Application Resources

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY APPLICATION INFORMATION

This page provides necessary information for organizations preparing an application for a Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grant award.  Get general information on applying for ACF grants.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

GENERAL

RHY grant recipients are legislatively required to keep adequate statistical records profiling the youth and families assisted under their federal grant. Effective April 2015, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Homelessness Management Information System (RHY-HMIS) served as the designated data collection system, enabling recipients to collect and transmit client-level data to FYSB on a semi-annual basis.

RHY award recipients are required to work with other homeless service providers on data collection efforts, technical assistance provision, and to participate in service delivery coordination. RHY recipients may use FYSB grant funds to cover charges associated with CoC training and access to the RHY-HMIS software.

Recipients must identify the projected number of active RHY-HMIS users necessary to collect data on all clients served using RHY grant funding and report the timely and accurate data to FYSB through semiannual data upload processes and ensure that data quality thresholds are met.

Recipients must also receive access to HMIS by a HMIS lead in the CoC where the recipient operates and receive training on its use and reporting functionalities. The contact information for the HMIS lead in every CoC may be found here .

Recipients must report to the HMIS lead any technical or structural issues on the use of HMIS. Recipients must submit data collected in RHY-HMIS to FYSB during a semi-annual upload process by generating a report in HMIS with de-identified name, date of birth, and Social Security numbers of all youth/young adults served with FYSB funding.

Recipients must assign one point of contact for uploading the client-level data to FYSB. This will assist FYSB in creating and maintaining a formal communications link for sharing important updates and system developments.

FYSB received approval from the OMB for information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) on the RHY grant program performance standards for post-award reporting. The RHY-HMIS Report process is found under PRA OMB Control Number 0970-0573, expiration date 7/31/2024.

The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth has developed corresponding measures in cases where recipients’ compliance with performance standards may be evaluated using existing RHY-HMIS elements. Some of these measures contain specific targets informed by past RHY program data that recipients are required to meet.

In other cases, performance standards required by the Final Rule do not correspond to existing RHY-HMIS data elements. For these performance standards, recipients must use the existing PPR to report these data.

Additional materials and instructions regarding RHY-HMIS use and reporting for RHY recipients may be found here .

Recipients are not required to obtain consent to collect data on individual clients in an RHY-HMIS or record information about that client in other records. Consent is required, however, for data to be shared within an RHY-HMIS solution across all programs participating in that RHY-HMIS. The parent or legal guardian of youth under the age of 18 must provide the consent to share data, whereas young adults 18 years or older are able to provide consent by themselves to share their data.

ACF may elect not to fund applicants and/or partnering organizations that have previously demonstrated an inability to adhere to ACF, Administration on Children Youth and Families (ACYF), or Division of RHY reporting requirements in the past.

BCP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The RHY Rule requires BCP grant recipients to collect data that demonstrate their ability to meet the performance standards described in Section 1351.30 of the RHY Rule. Specifically, BCP projects are responsible for consistently enhancing four core outcome areas for youth, which include social and emotional well-being, permanent connections, education or employment, and safe and stable housing. Through the provision of temporary emergency shelter and services, indicators of improvements include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Social and Emotional Well-Being: Clients will be connected to trauma-informed systems of care providers to assist and promote positive physical health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, personal safety (e.g., identify potential trafficking situations), and reduce sexual risk behaviors they may face.
2. Permanent Connections: Clients will experience positive ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other social networks.
3. Education or Employment: Clients will be connected to school or vocational training programs, improve interviewing and job attainment skills, and obtain and maintain employment.
4. Safe and Stable housing: Clients will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need after leaving a BCP to include: moving in with family, when appropriate, or other permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, residential treatment center, or substance abuse treatment facility.

Detailed guidance, training, and technical assistance on how to collect and report data on these performance standards will be provided to RHY grant recipients in advance of reporting deadlines.

Recipients' performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which RHY application to fund in future NOFOs.

The table below summarizes the performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that grant recipients are required to use for each measure.

TLP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

All TLP recipients need to record data for youth/young adults individually contacted and record data for all youth engaged with the program in RHY-HMIS. The RHY Rule requires TLP recipients to collect data that demonstrate their ability to meet the performance standards described in section 1351.31 of the RHY Rule . Specifically, TLP projects are responsible for consistently enhancing four core outcome areas for youth, to include: 1) social and emotional well-being; 2) permanent connections; 3) education or employment; and 4) safe and stable housing.

