Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Monday, August 17, 2026

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

Basic Center Program Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CY-0016

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 28

Find the application package 29

Get registered 30

Learn more 30

Step 3: Build Your Application 31

Application checklist 32

Application contents and format 34

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 49

Application review 50

Award notices 56

Step 5: Submit Your Application 57

Application submission and deadlines 58

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 60

Post-award requirements and administration 61

Contacts and Support 63

Before you begin 3

Modifications 67

Endnotes 68

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 Monday, August 17, 2026.

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. Build 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Basic information Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB)

Runaway and Homeless Youth Program

The goal of the Basic Center Program is to establish and strengthen short-term shelter and supportive services that meet the immediate needs of youth under age 18 who have left home due to family conflict or other crisis and youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Basic Center Program

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-

CY-0016

Federal assistance listing:

93.623

NOFO version:

Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline:

August 17, 2026

Expected project start date:

September 30, 2026

See intergovernmental review for other submission processes that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary The Basic Center Program (BCP) provides up to 21 days of emergency shelter, supportive services, 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 from 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 the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems

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).

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:34%20section:11279%20edition:prelim)

Funding details Type: Grant

Expected total program funding: $27,000,000

Total expected awards: 77

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $100,000

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

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

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

Eligibility Eligible applicants Eligible applicants are public and nonprofit private agencies (34 U.S.C. 11261).

Other eligibility criteria Individuals (including sole proprietorships), federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible to apply.

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

• 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.

Disqualifying 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.

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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Cost sharing This program requires you to contribute 10% of the project’s total cost, as stated in section 383 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (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 $38,888.

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

For example: Multiply $388,888 by 10%. This equals a match of $38,888.

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

• Cash contributed by your organization, partners, or other third parties.

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

Cost-sharing commitments If awarded, you must provide the amount of cost-sharing funds you promised, even if you promised more than the required minimum. We put these commitments in the Notice of Award.

If you don’t provide your promised amount, we may decrease the amount of funding we give you or use other enforcement actions.

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

Post-award requirements

Before you apply, make sure you understand the requirements that come with an award.

See Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award for information on regulations that apply, reporting, and more.

Statutory authority Title III, Part A, Section 311 of the RHY Act (34 U.S.C. 11211)

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Agency priorities A Home for Every Child ACF’s A Home for Every Child initiative advances the goal that every young person has a safe, stable, and nurturing home. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Basic Center Program provides critical short-term shelter, crisis intervention, and family reunification to stabilize youth in acute need. Without these supports, youth face heightened risks of exploitation, violence, and long-term instability. With our service provision requirements and comprehensive youth service model, youth who can safely return to a more permanent home, whether through the foster care system, kinship care, or family of origins, will be assisted to do so.

Required alignment with ACF vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles The recipient of this award must implement any funds awarded under this NOFO to effectuate program goals or agency priorities in accordance with ACF’s vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles when authorized. Funded activities must advance ACF’s vision of resilient, safe, healthy, and economically secure children, youth, families, and communities, and support ACF’s mission to foster health and well-being through effective, accountable, and compassionate human services when awarded in any programs that authorize these priorities.

Consistent with ACF’s values, in carrying out any project that is funded under this NOFO, the recipient is required to adhere to the following principle:

1. Program Integrity and Fiscal Stewardship: Administer funds in accordance with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, and award conditions; maintain strong internal controls; and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.

The recipient is also required to adhere to the following principles when consistent with the authority and scope of the award and its activities:

2. Evidence-Based and Outcome-Focused Practices: Design and deliver services using evidence-based or evidence-informed approaches, establish measurable performance goals, and use data to monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement.

3. Partnership and Local Leadership: Coordinate with state, tribal, territorial, local, and community partners, as appropriate, and tailor services to meet community-identified needs while respecting local decision-making authority.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values https://acf.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values

In addition, in keeping with ACF’s priorities, the recipient must administer any project that is awarded under this NOFO in accordance with the following objectives when consistent with the scope of the award and its activities in programs that are authorized to advance them:

4. Family Stability and Child Well-Being: Strengthen families, promote safe and stable home environments, and improve outcomes for children and youth through prevention-focused and developmentally appropriate services.

