BJA FY24 Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training Program | O BJA 2024 172044

FAQs: BJA FY24 Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training Program

What is the BJA FY24 Collaborative Crisis Response and Intervention Training Program?

It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) designed to strengthen how justice and public safety agencies respond to people in crisis. The program focuses on training and practical collaboration so crisis responses are safer, more appropriate, and more effective for both the individual and the community.

What problem is this grant trying to address?

The grant targets situations where a crisis tied to behavioral health, substance use, or disability-related needs can escalate without the right training, protocols, and cross-system partnerships. The aim is to improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood that people with complex needs are unnecessarily routed into the justice system when a health- or disability-informed response would be more suitable.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The main purpose is to build coordinated, real-world collaboration between public safety agencies and behavioral health and community-based service systems, supported by training that strengthens practical skills and shared operating approaches across partners.

Is this funding formula-based or competitive?

This is a discretionary opportunity, which means it is competitively awarded. Awards are made based on the application and program priorities, rather than distributed by formula.

Who is this program meant to support on the justice side?

The solicitation specifically targets multiple parts of the justice system, including law enforcement, correctional officers, probation and parole, and sheriffs departments. This reflects that crisis encounters can occur not only during initial police contact, but also in jails, detention settings, and community supervision environments.

What kinds of crisis situations does the training and collaboration focus on?

The program is intended to help agencies recognize and respond to people experiencing crises associated with behavioral health conditions, substance use issues, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.

Why does the program emphasize collaboration with behavioral health and community services?

The program is built around the idea that crisis response is more effective when public safety personnel work side by side with mental health professionals, substance use service providers, and other community supports. Stronger referral pathways and shared approaches can reduce avoidable escalations and improve alignment between a person’s needs and the community’s response.

What types of activities does this solicitation emphasize?

The solicitation emphasizes training and coordinated implementation that build practical skills and shared operating approaches for frontline and supervisory staff across justice and public safety agencies, in partnership with behavioral health and community-based systems.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. Eligibility also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized as governments, plus public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities, and other eligible entities as allowed by the solicitation.

Does the opportunity highlight local governments specifically?

Yes. The description highlights units of local government such as towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general-purpose political subdivisions of a state, signaling that local jurisdictions are a key audience because they often manage day-to-day crisis response and community safety operations.

What agency administers this grant?

The grant is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 16.738.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument type is a grant.

How many awards did BJA anticipate making for FY24?

For FY24, BJA anticipated making about 8 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $250,000 per award.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on March 19, 2024.

What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was May 15, 2024.

What outcomes is BJA trying to achieve with this program?

The program is oriented toward improved coordinated crisis intervention capacity across justice and health systems, with public safety outcomes that include fewer avoidable escalations, better alignment between an individual’s needs and the community’s response, and continued attention to officer, community, and individual wellbeing.

Is the program only focused on police encounters in the community?

No. The solicitation recognizes that crisis encounters can happen at multiple points, including in jails and detention centers, as well as in probation, parole, and other community supervision settings.

What is meant by "shared operating approaches" in this context?

Based on the solicitation description, "shared operating approaches" refers to coordinated ways of working across agencies and partners, supported by training and collaboration so that responses to crisis situations are more consistent, practical, and aligned across public safety and service systems.

What is the overall approach behind this grant?

The overall approach is to put tools and partnerships into practice by strengthening training, protocols, relationships, and referral pathways between justice agencies and behavioral health and community-based service systems, so crisis response is more effective and less likely to escalate.