OJJDP FY 16 Defending Childhood State Policy Initiative

OJJDP will fund the successful applicant to work with as many as four states to implement and facilitate statewide policy and practice initiatives that will advance the ability of those states to:

• Ensure that all at-risk children and youth are screened and assessed at each point of contact across youth-serving systems, with a particular focus on the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.

• Provide evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment services to children and youth exposed to violence.

• Identify mechanisms to blend and braid funding sources to support identification, screening, assessment, and treatment services.

• Improve outcomes for children and youth exposed to violence.