BJA FY25 The Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities | O BJA 2025 172473

Opportunity Information: Apply for O BJA 2025 172473

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "BJA FY25 The Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities" (Funding Opportunity Number: O-BJA-2025-172473; CFDA/Assistance Listing: 16.015). The program is designed to strengthen public safety and community response when individuals with dementia or developmental disabilities wander away from safe environments and become missing. The central aim is to prevent serious injury or death by improving how jurisdictions prepare for, respond to, and resolve these high-risk missing-person incidents.

The grant focuses on practical, on-the-ground solutions, especially the purchase and deployment of tracking technology that can help locate vulnerable missing individuals more quickly. In addition to technology, the program supports broader wandering prevention, intervention, and rescue efforts, meaning applicants can build or enhance coordinated programs that reduce the likelihood of wandering and improve recovery outcomes when wandering occurs. The opportunity emphasizes approaches that avoid overly restrictive practices whenever possible, prioritize a direct connection to individuals and families, and apply limitations on a person only when truly necessary for their safety and well-being. In other words, the program is not just about locating someone after they go missing; it is also about building a system that reduces risk upstream and responds effectively without unnecessary infringement on individual autonomy.

Eligible applicants are wide-ranging and include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education). The listing also notes "Others" as eligible, and the opportunity description references health care agencies and other units of local government, which signals that partnerships involving health and human services providers may be relevant depending on how eligibility is interpreted in the full solicitation. Because eligibility can have specific conditions or documentation requirements, applicants are directed to the "Eligible Applicants" section of the official notice for the controlling criteria.

Awards under this opportunity have an expected ceiling of $150,000 per award, with approximately 16 awards anticipated. The opportunity was created on January 13, 2026, and the original application closing date is February 20, 2026. Overall, this program is aimed at helping communities deploy proven tools and coordinated practices to find missing, at-risk individuals faster, reduce preventable harm, and support families and caregivers through systems that are safety-focused while remaining as non-restrictive and person-centered as possible.

• The Bureau of Justice Assistance in the humanities sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BJA FY25 The Kevin and Avonte Program: Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.015.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for O BJA 2025 172473

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