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Bureau of Justice Assistance - Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice - Solutions for Safer Communities

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program

Important Notice for Drug Court Applicants
Please note that in addition to the main point of contact, Tim Jeffries, 202-616-7385, there are two additional points of contact available for applicants for the Adult Drug COurt Discretionary Grant Program solicitation: Danica Szarvas-Kidd, 202-305-7418, and Gary Dennis, 202-305-9059.

Important Notice Regarding Grants.gov
On January 6, 2009, the Grants.gov Project Management Office reported a problem with the application acceptance/rejection e-mails an applicant receives after hitting the submit button. If your application becomes stalled in the system, you may receive up to 10 reject notices, followed by an acceptance notice. If you receive a rejection e-mail, please complete the following steps:

If there are no errors in your application, please call the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1�0�8�26 and acquire a tracking number.
If you receive an acceptance e-mail after a rejection email, please keep copies of the notifications.
If you do not receive an acceptance e-mail and you feel your application is complete, please contact the Program Manager listed in the Solicitation.

On January 14, the Grants.gov Project Management Office reported a problem with the nightly data extract from the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). If you cannot log into Grants.gov and you have modified your CCR registration since December 31, 2008, please contact the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 and acquire a tracking number.

You are urged to submit your application at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application. If you experience unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond your control, you must contact OJP staff within 24 hours after the due date and request approval to submit your application after the due date. At that time, OJP staff will require you to e-mail the complete grant application, your DUNS number, and provide a Grants.gov Contact Center tracking number(s). After OJP reviews all of the information submitted as well as contacts Grants.gov to validate the technical issues reported by the grantee, OJP will contact you to either approve or deny the request.

NADEC Webinar
One of BJA's partners, the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (NADEC), is hosting a webinar, "Identifying DEC Through Law Enforcement and Child Protective Services Perspectives," on Wednesday, January 28, at 1:30 p.m. e.t., conducted by Betsy Dunn of the Tennessee Department of Children抯 Services, Child Protective Services and Mitch Brown, Former Chief of Police, City of Oroville, CA. For more information and to register, visit the NADEC web site.

Drug Court Training
Registration for the Adult Drug Court Planning Initiative (DCPI) will maintain an open enrollment application process until training capacity is reached. The National Drug Court Institute will deliver five-day training programs for eligible jurisdictions that are planning to develop an adult drug court.

Prisoner Reentry Collaborations
With support by BJA and the U.S. Department of Labor's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the Council of State Governments Justice Center has released Reentry Partnerships: A Guide for States & Faith-Based and Community Organizations. The guide offers practical recommendations for how state government officials and community-based service providers can better use limited resources to help the more than 700,000 individuals released from U.S. prisons and the nearly 9 million who leave jails each year to successfully and safely rejoin neighborhoods and families.

2009 Outstanding Achievement in Volunteer Programs Award
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)are sponsoring an annual award to recognize law enforcement agencies that have developed and implemented creative and effective law enforcement volunteer programs. The award recognizes agencies that most exemplify the goals, concepts, and spirit of volunteerism in action. Applications are due May 15, 2009. For more information, go to www.policevolunteers.org.

Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence
The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), in partnership with BJA, is pleased to announce that they are accepting nominations for the 6th Annual National Neighborhood Watch Awards of Excellence to be presented during the General Section of the 2009 National Sheriffs' Association Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL. All law enforcement agencies, Neighborhood Watch groups, organizations, and programs that have made an exceptional contribution to the Neighborhood Watch program in their communities are encouraged to submit nominations to NSA by March 31, 2009. For complete information on eligibility, criteria, and nomination forms, please visit www.usaonwatch.org/AboutUs/AwardsProgram.php.

