hhs-2025-acf-acyf-cy-0006_7.17.25 Modification.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due July 28, 2025

Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) Runaway and Homeless Youth Program

Basic Center Program Opportunity number: HHS-2025-ACF-ACYF-CY-0006

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 22

Get registered 23

Find the application package 24

Learn more 24

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 25

Application contents and format 26

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 41

Application review 42

Award notices 48

Step 5: Submit Your Application 49

Application submission and deadlines 50

Application checklist 52

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 53

Post-award requirements and administration 54

Contacts and Support 56

Before you begin 3

Modifications 59

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks)

You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days)

You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 28, 2025.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB)

Runaway and Homeless Youth Program

The Basic Center Program provides street-based outreach, temporary emergency shelter, and counseling services to youth under age 18.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Basic Center Program

Opportunity number:

HHS-2025-ACF-ACYF-

CY-0006

Announcement type:

Initial

Federal assistance listing:

93.623

Statutory authority number:

Title III, Part A, Section 311 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act (34 U.S.C. 11211)

Key dates

Application submission deadline: July 28, 2025

Expected project start date: September 30, 2025

Summary The Basic Center Program (BCP) provides up to 21 days of emergency shelter and counseling services to youth under age 18 who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Have run away or left home without permission of their parents or guardians.

• Have been forced to leave their home.

• Cannot live safely with a parent, legal guardian, or relative.

• Have no other safe alternative living arrangement.

• May end up in contact with law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems.

BCPs may also provide intensive street outreach and access to shelter (Up to 10 bonus points added during merit review).

We encourage family reunification, when it is possible, and in the best interest of the youth.

For more information about eligibility of participating youth, see 34 U.S.C, 11279(3-4).

Funding details Type: Grant

Expected total program funding: $23,364,000

Total expected awards: 67

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $199,999

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $350,000

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title34-section11211&num=0&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:34%20section:11279%20edition:prelim)

We plan to fund a three-year project period. Each project period has three one-year budget periods.

Non-competing continuation awards will be offered for the second and third budget periods of the project based on the availability of funds, your satisfactory progress, and review and approval of the continuation application.

To determine satisfactory progress, we will use your semi-annual performance progress and financial reports, final monitoring site visit reports , audit reports, and other supporting documentation. Our application resources include details about how we determine satisfactory progress.

You can learn more about the funds available for new awards in each state on our website. Funding amounts available for new awards are approximations at the time of publication. Actual amounts available may vary. If your state does not have funding available for the fiscal year (FY), you may still wish to apply and may receive funds based on availability and scoring.

Awards made under this funding opportunity are subject to federal funds availability.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/grants/application-resources#_Hlk153875659

Eligibility Eligible applicants These types of entities may apply:

• Public and private nonprofit private entities.

• State, county, city or township, and special district governments.

• Independent school districts.

• Public- and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

• Private institutions of higher education.

• Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities.

• Nonprofits with or without a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments (federally recognized).

• Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).

Individuals, including sole proprietorships, and foreign entities are not eligible.

Other eligibility criteria

• Public and nonprofit entities are eligible to apply unless you are part of the juvenile justice system.

• For-profit organizations are not eligible. Private institutions of higher education must be nonprofit entities.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible for awards under this funding opportunity.

Disqualification factors We will review your application to make sure it meets these responsiveness requirements.

We won’t consider an application that:

• Requests funding above the award ceiling.

• Is submitted after the deadline.

• Is from an individual, including a sole proprietorship, or a foreign entity.

• Is received in paper format that didn’t have a previously approved exemption from

ACF.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Application limits If you submit the same application more than once under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), we will only acknowledge the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing This program requires you to contribute 10% of the project’s total cost per section 383 of the RHY Act (34 U.S.C. 11274). You can calculate this cost-sharing requirement in one of two ways:

Method 1: Start with the federal share Calculation: Multiply the federal share (in dollars) by 10 and divide that product by 90.