Projects collect and report on data via the RHY-Homeless Management Information System (RHY-HMIS) and the ACF Performance Progress Report (PPR) on data standards. The ACF PPR is found under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0970-0406.

Through the provision of safe and stable housing and services, indicators of improvements include, but are not limited to:

1. Social and Emotional Well-Being: Clients will be connected to trauma-informed, system of care providers to assist and promote positive physical health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, personal safety (e.g., identify potential trafficking situations), and reduce sexual risk behaviors they may face.
2. Permanent Connections: Clients will experience positive ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other social networks.
3. Education or Employment: Clients will connect to school or vocational training programs, improve interviewing and job attainment skills, and obtain and maintain employment.
4. Safe and Stable housing: Clients will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need after leaving a TLP to include: moving in with family, when appropriate, or other permanent supportive housing, residential treatment center, or substance abuse treatment facility.

Recipients’ performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which RHY grantee applications to fund in future NOFOs.

The table below summarizes the performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that recipients are required to use for each measure.

MGH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The RHY Rule, 45 CFR §1351 establishes RHY Program Performance Standards as measures of successful outcomes for MGH clients. The Performance Standards are used to monitor project performance in achieving the purposes of the RHY Act.

The RHY Rule requires MGH recipients to collect data that demonstrate their ability to meet the Performance Standards described in section 1351.31 . Specifically, MGH projects are responsible for consistently enhancing short-term outcomes for youth in the following four core outcome areas: 1) social and emotional well-being; 2) permanent connections; 3) education or employment; and 4) safe and stable housing.

Projects collect and report on data via the RHY-Homeless Management Information System (RHY-HMIS) and the ACF Performance Progress Report (PPR) on data standards. The ACF PPR is found under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0970-0406.

Through the provision of safe and stable housing and services, indicators of improvements include, but are not limited to:

1. Social and Emotional Well-Being: Clients will be connected to trauma-informed, system of care providers to assist and promote positive physical health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, personal safety (e.g., identify potential trafficking situations), and reduce sexual risk behaviors they may face.
2. Permanent Connections: Clients will experience positive ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other social networks.
3. Education or Employment: Clients will connect to school or vocational training programs, improve interviewing and job attainment skills, and obtain and maintain employment.
4. Safe and Stable housing: Clients will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need after leaving an MGH to include: moving in with family, when appropriate, or other permanent supportive housing, residential treatment center, or substance abuse treatment facility.

Detailed guidance, training, and technical assistance on how to collect and report data on these performance standards will be provided to MGH award recipients in advance of reporting deadlines.

MGH recipients’ performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which applications to fund in future NOFOs.

The table below summarizes the MGH performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that recipients are required to use for each measure.
 

SOP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

The RHY Rule establishes RHY program performance standards as measures of successful outcomes for youth. The performance standards are used to monitor project performance in achieving the purposes of the RHY Act.

SOP award recipients must collect and report on data via the RHY-HMIS and the Performance Progress Report (PPR) on data standards. Reporting is to include contacts with runaway, homeless, and street youth, and the percentage of youth engaged in the SOP project.

For the purposes of the SOP performance standards, "date of engagement" is defined as the date an interactive client relationship results in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan.

Detailed guidance, training, and technical assistance on how to collect and report data on these performance standards will be provided to SOP award recipients in advance of reporting deadlines.

SOP award recipients' performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which applications to fund in future NOFOs.

The table below summarizes the performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that recipients are required to use for each measure. For the purposes of the SOP performance standards, "engagement" is defined as an interactive client relationship resulting in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan.

SUBAWARDS

Recipients of RHY grants may opt to transfer a portion of substantive programmatic work to other organizations through subaward(s). The prime recipient must maintain a substantive role in the project. ACF defines a substantive role as conducting activities and/or providing services funded under the award that are necessary and integral to the completion of the project. Subrecipient monitoring activities alone as specified in 45 CFR § 75.352 do not constitute a substantive role. Furthermore, ACF does not fund awards where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute. Subrecipient(s) must meet the eligibility requirements identified in the Eligible Applicants section of the respective notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Additionally, all subrecipient(s) must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned by the System for Award Management (SAM), if they do not already have one.

