, States and local jurisdictions have planned and implemented 
various initiatives involving data analysis, needs assessment, 
intervention, treatment and education programs, and reform efforts that 
have brought modest awareness to the importance of integrated service 
delivery in the provision of gender-specific services and programming 
for at-risk and delinquent girls.

Understanding the Distinctions Between Gender-Specific Programming and 
Gender-Specific Services Is Key to Ensuring Effective Cross-Agency 
Programs for Girls

    Gender-specific programs for girls employ comprehensive and 
integrated methods that address and support the psychological 
development process of female adolescents while fostering connections 
within relationships in the context of a safe and nurturing environment 
(Lindgren, 1996). Conversely, the term ``gender-specific services'' 
refers to the provision of assistance (e.g., pregnancy testing, 
prenatal care, counseling, day care) that is not provided within the 
framework of a comprehensive service delivery system. Therefore, for 
the purpose of this initiative, gender-specific programs for girls are 
those designed to meet the unique needs of females, that value the 
female perspective, celebrate and honor the female experience, respect 
and take into account female development, and empower young women to 
reach their full potential (Girls Inc., 1996).
    In spite of accomplishments in girls' programming, eliminating 
gender bias and ensuring that young females have access to a full range 
of services remain a challenge. OJJDP will address this challenge by 
expanding knowledge of effective prevention and treatment approaches 
and assisting States and local communities to develop the necessary 
policies, practices, and services that ensure a comprehensive, 
responsive, and seamless continuum of care for girls involved in the 
juvenile justice system.
    To accomplish this mission, OJJDP is funding two related programs: 
the National Girls Institute and the Girls Study Group project. The 
latter will be a 2-year effort that will review the research literature 
on the epidemiology and etiology of female juvenile offending and its 
consequences, using a female-focused conceptual framework; synthesize 
information from diverse sources; and produce reports and publications 
that communicate the results. It is anticipated that there will be 
close collaboration between the two projects in providing critical 
information to the field and with other Federal agencies and private 
corporations with an interest in this project.

Goals

    The goals of the National Girls Institute initiative are to raise 
national awareness of the underlying factors that place girls at risk 
of involvement in the juvenile justice system, advance effective 
gender-specific programming for girls, promote policies and practices 
that protect girls from delinquent and abusive behavior, improve staff 
job performance through training and technical assistance, and promote 
an integrated continuum of care for at-risk and delinquent girls and 
their families.

Objectives

     Systematically examine and report on effective assessment 
and reassessment tools used in detention and residential facilities to 
assess girls' programming needs and standards of practice that ensure 
continuity in programming between institutions and communities.
     Provide multilevel training and technical assistance based 
on OJJDP's girl-focused training curriculums and the findings of 
appropriate diagnostic assessment instruments to improve the job 
performance of staff who work with girls, service delivery systems of 
detention or residential facilities, and other organizations that serve 
girls.
     Identify information, resources, current practices, or 
regulations that do not adequately support the needs of delinquent or 
at-risk girls and prepare recommendations to address these gaps.
     Collaborate with OJJDP's Girls Study Group on related 
research activities.
     Facilitate communication and collaboration with other 
Federal, State, national, and community-based organizations that serve 
or are concerned about girls.
     Plan and convene a national symposium on girls in 2001.