For example: Multiply $350,000 by 10 and divide that product by 90. This equals a match of $38,889.

Method 2: Start with the total project cost Calculation: Multiply the total project costs by 10%.

For example: Multiply $388,889 by 10%. This equals a match of $38,889.

Types of cost sharing You can meet your match requirement through any combination of:

• Cash contributed by your organization.

• Cash contributed by partners or other third parties.

• In-kind (non-cash) contributions from third parties.

Cost-sharing commitments You must follow through on your promise of cost-sharing funds, even if you promise more than the required minimum. We put these commitments in the Notice of Award.

You’ll have to include your funds when you fill out your federal financial reports.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may have to decrease your award amount or use other enforcement actions.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Program description Statutory authority This program is authorized by title III, part A, section 311 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (34 U.S.C. 11211).

Project overview The primary purpose of the Basic Center Program (BCP) is to provide temporary, emergency shelter, counseling services, and comprehensive supportive services to youth under age 18. We award community-based organizations funding to provide services to youth who have run away or are experiencing homelessness at locations where they congregate; operate short-term shelters (including group home care and host family homes); and provide counseling services to youth who have run away or are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, who are not already receiving services from the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

BCPs may also provide intensive street outreach and access to shelter (up to 10 bonus points added during merit review).

Our goal is to establish and strengthen community-based projects that meet the immediate needs of youth who have left home due to family conflict or other crisis and youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Project requirements BCP projects receiving this funding are required to provide emergency shelter, counseling services, and comprehensive supportive services and optional intensive street outreach and access to services.

BCP projects must meet the following requirements. Please show that your project meets these requirements in the project narrative section of your application.

Shelter and counseling services You must provide youth under age 18 with both of the following services:

• Temporary emergency shelter for up to 21 days.

• Individual, family, and group counseling, as appropriate.

General requirements

• If a youth needs to stay in your shelter longer than 21 days, you can continue providing shelter to them, but you cannot use RHY funds to do so.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9

• If a youth needs transportation to your shelter, you must ensure it is available and easily accessible.

• Services must be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the lowest possible barriers to access. You must have a publicly available shelter telephone number answered by staff 24 hours a day.

• You must contact the parents, legal guardians, or other relatives of a youth as soon as it is feasible and safe. You must initiate contact no more than 72 hours after a youth enters your program.

• Your shelter must be licensed as a youth-serving facility and any shelter you refer youth to must also be licensed, when such a license is required by state or local law.

• You cannot use our funds for respite care. Respite care provides parents or legal guardians with short-term, temporary relief from providing care. A parent or legal guardian cannot bring a youth to your shelter so you can provide care for them. If a youth is forced to leave home or has no safe alternative place to live, they are considered homeless and eligible for shelter funded by this program.

• Your program must be in an area where youth under the age of 18 who have run away or who are experiencing homelessness can easily access your services. This can include rural or tribal communities and areas outside of metropolitan areas.

• Youth leaving your shelter must go somewhere that is safe and appropriate.

Shelter capacity requirements

• Per RHY regulations at 45 CFR 1351.18 (c), the facilities of your BCP project must have a minimum residential capacity of 4 individuals and a maximum residential capacity of 20 individuals in a single structure.

• The maximum capacity may be higher only in the following circumstances:

◦ If local laws or regulations require a higher maximum to comply with licensure requirements for child- and youth-serving facilities.

◦ If your facility is located within a single floor of an apartment building. In that case, the floor of the structure where you provide services must have a minimum residential capacity of four individuals and a maximum residential capacity of 20 individuals.

• You may shelter youth over 18 years of age if there is a state or local law (including a regulation) allowing a higher maximum age in compliance with licensure requirements for child- and youth-serving facilities.

◦ If you provide shelter to youth ages 18 and older in the same shelter facility as youth ages 17 and younger, your shelter must have separate sleeping rooms for the two age groups.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/20/2016-30241/runaway-and-homeless-youth#p-473

◦ You must also have a clear and detailed plan in place to ensure that minors are safe and secure when using bathrooms and showers, participating in shelter programming (such as counseling and life skills groups), and participating in recreational activities.

