Facilitator Training for Victim Offender Dialogue

The Facilitator Training for Victim Offender Dialogue cooperative agreement, offered by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), aims to build sustainable capacity within correctional agencies to offer post-conviction victim services. The NIC, a division of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership and specialized training in correctional practices. Its work supports public safety and advances standards for effective, safe, and humane correctional systems. This funding opportunity supports NIC’s ongoing mission by developing training infrastructure for victim-offender dialogue (VOD), a sensitive post-conviction service allowing crime survivors to engage directly with offenders in structured, trauma-informed settings. Across the United States, at least 26 states currently operate or are required to operate victim-offender dialogue programs. These programs, also known as Victim Offender Mediation (VOM), Victim Offender Mediation/Dialogue (VOMD), or Facilitated Dialogue, provide an opportunity for victims or their family members to express how a crime impacted them and to ask unresolved questions. However, many states lack standardized facilitator training programs or sustainable funding mechanisms. Often, VOD programs rely heavily on volunteers or mixed staffing models, which underscores the importance of ongoing and professionalized training initiatives. This grant addresses that gap by supporting the delivery of both basic and advanced training courses for VOD facilitators, including those handling complex cases such as sexual assault. The awardee of this cooperative agreement will be expected to deliver two blended-format trainings using NIC’s existing curriculum. The first is a basic training that combines 18 hours of virtual instruction with 32 hours of in-person training for 26 participants, to be held June 23–26, 2026. The second is an advanced training specifically focused on sexual assault cases, combining three hours of virtual training with 24 hours of in-person instruction, scheduled for July 21–23, 2026. Both trainings will take place at the National Corrections Academy in Aurora, Colorado, and the grantee will be responsible for managing instructor-related logistics, including contracting six instructors per course to accommodate breakout group structures. Applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit or for-profit organizations (including faith-based and tribal organizations) or institutions of higher education. Applicants must agree to waive any profit or fee for services, and federal agencies or international organizations are not eligible to apply. Only one application may be submitted per organization. Collaboration among entities is permitted, but one must act as the lead applicant with primary responsibility for the program. Subrecipients are allowed with appropriate documentation. The award amount is capped at $100,000 for a 12-month period, and no cost sharing or matching is required. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by April 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to submit at least two business days prior to the deadline due to potential Grants.gov validation delays. A range of application documents is required, including SF-424 forms, budget narratives, program narratives, timelines, logic models, and an accessibility conformance report. Questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted by April 6, 2026, and NIC will publish responses on its website for public review. Evaluation of applications will be based on three criteria: programmatic design (40%), organizational capacity (35%), and management/administration (25%). Performance expectations for the awardee include successfully delivering both training sessions, contracting and managing qualified instructors, collecting participant feedback, and revising curricula as needed. Ultimately, the goal is to expand access to meaningful post-conviction services and train at least 52 facilitators equipped to lead restorative dialogues across the country.

Submit early to avoid validation delays; include all required forms to avoid disqualification; follow PDF formatting guidance closely