Children's Justice Act (CJA) Grant Program

The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF), under the leadership of Governor Katie Hobbs, has released the Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) for the Arizona Children’s Justice Act Grant Program. GOYFF is a cabinet-level agency that manages both state and federal grants while collaborating with partners across Arizona to improve service delivery in priority areas such as child well-being, substance abuse, domestic violence, juvenile justice, and workforce development. Through this program, GOYFF seeks to strengthen Arizona’s response to child abuse and neglect cases, with an emphasis on child sexual abuse, exploitation, and fatalities related to abuse or neglect. The Arizona Children’s Justice Act Grant Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C. § 5106c). The program is designed to enhance investigative, judicial, and administrative processes in handling child abuse cases, improve multidisciplinary team coordination, and develop child and family advocacy centers. Importantly, funds are restricted to reforming systems and processes, rather than supporting prevention or treatment programs. The program aligns with federal legislation, including the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018, and carries the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 93.643. Eligible applicants include Arizona-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, local, county, and state government entities, Tribal Nations and communities, as well as partnerships among these entities with a designated fiscal agent. This competitive grant program anticipates approximately $180,000 in total available funds, with individual awards ranging between $25,000 and $50,000. Contracts will be for a 12-month period, renewable for up to two additional one-year terms contingent on appropriations and performance. Applicants should ensure that proposed projects focus strictly on system improvements in the investigation and handling of child abuse cases. Applications must be submitted through Arizona’s eCivis grants management system. A non-mandatory virtual pre-application conference is scheduled for September 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with registration closing at 10:00 AM the same day. The final application submission deadline is October 6, 2025, at 5:00 PM (Phoenix time). Award announcements are expected on December 12, 2025. Required submission materials include exhibits and attachments such as an implementation plan, personnel overview, goals and outcome objectives, and acceptance forms. The RFGA specifies detailed program narrative requirements covering the scope of work, needs assessment, strategies, implementation timeline, collaboration, sustainability, and performance measures. Applications will be evaluated using a point-based scoring system totaling 1,000 points, divided across criteria such as scope of work (300 points), implementation plan (100 points), collaboration (200 points), sustainability (100 points), goals and performance measures (200 points), and budget alignment (100 points). Priority will be given to applicants demonstrating strong collaboration with county multidisciplinary protocols, the Department of Child Safety, and forensic medical examiners. If proposals are deemed insufficient, GOYFF reserves the right to reduce funding amounts. All applicants are expected to thoroughly review the RFGA document and supporting materials to ensure compliance with requirements. The program emphasizes trauma-informed practices, collaborative partnerships, and measurable system-level improvements. While no direct contact information is included in the solicitation document, applicants are directed to GOYFF’s website at https://goyff.az.gov for agency details and resources. This funding opportunity represents a key investment in strengthening Arizona’s capacity to effectively investigate, prosecute, and respond to child abuse and neglect cases in ways that minimize trauma and promote justice.

Attend pre-application conference; align with CAPTA; demonstrate strong collaboration; include measurable goals and sustainability planning