Community Catalyst Grant (CCG)

 

Total Funding  $3,000,006	Duration  3 Years	Awards  Up to 6
Award Structure  $166,667 per year

Purpose The Public Safety Response Target Area supports initiatives that improve law enforcement responses to substance use crises while reducing unnecessary arrests and incarceration. The goal is to strengthen crisis response systems that divert individuals to appropriate treatment and support services, ultimately reducing long-term incarceration and the financial burden of local jail costs. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants include:

• Law enforcement agencies
• Direct support agencies with certified or licensed staff embedded within law enforcement response systems

Partnership Requirement Applicants must demonstrate formal, active partnerships between law enforcement and direct support agencies at the time of application.

• Law enforcement agencies must have an active Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or equivalent agreement, with a mental health, behavioral health, or direct support service provider
• Direct support agencies must have an active MOU, or equivalent agreement, with a participating law enforcement agency

All MOUs or equivalent agreements must be fully executed and in effect at the time of application submission and must outline coordination related to crisis response, diversion, and service connection. Program Focus Programs funded through this Target Area must support strategies that improve responses to substance use crises and reduce justice system involvement for individuals experiencing substance use-related emergencies. These strategies may include:

• Embedded direct support professionals working with law enforcement
• Crisis response teams
• Expanded use of de-escalation strategies
• Training for officers responding to substance use crises
• Protocols that increase diversion to treatment or support services

Programs must demonstrate how their approach reduces reliance on arrest and incarceration while improving safety for officers, individuals in crisis, and the broader community. Key Outcome Areas Funded programs are expected to achieve defined performance thresholds in the following areas:

01  |  Improved law enforcement preparedness to respond to substance use crises

02  |  Increased effectiveness of de-escalation and crisis response training

03  |  Increased diversion from arrest to treatment or support services

04  |  Reduction in justice system costs associated with incarceration and repeated crisis response

Core Quantitative Measures Applicants will track measurable changes in operational outcomes where applicable. Key indicators must demonstrate measurable changes over time and demonstrate progress in crisis response effectiveness, diversion, and system coordination. WVFF may review submitted data, supporting documentation, and reporting practices to ensure compliance with measurement and reporting requirements. Operational Outcomes Applicants must track:

• Number of hospital transports resulting from substance use crisis calls
• Number of injuries occurring during calls for service (officers, individuals in crisis, or others)
• Repeat law enforcement calls involving the same individual experiencing a substance use crisis

Standardized Rate-Based Measures To ensure comparability across jurisdictions, applicants must report both counts and rates for the following:

• Arrests
• Arrest Count: Total number of arrests resulting from crisis calls
• Arrest Rate: (Number of Arrests / Total Crisis Calls) x 100
• Diversion
• Diversion Count: Number of individuals diverted to treatment or support services in lieu of arrest
• Diversion Rate: (Number of Diversions / Eligible Crisis Calls) x 100

Expanded Crisis Response Measures Applicants must also track:

• Number of overdose incidents responded to by law enforcement
• Number of overdose incidents entered into an OD Mapping or equivalent data system
• Number of mental health-related calls for service

Diversion & Referral Measures Applicants must track:

• Number of referrals made to:
• Substance use treatment services
• Behavioral health services
• Housing or shelter services
• Number of successful service connections, defined as confirmation that the individual engaged with the referred service (where data sharing agreements allow)

Youth & Trauma-Informed Response Measures Applicants must track:

• Number of Handle With Care (HWC) submissions completed following qualifying incidents involving children exposed to trauma

Applicants that do not currently implement HWC must:

• Commit to full implementation within Year 1 of the grant period
• Describe their implementation plan, including coordination with schools or partner agencies

Workforce & Training Outcomes Programs will measure changes in officer preparedness and training related to substance use crisis response through standardized surveys and participation metrics. Officer Preparedness Surveys Applicants must administer both pre-training and post-training surveys to participating officers.

