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ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS Funding Opportunities FY 2015 Grant Competitions: Office of Innovation and Improvement The Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) will conduct 11 grant competitions in six program areas: Arts in Education, Charter Schools, Investing in Innovation, Opportunity Scholarship, Ready to Learn Television, and Supporting Effective Educator Development. Announcements of these competitions will continue through this spring and summer. Now Is the Time Project AWARE–Community Grants The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, is accepting applications for fiscal year 2015 "Now Is the Time" Project AWARE-Community grants. This program supports communities in which residents, families, schools, and other organizations actively promote emotional health and work to reduce the likelihood of behavioral health and substance use disorders. Through the provision of training in Mental Health First Aid or Youth Mental Health First Aid, the grant targets teachers, parents, law enforcement, and faith-based leaders who interact with youth through at the community level. The effort aims to increase mental health literacy among youth-serving adults, policy makers, and program administrators. Applications are due May 1, 2015. 2015 Foster Grandparent Program Indian Tribes Competition The Corporation for National and Community Service seeks to increase the impact of national service in Indian Country. The Foster Grandparent Program engages seniors in providing tutoring and mentorship to children and youth with special or exceptional needs or those who would benefit from one-on-one attention. The deadline for applications is May 14, 2015. Americorps Funding Opportunity to Support Mentoring Disconnected Youth The 2015 Youth Opportunity Americorps funding opportunity, cosponsored by OJJDP and the Corporation for National and Community Service, will provide disconnected youth with an opportunity to participate in a national service program, receiving mentoring along the way. Applications are due May 20, 2015. VOCA The Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCA) Children's Advocacy Centers Subgrant Program will provide support to manage a national grant awards program for local children's advocacy center (CAC) programs. CACs provide a coordinated response to victims of child abuse. Applications are due by May 28, 2015. Linking Research and Practice The "Bridge Project" was created to help translate and disseminate findings on effective juvenile justice practices to be more understandable, useful, and strategically targeted. This initiative will advance research and research-based strategies across four components of the juvenile justice system: prevention and diversion, community-based alternatives to placement, detention and secure confinement, and reentry. Applications are due by May 28, 2015. Reducing Recidivism Among Latino/a Youth OJJDP is sponsoring a program for justice-involved Latino/a youth who are transitioning back into their communities. The program supports implementation and delivery of reentry services, including one-to-one, group, and peer mentoring, and transitional services to support and enhance participants' life skills and futures. Submit an application by June 1, 2015. Training Opportunities White House Will Host AAPIs Summit As part of an initiative working to improve quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the nation, the White House will hold a summit on May 12, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Panels, workshops, and discussions with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders will address a wide range of issues, including capacity building, civil rights, data disaggregation, economic development, education, health, immigration, language access, and workforce diversity. Global Youth Justice Training The 2-day 11th Global Youth Justice Training Institute will begin June 16, 2015, on Cape Cod, Mass. Participants will learn how to enhance juvenile diversion programs in peer-to-peer training sessions on recruiting and training volunteers, grants and funding, increasing juvenile referrals, community partnerships, wraparound services, and substance abuse screening and treatment. National Juvenile Justice Network Annual Forum This members-only event beginning July 27, 2015, in Washington, D.C., comprises three days of training, networking, and strategy sharing. Field experts will lead sessions, and a range of interactive workshops and lectures will provide ample opportunity for learning and collaboration. Reducing Disparities in Juvenile Justice Youth of color are more likely than white children to be arrested, charged, and incarcerated—even for the same misconduct. But becoming involved with the juvenile justice system at a young age is fraught with negative outcomes, including educational troubles, reduced employment, and criminal justice involvement later in life. Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice Certificate Program, which will be held August 3–7, 2015, is an intensive training designed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in local juvenile justice systems. The program is operated by the Georgetown Center for Juvenile Justice Reform and Center for Children's Law and Policy, and seeks to reduce Overrepresentation of youth of color in the juvenile justice system Disparate treatment of youth of color compared with white youth within the juvenile justice system Unnecessary entry and movement deeper into the juvenile justice system for youth of color After completing the program, participants will be responsible for the development of a capstone project—a set of actions each participant will design and undertake within their organization or community to initiate or continue collaborative efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. Applications to attend are due by May 15, 2015.