If known at the time of application submission, the applicant must disclose their intent to enter into subaward arrangements or third-party agreements in their application. For each proposed subaward/third-party agreement, the applicant must include a description of the work to be performed by the subrecipient(s). If not applicable, the application must state there is no intention to enter into subaward arrangements or third-party agreements.

For applicants proposing to use subaward(s), if the total amount budgeted for subawards exceeds 50 percent of total direct costs for the budget period, the applicant must provide a justification for subawarding the portion of the project and must explain how the prime recipient plans to maintain a substantive role in the project. Applicants must explain why the participation of the subrecipient is necessary, and why the applicant cannot achieve the objectives without the subrecipient(s)’ participation.

For subawards, RHY grant applicants must provide a detailed budget and budget narrative for each subaward, by entity name, along with the same justifications referred to in these budget and budget justification instructions.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Awards issued under Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth funding opportunities are subject to 45 CFR Part 75 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards currently in effect or implemented during the period of award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of award, and applicable statutory provisions. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is available at www.ecfr.gov . Unless otherwise noted in this section, administrative and national policy requirements that are applicable to discretionary grants are available at: www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements.

An RHY grant application funded with the release of federal funds through a grant award does not constitute or imply compliance with federal regulations. Funded organizations are responsible for ensuring that their activities comply with all applicable federal regulations. Please review all HHS regulatory provisions for Termination at 2 CFR § 200.340 .

HHS Grants Policy Statement

The HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services' single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. ACF grant awards are subject to the requirements of the HHS GPS, which covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions, and points of contact, as well as important agency-specific requirements. The general terms and conditions in the HHS GPS will apply as indicated unless there are statutory, regulatory, or award-specific requirements to the contrary that are specified in the a notice of award (NoA). The HHS GPS is available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/discretionary-post-award-requirements#book_content_0.

Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations

A faith-based organization that participates in any RHY grant program will retain its independence from the federal government and may continue to carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom, nondiscrimination, and conscience protections in federal law, including the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.), the Coats-Snowe Amendment (42 U.S.C. 238n), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e—1(a) and 2000e—2(e)), Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12113(d)(2), section 1553 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18113), the Weldon Amendment (e.g., Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116—94, 133 Stat. 2534, 2607, div. A, sec. 507(d) (Dec. 20, 2019)), or any related or similar federal laws or regulations. Religious accommodations may also be sought under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws.

Consistent with 45 CFR § 87.3(b) , a faith-based organization that receives direct financial assistance from HHS may not engage in any explicitly religious activities (including activities that involve overt religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) as part of the programs or services funded with direct financial assistance from the HHS awarding agency. Such an organization, whether faith-based or not, also shall not, in providing services funded by HHS, discriminate against a program beneficiary or prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice, as provided in 45 CFR § 87.3(d) .

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Final Rule

On December 20, 2016, FYSB published a rule to improve performance standards and program requirements for runaway and homeless youth programs. This rule builds upon existing policies and guidance to better support runaway and homeless youth by strengthening training and professional development for service providers, defining safe and appropriate exits from homelessness, requiring aftercare planning for all youth exiting programs, and improving nondiscrimination protections for youth. The rule also clarifies statutory changes made to the RHY Act of 2008. All RHY recipients must comply with the rule and the grant award’s retrospective notification of funding opportunity (NOFO) reflects the new requirements in the rule (45 CFR Part 1351 ).

Program Administration Requirements

Applicants are advised that statutory requirements applicable to all RHY grants can be found in the RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. 11201-11281.

Staff safety: Projects must have safety protocols for all workers.

Background checks: Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.23(j) of the RHY Final Rule, projects must have a plan to ensure background checks are completed on all employees, contractors, volunteers, and consultants who have regular and unsupervised private contact with youth served by the organization, and on all adults who reside in or operate host homes, beginning on October 1, 2017. Required background checks are to include state or tribal criminal history records including fingerprint checks, sex offender registry check, and any other checks required by state law. Additionally, to the extent the project can, the plan should include Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history records including fingerprint checks and child abuse and neglect registry checks. If a project is unable to obtain FBI criminal history information or child abuse and neglect registry information, the agency plan must detail efforts to obtain such information and the impediments to doing so. In addition, as appropriate to job functions, projects must also include verification of educational credentials and employment experience, the individual’s driving records (for those who will transport youth), and professional licensing records.

