Juvenile Diversion Grant Program

The following budget items listed below are ineligible and will not be supported by this program’s funding:

• Direct financial assistance to a client such as cash.
• Supplanting existing positions or offsetting existing expenses of the recipient.
• Lobbying.
• Fundraising (including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions) and time spent procuring funding including completing federal and state funding applications.
• Purchase of real estate.
• Construction and physical modification to buildings, including minor renovations (such as painting or carpeting).
• Purchase of vehicles.
• Indirect cost rate and/or de minimis rate.

The U.S. Office of Justice Programs (OJP) strongly emphasizes the use of data and evidence in policy making and program development in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services. OJP is committed to:

• Improving the quantity and quality of data and evidence OJP generates.


• Integrating evidence into program, practice, and policy decisions within OJP and the field.


• Improving the translation of evidence into practice.

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) encourages the use of evidence-based programs and practices. Evidence-based programs and practices generally have one or more rigorous outcome evaluations that demonstrate effectiveness by measuring the relationship between the program and its intended outcome(s). This includes measuring the direction and size of a change in outcome and the extent to which a change may be attributed to the activity or intervention. The methodology of the evaluation should rule out, to the extent possible, alternative explanations for the documented change. Please refer to the CrimeSolutions.gov website and the OJJDP Model Programs Guide for more information about evidence-based programs in criminal justice, juvenile justice, and crime victim services.

For purposes of this solicitation, please be cognizant of the following definitions:

• “Juvenile justice” refers to activities concerning: (1) the prevention or reduction of juvenile delinquency; (2) the apprehension and adjudication of juvenile offenders; (3) the disposition of juvenile offenders including protective techniques and practices; (4) the prevention of child abuse and neglect; and (5) the discovery, protection, and disposition of children in need of services (Indiana Code § 5-2-6-1).


• “Youth” means any individual who is under juvenile court jurisdiction or is an age at which he or she could be subject to original juvenile court jurisdiction within the state of Indiana.

Allowable activities and costs are those that support the operations and services delivered to youth involved in or youth to be diverted from the juvenile justice system. These activities include but may not be limited to:

• Activities that support the operations of youth diversion programs.
• Activities that develop youth diversion programs.
• Activities that are evidence-based or restorative justice projects.

ICJI strongly recommends programs that are evidence based or considered to be promising practices. The selected program may be altered to meet the requirements of the applicant, but fidelity should be maintained as closely as possible. More information regarding rated programs and practices, as well as examples of model programs may be found here or here.

Allowable Costs

Personnel, employee benefits, and cost of supplies and travel to perform the activities listed below are allowable costs. Overtime for grant funded staff is an allowable cost, but to claim the increased rate, there must be a separate line item in the budget that includes the overtime rate of pay.

• Costs for program materials such as pamphlets, handouts, booklets, or brochures.
• Culturally and linguistically appropriate services such as interpreters and/or having documents translated into other languages.
• Technical assistance with respect to adherence to or application of model programs.
• Placement advocacy to assist in locating and securing safe alternatives to incarceration or out-of-home placement.
• Medical advocacy including referrals for mental healthcare services, and funding for any mental healthcare services, including services delivered via telehealth and related out-of-pocket costs that would otherwise be the responsibility of the youth or family.
• Counseling and support services, and childcare services for families who are engaged in a diversion program.

Administrative Costs

Administrative costs are an allowable expense but are limited to 10% of the total grant funded budget. Administrative costs include time to complete program required time and attendance sheets and programmatic documentation, reports, and required statistics; administrative time to collect and maintain satisfaction surveys and needs assessments used to improve services delivery within the funded project.

Travel Costs

Expenses and reimbursements for in-state and out-of-state travel must follow the most current Indiana Department of Administration State Travel Policy or the subrecipient’s travel policy, whichever is more restrictive.  Learn More.

Contractors and Consultants

A consultant evaluates an organization’s needs and provides professional advice and a contractor provides goods or performs services. When a recipient contracts for work or services, the following is required:

1. All contractual services must be obtained through a procurement method. Verification of this method must be supplied upon completion of the contract. Information about the procurement process can be found here.
2. All consultant and contractual services shall be supported by written contracts signed by all parties stating the services to be performed, rate of compensation, and length of time over which the services will be provided.
3. A copy of all written contracts for contractual or consultant services shall be attached in IntelliGrants to the grant file upon their ratification.
4. Payments shall be supported by statements outlining the services rendered, date of service, and cost of service.

Program Costs

Program costs must meet the following criteria:

1. Costs must be necessary and reasonable for the stated purpose of the grant.
2. Costs must be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Learn more.
3. Costs must be consistent with policies and procedures of the grant program and applied uniformly.
4. Costs must be adequately documented with supporting materials including receipts, invoices, timesheets, paystubs, etc. The ICJI supporting documentation policy can be found here.

• Total Agency Budget: If the applicant agency is a nonprofit organization or nongovernmental entity, please complete and upload a “Grantee Basic Budget (nonprofit Applicant budget form)”. Be sure to complete both the Organizational tab and the Employee tab. The form can be found on the ICJI website here. This does not apply to units of government.
• Sustainability Plan: Please attach a document detailing the applicant’s plan to maintain the program once the grant fund period expires.
• Timeline: Please attach a timeline for the completion of the project and/or expenditure of the grant funds.
• The Collaboration Plan: Any county participating in the program is required by IC § 31-40-5-5 to have its local or regional justice reinvestment advisory council, or another local collaborative body that includes stakeholders across the juvenile justice system, oversee each grant award to the county and engage in collaborative service planning for the county.
• A Memorandum of Agreement: A Memorandum of Agreement with the court(s) with juvenile jurisdiction in the counties to be served by the program which outlines the roles and responsibilities of the court and the program, how funds will be utilized, how youth will be referred, and what services will be provided as well as other relevant information.
• Audit Record: Include your most recent State Board of Accounts or independent audit.
• Miscellaneous
  • If applying for funds for personnel costs, attach the relevant job descriptions.
  • If applicable, attach other requested information.