• Pre-training survey establishes baseline preparedness, knowledge, and confidence
• Post-training survey assesses changes following training
• Ongoing Survey (recommended) may be administered annually to assess retention

Standard Survey Questions Surveys must assess agreement with the following statements using a 1-5 scale (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree):

• I am prepared to handle a substance use crisis
• I have the training necessary to respond to a substance use crisis
• I have the skills to de-escalate individuals experiencing a crisis
• I understand when and how to divert individuals to treatment or support services
• I am confident coordinating with service providers during a crisis response
• I would benefit from additional training related to responding to substance use crises

Training Participation Metrics Applicants must track participation in:

• General de-escalation training
• Training related to responding to substance use crises
• Protocols for responding to calls involving individuals experiencing an acute substance use crisis

Workforce Capacity Metrics Applicants must track:

• Percentage of participating officers trained in:
• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), and/or
• Mental Health First Aid or equivalent
• Total number of officers completing crisis response-related training annually

Performance Expectations Year 1: Establish baseline performance and implement required tracking and reporting systems

• Establish baseline across all required quantitative measures
• Implement required data collection and reporting systems
• Administer pre-training officer preparedness surveys to establish baseline

Year 2: Demonstrate measurable improvement from baseline

• Demonstrate increased diversion rates in lieu of arrest, where appropriate
• Demonstrate increased number and rate of referrals to treatment, behavioral health, and support services
• Demonstrate increased use of de-escalation strategies during crisis response
• Achieve threshold of 60% of participating officers trained in crisis response-related training (e.g., CIT, Mental Health First Aid, or equivalent)
• Demonstrate improvement in officer preparedness, confidence, and perceived ability to respond to substance use crises, as reflected in post-training survey results

Year 3: Demonstrate sustained and increased improvement from baseline

• Demonstrate sustained or increased rate of successful service connections
• Achieve threshold of 75% of participating officers trained in crisis response-related training (e.g., CIT, Mental Health First Aid, or equivalent)
• Demonstrate continued improvement in officer preparedness and de-escalation capacity, as reflected in ongoing survey results

Expected Impact

Programs supported under this Target Area must improve the effectiveness of law enforcement crisis response while expanding diversion opportunities and strengthening connections to treatment and support services. Over time, these efforts are expected to reduce repeat crisis calls, decrease reliance on arrest and incarceration, improve safety outcomes during crisis response, strengthen coordination between law enforcement and service providers, and reduce system burden associated with crisis response and justice system involvement.

 

 

Total Funding  $3,000,006	Duration  3 Years	Awards  Up to 6
Award Structure  $166,667 per year

Purpose

The Day Report Centers Target Area supports programs that provide structured supervision, treatment coordination, and rehabilitation services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The goal of this Target Area is to strengthen the effectiveness of Day Report Centers in reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry into the community.

Programs funded through this Target Area are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes related to recidivism reduction and program effectiveness. Funding will prioritize programs that use consistent and reliable methods to track participant outcomes over time.

Eligible Applicants

Eligibility for this Target Area is limited to Day Report Centers that provide services to individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

Applicants must demonstrate their capacity to monitor participant outcomes and maintain accurate records related to program participation and recidivism.

Program Focus

Programs supported under this Target Area must provide services that promote accountability, rehabilitation, and successful community reintegration. These services may include:

• Structured supervision and reporting requirements
• Treatment and behavioral health referrals
• Substance use treatment coordination
• Workforce development and employment support
• Life skills and rehabilitation programming

Programs must demonstrate how their services contribute to reducing repeat involvement in the criminal justice system.

Key Outcome Areas

Funded programs are expected to achieve defined performance thresholds in the following areas:

01  |  Reduction in recidivism among program participants

02  |  Improved tracking and reporting of recidivism outcomes

03  |  Implementation of consistent recidivism monitoring practices across programs

Required Application Questions

Program Measurement & Tracking

• How does your program currently measure success?

Participant Intake & Outcomes

Applicants must provide the following data for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025:

• Number of new admissions
• Number of discharges due to noncompliance
• Number of program graduates (successful completions)

Applicants must also provide a brief explanation of any significant trends, changes, or anomalies observed across these reporting periods, including factors that may have influenced program performance.

Recidivism Tracking Practices

• Do you conduct criminal background checks on new referrals to determine eligibility?
• Do you conduct criminal background checks on program graduates to monitor recidivism?

Core Quantitative Measures

Applicants will track measurable changes in participant outcomes and program effectiveness. Metrics must demonstrate progress in reducing recidivism, improving program completion, and strengthening outcome tracking practices. WVFF may review submitted data, supporting documentation, and reporting practices to ensure compliance with measurement and reporting requirements.