Emergency Preparedness Plan: Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.23(g) of the RHY Rule, projects must have a plan for routine preventative maintenance of facilities as well as preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. The plan should contain strategies for addressing evacuation; security; food; medical supplies; and notification of youths’ families, as appropriate. In the event of an evacuation due to specific facility issues, such as fire, loss of utilities, or authorities, a designated alternative location needs to be included in the plan. For SOP projects: The plan must contain methods for alerting youth that have been contacted or engaged by the SOP project to where emergency community resources and shelter are available in the event of an emergency (e.g., natural disasters, hurricanes, tornadoes, flood, public health emergencies), as well as any changes in how outreach schedules or drop-in center hours may be impacted.

Licensing Requirement: Projects must have plans to ensure that all shelters are licensed and any shelter that the project regularly refers clients to has evidence of current licensure, in states and/or localities with licensure requirements. Failure to adhere to licensing requirements outlined in 45 CFR § 1351.23(h) may result in disallowance of federal funds.

Training plan: Projects must ensure that all paid and volunteer workers are trained on the core competencies of youth workers necessary to carry out the objectives and activities of the project. This shall include, but is not limited to, PYD, trauma-informed care, evidence-informed practices, street outreach intervention, human trafficking (sex and labor trafficking), sexual exploitation, harm reduction, assessment and case management, worker safety, understanding the diversity and culture of life on the street, safe and ethical practices, and community resources for well-being and self-sufficiency. Additionally, RHY grant recipients are required to increase their capacity to identify and provide services and/or service referrals to trafficked youth by participating in professional training and adding human trafficking elements into existing screening and assessment tools. Recipients are encouraged to integrate human trafficking prevention and intervention efforts to minimize these incidents among vulnerable youth and effectively identify trafficked youth. Recipients are also encouraged to participate in training addressing the intersection of human trafficking, runaway and homeless youth, and race and gender inequalities.

Serving Youth Who Run Away from Foster Care or Correctional Institutions: Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.23(e) and (f) , projects must develop and implement a plan for addressing youth under the age of 18 who have run away from foster care placement or correctional institutions, in accordance with federal, state, or local laws or regulations that apply to these situations. Projects must also take steps to ensure that youth who, are or should be, under the legal jurisdiction of the juvenile justice or child welfare systems obtain and receive services from those systems until they are released from the jurisdiction of those systems.

Governance and Fiscal Controls: Organizations must have governance structure, fiscal control, and accountability procedures in place.

Technical Assistance, Monitoring, and Short-Term Training: By signing and submitting the application and pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.23(a) of the RHY Final Rule, RHY award recipients agree to receive and participate in technical assistance, monitoring, and short-term training as recommended by federal staff, to ensure there is flexibility for the type of technique used to support quality programming and implementation. It is not a requirement that every staff person receives training in every subject offered. However, all youth-serving workers on staff should receive training sufficient to meet the stated core competencies of youth workers. Training and technical assistance (TTA) is free to RHY grantees through RHYTTAC. Services include regionally based technical assistance clinics, training sessions, training of trainers, e-learning, webinars, and annual national and regional recipient training events. Recipients are strongly encouraged to participate in human trafficking training and activities offered by RHYTTAC. More information is available at www.rhyttac.net . In addition, all recipients must budget annually the costs of sending at least one key staff person to attend the in-person Annual National RHY Recipient Training.

The list of TTA options reflect primarily the evolution and expansion over the years of the TTA program, and all items listed are currently conducted under the program. Recipients must participate in technical assistance or short-term training as a condition of funding, as determined necessary by HHS, in areas such as, but not limited to, the following:

• Aftercare services or counseling;
• Background checks;
• Confidentiality;
• Core competencies of youth workers;
• Core support services;
• Crisis intervention techniques;
• Cultural and linguistic diversity;
• Development of coordinated networks of private non-profit agencies and/or public agencies to provide services;
• Ethics and staff safety;
• Fiscal management;
• Low cost community alternatives for runaway or otherwise homeless youth;
• Positive Youth Development;
• Program management;
• Risk and protective factors related to youth homelessness;
• Screening and assessment practices;
• Shelter facility staff development;
• Human trafficking (sex and labor trafficking);
• Underserved populations (e.g., tribal youth, youth with disabilities, youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual and/or two-spirt [LGBTQIA2S+]);
• Trauma and the effects of trauma on youth;
• Use of evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions; and
• Youth and family counseling.

Coordination with the RHY National Communication System: Recipients must coordinate their activities with the 24-hour, national, toll-free and internet communication system , which links RHY projects and other service providers with runaway or otherwise homeless youth, as appropriate to the specific activities provided by the recipient.