• You must maintain safety protocols, procedures, and policies to ensure the safety and security of youth under the age of 18.

• If your shelters are host family homes, you are exempt from the minimum number of four youth per structure requirement. However, you are required to shelter at least four youth across multiple homes.

Service provision requirements

• You must coordinate your shelter and services with the following entities:

◦ Law enforcement.

◦ Healthcare and behavioral health services

◦ Substance abuse and mental health services.

◦ Social services.

◦ The public school system.

◦ Welfare personnel.

• You cannot use RHY funds to pay the shelter costs of youth in the custody of child welfare, foster care, or juvenile justice. If you provide shelter to youth from the child welfare, foster care, or juvenile justice systems, you need a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between your program and those systems to clarify who is responsible for paying shelter costs and services when a youth enters your program.

• You must develop a plan to work directly with foster care and correctional agencies to return youth who have run away from the custody of those systems.

Your plan must include processes for returning youth to the facility they ran away from.

• You can only provide prevention services if you plan to include optional, home-based services intended to prevent a young person from running away or becoming homeless or to reduce the use of drugs among youth as part of your program (see optional services). These funds cannot otherwise be used for prevention.

• Your staff must be trained and ready to provide services to youth who are:

◦ Experiencing homelessness.

◦ Living on the street.

◦ In crisis.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

◦ Experiencing or at risk of experiencing human trafficking (such as sex or labor trafficking) or victimization (such as sexual assault, sexual abuse, or physical abuse). Your staff must identify shelter services and other referrals for trafficked youth.

◦ And youth who have left home without permission.

• Your shelters must be safe and accessible for all youth.

Comprehensive youth-centered services model You must use a trauma-informed approach when providing services. You can learn more about the effects of trauma and utilizing a trauma-informed approach on the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC).

You must also utilize a Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework. This framework is an intentional, prosocial approach to engaging youth.

Outreach implementation strategy You must have an outreach implementation strategy that includes the following:

• Direct outreach: You must seek out youth from your target populations who might not be aware of your program. You must provide information about the services you offer and the benefits of those services.

• Education and awareness: You must tell the community about your program by developing and distributing materials about your services and benefits. Materials might include social media posts and public service announcements. You can also raise awareness of your program by working with other youth- and family-serving organizations, law enforcement, health care providers, legal services, and other stakeholders.

• Coordination: You must coordinate with the National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth (i.e., National Runaway Safeline) to provide information on the resources available.

• Gateway services: When necessary, you must provide youth with food, water, clothing, personal safety information (e.g., national youth hotlines, local hotlines), transportation, and hygiene products to prevent malnutrition and ill-health and to ensure they are successful in your program.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

Gateway services To build trust and ensure successful engagement, you must provide youth with essential supplies and supports, including:

• Food, water, clothing, hygiene products, and transportation.

• Personal safety information, including hotline numbers.

Crisis stabilization and safety planning You must be prepared to provide emergency services and link youth to appropriate crisis resources to de-escalate emergencies and assist with urgent care for substance use or mental health conditions. Referrals can include resources such as:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP

• SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

• Local crisis hotlines

You must establish safety plans with youth who participate in your project and educate them about ways to reduce risk of violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault, unplanned pregnancy, substance use, and other forms of harm associated with street life.

You can find more information about supporting youth with adolescent health and family planning needs at Activate Center Resource Explorer. You can find more information about supporting youth who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trafficking or domestic violence through the National Human Trafficking Hotline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Human trafficking prevention and intervention You must be equipped to identify and support youth who are victims or at risk of trafficking, exploitation, or abuse including labor and/or commercial sexual exploitation, sex abuse, and other forms of victimization. Requirements include:

• Training staff on identification and response.

• Integrating trafficking prevention and intervention strategies into outreach plans, screening and assessment tools, staff training and development, and program approaches.

