The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), is seeking applications for its grant to award one cooperative agreement on a competitive basis for a period of three years to operate the National Communication System (NCS) for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program.
Donor Name: Administration for Children & Families
State: All States
County: All Counties
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/09/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,800,000
Grant Duration: 36 months
Details:
The NCS Program assists youth who are contemplating running away, youth who have run away, and youth experiencing homelessness in communicating with their families and, when necessary, connecting them with shelters and other critical services and providers. The NCS Program also provides information, referral services, technical support, crisis intervention, and prevention resources to families and legal guardians, service providers, and other youth-serving organizations.
The NCS Program assists young people in communicating with their families and service providers. The NCS also provides crisis-interventions to youth who may be considering leaving home, youth who have left home, and youth experiencing homelessness. The NCS Program provides confidential, safe, and inclusive crisis services, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year throughout the United States and its territories to ensure youth and families have a place to reach out for assistance when needed. The NCS Program focuses on the following:
- Providing youth in crisis, youth who have run away, or youth who are experiencing homelessness, and their families, with a no-cost communication system to exchange messages or have conference calls with one another.
- Identifying resources for youth contemplating running away, youth who have run away, and youth experiencing homelessness in areas where the youth are located.
- Delivering crisis intervention to youth and families, when appropriate, to address problems and issues that surface during contact, via telephone, chat, email, and/or text.
- Providing prevention counseling and referrals to youth in crisis and youth contemplating running away.
- Facilitating access to transportation services, when appropriate, or to shelters, housing, counseling, medical assistance, and other vital services for youth who have run away from home or are experiencing housing instability, or homelessness.
- Providing families or guardians with support and referrals to organizations and agencies that may be able to assist them with preventing their youth from running away or becoming homeless. This may include information about shelters, counseling, medical assistance, and other critical services.
- Maintaining and building the database of services and resources available for youth and families reaching out to the NCS crisis services.
- Conducting outreach (online and off-line) to young people, including those at risk of running away or becoming homelessness, and youth from historically marginalized populations.
- Designing and disseminating resources and information on running away and youth homelessness prevention.
- Increasing the visibility of the NCS Program through collaboration; partnerships; and engagement with young people, service providers, youth-serving organizations, schools, and other key and diverse stakeholders nationwide.
- Expanding opportunities for supported youth engagement, through listening sessions, product development, marketing, and other leadership opportunities.
- Ensuring services are inclusive and accessible to all young people and their families, including, but not limited to, individuals and families from multiple racial and ethnic groups, youth who identify as LGBTQIA2S+; people with disabilities, youth and families with lower incomes; youth and families who live in rural areas; and other historically marginalized and underserved youth and families.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding: $1,800,000
- Award Ceiling: $1,800,000
- Award Floor: $1,000,000
Length of Project Periods
36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods.
Eligible Applicants
- Independent school districts
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Special district governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- City or township governments
- County governments
Additional Information on Eligibility
In addition, public (state and local) and private non-profit entities, and coordinated networks of such entities, are eligible to apply for a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant unless they are part of the juvenile justice system. (45 C.F.R. § 1351.11). In accordance with section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act, priority will be given to applicants demonstrating experience in providing communication services to vulnerable youth, youth at-risk, runaway and homeless youth, including telephone, Internet, mobile applications, and other technology-driven services. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization’s religious character, affiliation, or exercise.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