Program Strategy

    OJJDP will competitively award a single cooperative agreement of up 
to

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$1,200,000 for a 12-month budget period within a 5-year project period 
to administer centralized, national-scope educational activities and to 
develop products that will improve services and support the formulation 
of practical and just policies pertaining to at-risk and delinquent 
girls. Tasks will be achieved through a combination of needs 
assessments, training and technical assistance, research activities, 
and policy formulation.
    NGI is expected to become fully staffed in its first year. The 
applicant should describe how this will be accomplished and attach key 
staff resumes and/or job descriptions. In general, the implementation 
plan should foster innovation and clearly identify the work to be 
accomplished in both phases of the project. Requisites for the NGI 
grantee are a demonstrated ability to develop and direct a national-
scope training and technical assistance, research, and advocacy effort 
with multiple dimensions within a short timeframe.
    The successful applicant will have substantial experience in 
producing, modifying, and/or updating a wide range of practical 
resource materials and curriculums. Experience in assessing personnel 
or organizational training needs and providing onsite assistance to 
address issues described in this solicitation will also be a requisite.
    The expertise and skills of consultants who will provide training 
and technical assistance and the plan for recruiting, selecting, 
orienting, and managing them must be discussed in the application. The 
applicant must demonstrate its ability to bring together individuals 
who can display proven expertise and excellence in areas including, but 
not limited to, developmental psychology, juvenile corrections and 
detention, education, medicine, mental health, culture and ethnicity, 
vocational and life skills, mediation and negotiation, and policy and 
organizational development. Consultant abilities must illustrate a 
range of skills and expertise with issues of female development and 
staff challenges in working effectively with difficult and troubled 
girls and girls already in the juvenile justice system.
    It is also expected that the grantee will establish a 9-member 
advisory group to support the development and implementation of NGI 
activities and collaborate with a broad base of Federal and private 
organizations to ensure long-term financial support for NGI. 
Representatives from NGI will serve as ex-officio members of OJJDP's 
Girls Study Group to ensure coordination of research activities and 
related products.

Scope of Work

    The following delineates the two phases of work to be conducted 
under the cooperative agreement for purposes of planning and managing 
the NGI. The grantee is responsible for developing a plan, based on the 
elements below, that specifies how the NGI will become operational.

Phase I--Establish NGI and Build Organizational Capacity (Months 1 
Through 4)

Tasks

     Develop a managerial structure for NGI with the staff 
competencies and organizational capabilities required for successful 
implementation of the initiative. At a minimum include the following 
key elements in the operation of NGI:
    1. Clearly stated operational goals and objectives that are based 
on the overall mission of NGI.
    2. A program strategy for performing the major activities of the 
initiative, i.e., the overall approach for managing this multifaceted 
initiative.
    3. A plan detailing when activities will be started and completed, 
e.g., tasks, timelines, and milestones; hiring schedule; resumes of key 
staff; staff duties; and a budget itemizing the expenditures required 
to achieve or exceed objectives. (Modifications to the budget may be 
proposed regarding the deliverables as assessments reveal a new or 
different area of skill deficiencies or if any deliverables are 
determined not to meet the objectives, previously outlined, as 
effectively and efficiently as an alternative approach would. 
Sufficient explanation must be provided to determine the merits of the 
proposed change. The project budget must realistically reflect costs 
associated with operating NGI.
    4. A general guide for setting policy or decisionmaking within the 
organization.
     Maintain and expand online access to reference and 
referral resources. Install and maintain toll-free telephone access to 
NGI.
     Form, support, and meet biannually with a nine-member 
advisory group composed of representatives of State and local juvenile 
justice, detention, health and mental health, education, advocacy, 
research, community agencies, institutions, and organizations that 
serve at-risk and delinquent girls. Facilitate the work of 
subcommittees to advise NGI's plans and activities.

Deliverables

     A comprehensive strategic plan that details the following:
    1. Implementation plan for addressing the NGI goals.
    2. Operational management manual that at a minimum addresses the 
key elements described in the ``Tasks'' section.
     Interactive information and technical assistance Web site 
to facilitate communication, information dissemination, and 
announcement of scheduled events and updates.
     Review of advisory recommendations in areas including the 
changing needs of girls, updated research findings, program strategies, 
and policy development.

Phase II--Survey Existing Practices, Document Trends and Resource Gaps, 
and Implement Program Elements (Months 5 Through 12)