• Providing information and referrals to resources such as the National Suicide Hotline, the National Runaway Safeline, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://activatecenter.org/resource/

Optional services You may decide to provide one or more kinds of optional services as part of your funded program. Optional services are in addition to the basic program requirements detailed above. Applicants who propose providing intensive street outreach and access to services will receive up to 10 bonus points during the merit review.

Intensive street outreach and access to services (10 bonus points available) You may propose a comprehensive and intensive street outreach and access to services strategy to engage runaway and homeless youth and connect them with safe shelter, critical services, and supportive resources. This includes direct outreach in the community, access to emergency shelter, education and awareness efforts, coordination with community partners, crisis stabilization and gateway services, and strategies to address human trafficking and other risks.

Street-based services

Your plan for intensive street outreach and access to services must conduct regular, face-to-face outreach with youth in locations where they gather. Street outreach efforts must be youth-focused in both design and implementation. Your outreach strategy must include:

• A schedule and frequency of regular, face-to-face outreach activities.

• Identification of key locations where youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness gather.

• Adequate staffing, including the number of full-time equivalent outreach workers.

• Youth-focused engagement strategies tailored to individual needs.

• Safety plans for staff and youth during outreach activities.

Access to emergency shelter and housing

You must ensure that youth engaged through outreach have access to emergency shelter or safe, stable housing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Shelters used—whether directly operated or accessed via referral—must:

• Provide age-appropriate shelter options.

• Be licensed in accordance with all state or local requirements.

• Offer adequate supervision to ensure youth safety.

• Provide accessible transportation to shelter locations.

• Have the capacity to support victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

• Have a signed formal agreement in place (MOU or letter of commitment) to accept referrals from your organization.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

Follow-up services

If you elect to provide optional intensive street outreach and access to services, you must provide follow-up services to youth engaged through street outreach, including client assessment, case planning, and referral to shelter. Follow-up services refer to 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, and only apply to those youth you engaged through street outreach that did not enter your BCP.

Home-based services Home-based services prevent youth from running away or otherwise experiencing homelessness. These services may be offered in a youth’s home and may include intensive individual and family counseling, as well as training in life skills and parenting.

If you provide home-based services, you must explain what services you offer, who delivers them, and for how long. You must also explain your individual and family counseling methods and the life skills training you use.

Drug abuse education and prevention services Drug abuse education and prevention services prevent or reduce the use of drugs among youth. These services may include the following:

• Individual, family, group, and peer counseling.

• Drop-in services.

• Assistance in rural areas (including community support groups).

• Information and training related to the illicit use of drugs and abuse of prescriptions drugs.

• Activities to make local drug abuse prevention services more available.

You must have criteria to determine eligibility for these services and detail what services will be provided, where, by whom, and for how long. Your services must use evidence-based or evidence-informed models, curricula, and practices.

Testing for sexually transmitted diseases If you offer testing for sexually transmitted diseases and infections (STDs and STIs), testing must be provided upon request and based on established eligibility criteria.

If you plan to offer testing for STDs and STIs, you should describe the following:

• The individuals or entities responsible for coordinating and providing the testing services.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XIII/subchapter-F/part-1351/subpart-C/section-1351.26 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-B/chapter-XIII/subchapter-F/part-1351/subpart-C/section-1351.26

• The accessibility of the services.

• The confidentiality of youth seeking services and of testing results.

Screening and assessment The assessment and screening tools you use should identify, at a minimum, the unique needs of these youth and guide delivery of appropriate services for them. You should assess the health and wellness of all youth, and in using the assessment and screening tools, determine if the youth’s participation in your program poses any risks to the health and safety of other youth in the program.

You must have a standardized way of assessing each youth during street-based engagement or intake, or during program entry. Assessment tools must evaluate, at a minimum, the following factors for each youth:

• Strengths.

• Goals.

• Immediate needs, including but not limited to:

◦ Health (physical, behavioral, dental, mental).