Combating Discrimination and Advancing Equity: On January 20, 2021, Executive Orders (EO) 13985 and 13988 were issued outlining the responsibilities and expectations of federal agencies in preventing and combating discrimination on the basis of race, gender identity or sexual orientation, addressing efforts to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities. The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; LGBTQIA2S+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. Consistent with EO 13985 and EO 13988, section 1351.22(a) of the RHY Final Rule requires that projects must ensure that service delivery and staff training comprehensively address the individual strengths and needs of youth as well as be culturally sensitive and respectful of the complex social identities of each youth (i.e., race, ethnicity, nationality, age, religion/spirituality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, physical or cognitive ability, language, beliefs, values, behavior patterns, or customs). As such, no runaway youth or homeless youth shall, on any of the foregoing bases, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under, any program or activity funded in whole or in part under the RHY Act.

Confidentiality: Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.21 of the RHY Rule, no records containing the identity of individual youth, including, but not limited to, lists of names, addresses, photographs, or records of evaluation of individuals served by a RHY project, may be disclosed or transferred to any individual or to any public or private agency, except research, evaluation, and statistical reports funded by grants provided under section 343 of the RHY Act . These records are allowed to be based on individual data, but only if such data are de-identified in ways that preclude disclosing information on identifiable individuals. Additionally, youth served by an RHY project shall have the right to review their records to correct a record or file a statement of disagreement and to be apprised of the individuals who have reviewed their records. Finally, HHS policies regarding confidential information and experimentation and treatment shall not apply if HHS finds that state law is more protective of the rights of runaway or homeless youth. Recipients must ensure that all confidential, sensitive information and records will be properly handled and safeguarded. Recipients must have a secure process that allows clients to review their records, correct a record, or file a statement of disagreement, and be apprised of all individuals and entities that have reviewed their records.

Recipient Publication Disclaimer Requirements: Recipients are advised that when issuing statements, press releases, publications, requests for proposals, bid solicitations, and other documents—such as tool-kits, resource guides, websites, and presentations (hereafter “statements”)—describing projects or programs funded in whole, or in part, with HHS federal funds, the recipient must clearly state the following:

1. the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project funded with federal money; and
2. the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program funded by non-governmental sources.

When issuing statements resulting from activities supported by HHS financial assistance, the recipient entity must include an acknowledgement of federal assistance using this statement: "This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with XX percentage funded by ACF/HHS and $XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements.

DEFINITIONS

AFTERCARE: Services provided beyond the period of BCP, TLP, and/or MGH residential or homebased services that offer continuity and supportive follow-up to youth served by the program. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

BACKGROUND CHECK: The review of an individual employee's or employment applicant's personal information, which shall include state or tribal criminal history records (including fingerprint checks) FBI criminal history records, including fingerprint checks, to the extent FYSB determines this to be practicable, and specifies the requirement in a NOFO that is applicable to a grantee's award; a child abuse and neglect registry check, to the extent FYSB determines this to be practicable and specifies the requirement in a NOFO that is applicable to a grantee's award; and sex offender registry check for all employees, consultants, contractors, and volunteers who have regular, unsupervised contact with individual youth, and for all adult occupants of host homes. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

CASE MANAGEMENT: Identifying and assessing the needs of the client, their dependent children, and, as appropriate, arranging, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and advocating for a package of services to meet their specific needs. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

CLIENT: A runaway, homeless, or street youth/young adult, or a youth/young adult at risk of running away or becoming homeless, who is served by a program grantee. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

CONGREGATE CARE: A shelter type, not family home, that combines living quarters and restroom facilities with centralized dining services, shared living spaces, and access to social and recreational activities. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

CONTACT: The engagement between Street Outreach Program staff and youth who are at risk of homelessness or runaway status or homeless youth in need of services that could reasonably lead to shelter or significant harm reduction. Contact may occur on the streets, at a drop-in center, or at other locations known to be frequented by homeless, runaway, or street youth. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

CONTINUUMS OF CARE (CoCs): HUD's definition of a program designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by non-profit providers, and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

