OJJDP FY25 Second Chance Act Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents and Their Minor Children

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), operating within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled "Second Chance Act Addressing the Needs of Incarcerated Parents and Their Minor Children." This grant initiative is part of the federal government’s broader efforts to support reentry and rehabilitation programs, particularly targeting the unique challenges faced by incarcerated parents and their children under the age of 18. This program seeks to interrupt the intergenerational cycle of incarceration by focusing on responsible parenting, healthy child development, and improved family relationships during and after incarceration. The program is designed to support projects based within juvenile and adult detention or correctional facilities. Its core objective is to reduce antisocial behaviors and recidivism while promoting positive parent-child relationships. The initiative supports projects that may include services such as correctional officer training on safeguarding children during visitation, programs designed for the positive development of children with incarcerated parents, and transitional or reentry services emphasizing parental responsibility and family reunification. The definition of “parent” is inclusive, extending beyond biological ties to include legal guardians and individuals with strong familial bonds to the minor child. Applicants are encouraged to align proposed activities with federal funding priorities such as supporting law enforcement operations, protecting American children, and assisting victims of trafficking and sexual assault. While these priorities are considered in funding decisions, they do not guarantee an award. Award recipients must operate in compliance with civil rights and federal nondiscrimination laws. Certain activities are deemed unallowable, including those that violate federal immigration laws or provide legal services to individuals unlawfully present in the United States, with limited exceptions. Applications must be submitted in a two-step process. First, applicants must complete and submit the SF-424 form via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 30, 2026. Afterward, the full application must be submitted through the JustGrants portal by 8:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 6, 2026. The application must include a proposal narrative, budget detail form, abstract, financial questionnaires, disclosures, and other supporting documentation. Nongovernmental organizations working in partnership with correctional institutions must include letters of support or agreements from those facilities. There is no pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent or concept paper. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and township governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and other units of local government such as parishes, boroughs, or towns. The grant does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The expected number of awards is five, with a total funding amount of $4,200,000 and individual awards anticipated to be up to $750,000. The period of performance is set at 36 months, beginning October 1, 2025. The program is funded under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025. All funded recipients will be expected to provide quarterly financial reports, semi-annual performance reports, and a final report at the conclusion of the grant. Performance will be assessed based on achievement of outlined goals and objectives, including implementation milestones and measurable improvements in outcomes for incarcerated parents and their children. OJJDP reserves the right to evaluate funded projects and may provide continuation funding in future years depending on performance and available appropriations.

Include detailed data about detention facility population and visitation policies; align proposal goals with federal funding priorities to increase competitiveness.