◦ Potential for victimization.

◦ Current housing status.

◦ Connection to family.

◦ Safety.

◦ Access to resources.

◦ Issues of neglect or abuse.

◦ Other risk and protective factors that impact their well-being and potential for sustainable living.

You should work with your local Continuum of Care (CoC) to ensure referrals are coordinated and that youth are informed about community resources they have access to, including permanent housing resources and family resources, if applicable.

Case management You must provide youth in your program with the following case management services:

• Individualized service or treatment plan: You must plan for services or treatment strategies based on both your screening and assessment tools and input from the youth receiving services.

• Harm reduction: You should discuss safety planning with youth to reduce their risk of exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault, substance use and misuse, and any other harm associated with street life.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://rhyclearinghouse.acf.hhs.gov/resources/screening-tool

• Partnerships and service coordination plan: You must create and implement an appropriate and accessible service referral and coordination strategy based on the results of the youth’s entry screening and assessments. You should coordinate services with entities including, but not limited to:

◦ Social services.

◦ Law enforcement.

◦ Educational services.

◦ Vocational and employment training services.

◦ Public benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

◦ CoCs (as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD).

◦ Legal services.

◦ Organizations that provide support to those who have experienced trafficking or are at risk of experiencing trafficking.

◦ Mental and behavioral health services.

◦ Health care programs including mental health, behavioral health, and health insurance options.

◦ Affordable child care and child education programs.

• Education service plan: You must coordinate with McKinney-Vento school district liaisons, designated under Section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), to ensure youth are provided information about educational services available to them.

Aftercare You must continue to provide services for 3 months after the youth has left your shelter.

You must develop an aftercare strategy with each youth within 3 days of beginning shelter and services. The strategy must include a plan for permanent placement as well as the youth’s input about the support and services they need to achieve their personal goals.

Performance standards You are required to collect data demonstrating your ability to meet program performance standards. Your program should improve the following four outcome areas for youth who receive shelter and counseling services:

• Social and emotional well-being: Youth will connect to trauma-informed providers for help with issues related to physical health, substance abuse, mental

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 health, personal safety (such as potential trafficking situations), and sexual risk behaviors.

• Permanent connections: Youth will experience positive ongoing attachments to their families, communities, schools, and other social networks.

• Education or employment: Youth will connect to school or vocational training programs, improve job search skills, or obtain employment.

• Safe and stable housing: After leaving your program, youth will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need. Housing options may include moving in with family, other permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, residential treatment centers, or substance abuse treatment facilities.

For youth who have only been provided intensive street outreach services, who are not eligible or choose not to enter your BCP, you are required to collect data demonstrating your ability to meet program performance standards, including data on the number of youth you will contact and the number of youth engaged in a case plan or client assessment.

You will report performance data through RHY-HMIS quarterly. To access RHY-HMIS, you will work and coordinate with a local CoC Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) lead. You can find more detailed information about performance standards and reporting requirements on our website.

Training and technical assistance If you accept an award, you must agree to work cooperatively with the technical assistance provider. Training and technical assistance is free from RHYTTAC. Services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Regionally based technical assistance clinics.

• Training sessions.

• E-learning.

• Webinars.

• National grantee training.

You must send at least one person to the annual, in-person (or virtual) RHY National Grantee Training, as well as regional and program-specific trainings. You will also participate in learning collaboratives and cohort-based peer engagement activities.

More information is available from RHYTTAC.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/grants/application-resources https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/grants/application-resources http://www.rhyttac.net./

Funding policies and limitations General policies We will only make awards if this program receives funding. If Congress appropriates funds for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

Support beyond the first budget period will depend on:

• Appropriation of funds.

• Satisfactory progress in meeting your project’s goals and objectives.

• A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest.

If we receive more funding for this program, we will consider:

• Funding more applicants.

• Extending the period of performance.

• Awarding supplemental funding.