Tasks

     Conduct a periodic survey and review of specific program 
efforts, with emphasis on operational costs and service delivery 
components, to track the participation and performance levels of girls 
in detention as shown in large-scale assessments.
     Collaborate with OJJDP's Federal Working Group on Gender 
Issues and other related efforts to update research and evaluation 
information on changes in girls' social, medical, and psychological 
needs; delinquency trends; educational models; risk and resiliency 
factors; and community-based prevention, intervention, and treatment 
strategies to identify and promote promising, comprehensive, multimodal 
approaches that focus on the multifaceted concerns of girls.
     Collect and review State and local policies and practices 
to assess the factors affecting how girls are treated by the juvenile 
justice system and to determine the best approaches for promoting a 
comprehensive continuum of care for girls.
     Prepare and disseminate detailed reports/bulletins on 
survey findings to inform OJJDP and formulate policy and resource 
allocation recommendations in services and programming for girls.
     Develop and implement a plan to conduct and manage 
multifaceted training and technical assistance support for agencies and 
organizations seeking to initiate services for girls at risk of 
delinquency or to improve the provision of services to incarcerated 
girls.
     Prepare and submit a strategic marketing plan that 
positions NGI to reach and provide services to those who would best 
benefit from them. Specify proposed marketing methods and timelines for 
implementing the marketing plan.

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     Conduct training needs assessments to determine the 
specific skills, knowledge, information, and experiential levels of 
potential training and technical assistance recipients. Analysis of 
assessment data will inform the training content and the elements of 
skill that are essential to satisfactory performance improvement.
     Develop a process for collecting and cataloging literature 
and research-based information such as assessment and reassessment 
tools, curriculums, reference materials and manuals, planning and 
problem-solving instruments, and technology-based resources.
     Outline the approach for recruiting and maintaining a pool 
of experienced trainers and subject matter experts (See ``Program 
Strategy'' section above).
     Provide trainings, using Beyond Gender Barriers: 
Programming Specifically for Girls (Greene, Peters, & Associates and 
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, forthcoming), a set of two 
curriculums (currently being revised under an OJJDP cooperative 
agreement) for decisionmakers and newly assigned direct care 
professionals, and adapt the curriculums, as appropriate, to ensure the 
accuracy and timeliness of the instructional material. (A third 
curriculum, a training of trainers, is being developed under the same 
grant to provide instruction for those with training responsibilities 
in this area.) Additionally, design and pilot topical workshops that 
meet the specific needs of experienced professionals who work with 
girls. Work in this area will use uniform protocols for needs 
assessment, delivery of training and technical assistance, evaluation 
tracking, and followup. Curriculum development must be based on adult 
learning theory and provided in the context of an interactive learning 
environment. The successful applicant will be responsible for providing 
6 training workshops for up to 80 participants in each session. This 
will include responsibility for arranging workshop locations, 
facilities, training aids, marketing, and evaluations to assess the 
relevancy and learning transferability of the lessons provided.
     Provide up to 10 onsite technical assistance 
interventions, preferably as a followup to training conducted by NGI. 
Develop technical assistance assessment and evaluation protocols and 
submit reports describing the purpose and outcomes of onsite technical 
assistance. Provide program administrators with tools to identify 
future professional development needs of direct care professionals.
     Produce participant manuals, guides, and other written and 
visual products to facilitate information exchange on gender 
programming and systems-improvement strategies.
     Collaborate with researchers and evaluators in the girls 
gender field. Serve as ex-officio member of OJJDP's Girls Study Group, 
which plans to review and synthesize empirical research on female 
juvenile delinquency and report on risk and protective factors through 
varying stages of female adolescent development as it relates to peer, 
family, school, community, and individual domains.
     Form and maintain regular communication through ongoing 
committee assignments and biannual meetings with an advisory group to 
review and advise on NGI's activities and plans. The advisory group 
should be composed of representatives of State and local agencies, 
juvenile justice, education, advocacy groups, research organizations, 
and health, labor, faith-based, and other organizations that serve 
girls. The advisory group membership should reflect ethnic and cultural 
diversity in addition to the subject matter expertise described in the 
``Program Strategy'' section.
     Participate in appropriate meetings and national 
conferences convened by OJJDP, other Federal and State agencies, 
educational institutions, and national organizations to promote a wide 
exchange of information and other collaborative efforts to ensure that 
girls have equal access to a full range of services.
     Work closely with advisors, collaborators, and OJJDP to 
form a working group to plan and convene a national symposium on girls. 
In 1996, OJJDP funded Girls Inc. to assemble a national conference on 
girls. As an outcome of the conference, Girls Inc. produced a report, 
Prevention and Parity: Girls in Juvenile Justice (1996). The report 
identified several key points for further investigation. Since that 
time, many States have changed the way they view girls at risk and 
female offenders. Consequently, OJJDP believes that a need exists for 
professionals to come together to scrutinize and deliberate on various 
responses to those changes and other challenges facing those who work 
with girls. Therefore, the NGI grantee will convene a national 
symposium as the forum for conducting this exchange and for learning 
about effective programming for girls.

