DC Youth and Young Adult Update 01-31-2025

By NYEC | January 31, 2025

 

 

 

News at NYEC:  

  • OMB Federal Funding Freeze: Experiencing Issues or Have Questions? Contact us! On January 27th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo requiring all agencies to temporarily pause disbursement of federal assistance and submit to OMB information on impacted programs by February 10. In the memo, OMB stated that this pause was issued to ensure that all federal financial assistance programs do not contradict with the several executive orders President Trump issued last week, including those related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. On the same day, OMB shared this report with federal agencies and asked that they fill out the chart by February 7. Among the programs listed in this report are the WIOA Youth Program, the Re-entry Employment Opportunities program, the Runaway and Homeless Youth program, and many more that serve opportunity youth.  

By January 29th, the memo was rescinded after a federal judge temporarily blocked the action. The National Council for Nonprofits has since filed a lawsuit against the OMB over the guidance, as have State Attorneys General. The White House released a Q&A sheet to clarify confusion surrounding the guidance, which can be found here. Despite these actions, it is still unclear whether the White House may pursue new actions to achieve its goal of freezing federal funds.  

  

This situation is developing, and we will share any new information as we receive it. In the meantime, we encourage you to contact us if:  

  • if your program has been affected by the freeze;  
  • if you have received any formal communication from federal or state agencies; or  
  • If you have any questions that you would like us to share with the Department of Labor and/or Congress.  

You may email [email protected] to share any information   

  • Join the National Youth Employment Coalition’s 2025 Annual Forum- Empowering Youth, Transforming Communities, in Minneapolis, MN, from May 12-14, 2025! This event will gather practitioners, youth advocates, and community leaders to explore key topics like youth leadership, holistic supports, living wage employment, and policy & advocacy.   
  • Fill out a 6-month Federal Advocacy Calendar! Interested in being more engaged in federal advocacy? The hyperlinked title will direct you to a JotForm that lists concrete steps that you can take in the first 6 months of the year to build a relationship with your Members of Congress! NYEC will make it easy to complete each goal of every month by sharing support, reminders, and more!  

 

Legislative Branch:  

  • 119th Congressional Committee Updates: 
  • House Education and Workforce Committee: Chairman Walberg announced a hearing on the “State of American Education”. It is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.  
  • Senate Appropriations Committee: U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, announced the Senate Appropriations subcommittee chairs, ranking members, and full rosters for the 119th Congress. 
  • Schakowsky, García, Trahan, Durbin, Duckworth, Booker Introduce Legislation to Support Youth Through Mentorship Programs: Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), and Lori Trahan (MA-03) introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. This legislation creates a strong, sustainable support system through mentorship to ensure that children who experience barriers like poverty, disability, adverse childhood experiences, or drug or alcohol abuse, can successfully transition to high school, college, and the workforce. The full bill text can be found here. 

 

Executive Branch:  

  • President Trump Signs Executive Order on Educational Opportunity: President Trump signed an Executive Order about educational freedom and opportunity for families. The Order directs the Department of Education to issue guidance on how the States can use federal funding formulas to support their K-12 scholarship programs. It directs multiple agencies to prioritize school choice in their programs. 
  • President Trump Signs Executive Order on Indoctrination in Schools:  The Executive Order suggests that schools are indoctrinating children with “radical, anti-American ideologies” and seeks to counteract this by enforcing federal laws that protect parental rights and prohibit discrimination. It mandates the creation of an “Ending Indoctrination Strategy,” reestablishes the 1776 Commission to promote “patriotic education,” and directs agencies to ensure compliance with laws supporting a traditional interpretation of American history and identity. 

 

Federal Funding Opportunities with upcoming deadlines: 

