Deadline: 12-Jul-23
The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor, announces the availability of approximately $1,500,000 in grant funds for one cooperative agreement to manage and operate a policy development and technical assistance (TA) center focused on youth and young adults with disabilities (the Center).
The Center will expand upon the work of the existing cooperative agreement supporting the youth TA center, the Center for Advancing Policy Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth).
The purpose of the Center is to increase the capacity of national, state, and local workforce systems to improve transition and employment-related outcomes for youth and young adults with disabilities (Y&YAD) ages 16-24, particularly those from historically underserved communities such as communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities. The Center will accomplish this by identifying and promoting the adoption of evidence-based policies and practices.
The awardee will build the capacity of the youth workforce system through research, policy analysis, and development to support strategic partnerships and systems coordination. The awardee will also improve service delivery in the workforce system by supporting Y&YAD access to career pathways and work-based learning, as well as through the professional development of youth service providers focused on best practices and problem-solving strategies to improve employment outcomes for diverse learners. To be effective in addressing capacity and service delivery needs, the awardee will engage a broad range of stakeholders in conducting technical assistance (TA).
Focus Areas
The Center funded through this opportunity will build upon the Department’s and CAPE Youth’s past work by focusing on the following four areas:
- Research and Policy Analysis and Development: Conduct research and policy analysis to identify evidence-based practices and policy solutions that address the barriers to employment for transition-aged youth, particularly those from historically underserved communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities. Provide TA to assist transition stakeholders to use analysis to improve transition and employment-related outcomes of Y&YAD.
- Strategic Partnerships and Systems Coordination: Collaborate with national, state, and local entities and with Y&YAD and their families to develop, disseminate, and promote the adoption of evidence-based policies and practices. Provide TA to assist stakeholders to build capacity to improve transition outcomes for Y&YAD.
- Career Pathways and Work-based Learning Experiences: Identify strategies to improve access to career pathways, such as apprenticeships, including registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning opportunities. Provide TA to youth workforce stakeholders and involve youth in identifying useful and effective approaches.
- Professional Development: Identify new and innovative approaches to professional development and training by providing TA that supports continuous improvement of youth service providers in the workforce system.
Funding Information
- ODEP expects availability of approximately $1,500,000 to fund approximately 1 grant. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $1,500,000. Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of federal funds.
- They anticipate total availability of approximately $7,500,000 over a 60-month period of performance. The selected recipient will receive approximately $1,500,000 annually, subject to productive program outcomes based on the CAPE Youth workplan and the availability of federal funds.
- The period of performance is 60 months with an anticipated start date of 09/30/2023. This performance period includes all necessary implementation and start-up activities.
- The initial 24-month period of performance will award $1,500,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, s well as include the incremental funding awarded in FY 2024. A second grant number with a subsequent three-year period of performance is anticipated to be awarded for FY 2025, and the anticipated incremental funding awarded in FYs 2026 and 2027 will be added to that grant.
Activities
Activities to accomplish this purpose include:
- engaging with general and disability-specific youth service delivery systems to identify their most pressing needs related to the transition of Y&YAD, particularly those from historically underserved communities such as communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities;
- identifying viable policy and practice solutions to address the barriers identified; and
- collaborating with national, state, and local entities to develop and promote policies and user-friendly resources that address the identified needs and promote a no wrong door system for Y&YAD, in line with the Department’s Youth Employment Works Strategy.
Eligibility Criteria
The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutes (AANAPISIs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs)
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
For more information, visit Grants.gov.