CORE COMPETENCIES OF YOUTH WORKER: The ability to demonstrate skills in the following six domain areas: (1) professionalism (including, but not limited to, consistent and reliable job performance and awareness and use of professional ethics to guide practice); (2) applied PYD (including, but not limited to, skills to develop a PYD plan and identification of the client's strengths in order to best apply a PYD development framework); (3) cultural and human diversity (including, but not limited to, gaining knowledge and skills to meet the needs of clients of a different race, ethnicity, nationality, religion/spirituality, gender identity/expression, or sexual orientation); (4) applied human development (including, but not limited to, understanding the developmental needs of those at risk and with special needs); (5) relationship and communication (including, but not limited to, working with clients in a collaborative manner); and (6) developmental practice methods (including, but not limited to, utilizing methods focused on genuine relationships, health and safety, and intervention planning). (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

COUNSELING SERVICES: The provision of guidance; support; referrals for services including, but not limited to, mental health services; and advice to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families, as well as to youth and families when a young person is at risk of running away. Any treatment or referral to treatment that aims to change someone's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression is prohibited. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES: Direct services that assist with de-escalating the severity of a person's level of distress and/or need for urgent care associated with a substance use, mental health, and/or victimization issue. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

DATE OF ENGAGEMENT: The date an interactive client relationship results in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

DROP-IN CENTER: A place operated and staffed for runaway and homeless youth that clients can visit without an appointment to get advice or information, to receive services or service referrals, or to meet other runaway or homeless youth. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SERVICES: Services to RHY to prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by such youth and may include the following: individual, family, group, and peer counseling; drop-in services; assistance to RHY in rural areas (including the development of community support groups); information and training related to the illicit use of drugs by RHY for individuals involved in providing services to such youth; and activities to improve the availability of local drug abuse prevention services to runaway and homeless youth. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

EDUCATION OR EMPLOYMENT: Performance in and completion of educational and training activities, especially for younger youth, and starting and maintaining adequate and stable employment, particularly for older youth/young adults. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

ENGAGEMENT: An interactive SOP client relationship resulting in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES: Replicated practices that have been evaluated using rigorous evaluation design, such as randomized controlled or high-quality quasi-experimental trials, and that have demonstrated positive impacts for youth, families, and communities (for purposes of RHY NOFOs)

EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICES: Practices that together the best available research, professional expertise, and input from youth and families to identify and deliver services that have promise to achieve positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Extenuating circumstances in which a client would benefit from additional time in an RHY residential program (for purposes of RHY NOFOs).

FOLLOW-UP SERVICES: The act of assessing youth progress after the youth has received safety and resource referrals. Follow-up contacts are separate from the aftercare planning described in 45 CFR § 1351.26. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

GATEWAY SERVICES: Services to provide food, drink, clothing, hygiene-related items, and resource guides to meet basic needs and develop trust between a youth/young adult and a worker (for purposes of RHY NOFOs).

HARM REDUCTION: The provision of basic needs and services (e.g., education, referrals, case management, and access to shelter) that aim to reduce adverse health, social, and economic consequences of high-risk behaviors, to include reducing the risk of sexual exploitation and human trafficking, assault, unplanned pregnancy, or substance use. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

HEALTH CARE SERVICES: Physical, mental, behavioral, and dental health services. This includes services provided to runaway and homeless youth/young adults, and in the case of MGH Programs, also includes services provided to pregnant youth and their child(ren) (for purposes of RHY NOFOs). Where applicable and allowable within a program, this includes information on appropriate health related services provided to family or household members of the client. Any treatment or referral to treatment that aims to change someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is prohibited. (45 CFR § 1351.1)

HOMEBASED SERVICES: Services provided to youth and their families for the purpose of preventing such youth from running away or otherwise becoming separated from their families and assisting runaway youth to return to their families. It includes services that are provided in the residences of families (to the extent practicable), including intensive individual and family counseling and training relating to life skills and parenting. (Section 387(3) RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. 11279 )

HOMELESS YOUTH: An individual less than 21 years of age or, in the case of a youth seeking shelter in a basic center under part A (section 387(3)(a)) of the RHY Act, less than 18 years of age or less than a higher maximum age if the state where the center is located has an applicable state or local law (including a regulation) that permits such higher maximum age in compliance with licensure requirements for child and youth-serving facilities; for the purposes of part B (section 387(3)(A)(ii) of the RHY Act, not less than 16 years of age and either less than 22 years of age, or not less than 22 years of age, as the expiration of the maximum period of stay permitted under section 322(a)(2) if such individual commences such stay before reaching 22 years of age; for whom it is not possible to live in a safe environment with a relative; and who has no other safe alternative living arrangement. (RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. 11279(3) )