Core Operational Measures

Applicants must track:

• Number of new admissions
• Number of program graduates (successful completions)
• Number of discharges due to noncompliance

Standardized Rate-Based Measures

To ensure comparability across programs, applicants must report both counts and rates for the following:

• Program Completion
• Completion Count: Number of program graduates
• Completion Rate: (Number of Graduates / Total Admissions) x 100
• Noncompliance
• Noncompliance Count: Number of discharges due to noncompliance
• Noncompliance Rate: (Noncompliant Discharges / Total Admissions) x 100
• Recidivism
• Recidivism Count: Number of program participants who are rearrested, reconvicted, or reincarcerated within a defined timeframe
• Recidivism Rate: (Number of Participants with Recidivism Events / Total Participants Tracked) x 100

Applicants must clearly define the recidivism measurement period (e.g., 6 months, 12 months post-program) and the type of recidivism tracked (rearrest, reconviction, and/or reincarceration).

Compliance Requirements

Programs funded through this Target Area must comply with the following requirements:

• Agencies must currently conduct, or commit to implementing within the first year, criminal background checks on new program referrals and program graduates for the purpose of tracking recidivism
• Agencies must maintain supporting documentation for all reported outcomes
• Agencies must retain program data and documentation for the duration of the funding agreement, and potentially longer if required for audit purposes
• Agencies must commit to continued tracking of participant outcomes, including recidivism, beyond the grant period
• Awarded agencies will be subject to audit to verify compliance with reporting and outcome tracking requirements

Performance Expectations

Year 1: Establish baseline performance and implement required tracking and reporting systems

• Establish baseline recidivism rates and implement required tracking mechanisms
• Implement or enhance a formal recidivism tracking system

Year 2: Demonstrate measurable improvement from baseline

• Achieve a minimum 5% reduction in recidivism from baseline
• Maintain consistent reporting and demonstrate improved completeness and reliability of outcome data

Year 3: Demonstrate sustained and increased improvement from baseline

• Achieve a minimum 10% reduction in recidivism from baseline
• Demonstrate sustained consistency and reliability of outcome data reporting

Programs must use a defined recidivism measurement period, maintain consistent data collection practices, and retain documentation to support reported outcomes.

Expected Impact

By strengthening outcome measurement and recidivism tracking within Day Report Centers, this Target Area aims to improve program accountability and ensure that funded services contribute to measurable reductions in repeat involvement with the criminal justice system. Over time, these efforts are expected to reduce recidivism among program participants, improve program completion outcomes, strengthen consistency and reliability of outcome tracking, support more effective rehabilitation services, and improve long-term reentry outcomes for participants.

 

Total Funding  $3,870,000	Duration  3 Years	Awards  Up to 6
Award Structure  $215,000 per year

Purpose

The Generational Prevention Target Area supports community-based systems of care designed to identify adolescents at risk for substance use and intervene early through coordinated prevention, screening, treatment, and recovery services.

This approach recognizes that youth substance use and behavioral health challenges are influenced by individual, family, and community factors, including trauma exposure, mental health conditions, family substance use, and social determinants of health. Programs funded under this Target Area are expected to engage youth and caregivers simultaneously in services that strengthen protective factors and reduce risk conditions across generations.

Program Model

Applicants funded through this Target Area will implement the CATALIST (Community-based Assessment and Treatment for Adolescents & Families to Launch Interventions for Substances & Trauma) model, which integrates prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery services for adolescents ages 12-18 and their caregivers.

The model leverages community infrastructures such as schools, juvenile justice systems, emergency departments, and community-based organizations to identify youth who may be experiencing or at risk for substance use or co-occurring behavioral health conditions.

Programs are expected to implement coordinated services across multiple systems and utilize evidence-based strategies to support youth and their families.

Training and Technical Assistance

To support successful implementation and fidelity to the CATALIST model, grantees will receive centralized Training and Technical Assistance (TTA).