5. Work, Self-Sufficiency, and Economic Mobility: Support pathways to employment, job retention, and economic independence for individuals and families, including through workforce development, education, and supportive services.

6. High-Quality Early Care and Learning: Where applicable, invest in high-quality early childhood programs that support school readiness, healthy development, and long-term success.

The recipient must demonstrate ongoing compliance with these values and priorities, in all programs that are authorized to advance them through program design, implementation, reporting, and evaluation. Failure to meaningfully align funded activities with the applicable requirements may result in corrective action, additional reporting requirements, or other enforcement actions consistent with federal grant regulations found at 2 CFR Part 200 and the terms and conditions of this award.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Program description Project overview The primary purpose of the Basic Center Program (BCP) is to provide temporary emergency shelter, supportive services, and counseling services to youth under age 18.

We award community-based organizations funding to operate short-term shelters (including group home care and host family homes) and provide counseling services to youth who:

• Have run away.

• Are experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Who are not already receiving services from the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

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.

This project addresses the following ACF priority: Promoting Work and Self-Sufficiency because it assists with moving individuals from dependency to independence.

Project requirements 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.

• Counseling services, as appropriate (individual, family, and group).

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.

• 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, 7 days a week, with the lowest possible barriers to access. You must have a publicly available shelter telephone number that staff will answer 24 hours a day.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

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

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

• 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 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 four 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, it is the floor of the structure where you provide services that must have a minimum residential capacity of four individuals and a maximum residential capacity of 20 individuals. The entire building may have a larger capacity of up to 20 youth per floor.

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

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

◦ You must also have a detailed plan to ensure that minors are safe and secure when:

▪ Using bathrooms and showers.

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

▪ Participating in shelter programming (such as counseling and life skills groups).

▪ Participating in recreational activities with youth age 18 or older in your shelter.

• 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 have the capacity to shelter at least four youth at any given time across multiple homes.

Service provision requirements You must provide youth and their families with an opportunity to engage in intensive counseling and case management services to support family stability, which helps prevent youth running away and youth homelessness.

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

◦ Law enforcement.

◦ Health care and behavioral health services.

◦ Substance abuse services.

◦ Social services, including child welfare personnel, where relevant.

◦ The public school system.

◦ Anti-human trafficking service providers.

• You cannot use RHY funds to pay the shelter costs of youth in child welfare, foster care, or juvenile justice custody. If you provide shelter to youth from these systems, you need a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between your program and the applicable system to clarify who is responsible for payment.

• 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 may only use funds to provide prevention services if your program includes optional home-based services designed to:

◦ Prevent running away or homelessness among young people.

◦ Reduce youth drug use.

• These funds may not be used for any other type of prevention services.

• Your staff must be trained and ready to provide services to youth who have left home without permission or who are:

◦ Experiencing housing instability or homelessness.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

◦ Living on the street.

◦ In crisis.

◦ 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.

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

Applicants must also demonstrate formal partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, including police departments and through signed MOUs or formal agreements. These partnerships should:

• Identify high-concentration areas where homeless youth gather.

• Establish protocols for coordinated outreach in these identified areas.

• Create referral mechanisms for law enforcement to connect youth to your program.

• Develop joint training opportunities to improve interactions between law enforcement and homeless youth.

• Outline data sharing agreements (within legal boundaries) to better target services. Data sharing agreements must adhere to the confidentiality requirements in the RHY Act at 34 U.S.C. 11275 stating, “Restrictions on disclosure and transfer of records containing the identity of individual youths pursuant to this chapter may under no circumstances be disclosed or transferred to any individual or to any public or private agency.”.

Comprehensive youth-centered services model The comprehensive youth-centered services model includes required approaches, frameworks, and services that are in addition to shelter and counseling.

Positive Youth Development You must also use a positive youth development (PYD) framework, an approach to service that ensures a young person develops a sense of:

• Safety and structure.

• Belonging and membership.

• Self-worth and social contribution.