HOST FAMILY HOME: A family or single adult home or domicile that provides safe and stable housing to a homeless youth/young adult. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

INTAKE: A process for gathering information to assess eligibility and the services required to meet the immediate needs of the client. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM: Agencies that include, but are not limited to, juvenile courts, correctional institutions, detention facilities, law enforcement, training schools, or agencies that use probation, parole, and/or court-ordered confinement. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

KEY STAFF: An employee who has major decision-making authority and/or manages programs, finances, or other staff. Examples would be executive directors, division directors, program managers, and finance directors, (For purposes of RHY NOFOs)

MATERNITY GROUP HOME: A community-based adult-supervised transitional living arrangement where client oversight is provided on site or on-call 24 hours a day and that provides pregnant or parenting youth, young adults, and their children with a supportive environment in which to learn parenting skills, including child development, family budgeting, health and nutrition, and other skills to promote their long-term economic independence and ensure the well-being of their children. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

OUTREACH: Finding runaway, homeless, and street youth/young adults, or youth/young adults at risk of becoming runaway or homeless, who might not use services due to lack of awareness or active avoidance, providing information to them about services and benefits, and encouraging the use of appropriate services. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

PARTNER: May refer to either a third-party subaward subrecipient, or a service-linkage organization or individual to which an RHY project will refer clients in order to aid in a client’s individualized service/treatment plan or aftercare plan. In the case of grant award subrecipients, applicants are required to provide Letters of Commitment or MOUs between recipients/third parties. Letters of support are not considered to be third-party agreements. If the partner is a service-linkage or referral, and not a subrecipient, applicants must indicate that the agreement does not qualify as a subaward or third-party contract. (For purposes of RHY NOFOs).

PERMANENT CONNECTIONS: Ongoing attachments to families or adult role models, communities, schools, and other positive social networks that support young people's ability to access new ideas and opportunities that support thriving and provide a social safety net when young people are at-risk of re-entering homelessness. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

PREVENTION SERVICES: See HOMEBASED SERVICES

RESPITE: Respite care provides parents and other caregivers with short-term childcare services that offer temporary relief. Respite care is not an allowable RHY grant program activity. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

RHY PROJECT: A community-based program outside the juvenile justice or child welfare systems that provides runaway prevention, outreach, shelter, or transition services to runaway, homeless, or street youth or youth at risk of running away or becoming homeless. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS: Those factors that are measurable characteristics of a youth that can occur at multiple levels, including biological, psychological, family, community, and cultural levels, and that precede and are associated with an outcome. Risk factors are associated with higher likelihood of problematic outcomes, and protective factors are associated with higher likelihood of positive outcomes. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

RUNAWAY YOUTH: An individual who is less than 18 years of age and who absents themself from home or a place of legal residence without the permission of a parent or legal guardian (RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. 11279(4) ).

SAFE AND APPROPRIATE EXITS: Settings that reflect achievement of the intended purposes of the MGH as outlined in section 382(a) of the RHY Act. Examples of safe and appropriate exits are exits: (1) to the private residence of a parent, guardian, another adult relative, or another adult that has the client's best interest in mind and can provide a stable arrangement; (2) to another residential program if the client’s transition to the other residential program is consistent with their needs; or (3) to independent living if consistent with the client’s needs and abilities. Safe and Appropriate Exits are not exits: (1) to the street; (2) to a locked correctional institute or detention center if the youth/young adult became involved in activities that lead to this exit after entering the program; (3) to another residential program if the client’s transition to the other residential program is inconsistent with their needs; or (4) to an unknown or unspecified other living situation. (45 CFR § 1351.1)

SAFETY PLAN: Plans for youth that may include, but are not limited to, knowing a trusted adult to call in an emergency; learning how to recognize and avoid unsafe situations and people; and avoiding maladaptive coping mechanisms, including risky sexual behavior or criminal behavior. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

SCREENING AND ASSESSMENT: Valid and reliable standardized instruments and practices used to identify each youth/young adult’s individual strengths and needs across multiple aspects of health, well-being, and behavior in order to inform appropriate service decisions and provide a baseline for monitoring outcomes over time. Screening involves abbreviated instruments, for example with trauma and health problems that indicate certain youth for more thorough diagnostic assessments and service needs. Assessment, which is used here to mean assessment more broadly than for the purposes of diagnosis, involves evaluating multiple aspects of social, emotional, and behavioral competencies and functioning in order to inform service decisions and monitor outcomes. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

