Synopsis: The Swift Certain Fair Resource Center (SCF Center) is soliciting short, web-based applications for microgrants to implement swift, certain, and/or fair (SCF) principles to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for people on community supervision.

What is a microgrant?
Microgrants are an opportunity to begin initiatives and support projects that use SCF principles. Microgrants are easier to apply for, more flexible, and awarded more quickly than conventional federal grants. These microgrants empower communities to address local challenges as they work to improve outcomes for people on community supervision.

What is the SCF Center?
The SCF Center is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to support implementing swift, certain, and/or fair (SCF) responses in community supervision. The SCF Center provides resources and materials and free training and technical assistance to eligible programs. They encourage and support innovation, experimentation, and evaluation in community supervision.

With these microgrants, the SCF Center will provide training and technical assistance to grantees, including stakeholder coordination, adapting policies and procedures to address local needs in an SCF manner, coordinating peer-to-peer support, and best practices in community supervision. The SCF Center will assist with grantees’ financial and performance reports and data collection.

Examples of activities that can be funded: These are examples only, and applicants may propose activities not on this list.

• Craft and/or implement a new policy that ensures SCF responses to both positive and negative client behaviors.
• Implement a response grid that includes SCF incentives/rewards and sanctions that respond to both positive and negative client behaviors.
• Provide a dedicated staff person to work on SCF responses.
• Strengthen existing partnerships between community-based organizations and government agencies.
• Undertake new partnerships with behavioral-health providers or other community-based organizations.
• Improve clients’ access to treatment, including subsidizing costs to ensure SCF access.
• Subsidize transportation to improve access to services or SCF behavioral responses.
• Increase SCF responsivity to clients’ needs.
• Purchase authorized equipment or supplies to enhance SCF responses to client behaviors.
• Engage in peer-to-peer learning activities.
• Travel to professional conferences or meetings.