Juvenile Probation Services Grant

The Juvenile Probation Services Grant is administered by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges' Commission (JCJC) under authority provided by the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. Section 6374. The enabling legislation gives the Commission the power and duty to make annual grants to political subdivisions for the development and improvement of probation services for juveniles. The program provides direct financial support to all 67 county juvenile probation departments in Pennsylvania. Grant funds are supported through annual legislative appropriations and are intended to strengthen juvenile probation services and advance evidence-based practices consistent with Pennsylvania's Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES). The current grant term is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, subject to the annual availability of funds. Grant Program funds support the development and improvement of juvenile probation services through implementation and sustainability of the JJSES, expansion of paid juvenile probation services, increases and maintenance of salaries for juvenile probation officers, Commission-provided or approved training programs, drug and alcohol testing programs, Commission-sponsored graduate education programs for juvenile probation officers, and continuation of applicable Commission-approved services supported during the county's previous grant term. Funds must be expended solely toward juvenile probation officer salaries and activities supporting implementation and sustainability of the JJSES and evidence-based practices, in accordance with an approved budget. Personnel expenses may support juvenile probation officers and quality assurance staff to the extent they perform juvenile probation services and activities identified in the JJSES framework. Operations expenses supporting JJSES implementation and sustainability may not exceed 10 percent or $10,000 of the county's total allocation, whichever is greater. Food and beverage purchases are specifically identified as operational expenditures that will not be approved. Participation is available to Pennsylvania county juvenile probation departments and requires compliance with the Commission's standards and conditions. Counties must adhere to specified Juvenile Court Standards; complete a JJSES Implementation and Sustainability Plan; implement required practices concerning the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS); develop and implement standardized case plans based on YLS results; submit a proposed budget; maintain equitable compensation for juvenile probation personnel; provide required certified fiscal, salary, personnel, and compensation information; and participate in specified statewide statistical, outcome-measure, and detention-monitoring programs. Among the measurable JJSES requirements, at least 80 percent of applicable juvenile probation officers must be trained to administer the YLS, at least 80 percent of applicable cases must meet specified initial, review, and closing YLS assessment requirements, at least 80 percent of applicable juvenile probation officers must be trained in case planning, and at least 80 percent of applicable cases must have a case plan according to best-practice recommendations. The annual application process consists of three phases. For FY 2026-2027, Phase One began with access to the JJSES Plan in iDashboards on April 13, 2026. Counties were expected to submit the completed JJSES Plan and, where applicable, YLS Master Trainer and Case Plan Coordinator Partnership Agreements by June 1, 2026. Phase Two follows enactment of the Commonwealth budget and notification of available grant funding. Required materials include an Equitable Compensation Letter, FY 2025-2026 Financial Statement, FY 2026-2027 Proposed Budget, Commonwealth Worker Protection and Investment Certification Form, Proposed Budget Approval Signature Page, and Juvenile Probation Services Grant Agreement. Grant Program application materials are submitted to the Commission by email at RA-OAJCJCGrants@pa.gov and should be submitted no later than March 1, 2027. Applications submitted after May 1, 2027 may not be awarded. Phase Three occurs after completion of the Phase One and Phase Two requirements. The Commission provides the chief juvenile probation officer with an Award Notification/Invoice identifying the amount awarded. The document requires designated county and Commission signatures. Once the completed Award Notification/Invoice is received, Commission staff process payment to the county. Awarded Grant Program funds are distributed in one payment, excluding training allocation funds, and grant funds must be maintained in an interest-bearing account until expended, subject to the procedures established by the Commission. Expenditure records are subject to audit, separate accountability must be maintained in the county accounting system, and required records generally must be retained for three years following expiration or termination of the Grant Agreement. Unexpended funds may be carried forward only with written Commission approval; otherwise, they must be returned. The Commission monitors compliance throughout the grant term using required grant documents, statewide information systems, training records, and other grant-related reporting. When information indicates that a county may not have met a JJSES grantee responsibility, Commission staff review the information with the chief juvenile probation officer and allow the county to clarify data-quality issues or relevant circumstances before a determination is made. A county determined not to have met identified YLS or standardized case-planning responsibilities may be instructed to complete a Grant Requirements Action Plan identifying action steps, responsible personnel, implementation timelines, and requested technical assistance. Continued failure to meet minimum expectations may affect eligibility for funding in the following grant term. The Juvenile Probation Services Grant is an annual program. For the FY 2026-2027 cycle, the grant period runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The Commission notifies grantees annually of their award amounts and any special conditions or programs for which funds are intended. Questions concerning the grant process may be directed to Angela Work, Deputy Director, at awork@pa.gov, while Grant Program application materials are submitted to RA-OAJCJCGrants@pa.gov. General Commission contact information includes 717-787-6910. Technical assistance specifically concerning iDashboards is available through the JCJC Help Desk at 717-477-1199 or ra-jcjchelpdesk@pa.gov.

Ensure the JJSES Plan and applicable partnership agreements satisfy the program's JJSES, YLS, and standardized case-planning requirements. Align the Proposed Budget with permissible personnel and JJSES/evidence-based-practice expenditures. Ensure required signatures and certifications are complete before submission. Operations expenses must remain within the permitted limit, and proposed and prior expenditures are reviewed by Commission staff for compliance.