Juvenile Justice & Truancy Prevention Grant Program, FY2026
Program owner: Texas Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office (PSO)
Summary: Texas state funding for local or regional projects addressing violence in and around schools and improving the juvenile justice system through youth mental-health services, truancy prevention and intervention, school and community-based programs, and juvenile case management.
This Texas program supports local or regional projects that prevent violence in and around schools and improve the juvenile justice system through youth mental-health services, school and community-based programs, truancy prevention and intervention, and juvenile case management.
Police departments, community supervision and corrections departments, district attorneys, and judicial districts may participate through an affiliated eligible unit of local government. Projects must begin on or after September 1, 2025, and may not exceed 12 months.
Who is eligible?
Applicant types: Independent school districts; Native American tribes; councils of governments; nonprofit corporations, including hospitals and faith-based organizations; and units of local government. Local law-enforcement and criminal-justice offices must apply through an affiliated eligible unit of government.
Eligible applicants include independent school districts, Native American tribes, councils of governments, nonprofit corporations, and non-statewide units of local government with authority to establish a budget and impose taxes. Police departments must apply through their municipal government. Community supervision and corrections departments, district attorneys, and judicial districts must apply through an affiliated county government. Applications must have a local or regional impact. Juvenile specialty courts authorized under Chapter 121 of the Texas Government Code and statewide projects are ineligible.
What can the funding be used for?
Mental-health services for youth in custody, including assessment and individualized treatment or discharge planning; educational and supportive programs in traditional public schools and detention or corrections education settings; community-based services for youth and families before, during, and after confinement; truancy prevention and intervention; and juvenile case managers who assist courts, help administer juvenile dockets, supervise juvenile court orders, or provide prevention and intervention services.
Restrictions
Construction, renovation, or remodeling; medical services; standard-issue law-enforcement equipment; participant transportation, lodging, per diem, or related costs when grant funds are used to develop and conduct training; costs identified as unallowable in the Guide to Grants; and uses prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation.
How to apply
Applicants must register and apply through the Texas Office of the Governor eGrants system. They must contact the applicable regional council of governments and comply with its regional requirements and prioritization process. PSO screens applications, the applicable COG prioritizes eligible applications through its criminal justice advisory committee and executive committee process, and PSO makes final funding decisions. Applications had to be submitted and certified by 5:00 p.m. CST on February 13, 2025.
Required materials
Applications submitted for a local law-enforcement agency or office must include an authorizing resolution from the affiliated unit of government. Local governments must upload the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments. Applicable local governments and institutions of higher education operating law-enforcement agencies must upload the CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances Form. Applicants must be registered in SAM and have a Unique Entity ID.
Program contact
eGrants Help Desk
[email protected]
512-463-1919
Official sources
- Texas Office of the Governor eGrants checked September 15, 2026
Grant details can change. Confirm all requirements on the official source before applying.