Yesterday was the day the notice arrived from the Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice. After the 2024 election, we expected it was coming, as we lost a similar award (the National Girls Initiative) in 2018 during the first Trump administration. The roll-out of the current administration’s executive orders confirmed for us that our Reducing Risk for Girls cooperative agreement award was in jeopardy and would eventually be terminated.
Yesterday, April 22nd, at 5:30 pm Eastern time we, along with many other organizations, were notified by email that, “This award is being terminated because it “no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.” 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(a)(4).
The effective date was April 22nd and yes, you are reading correctly, we received notification after the work day “ended” in Washington, D.C. on the day it went into effect.
We have been privileged to support more than 43 grantee sites in 18 states and the District of Columbia by providing training and technical assistance (TTA) to strengthen the programs and supports available to girls and gender-expansive young people and their families in communities that have been historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by the youth legal system. From webinars, training opportunities, dissemination of resources, strategic planning support and more including the creation of a safe space for peer-to-peer learning and community building, it has been our honor to learn, share, and grow together as a community dedicated to ensuring that girls and gender-expansive young people have the supports and opportunities they deserve to thrive. We thank the National Council of Juvenile and Family Courts Judges (subawardee) and all of our Core Team partners.
This is not the end – we are committed to finding replacement funding to continue this important work to ensure that the courage, brilliance, and determination of girls and gender-expansive young people is recognized and nurtured.
In closing, we want to highlight the important work happening around the country and (after receiving approval from sites) we will share on our website a list of all of the organizations for which we have provided support under our terminated award. We want the focus to be on the unlimited potential of girls and gender-expansive young people and the tremendous work of those that support them. We also believe that transparency and truth should always lead the way, and so here you can read the full text of the termination notice.
In solidarity and with love and respect,
Jeannette
