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68℉Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together Grant
WHat is Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together Grant?
The Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together (BEST) Program aims to amplify each other’s strengths to improve the quality of life for our youth. As the funding arm of the San Jose Youth Empowerment Alliance (SJYEA), the BEST Program strives to provide funding for services to San José youth that will build on their strengths and reduce their risk for involvement in gangs and violence. The SJYEA is built on a foundation of collaboration and partnership, which this grant builds upon. The City of San José believes that it can address the serious problems of youth violence in our city through the strategic partnerships forged by the BEST Program.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
To be considered for a Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together (BEST) Grant Program from the City of San José, applicants must meet all entry criteria at the time of submitting a proposal. Applicants who do not meet all entry criteria will not be considered and the proposal will not be evaluated for qualification.
Applicants must be one of the following entities:
- A government agency
- A private nonprofit agency with 501(c) (3) status
- A faith-based entity
Service Strategy Areas
Applicants must demonstrate their agency's ability to provide services that align with one of the five Service Strategy Areas outlined in the table below.
| Service Strategy aREA | dESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Youth Development and Leadership |
Services in this Service Strategy Area should engage youth in critical thinking and decision-making activities that result in transforming their lives. Curricula should focus on recognizing harmful behavioral and thought patterns and providing tools and coping mechanisms to shift negative thinking in ways that produce positive behavioral outcomes. |
| Place Based Intervention |
Services in this Service Strategy Area should engage youth and families at highest risk for gang involvement in City-identified Hot Spot Areas. The BEST Program follows a Street Outreach Intervention Services strategy which is in alignment with the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model and works in a cooperative relationship with other agencies. |
| Vocational and Job Training |
Services in this Service Strategy Area should address the relationship between crime and unemployment. Education, job readiness, and vocational preparation reduce delinquent behavior among youth. Providing youth with vocational training and work opportunities is a common strategy for discouraging future delinquency and involvement with the justice system. |
| Family and Neighborhood Strengthening |
Parents are the critical factor in the social development of children. Numerous studies have produced findings that indicate parental behavior can either increase or decrease an adolescent’s risk for delinquency and/or risky behavior. Services in this Service Strategy Area should focus on providing support and develop skills within parents of youth who fall within the Target Population profiles. |
| Individual and Whole Family Support | Services in this Service Strategy Area should provide an individualized approach to developing long-term goals with youth who are at highest risk for gang involvement. Proposed services in this Eligible Service Area should focus on providing individualized support for high-risk, gang-impacted and gang-intentional youth which ensures a successful shift away from gang involvement. Case Management Services should, at minimum, include an extensive risk assessment and individualized service plan for youth, and provide the services necessary to reach their identified service plan goals. |
workshops
Note that attending one of the identical Pre-Proposal Workshops is mandatory for each agency. Failure to attend will result in disqualification/rejection of the application. In the Pre-Proposal Workshops, the BEST administrative team will review the following information:
- General information and requirements
- Updates to Service Strategy Areas
- Training on the WebGrants proposal submission process
How Can You Apply?
The City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services BEST Grant Program operates on a triennial funding cycle, which is currently running from September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2026. Interested agencies can apply for the next cycle through our RFQ process, which is designed to create partnerships with organizations to provide youth violence prevention, intervention, and diversion services.
Qualified agencies will be placed on an “Eligible Service Provider List.” Inclusion on the Eligible Service Provider List does not guarantee that the agency will be selected to perform services for the City. The City will select agencies from the Eligible Service Provider List when making grant awards on an annual basis throughout the three-year qualification period.