Deliverables

     Reports, Bulletins, and Fact Sheets on survey findings and 
promising, multimodal approaches that include the social, educational, 
vocational, developmental, cultural, and treatment issues of girls in 
programming and service delivery.
     Policy recommendations to support resource allocation in 
services and programming for girls, improve the treatment of girls 
adjudicated delinquent, and foster their successful reintegration to 
the community.
     Monograph on program and policy advances in public 
correctional institutions.
     A report suitable for national distribution that details 
the findings and recommendations from the National Symposium on Girls.
     Modifications, as appropriate, to OJJDP's gender-specific 
curriculums specifically designed for three distinct audiences: (1) 
decisionmakers and administrators, (2) newly hired direct care 
personnel assigned to work with girls, and (3) experienced trainers 
selected to deliver gender-specific training for girls. Curriculums 
will be reviewed prior to delivery by the OJJDP program manager to 
ensure that the instructional materials are accurate, relevant, and up 
to date.
     A written plan detailing the marketing approach for NGI.
     Protocol(s) for assessing the information, resource, and 
professional development needs of decisionmakers who determine policy 
and staff who work directly with girls or are interested in working 
with girls.
     Database of consultants and subject matter experts such as 
those described in the ``Program Strategy'' section.
     Training and technical assistance delivery schedule that 
includes the location, description of the audience or attendees, the 
training/technical assistance need being addressed, dates, and the 
number of days required onsite.
     Procedures and forms for arranging consultant travel, 
payment of services, and timely reimbursement of expenses.

Task Guidelines

    The NGI grantee is expected to facilitate the efficient and 
professional operation of NGI and to perform tasks as specified in the 
``Program Strategy'' section. Additionally, the grantee is expected to 
use uniform protocols for needs assessment, delivery of training and 
technical assistance, evaluation tracking, and followup. Curriculum 
development and/or modifications will be based on adult learning theory 
and will be delivered within an interactive learning context. Close 
interaction is required among NGI, OJJDP, the NGI advisory group, the 
Girls Study Group, and other Federal agency representatives, as OJJDP 
deems

[[Page 58897]]

appropriate. The NGI grantee must understand and apply the following 
principles to ensure effective implementation of the project and 
advance programming that meets the diverse needs of at-risk and 
delinquent girls:
     Effective programming for girls requires skilled and 
knowledgeable administrators, direct care personnel, and others who are 
concerned about girls. OJJDP's strategic training and technical 
assistance will advance the understanding and application of promising 
and innovative practices to prevent and reduce delinquency and violence 
by girls.
     Jurisdictions are requesting training and technical 
assistance to improve the effectiveness of staff who work with girls. 
To measure the progress in meeting the learning needs of participants, 
workshops and forums will proceed with a preassessment survey and end 
with feedback. Feedback will include a measurement of the posttraining 
behavior change of participating agencies, organizations, and 
jurisdictions.
     NGI staff and consultants must reflect the diversity of 
cultures and ethnic groups represented among the population of at-risk 
and delinquent girls. OJJDP intends to encourage representation along 
the full ethnic, cultural, and racial spectrum of the United States and 
an awareness of the socioeconomic conditions often associated with at-
risk or delinquent girls.

Eligibility Requirements

    OJJDP invites applications from public and private agencies, 
organizations, or institutions. Private, for-profit organizations must 
agree to waive any profit or fee. Applicants must have strong, 
demonstrated experience in planning, managing, and administering a 
national-scope organization with multiple components. In particular, 
applicants must have strong experience in designing and overseeing 
training and technical assistance support in gender-specific 
programming and services that are grounded in fostering the positive 
developmental needs of girls.