SERVICE PLAN: A written plan of action based on the assessment of client needs and strengths and engagement in joint problem solving with the client that identifies problems, sets goals, and describes a strategy for achieving those goals. To the extent possible, the plan should incorporate the use of trauma-informed, evidence-based or evidence- informed interventions. As appropriate, the service and treatment plans should address both physical and mental safety issues. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

SERVICES: The provision of a comprehensive youth-centered service model with a holistic approach to address the unique needs of runaway and homeless youth, young adults, and their young families. Components of such a model include access to shelter, safe and stable housing, gateway services, assessment, coordinated case management, follow-up/aftercare services, and continuum service linkages. This also includes providing information and counseling services in basic life skills, which shall include money management, budgeting, consumer education and use of credit, parenting skills (as appropriate), interpersonal skill building, educational advancement, job attainment skills, and mental and physical health care to runaway and homeless youth and young adults. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

SHELTER: A fully licensed homeless shelter, such as a group home, including maternity group homes, host family homes, and supervised scattered apartments. For BCP projects, shelters temporarily provide room and board, crisis intervention, and other services on a 24-hour basis for up to 21 days (this 21-day restriction is on the use of RHY funds through the BCP, not a restriction on the length of stay permitted by the facility for clients supported by other funding sources.) (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

SHORT-TERM TRAINING: The provision of local, state, or regionally based instruction to runaway or otherwise homeless youth/young adult service providers in skill areas that will directly strengthen service delivery. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING: The development of key competencies, attitudes, and behaviors that equip a young person experiencing homelessness to avoid unhealthy risks and to succeed across multiple domains of daily life, including school, work, relationships, and community. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

STABLE HOUSING: A safe and reliable place to call home. Stable housing fulfills a critical and basic need for homeless youth, young adults, and their dependent children. It is essential to enable functioning across a range of life activities. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

STREET-BASED SERVICES: Services provided to runaway, homeless, and street youth in areas where they congregate, designed to assist those youth in making healthy personal choices regarding where they live and how they behave. (RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. § 11279(5) )

STREET YOUTH: An individual who is a runaway youth or an indefinitely or intermittently homeless youth who spends a significant amount of time on the street or in other areas that increase the risk to such youth for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, prostitution, or drug and/or alcohol abuse. For the purposes of BCP, youth means an individual who is age 17 or less, and for the purpose of SOP, TLP, and MGH, youth means an individual who is age 21 or less. (RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. § 11279(6) )

SUPERVISED SCATTERED APARTMENTS: A type of shelter/housing setting using building(s) with separate residential units where client supervision is provided on site or on call 24 hours a day. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

SUSTAINABLE LIVING: Reduced reliance on social services by having a self-supportive network in place that provides support so that youth, young adults, and their children can maintain safe, stable, and appropriate living and well-being. (For the purposes of RHY NOFOs)

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: The provision of expertise or support for the purpose of strengthening the capabilities of grantee organizations to deliver services. (45 CFR § 1351.1 )

TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM: A project that provides safe and stable shelter and an array of supportive services designed to promote a transition to self-sufficient living and to prevent long-term dependency on social services for youth ages 16 to 21 (under the age of 22). (RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. 11279(7) )

TREATMENT PLAN: See SERVICE PLAN

YOUTH AT RISK OF SEPARATION FROM THE FAMILY: An individual who is less than 18 years of age; has a history of running away from the family of such individual; whose parent, guardian, or custodian is not willing to provide for the basic needs of such individuals; or who is at risk of entering the child welfare system of juvenile justice system as a result of the lack of services available to the family to meet such needs. (RHY Act, 34 U.S.C. 11279(8) )

RESOURCES

• Basic Center Program Funding State Allocation Table
• Child Care and Parenting
• Employment   (PDF) (PDF)
• Foster Youth to Independence Vouchers
• McKinney-Vento Liaisons
• National Domestic Violence Hotline
• Office of Trafficking In Persons
• Positive Youth Development
• Pregnancy Crisis Support
• Reproductive Health
• Reproductive Rights
• RHYA Definitions
• Screening and Assessment
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National 1-800-662-HELP Helpline
• Suicide & Crisis 988 Lifeline
• Youth Exiting Foster Care