ACF does not allow funds awarded under this NOFO to support any costs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities, including research in support of such initiatives, and any other initiatives that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin or another protected characteristic. This also includes any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, and any discriminatory equity ideology in violation of a Federal anti-discrimination law. The definition of “discriminatory equity ideology” is in Section 2(b) of Executive Order 14190 of January 29, 2025, which can be found here: 2025-02232.pdf.

For guidance on additional types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see General Provisions for Selected Items of Costs of the Uniform Guidance, 45 CFR part 75 (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR part 200).

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-02-03/pdf/2025-02232.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72

Program-specific limitations and policies We do not allow the following costs under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO):

• Construction.

• Purchase of real property.

• Major renovation.

◦ Costs for renovation of existing structures may not normally exceed 15% of the federal award. Costs for acquisition is not allowable by statute.

• Fundraising (including campaigns, endowments, gifts, and similar expenses).

• Proposal and pre-award costs.

• Distribution of sterile needles or syringes.

• Abortions. (See Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law No. 117-328, div. H, tit. V, 506-507 for exceptions.)

• Any treatment or referral to treatment that aims to change someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ328/PLAW-117publ328.pdf https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ328/PLAW-117publ328.pdf

Indirect costs Indirect costs are costs you charge across more than one project and cannot be easily separated by project.

To charge indirect costs you can select one of two methods:

Method 1—Approved rate. You currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency.

Method 2—De minimis rate. Per 2 CFR 200.414(f), if you do not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including a provisional rate), you may elect to charge a de minimis rate. If you choose this method, costs included in the indirect cost pool must not be charged as direct costs.

This rate is 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of MTDC. You can use this rate indefinitely.

Subawards As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. We define a substantive role as conducting funded activities and providing services that are necessary and integral to completing the project. Monitoring your subrecipient’s activities alone as described in 45 CFR 75.352 (or, starting October 1, 2025, 2 CFR 200.332) is not a substantive role.

We do not fund awards where your role primarily serves as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

If they do not have one, all subrecipients must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

Subrecipients must meet the eligibility requirements of this NOFO.

Salary rate limitation The salary rate limitation in the current appropriations act applies to this program. You may not use awarded funds to pay a salary at a higher rate than the rate for Executive Level II. For the Executive Level II salary, please see guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on executive and senior level employee pay.

The salary limitation reflects a person’s base salary (including any portion of the salary that is paid for with indirect costs). It does not include fringe benefits, and any income the person is allowed to earn outside of the duties of the applicant organization. This salary limitation also applies to subawards, contracts, and subcontracts under an ACF grant or cooperative agreement.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/section-200.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-75.352 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.332 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get registered 23

Find the application package 24

Learn more 24

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier. SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

When you register or update your SAM.gov registration, you must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations. You must agree to those for financial assistance specifically, as opposed to contracts, because the two sets of agreements are different. You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Need help? See Contacts and Support.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 23 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number HHS-2025-ACF- ACYF-CY-0006. Then select the Package tab.

After you select the opportunity, we recommend that you select the Subscribe button to get updates.

If you can’t use Grants.gov to download application materials, you may request them from the grants management contact.

If you are also unable to apply through Grants.gov, see the section on exemptions for paper submissions.

Learn more Visit Applying for an ACF Grant Award on the ACF Grants page.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 24 https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Step 3:

Prepare Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 26

Application contents and format Application components You will submit two files plus the standard forms in the application package.

See requirements for other submissions.

Your organization’s authorized official must certify your application.

File one To submit file one, you will use the Project Narrative Attachment form found in the Grants.gov application package for this NOFO.

This file includes:

• Table of contents.

• Project summary, one page.

• Project narrative.

• Line-item budget and budget narrative.

File two To submit file two, you will use the Other Attachments form found in the Grants.gov application package for this NOFO.

This file includes all attachments.

Standard forms The Grants.gov application package for this NOFO includes forms beyond those required for file one and file two. Complete all of these forms and submit through Grants.gov.

See the list of standard forms.