• Independence and control over one’s life.

• Closeness in interpersonal relationships.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://youth.gov/youth-topics/positive-youth-development

Any PYD approach utilized, including in any project curricula, products, or resources, must not be used in a way that conflicts with ACF Vision, Mission, Values, Priorities, or Guiding Principles unless authorized by law, including any relevant court orders.

Trauma-informed care BCP programs should consider the trauma and mental health needs of young people who have experienced physical or sexual maltreatment, abuse, or violence.

Programs should include trauma-informed approaches. Program staff should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in youth, including survival mechanisms or coping behaviors stemming from past experience with childhood sexual abuse or current trauma (from abusive or predatory relationships). Programs should build organizational and staff capacity to fully include knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices to be able to refer to appropriate treatment or services and to avoid re-traumatizing youth. Effective service models should support mental health, develop coping strategies, and increase protective factors in a youth’s life to minimize negative risk-taking behaviors and increase their chance of achieving a more stable home placement.

Outreach implementation strategy You must have an outreach 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 your services and their benefits.

• Education and awareness: You must create and share materials to inform the community about your program. You can also raise awareness of your program by working with other family- and youth-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 (National Runaway Safeline) to provide information on the resources available.

• Youth engagement and collaboration: You must engage youth who have experienced homelessness who can help you reach other youth in a similar situation, and design individualized approaches to meet their needs. Youth involvement ensures your education and awareness strategies reflect youth voices and collaboration.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://www.helpisaclickaway.org/runaway-teen-hotline?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18063868514&gbraid=0AAAAAozOY2RlEtQ55shwr2JDM9WI6hjlG&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtfXMBhDzARIsAJ0jp3A-xjF-mMoT-rfadJ1F27e50b9wQKhtldHyNS9a11sTmcGjzvEfN54aApoyEALw_wcB

• Gateway services: When necessary, you must provide youth with the following:

◦ Food.

◦ Drink.

◦ Clothing.

Personal safety information (for example, national youth hotlines and local hotlines).

◦ Transportation.

◦ Hygiene products.

These items help prevent malnutrition and ill health and support their participation in your program.

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 participating youth and educate them on reducing the risk of violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sexual assault, unplanned pregnancy, substance use, and other harms associated with street life. The National Human Trafficking Hotline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline include information on supporting youth who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing trafficking or domestic violence.

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

• Train staff on identification and response.

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

• Provide 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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

Human Trafficking of Children and Youth

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of a person to perform labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Per 22 U.S.C. 7102(11), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPRA), as amended, human trafficking (severe forms of trafficking in persons) means:

• Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.

• The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Youth who are missing from foster care, are experiencing homelessness, or have unstable housing are at a higher risk of experiencing human trafficking, particularly at times when they are struggling to access resources to meet basic needs. Individuals who exploit children often fulfill these needs to build trust and create dependency as a precursor to trafficking. These children may be coerced into engaging in sex acts or compelled labor for shelter, food, clothing, and other basic needs.

Screening for Trafficking Concerns

The recipient must adapt from and utilize standardized screening tools that are validated and evidence-and trauma-informed to identify trafficking concerns and evaluate client needs throughout the service relationship. The recipient may elect to use one or multiple tools, but the tools must be able to identify youth who have experienced labor and/or sex trafficking and assess for common indicators and risks for human trafficking.

It is best practice to screen for trafficking concerns during the youth’s initial intake into the program, any time a youth returns from a missing episode, and any time trafficking is suspected. Even in situations when a youth may not exhibit obvious indicators for trafficking, the recipient should utilize a validated universal screening approach and incorporate screening protocols at various stages, in addition to identifying trafficking concerns. This practice will also help mitigate early signs of risk and prevent trafficking before it occurs or re-occurs.

While screening is an initial step in identifying trafficking concerns, it can elicit unintended trauma responses. Therefore, it is imperative for the recipient to first address the youth’s basic needs (food, sleep, safety and safety planning, comfort, etc.)

before any screening occurs. It is also important for the recipient to consider each individual youth’s experience, cognition, mental health, and the effects of trauma when assessing their responses prior to and during screening and intake.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17

Services for Victims of Trafficking

As disclosures may happen during screening, at any point during time of service, or both, the recipient must develop protocols for response to disclosures. The protocols must include but not be limited to assessment for trafficking-specific case management, safety planning, clinical and therapeutic support, mentorships, and medical services. Youth who have experienced human trafficking have unique needs that must be considered when screening and assessing for service needs, interventions, and community referrals. All interventions by the recipient must be centered around the youth’s voice to ensure the youth is an active participant in their care and decision-making for services, and safety planning must be at the center of all support. Further, if it is determined to be in the youth’s best interest, the youth’s caregiver or relevant family members may be brought in for parts of the service planning efforts. However, this should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Trafficking-Specific Education and Outreach

Recipients are required to integrate human trafficking content throughout program education and outreach activities. All approaches and materials must be trauma-informed, person-centered, developmentally appropriate, and responsive to age, developmental and cognitive abilities, and other relevant factors.

Outreach

Recipients must include information on human trafficking in all outreach activities.

Outreach materials must provide audience-appropriate information about human trafficking, including how to identify potential trafficking schemes, how to seek help, and how to access available services and resources. Recipients must ensure that outreach activities include information on referral options, including the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Universal Education

Recipients must provide universal education on human trafficking to all clients.

Universal education provides information, safety messages, and resource connections to all individuals, regardless of disclosure or identified risk, to mitigate risk across the population served. This approach normalizes access to support, reduces stigma, and promotes early connection to services. Universal education must be delivered in a private setting, when possible, by staff trained in the approach. Staff must offer resources regardless of whether a client discloses trafficking, and universal education should not be used to require or elicit disclosure. Where a private conversation is not possible or it is not safe to talk, recipients must provide a discrete offer of resources and referral information. This approach may use or adapt existing tools and materials, with emphasis on the quality of the interaction and the provision of resources.

Prevention education must support youth in recognizing trafficking risks, identifying

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Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhumantraffickinghotline.org%2Fen&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Ca53d76e0955a4d79da6c08de9bbd0e4c%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639119433458782008%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pkGZhg%2FZKZTv5CgyRvTMB%2F46UboS9EFq9BCkQ6Qrt6U%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhumantraffickinghotline.org%2Fen&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Ca53d76e0955a4d79da6c08de9bbd0e4c%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639119433458782008%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pkGZhg%2FZKZTv5CgyRvTMB%2F46UboS9EFq9BCkQ6Qrt6U%3D&reserved=0 potential trafficking schemes, and building skills related to safety, decision-making, help-seeking, and access to resources and support.

Education and Outreach Resources

• Look Beneath the Surface Campaign: Downloadable and printable outreach materials that help individuals who are at risk of or experiencing human trafficking recognize trafficking schemes and access support.

• SOAR Online: Free, self-paced online training courses that can be completed on demand.

• Office on Trafficking in Persons Resource Library: A searchable collection of anti-trafficking resources and materials, including outreach materials, toolkits, fact sheets, policy and guidance documents, and training tools that support prevention, awareness, identification, and access to services.

Mandatory Reporting

Human trafficking of children (labor and sex trafficking) is now defined under “child abuse and neglect” in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, Public Law (Pub.

L.) 93-247. Therefore, if a recipient identifies potential concerns of human trafficking, the recipient is required to comply with all federal, state, tribal, and local mandated reporting requirements in the same way the recipient reports abuse and neglect within that jurisdiction (child welfare, law enforcement, etc.)

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Facf.gov%2Flook&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Ca53d76e0955a4d79da6c08de9bbd0e4c%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639119433458803538%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hQjmsWxbO5s9jsuIZgLmGPF1MsjdlHCpxwuYVn2xybM%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Facf.gov%2Fotip%2Feducation-training%2Ftta%2Findividuals&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Ca53d76e0955a4d79da6c08de9bbd0e4c%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639119433458822494%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=CpDYHuCDeOP39FPteI6oEO8ZgDdD1w%2BfcPgTnEDK2TY%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Facf.gov%2Fotip%2Fresource-library&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Ca53d76e0955a4d79da6c08de9bbd0e4c%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639119433458840980%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=2pHXOkS5M4xA8Z5XYdKhuUYb7wk3J%2BR2WCTXF6KTvVo%3D&reserved=0

Appendix I: Validated screening tools for human trafficking of children and youth[1]

Tool Identifier In- Depth

Short/ Rapid

Demographic Environment

Commercial Sexual Exploitation- Identification Tool

X Ages 10+; sex trafficking only

Multiple settings, including child welfare and juvenile justice systems, schools, homeless youth shelters, health care and mental health settings

Human Trafficking Screening Tool [PDF]

X X Ages 18–24; sex trafficking only

Runaway and Homeless Youth system settings

Quick Youth Indicators for Trafficking

X Youth who are homeless;

sex trafficking and labor trafficking

Service provider setting

Rapid Appraisal for Trafficking

X Ages 18+; sex trafficking and labor trafficking

Health care setting

Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking

X Ages 12–18; sex trafficking only

Health care setting

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 https://www.westcoastcc.org/cse-it/ https://www.westcoastcc.org/cse-it/ https://www.westcoastcc.org/cse-it/ https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/257786/Pretesting.pdf https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/257786/Pretesting.pdf https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740918307540 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740918307540 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34667976/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34667976/ https://journals.lww.com/pec-online/Fulltext/2018/01000/A_Short_Screening_Tool_to_Identify_Victims_of.8.aspx https://journals.lww.com/pec-online/Fulltext/2018/01000/A_Short_Screening_Tool_to_Identify_Victims_of.8.aspx

Screening and assessment You must have a standard way to determine a youth’s eligibility for your program and to assess their needs to make sure services are appropriate. Your screening and assessment tools should also help you determine whether the youth’s participation in your program poses any risks to the health and safety of others in the program.

You must use screening and assessment tools that will identify youth and families with complex or high-level needs (e.g., behavioral health, trauma, substance use, family conflict issues).

Your screening and assessment tools should evaluate, at a minimum, the following high levels of need for each youth:

• Physical health.

• Potential for victimization.

• Behavioral health.

• Connection to family.

• Family conflict.

• Safety.

• Substance use.

• Trauma.

• Access to resources.

• Issues of neglect or abuse.

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

If you offer optional street-based services, the screening and assessment process must start when you engage a young person on the street, during intake, or at the drop-in center.

You should work with your local Continuum of Care (CoC) to ensure referrals are coordinated and that youth are aware of community resources available to them, including permanent housing resources and family resources, if applicable.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21

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

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

• Reduce the risk of harm: 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.

• Service coordination: You must have an appropriate and accessible service referral strategy based on the youth’s entry screening and assessment results. You should coordinate services with entities including:

◦ 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).

◦ Legal services.

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

◦ Behavioral health services.

◦ Health care programs including health insurance options.

◦ Affordable child care and child education programs, including Head Start.

▪ Educational service: 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 receive information about educational services available to them.

Aftercare You must continue to provide services for three months after the youth has left your shelter. You must develop an aftercare strategy with each youth within three 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.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22

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.

Street-based services Street-based services are provided to youth who have run away or are experiencing homelessness in areas where they congregate. Street-based services help youth make healthy personal choices about where they live and how they behave. If you plan to provide street-based services, you must do the following:

• Describe your strategy for conducting face-to-face outreach during scheduled hours at locations where youth congregate.

• Specify the number of full-time equivalent outreach workers you need and the frequency of their outreach.

• Explain how you communicate with youth about services you can provide.

• Supply basic need packs for youth.

• Have safety protocols for youth and outreach staff.

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 your services, who delivers them, and their duration. You must also describe your individual and family counseling methods and your life skills training. See 34 U.S.C. 11212(d) for detailed description of requirements.

Drug abuse education and prevention services 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 prescription drug abuse.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23

You must have criteria to determine eligibility for these services and detail what services you will provide, 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), you must provide that testing upon request and based on established eligibility criteria.

If you plan to offer STD and STI testing, you should name the individuals or entities responsible for coordinating and providing the testing services.

Performance standards You must collect data showing your ability to meet program performance standards.

Your program should improve the following four outcome areas for youth who receive your services:

• Social and emotional well-being: Youth will connect to trauma-informed providers for help with issues related to physical health, substance abuse, mental 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 housing, residential treatment centers, or substance abuse treatment facilities.

You will collect and enter data quarterly through the Runaway and Homeless Youth- Homeless Management Information System (RHY-HMIS), and you will work with a local CoC HMIS lead for access to the RHY-HMIS. The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) provides more detailed information about data standards and reporting requirements.

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 available free from the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC). Services include:

• Regionally based technical assistance.

• Individual Grant Recipient Training.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 24 https://acf.gov/fysb https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/grants/application-resources https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/grants/application-resources

• Program-specific 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 to other federally designated regional- and program-specific trainings. You will also participate in learning collaboratives and cohort-based peer engagement activities. More information is available from the RHYTTAC.

Funding policies and limitations Changes in HHS regulations As of October 1, 2025, HHS adopted 2 CFR 200, with some exceptions included in 2 CFR

300. These regulations replace those in 45 CFR 75.

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 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.

• To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, you may not use funds from this NOFO for any diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI and DEIA) activities. This includes:

◦ DEI- or DEIA-related research.

◦ Activities that discriminate or show preference based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other protected traits.

◦ Any efforts that promote a “discriminatory equity ideology.” To the extent permitted by law, including any relevant court orders, ACF will also not allow funds awarded under this NOFO to support any services or activities that inculcate or promote gender ideology.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 25 http://www.rhyttac.net./ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-300

For guidance on other types of costs that we restrict or do not allow, see General Provisions for Selected Items of Costs of the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR part 200.

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 are not allowable by statute.

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

• Proposal and pre-award costs.

• Distribution of sterile needles or syringes.

• NOTE* Include a statement attesting that your program, if selected for funding, will not support or facilitate any harm reduction activities that relate to drug use or facilitate any illegal drug use, to include, but is not limited to:

◦ Hosting or making available drug consumption sites.

◦ Distribution of drug paraphernalia inconsistent with Federal law.

◦ Safe smoking kits, safe sniff kits, or other harm reduction kits.

◦ Pipes, straws, or other devices used to inhale or ingest illegal drugs.

◦ Sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.

◦ Drug testing kits.

◦ Sterile water, saline, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), or other supplies intended to facilitate the preparation or use of illegal drugs.

◦ Other actions that would support the use of controlled substances.

◦ Any other item or action intended to promote or facilitate illegal drug use.

◦ Abortions. (See Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Pub. L. 117-328, div.

H, tit. V, 506-507 [PDF] for exceptions.)

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

Indirect costs Indirect costs are those shared across multiple projects and not easily separated.

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

Method 1 — Approved rate. If you currently have an indirect cost rate approved by your cognizant federal agency, you may use that rate.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 26 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72 https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ328/PLAW-117publ328.pdf https://www.congress.gov/117/plaws/publ328/PLAW-117publ328.pdf

Method 2 — De minimis rate. If you do not have a negotiated indirect cost rate, you may elect to charge a de minimis rate (see 2 CFR 200.414(f)). This rate may be up to 15% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). See the definition of MTDC (2 CFR 200.1). You can use this rate indefinitely.

You may not charge costs included in your indirect cost pool as direct costs.

Subawards As the prime recipient, you must maintain a substantive role in the project. This means that you conduct funded activities and provide services necessary and integral to completing the project.

Monitoring your subrecipient’s activities alone as described in 2 CFR 200.332 is not a substantive role.

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

If they do not have one, all subrecipients must have 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 the Office of Personnel Management information 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 with indirect costs). It does not include fringe benefits or 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.

Program income If you earn any money from your award-supported project activities (known as program income), you must use it for the purposes and under the conditions of the award. Find more about program income at 2 CFR 200.307.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 27 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200/section-200.414#p-200.414(f) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) 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/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Find the application package 29

Get registered 30

Learn more 30

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online.