No new federal funding opportunities 

Previously Shared  

  • USDA Grant: Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification: Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification (YFSEC) Program for Fiscal Year 2025 supports national efforts to deliver timely, pertinent, and appropriate farm safety education to youth seeking employment or already employed in agricultural production. Applications are due March 20, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: OJJDP FY25 Strategies To Support Children Exposed to Violence: This funding opportunity seeks to provide funding to communities to develop coordinated and comprehensive community-based approaches to help children and their families who are exposed to violence (CEV) build resilience, restore their safety, heal their social and emotional wounds, and prevent future violence and delinquency. Applications are due March 10, 2025.  
  • DOJ Grant: OJJDP FY25 Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program: This program furthers DOJ’s mission by supporting and strengthening four regional children’s advocacy centers (CACs) that will deliver coordinated training and technical assistance within and across the regions to CACs, members of multidisciplinary teams, programs, and organizations to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect and the provision of children’s advocacy center services to child victims and their families. Applications are due March 12, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: BJA FY25 STOP School Violence Program: This funding opportunity aims to support school safety by implementing solutions to enhance school climate, establish school-based behavioral threat assessment and intervention teams to identify violence risks, introduce technologies like anonymous reporting tools, and apply other evidence-based strategies to prevent violence. Applications are due March 27, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: OJJDP FY25 National Mentoring Programs: This funding opportunity seeks to enhance and expand mentoring services for youth who are at risk or high risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization, and juvenile justice system involvement. Applications due March 5, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: OJJDP FY25 Juvenile Justice System Reform and Reinvestment Initiative: This funding opportunity seeks to support states’ implementation of innovative and/or research-based, data-informed policies to improve juvenile justice system outcomes and sustainable strategies for reinvesting resulting costs saved or averted into effective juvenile justice prevention and intervention programs. Applications due March 3, 2025. 
  • HHS Grant: Statewide Family Network: The purpose of this program is to provide resources to enhance the capacity of statewide mental health family-controlled organizations to support, train, and mentor family members/primary caregivers who are raising children, youth, and young adults with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and/or co-occurring disorders (COD). Applications due March 17, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: OJJDP FY25 National Mentoring Resource Center: This funding opportunity seeks to build on OJJDP’s history and leadership in mentoring by providing the mentoring field and practitioners with comprehensive resources and training materials on the OJJDP National Mentoring Resource Center website. Applications due March 3, 2025. 
  • USDA Grant: Community Connect Grant Program: The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service (10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up) does not exist. Applications due April 21, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: BJA FY25 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program: This funding opportunity seeks to fund programs that support collaborations to improve public safety responses and outcomes for people with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs). The goal is to improve safety and well-being for adults with MHDs (including people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) or MHSUDs who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Applications are due April 3, 2025. 
  • DOJ Grant: OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: The Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program, referred to as the Tribal Governments Program, assists Tribal governments (or their authorized designees) to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities. Applications are due April 8, 2025.  
  • DOJ Grant: NIJ FY25 Graduate Research Fellowship: This funding opportunity seeks to support doctoral students whose dissertation research is relevant to preventing and controlling crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim services, or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice in the United States. Applications are due April 15, 2025.  
  • FY25 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation: This Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) funding opportunity seeks to provide funding to improve public safety and victim services in tribal communities. CTAS provides federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia an opportunity to apply for funding to aid in developing a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety. Applications are due March 18, 2025.  
  • DOJ Grant: Building a Community of Practice for Women in Strategic Trade: This grant exists to create a professional network and community of practice to advance women working in strategic trade through sustained mentorship. Experienced international strategic trade experts and practitioners will guide early- or mid-career women in the strategic trade field through a sustained six-month mentorship. Applications are due March 25, 2025.  

 

From The States: 

  • Tennessee: Ford Motor Co. is investing $9 million to support West Tennessee communities as part of its Good Neighbor Plan, bringing its total community investment in the region to $30 million. The funds will be used to support workforce development, community building, and environmental protection initiatives in the communities surrounding Ford’s BlueOval City campus. “We are committed to being a good neighbor in West Tennessee,” said Gabby Bruno, Ford’s director of community relations. “These investments will help us make a positive impact on the lives of our neighbors and build a stronger future for the region.” 
  • Massachusetts: Project 351, an organization dedicated to developing young leaders and fostering social change, brought together its 351 ambassadors on Saturday for a day of community service in Chelsea, Brighton, and Newton. The initiative aims to cultivate a diverse pipeline of changemakers ready to enter the workforce and make a positive impact. “I want to help out the community and grow as a leader,” shared Ella Montville, one of the Project 351 ambassadors. At Cradles to Crayons, the ambassadors were in constant motion, sorting and organizing clothing for those in need. Their efforts exemplified Project 351’s mission to inspire youth to become active and engaged citizens. By participating in these service projects, the young ambassadors gain valuable experience in leadership, teamwork, and community engagement, preparing them to be the next generation of leaders. 

For The Youth: 

  • Global Leadership Adventures: Global Leadership Adventures offers teens the opportunity to explore the world and make a difference through travel programs and internships that combine meaningful community service with immersive cultural experiences. Inspired by the Peace Corps, these programs provide a unique opportunity for young people to develop leadership skills, broaden their perspectives, and contribute to communities around the globe. 
  • Ambitious About Autism: They offer a unique supported internship program for young people who have an autism diagnosis and who are eager to gain competitive employment experience. These unpaid internships are integrated into the individual’s education, providing valuable skills and real-world experience to prepare them for successful adulthood and careers. Their program takes place entirely in a business setting, offering a fully immersive experience. Learners are integrated into the workplace, receiving continuous feedback and developing practical employability skills that will help them compete in the job market. 

Resources:  

  • ARISE Foundation: Young people today face unprecedented challenges to their mental well-being, including stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to provide them with the tools they need to thrive. ARISE offers a solution: an extensive library of evidence-based life skills programs designed specifically for at-risk youth. These programs are implemented in a variety of settings, including schools, juvenile detention centers, foster care facilities, and community-based organizations. 
  • Living Well YouthWorks: Living Well Youth Works fosters personal growth, self-reliance, and the confidence to successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities of adulthood. Their program empowers young people with the essential skills and knowledge they need to thrive in adulthood. They focus on developing vital areas like communication, financial literacy, and problem-solving through a combination of engaging workshops, personalized mentorship, and hands-on experiences. By exposing participants to diverse career paths and higher education options, we help them make informed decisions about their future. 
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