Required format Page limit for file one and file two combined: 85 pages.

File format: Portable Document Format (PDF) is recommended, but not required. ACF supports the following file formats when you attach files to the Project Narrative Attachment form and the Other Attachments form:

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 26

Accepted file formats

• Adobe PDF (.pdf)

• Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

• Microsoft Excel (.xls or .xlsx)

• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt)

• Image formats (.JPG, .GIF, .TIFF, or .BMP only)

Document formats Paper size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches

Margins: 1 inch all around

Language: English

If possible, include page numbers.

Do not include external links to information you want reviewers to assess because reviewers will score the application solely on information provided in the application.

Fonts Font: Times New Roman

Color: Black

Size: 12-point font

Footnotes and text in tables and graphics may be 10-point.

Spacing Table of contents: Must be single-spaced

Project summary: Must be single-spaced

Project narrative: Must be double-spaced

Line-item budget and budget narrative: Can be single-spaced

Attachments: Can be single-spaced

Tables and footnotes throughout: Can be single-spaced

See disqualification factors to understand what may disqualify your application from consideration.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 27

Table of contents At the beginning of file one, insert a table of contents that guides a reader through the contents of both files in your application. If possible, include links to the relevant content in file one.

Project summary Provide a one-page summary of the project description. Do not cross-reference to other parts of your application. The summary must include:

• At the top, the project title, applicant name, address, phone numbers, email addresses, and any website URL.

• A brief description of the project, including the needs and population you will address, and your proposed services.

Project narrative The project narrative is where you address all your proposed activities. It is a critical section of your application, which we evaluate using merit review criteria and rank based on application scores. Remember that substance and measurable outcomes are more important than length. We are particularly interested in project narratives that convey strategies for achieving intended performance.

In it, you must:

• Explain how the project will meet the purpose of the NOFO, as described in the program description section.

• Make sure your narrative is clear, concise, and complete.

• Use cross-referencing rather than repetition.

• Be sure to include any required supporting documents noted. You generally provide these in your attachments.

• Use the headings and order of the sections that follow.

Geographic location Provide the precise physical location of your project and boundaries of the area you will serve. If you will include any subrecipients in your project that will serve the geographic areas include their locations as well.

Need for assistance Identify the problems you plan to solve. These problems could be physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, etc. To do so:

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 28

• Demonstrate the need, including the nature and scope of the problem.

• You may provide supporting documentation, such as testimonials, in an application appendix.

• Include any relevant data based on planning studies or needs assessments. You may refer to them in the endnotes or footnotes.

• Use demographic data and participant or beneficiary information where you can.

Approach Outline your action plan. Describe the scope and detail of how you will accomplish your proposed project. Account for all functions or activities you identify in your application.

Explain potential obstacles and challenges to accomplishing your project goals. Explain the strategies you will use to address them.

You must explain how your project will meet all of the requirements in the project requirements section. Include all of the subsections listed here in your explanation.

Shelter and counseling services Describe the shelter model you will use and explain how it will meet all the requirements in the shelter and counseling services section of the program requirements.

Your description must include:

• The number of youth under the age of 18 that your project will serve in a single structure, or within a single floor of an apartment building, for no more than 21 days.

• If you shelter youth 18 and over in the same facility as youth 17 and under, how you will provide and maintain separate sleeping rooms and ensure minors’ safety and security in areas such as use of bathrooms, showers, and shelter programming.

• Proof that all operating shelters, including host family homes and any shelters you regularly refer clients to have current licensure in states or localities with licensure requirements.

• Proof that project funding will not be used for respite care.

• Plans for providing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the lowest possible barriers to access.

• Plans to make sure that a publicly available shelter telephone number is answered by staff on 24 hours a day.

• Plans to make sure that transportation to the shelter is available and easily accessible for youth.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 29

• Plans to contact parents, legal guardians, or other relatives of each youth as soon as doing so is feasible and safe. Programs do not need to contact the parent, legal guardian, or relative if doing so is not in the best interest of the child.