Police Executive Fellowship Program (PEFP)
As a state or local law enforcement official, are you looking for a professional management and leadership opportunity at the Department of Justice? BJA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are seeking leaders from state and local law enforcement to serve on rotational assignments at both BJA and ATF to assist with federal law enforcement policy, operations, and training that will subsequently benefit state and/or local agencies. (PEFP Fact Sheet, PEFP Nomination and Selection Process, PEFP Nomination Form, and PEFP Application Form)

GMS On-line Training Tool Available
The OJP Grants Management System (GMS) On-line Training Tool assists grantees in administering their awards through the GMS. The online tool provides step-by-step instructions to complete various functions within GMS, as well as the administrative policies associated with Grant Adjustment Notices, Progress Reporting, and Closeouts.

Pandemic Influenza
BJA has developed an online information resource on Preparing the Justice System for a Pandemic Influenza and Other Public Health Emergencies. Resources recently added include two guideline documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Emergency Medical Services. Also visit www.pandemicflu.gov.

What's New Archive

To guide governments as they think about how to coordinate problem-solving courts on a statewide basis, BJA and the Center for Court Innovation brought together 18 policymakers, researchers, and practitioners for a roundtable conversation. Among other topics, participants identified the advantages and pitfalls of statewide coordination and discussed their states' strategies. The report, A New Way of Doing Business: A Conversation about the Statewide Coordination of Problem-Solving Courts, summarizes the discussion.

The National Sheriffs' Association, with support from BJA, has released Watch Out, Help Out Your Community: Neighborhood Watch Resources for Native American Communities.

With support from BJA, the Council of State Governments Justice Center has released Mental Health Courts: A Primer for Policymakers and Practitioners. This publication provides the field with a comprehensive overview and history of mental health courts and describes mental health courts� goals and processes, how they differ from drug courts, research findings about their effectiveness, and resources for jurisdictions interested in starting a program.

The American Probation and Parole Association and Family Justice, with support from BJA, have released Implementing the Family Support Approach for Community Supervision.

In partnership with BJA, the
International Association of Chiefs
of Police (IACP) launched a new web site,
www.DiscoverPolicing.org, designed to inform and inspire those who are interested in a career in law enforcement. The web site is the first phase in the IACP's Discover Policing Initiative, a national recruitment campaign designed to highlight the benefits of careers in law enforcement to a broad and diverse audience, from young applicants to those seeking a career change or completing military service. (Frequently Asked Questions)

With support from BJA, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, in partnership with the Police Executive Research Forum, has released Improving Responses to People with Mental Illnesses: Strategies for Effective Law Enforcement Training.

FY 2009 Justice & Mental Health Collaboration Capacity Building
BJA has released the FY 2009 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration State-Based Capacity Bulding Program grant announcement. Applications are due March 26, 2009.
FY 2009 Indian Alcohol & Substance Abuse
BJA has released the FY 2009 Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program grant announcement. Applications are due March 12, 2009.
FY 2009 Justice & Mental Health
BJA has released the FY 2009 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grant announcement. Applications are due March 12, 2009.

FY 2009 Tribal Correctional Facilities
BJA has released the FY 2009 Correctional Facilities on Tribal Lands Program grant announcement. Applications are due March 12, 2009.
FY 2009 Tribal Correctional TTA
BJA has released the FY 2009 Correctional Facilities on Tribal Lands Training and Technical Assistance Program grant announcement. Applications are due March 12, 2009.
FY 2009 Prescription Drug Monitoring
BJA has released the FY 2009 Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program grant announcement. Applications are due February 12, 2009.
FY 2009 Tribal Courts
BJA has released the FY 2009 Tribal Courts Assistance Program (TCAP) grant announcement. Applications are due February 12, 2009.

FY 2009 Adult Drug Courts
BJA has released the FY 2009 Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program grant announcement. Applications are due January 29, 2009.
FY 2009 NMVTIS
BJA has released the FY 2009 National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) Participation Program grant announcement. Applications are due February 12, 2009.
Visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/funding/solicitations.htm for other OJP funding opportunities.
Note: Applicants for competitive grant awards must apply via Grants.gov. First-time users must first register before submitting their applications.

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