The AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Program is administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice. OJJDP supports national efforts to protect children and prevent juvenile delinquency, and through this grant, it focuses on improving the safety of children by supporting AMBER Alert systems. The grant falls under the Assistance Listing 16.543, which is aligned with the Missing Children's Assistance initiative.
This grant aims to enhance the national AMBER Alert network by providing training and technical assistance to law enforcement and relevant agencies. The objectives include improving law enforcement responses to cases involving missing, endangered, and abducted children; increasing recovery rates; and strengthening community involvement in recovery efforts. The program continues to support Tribal jurisdictions in implementing AMBER Alert systems under the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2018, addressing disparities in child abduction response resources across Indian country.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, allowing for substantial involvement from OJJDP in guiding and managing project activities. This structure supports the delivery of comprehensive training and technical assistance, fostering consistent standards and practices across jurisdictions. Funds are expected to support a range of activities, including but not limited to, curriculum development, scenario-based training, outreach to Tribal communities, and coordination with federal and local partners.
The grant is open by invitation only and designates Fox Valley Technical College as the sole eligible applicant, indicating that the application process is non-competitive. Applications were due by November 26, 2025 and the application window has closed. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, and the total funding available for the award is $3.5 million, with the entire amount potentially awarded to a single recipient.
The grant opportunity is by invitation only and is designated as a continuation opportunity, part of an ongoing federal partnership with Fox Valley Technical College. The cooperative agreement model suggests ongoing engagement, oversight, and performance tracking by the OJJDP. Although future funding cycles are not explicitly stated, the continuity implied by this award may indicate recurring support, subject to congressional appropriations and agency priorities.
For more information, interested parties were directed to contact William Sarrano via email at William.Sarrano@usdoj.gov. The primary source of information for this opportunity was provided through an invitation letter, and no publicly accessible PDF or broader call for applications was made available.