• If applicable, you must create an MOU between your program and child welfare if your project is serving youth who run away from foster care or child welfare.

• Any optional services you plan to provide. If you will not provide optional services (for example, intensive street outreach and access to services), state that clearly in this section of your application.

• How you will make sure that staff are trained to work with youth who have run away, are homeless, are living on the streets, or are in crisis, as well as youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing human trafficking.

• Information about your partners, including partnerships with CoCs that also support youth. Explain how you coordinate with those partners to ensure youth have access to all the community’s resources.

Comprehensive youth-centered service model Address all the requirements in the comprehensive youth-centered services model section of the program requirements, including:

• How you will use a trauma-informed approach when providing services to youth.

• How you will use the PYD framework.

Outreach implementation Describe how your project will address the outreach implementation section of the program requirements, including:

• How your program will identify, approach, and engage youth from the target population and provide them with accessible information about the services you offer and their benefits.

• A plan for informing the community about your program through outreach materials, public awareness efforts, and distribution of information on available services.

• How your program will coordinate with the National Runaway Safeline to connect youth to national and local resources, ensuring they have immediate access to information and support.

• An outline of how your staff will provide essential resources—such as food, beverages, clothing, hygiene supplies, transportation assistance, and personal safety information, including national and local hotline numbers and resource guides—to youth during outreach activities.

• A description of how your program will identify and support youth who are at risk of, or are victims of, trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, and

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 30 https://www.rhyttac.net/positive-youth-development-resources other forms of victimization, including providing direct access to appropriate resources and referrals, such as national hotlines.

Intensive street outreach and access to services (optional) Bonus points added during merit review.

Applicants must present a clear and actionable strategy for conducting street outreach and a comprehensive plan to ensure youth who are experiencing homelessness, have left home due to family conflict or crisis, or are living on the streets have continuous access to safe, appropriate shelter and supportive services.

Your response must address all requirements outlined in the intensive street outreach and access to services section of the project requirements section, including:

• How your program will identify key locations where youth gather to conduct outreach activities.

• How your program will conduct regular face-to-face outreach with youth in your target area.

• How your program will maintain adequate staffing including full-time outreach workers.

• A detailed safety plan for ensuring staff and youth safety during outreach activities.

• How your program will provide youth with access to emergency shelter or safe and stable housing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• How you will ensure that referred shelters, particularly BCPs, have available capacity to accept youth, when needed.

• A detailed strategy for establishing and maintaining MOUs or letters of commitment with shelter providers to guarantee their support in facilitating timely and appropriate referrals for youth in crisis.

• How you will provide follow-up care to youth engaged through your intensive street outreach and access to services efforts.

Screening and assessment Address all the requirements in the screening and assessment section of the program requirements, including:

• How you will determine a youth’s eligibility for your program and assess their needs to make sure services are appropriate.

• How you will use screening and assessment tools to determine if a youth’s participation in your program poses any risks to the health and safety of other youth in the program.

• A description of the assessment tools you will use and what factors they evaluate.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 31

Case management Address all the requirements in the case management section of the program requirements, including:

• How your program will work with youth to plan for individualized services and treatment strategies.

• Your program’s approach to harm reduction.

• How your program will connect youth to appropriate and accessible services based on screening and assessments.

• How your program will make sure youth are connected to school, life skills training, job attainment skills, or work activities while in the program.

• Describe your plan for providing emergency services and linking youth with appropriate crisis resources in the event of an emergency, substance use issue, or mental health issue.

• How your program will provide harm reduction services. At a minimum, your description must include how you will establish safety plans and educate youth about harm reduction. See project requirements for more detailed guidance.

Aftercare You must explain how your project will prepare youth for transitioning from your project and how you will provide aftercare services for a period of 3 months after project exit. The description must include, at a minimum:

• How your project will develop a written transition plan with each youth that meets their needs and supports safe and stable living.

• How your project will ensure youth…