The Justice Initiative: Learning Network for Justice Funding

Social Current, in partnership with the National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS), proposes an initiative aims to establish a learning network for 75 community-based organizations (CBOs) and impacted community members, focusing on CBOs serving communities of color, indigenous and rural communities, persons with different abilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The initiative will enhance organizational capacity and resilience by increasing access to Office of Justice Programs (OJP) funding for CBOs serving adults, victims and youth in marginalized communities. The project’s goals include providing comprehensive training and technical assistance to enhance the quality of services provided by CBOs. This will be achieved through a learning collaborative that incorporates organizational assessments, support, and mentorship based on the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcome (ECHO) model. By engaging 75 CBOs in the ECHO model, the initiative aims to foster peer-to-peer learning, deepen understanding of barriers to securing OJP funds, and develop scalable solutions to address infrastructure challenges. The collaborative approach will result in a comprehensive curriculum featuring diverse learning tools, such as webinars, self-paced modules, and mini assessments, housed in Social Current’s Learning Management System (LMS) with a train-the-trainer component. Furthermore, the initiative will build the capacity and infrastructure of CBOs to address challenges in applying for OJP funding. This includes training in grant writing, interdisciplinary collaboration, technology/data management, trauma-informed care, advocacy, and community outreach. An Evaluation and Learning Committee (ELC) will guide the evaluation process, design metrics, and assess progress. Social Current’s and the National Partnership for Juvenile Services’ robust network, coupled with their expertise in policy, practice, and advocacy, uniquely positions them to drive systemic effectiveness. By fostering collaborative learning and community engagement, this initiative seeks to create sustainable impacts that strengthen CBOs, enhance their capacity, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities.