The Bureau of Subsidies and Grants oversees subsidies to juvenile courts which promote the development and expansion of local, community-based options for juvenile offenders while decreasing the number of youth committed to the department.  The subsidies include funds for a range of community programs, and include RECLAIM Ohio and the Youth Services Grant.  Through these two grants, more than 600 programs are funded and more than 100,000 youth are served each year. 

The bureau’s responsibilities related to these state subsidies include assisting courts in the use of resources and the development of programs, monitoring programs, inspecting for compliance with administrative rules, and providing and coordinating technical assistance and training for juvenile courts.  Scheduled training sessions can be viewed at Court Training.

The bureau also coordinates the Family and Children First Partnerships for Success (PfS) initiative. PfS is a strategic approach to building a community’s capacity to prevent and respond effectively to child and adolescent problem behaviors while promoting positive youth development.  Counties learn to effectively mobilize and focus their efforts on identifying the risks affecting youth in their community and the protection and assets necessary to transition these youth into productive adults.  PfS provides counties with technical assistance and funding to engage in community planning as well as implementation of county strategic plans.  For more information, visit pfsacademy.org. 

Another program administered by the bureau is the Juvenile Justice Work Connection (JJWC)/AmeriCorps program.   JJWC provides federal AmeriCorps funding to juvenile courts and county agencies to recruit AmeriCorps members that provide job readiness and career development services to juvenile offenders and other high risk youth.  The program is currently operating in 18 counties.    

Each year, Ohio receives funding from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for three grant programs.  This funding, in cooperation with the Governor’s Council on Juvenile Justice, is also administered by the BSG.  The grant programs include:

·        The Title V Incentive Grant for Local Delinquency Prevention Programs (Title V) grant provides funding to local communities participating in the Governor’s Partnerships for Success initiative.  Funding must be used for prevention and early intervention programs for at risk youth, and/or for youth that have had informal contact with the juvenile justice system for non-violent acts or status offenses.

·        The Title II Formula Grant (Title II) program provides subgrants to state and local agencies for programming and services through a competitive application process.  Programs may be funded under delinquency prevention, family strengthening, substance abuse, mental health, or alternatives to detention.

·        The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) is awarded to units of local government to support programs and services for youth already involved in the juvenile justice system.  The amount a jurisdiction receives is based on a predetermined formula.  Programs are funded under one or more of 16 program areas with the awards typically going to the county juvenile court.

The bureau’s responsibilities related to federal grants include reviewing grant applications, monitoring funded programs for compliance with federal regulations, monitoring program activities, monitoring spending and fiscal integrity, providing on-going guidance and technical assistance, and annual on-site monitoring.