Selection Criteria

    The applications will be rated by a peer review panel according to 
the criteria outlined below. A site visit may be conducted to confirm 
information provided in the application.

Conceptualization of Need (10 points)

    The application must convey a clear understanding of the purpose, 
work requirements, specific gender issues relevant to girls, and 
related concerns addressed in this program announcement. The applicant 
should discuss the issues and problems related to at-risk and 
delinquent girls in juvenile justice practice in recent years. 
Moreover, the applicant should demonstrate knowledge of the 
developmental, social, cultural, and noncriminal risk factors that 
impeded girl-centered responses to the needs of girls at risk and those 
involved with the juvenile justice system. Further, the applicant must 
demonstrate knowledge of gender programming for girls, best practices, 
and promising strategies. Finally, the applicant must convey an 
understanding of the expected results of this effort, possible 
obstacles to be overcome in order to meet or exceed program objectives, 
and ways in which collaboration will enhance the achievement of the 
performance objectives. Concerns and obstacles associated with delivery 
of training and technical assistance to decisionmakers, administrators, 
and direct care personnel should also be addressed in the application.

Goals and Objectives (10 points)

    Applicants must outline a vision for designing and operating NGI in 
relation to the stated goals and objectives of the initiative. 
Applicants should also provide justification for the development and 
delivery of training and onsite technical assistance support and 
explain the proposed effort. Key issues and potential obstacles related 
to achieving the goals and objectives of this initiative should be 
outlined and prioritized.

Project Design (30 points)

    Applicants must provide an implementation plan that is specific and 
constitutes an effective approach to meet the goals and objectives of 
the project. The plan must include specific tasks, procedures, 
timelines, milestones, and products. The plan should also include a 
chart that specifies each milestone, related tasks, lead staff 
responsible, incremental benchmarks, and dates for task completion. At 
a minimum, the plan must provide protocols for assessment of technical 
assistance and training needs and protocols that will be used in the 
actual delivery of technical assistance. The plan must also describe 
the process and structure that will be used for curriculum development 
and modification and discuss how adult learning theory will be employed 
in its design and delivery. Other tasks, such as designing evaluative 
and feedback tools and methods for monitoring and refining the plan as 
the initiative progresses, should be described. The program design 
should correspond with the project's goals and objectives, the 
conceptualization of need, and product development identified in this 
program announcement. Project design elements should directly link to 
the achievement of specific objectives. Obstacles for achieving 
expected results should be identified, and alternative plans for 
overcoming obstacles and rationales for their use should be included.
    OJJDP will consider recommendations for modification and 
enhancement of the products to be delivered to accommodate cost 
considerations. Where such recommendations are made, justification and 
alternatives should be proposed. The competitiveness of applications 
will be enhanced when such modifications and/or enhancements reflect 
the concept in a compelling and innovative form.

Management (25 points)

    Applicants must describe an organizational framework, managerial 
structure, and staffing approach with the capacity to effectively 
execute the NGI initiative. Applicants should discuss their history of 
involvement in gender-specific efforts to support girls, including 
related policy development, research and evaluation activities, and 
organizational and/or systems reform. Additionally, applicants must 
describe their experience in planning and managing national-scope 
trainings and technical assistance support for decisionmakers, 
administrators, staff supervisors, and direct care personnel. Further, 
applicants should discuss their conference planning capabilities and 
ability to work with a diverse group of agencies and community 
stakeholders as they relate to achieving the goals and objectives of 
this initiative. The processes for conducting training and technical 
assistance needs assessments, monitoring multiple project tasks, and 
managing a consultant pool of experienced trainers and subject matter 
experts should also be described. Peer reviewers will carefully examine 
the applicant's description of organizational, management, and training 
capabilities to support the cooperative agreement.
    In addition to expertise in the subject area of girls' development, 
treatment needs, and resiliency factors, key project staff must also 
demonstrate substantive experience in program administration, training 
and technical assistance delivery and management, curriculum 
development, and knowledge of the cultural, ethnic, and social 
conditions

[[Page 58898]]

that characterize those State, local, and tribal communities where 
disproportionately high levels of girls of color are adjudicated 
delinquent.
    Resumes of known staff and consultants must be included in the 
appendix. For proposed staff, applicants must include resumes and 
letters of commitment in the appendix. For positions that are not 
designated for identified staff, job descriptions and staff 
qualifications must be included.

Organizational Capability (15 points)

    The ability to administer the initiative effectively should be 
clearly demonstrated in the application. The documentation should 
include organizational experience in managing programs in the subject 
areas listed under ``Program Strategy'' and with projects of the type 
and scope described. Additionally, applicants must have experience in 
managing Federal funds and present a financial management structure 
that supports the deployment and payment of consultants in a timely 
manner.
    Applicants must also describe and demonstrate an organizational 
infrastructure that would support the technological and resource 
requirements of this initiative. Applicants may find it more cost 
effective to establish contractual relationships for technical or 
specialized functions required under the cooperative agreement.

Budget (10 points)

    Applicants must provide a proposed budget and budget narrative that 
are complete, detailed, reasonable, allowable, and cost effective in 
relation to the activities to be undertaken. For budget purposes, 
applicants should allocate up to $250,000 for the national symposium on 
girls, travel and per diem for the advisory group meetings, up to 10 
training workshops and 12 onsite technical assistance interventions, 
and presentations at national and State events over a 12-month period.

Format

    The narrative must not exceed 50 pages in length (excluding forms, 
assurances, and appendixes) and must be submitted on 8\1/2\-by 11-inch 
paper, double spaced on one side of the paper in a standard 12-point 
font. This is necessary to maintain fair and uniform standards among 
all applicants. If the narrative does not conform to these standards, 
OJJDP will deem the application ineligible for consideration.

Award Period

    This project will be funded for 5 years in five 12-month budget 
periods. Funding after the first budget period depends on grantee 
performance, availability of funds, and other criteria established at 
the time of award.

Award Amount

    Up to $1,200,000 is available for the initial 12-month budget 
period.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number

    For this program, the CFDA number, which is required on Standard 
Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance, is 16.542. This form is 
included in the OJJDP Application Kit, which can be obtained by calling 
the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse at 800-638-8736 or sending an e-mail 
inquiry to [email protected]. The Application Kit is also available 
online at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/grants/about.html#kit.

Coordination of Federal Efforts

    To encourage better coordination among Federal agencies in 
addressing State and local needs, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) 
is requesting applicants to provide information on the following: (1) 
Active Federal grant award(s) supporting this or related efforts, 
including awards from DOJ; (2) any pending application(s) for Federal 
funds for this or related efforts; and (3) plans for coordinating any 
funds described in items (1) or (2) with the funding sought by this 
application. For each Federal award, applicants must include the 
program or project title, the Federal grantor agency, the amount of the 
award, and a brief description of its purpose.
    The term ``related efforts'' is defined for these purposes as one 
of the following:
    1. Efforts for the same purpose (i.e., the proposed award would 
supplement, expand, complement, or continue activities funded with 
other Federal grants).
    2. Another phase or component of the same program or project (e.g., 
to implement a planning effort funded by other Federal funds or to 
provide a substance treatment or education component within a criminal 
justice project).
    3. Services of some kind (e.g., technical assistance, research, or 
evaluation) to the program or project described in the application.

Delivery Instructions

    All application packages must be mailed or delivered to the Office 
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, c/o Juvenile Justice 
Resource Center, 2277 Research Boulevard, Mail Stop 2K, Rockville, MD 
20950; 301-519-5535. Faxed or e-mailed applications will not be 
accepted. Note: In the lower left-hand corner of the envelope, you must 
clearly write ``National Girls Institute.''

Due Date

    Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the original and five 
copies of the application package are received by 5 p.m. ET on December 
1, 2000.

Contact

    For further information, contact Gwendolyn Dilworth, Program 
Manager, Training and Technical Assistance Division, at 202-514-4822, 
or send an e-mail inquiry to [email protected].

References

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    Dated: September 27, 2000.
John J. Wilson,
Acting Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 00-25240 Filed 9-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-18-P