TTA will be provided by a designated qualified provider with experience in evidence-based behavioral health implementation and evaluation, and will include:

• Model orientation and implementation guidance
• Training on screening, assessment, and evidence-based interventions
• Ongoing implementation support and coaching
• Data collection, evaluation, and reporting support
• Continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes

Program Focus

Programs funded through this Target Area must focus on:

• Early identification of adolescents at risk
• Universal and targeted screening
• Early intervention services
• Evidence-based treatment and recovery supports
• Integration of caregivers into services

Key Outcome Areas

Funded programs are expected to achieve defined performance thresholds in the following areas:

01  |  Improved identification and screening of youth at risk

02  |  Reductions in risk factors (substance use, depression, anxiety, trauma)

03  |  Increased protective factors (resiliency, belonging, family functioning)

Core Quantitative Measures

Data Collection and Reporting Responsibilities

Grantees are responsible for the collection, entry, and maintenance of all required program and participant-level data, including administration of standardized screening and assessment tools aligned with the CATALIST Measure Set and tracking of service engagement and outcomes.

Data analysis, aggregation, and reporting will be supported through the designated Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) provider, including development of standardized dashboards and cross-site evaluation.

Applicants will track measurable changes in access, engagement, and participant outcomes.

Access to Services

• Eligible Youth Identified: Number of youth who meet eligibility criteria based on standardized screening and assessment tools
• Youth Served: Number of eligible youth who receive services
• Access Rate: (Youth Served / Eligible Youth Identified) x 100

Eligibility must be determined in accordance with the Eligible Youth definition in the definitions section, using standardized screening and assessment tools aligned with the required CATALIST Measure Set.

Applicants must demonstrate that:

• All youth meeting eligibility criteria are offered services
• No eligible participants are turned away due to program capacity limitations

WVFF may review screening, referral, and enrollment data to ensure eligibility criteria are applied consistently and that access requirements are met.

Screening Coverage

• Number of youth screened
• Percentage of youth screened within target settings

Screening must be applied consistently within identified target settings, as defined in the definitions section.

Service Engagement & Retention

• Percentage of youth who begin services after referral
• Percentage of youth completing defined service milestones

Service milestones must be clearly defined and consistently applied, as outlined in the definitions section, and may be reviewed by WVFF to ensure consistency across reporting periods.

Risk Reduction

Percentage of youth demonstrating improvement in:

• Substance use
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trauma symptoms

Protective Factors Improvement

Percentage of youth demonstrating improvement in:

• Resiliency
• Belonging
• Family functioning

Performance Expectations

Year 1: Establish baseline performance and implement required tracking and reporting systems

• Implement full model and measure set
• Establish baseline performance
• 80% or greater data completeness

Year 2: Demonstrate measurable improvement from baseline

• 5% or greater improvement from baseline
• 85% or greater data completeness
• Maintain access compliance

Year 3: Demonstrate sustained and increased improvement from baseline

• 10% or greater improvement from baseline
• 90% or greater data completeness
• Maintain access compliance

Evaluation & Reporting

Evaluation will be integrated throughout implementation, with the designated TTA provider conducting:

• Continuous quality improvement (CQI) reviews
• Fidelity assessments
• Long-term qualitative follow-ups with participating youth

De-identified dashboards will be provided quarterly to each grantee to support ongoing program refinement and performance monitoring.

Assessment Requirements

Applicants must:

• Conduct baseline assessments at program entry
• Conduct reassessments at defined intervals (e.g., 3 and 6 months)
• Use assessment data to track change over time and inform care planning

CATALIST Measure Set

Applicants must implement the full CATALIST Measure Set to assess youth and track outcomes over time.

Assessment Grid

Domain	Tool	Measure Focus	Use Case
Strengths	Strength-based items	Positive coping	Baseline
Social Needs	Social Needs Screening Tool	Social determinants	Universal
Substance Use	S2BI	Use frequency	Universal
	CRAFFT	Behavioral impact	Secondary
Depression	PHQ-9	Symptoms	Screening
Anxiety	GAD-7	Symptoms	Screening
Trauma	CPSS-V-SR	PTSD symptoms	Assessment
Family Risk	Familial substance use	Exposure	Screening
Family Risk	Familial mental health	Exposure	Screening
Resiliency	CYRM	Coping	Full assessment
Belonging	Belongingness Scale	Social connection	Full assessment
Family Functioning	FACES-III	Cohesion	Full assessment
Behavioral Risk	GAIN-SS	Externalizing behaviors	Full assessment
Adverse Experiences	ACE-Q	Trauma exposure	Full assessment

Expected Impact

Programs supported through this Target Area aim to increase early identification of at-risk youth, expand access to services without capacity barriers, reduce behavioral health risk factors, strengthen protective factors, and interrupt intergenerational cycles of substance use.