Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due Friday, August 14, 2026

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

Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center Opportunity number: HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CY-0159

Contents

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 7

Agency priorities 9

Program description 11

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 26

Find the application package 27

Get registered 28

Learn more 28

Step 3: Build Your Application 29

Application checklist 30

Application contents and format 32

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 43

Application review 44

Award notices 51

Step 5: Submit Your Application 52

Application submission and deadlines 53

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 55

Post-award requirements and administration 56

Contacts and Support 59

Before you begin 3

Endnotes 63

Modifications 64

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 Friday, August 14, 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

Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program

Empowering organizations with high-quality, evidence-based training and support to serve runaway and homeless youth.

Have questions?

See Contacts and Support.

Key facts

Opportunity name:

Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center

Opportunity number:

HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-

CY-0159

Federal assistance listing:

93.623

NOFO version: Original

Key dates

Application submission deadline: August 14, 2026

Expected project start date: September 30, 2026

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

Summary The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC) provides training and technical assistance (T/TA) to organizations that serve runaway and homeless youth (RHY). It helps them successfully implement projects that are supported by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) awards.

This NOFO will fund an organization to carry out RHYTTAC activities, including:

• Developing relevant and interactive training products that can be adapted for use in-person or online.

• Disseminating best practices that are evidenced-based and evidence-informed on issues impacting youth who have run away from home, are experiencing homelessness, or are at risk of becoming homeless.

• Providing targeted technical assistance to RHY recipients and organizations that serve youth to address current and potential needs.

• Leading activities to coordinate RHY recipients and other RHY-funded partner organizations.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Funding details Type: Cooperative agreement

Expected total program funding: $2,500,000

Total expected awards: 1

Minimum award amount for the first budget period (award floor): $1,800,000

Maximum award amount for the first budget period (award ceiling): $2,500,000

We plan to fund a three-year project period. The 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 Statewide and regional nonprofit organizations, and a combination of such entities are also eligible.

Other eligibility criteria Individuals, 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.

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), a federal entity, 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 at least 10% of the project’s total cost per section 383 of the RHY Act (34 U.S.C. 11274).

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 This program is authorized under the RHY Act (34 U.S.C. 11242).

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:34%20section:11274%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title34-section11274)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=34+U.S.C.+%EF%BF%BD+11242&f=treesort&fq=true&num=0&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title34-section11242

Agency priorities 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, & 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.

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

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 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.

Ensuring Value Alignment in Funding This NOFO reflects ACF’s priority of Ensuring Value Alignment in Funding by investing in T/TA that enhances the quality, effectiveness, and responsiveness of services for youth and young adults impacted by homelessness. This funding opportunity supports ACF’s commitment to ensuring federal resources are directed toward strategies that strengthen service delivery, build recipient capacity, and improve outcomes for those most in need.

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10

Program description Background The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) gives funding to over 500 public and nonprofit organizations. These organizations run programs that help youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness learn skills so they can live safely and independently. Programs include:

• The Street Outreach Program (SOP) serves youth and young adults, under age 22, who are living on the street, have run away, or are experiencing homelessness. It also helps those who have experienced, or are at risk of, sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking. Youth receive basic items such as food, hygiene supplies, and information about RHY shelters and services.

• The Basic Center Program (BCP) provides short-term shelter for youth under age

18. This includes youth who have run away, been forced to leave home, left without permission, or are living on the street or without stable housing. Youth can stay in an emergency shelter for up to 21 days. BCPs also offer outreach, counseling, family support, and case management.

• The Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides long-term shelter and supportive services for youth ages 16 to 21 who are experiencing homelessness. Youth can receive services for up to 18 months, or up to 21 months in special situations. In addition to outreach and shelter services, TLP helps youth build life skills, manage money, improve social skills, engage with education, obtain employment, and access physical and mental health care. The goal is to help youth obtain safe and stable housing.

• Maternity Group Homes are a type of TLP for youth who are pregnant or parenting. These homes provide long-term shelter and all TLP services, along with parenting education, childcare support, child development lessons, and health and nutrition services.

• The Prevention Demonstration Program (PDP) supports community programs that work to prevent youth and young adults from becoming homeless. PDP builds partnerships across areas such as education, health care, mental health, child welfare, family support, substance abuse prevention, domestic violence services, law enforcement, and legal services. The goal is to create a strong support system that makes prevention services easier to access and more effective for youth and young adults most at risk of homelessness.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

The Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act also funds other activities through contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. These activities include:

• Research and evaluation to better understand what works for youth.

• A national reporting system (RHY – Homeless Management Information System [HMIS]) that collects data on youth experiencing homelessness who receive RHY services.

• A national communications system (NCS) that helps youth who have run away or are experiencing homelessness stay in contact with their families and service providers.

• Training and technical assistance (T/TA) for FYSB-funded programs through T/TA centers.

Project overview The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC) provides training and support to RHY award recipients, subrecipients, federal staff, and organizations that serve youth. RHYTTAC helps programs better support youth and improve outcomes in four main areas:

• Well-being – Helping youth access trauma-informed care, mental health services, and safety supports.

• Education and employment – Supporting youth in staying in school, building job skills, and finding employment.

• Permanent connections – Helping youth build strong relationships with family members, caring adults, and community supports.

• Safe and stable housing – Helping youth find and keep safe, stable housing after they leave RHY programs.

RHYTTAC helps organizations create programs that meet community needs, increase staff knowledge, improve policies, strengthen leadership, and follow RHY program requirements through the provision of T/TA. RHYTTAC provides high-quality, research-based resources and works closely with FYSB, RHY recipients, and the RHY Program Network (RHYPN), which includes the NCS and RHY-HMIS.

Goals and objectives The primary goal of RHYTTAC is to help public and private organizations better serve runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth by providing training, technical assistance, and capacity building support for RHY-funded programs. You’ll be responsible for supporting this goal and the objectives of RHYTTAC.

Objectives include:

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

• Provide focused training and support to RHY recipients and organizations that serve youth to help prevent and respond to youth homelessness.

• Help RHY recipients understand and follow program laws, rules, and policies by building their skills and capacity.

• Create interactive training tools that can be used in person or online, based on the needs of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and the organizations that serve them.

• Share proven and promising approaches that address the needs of runaway and homeless youth.

• Build stronger partnerships among RHY programs, youth organizations, housing providers, social service agencies, and government partners to improve outcomes for youth.

• Plan and deliver T/TA activities for RHY recipients.

• Support collaboration among RHY-funded partners, including the RHYPN.

Project requirements You’ll be the national T/TA provider for the RHY program and responsible for carrying out RHYTTAC deliverables and activities in the following areas:

• Project oversight and management.

• Development of T/TA products

• Delivery of targeted T/TA, capacity-building coaching, and engagement.

• Coordination of national and regional T/TA events.

• Partnership with service providers and other partners.

• Incorporation of data and stakeholder feedback in ongoing and future T/TA development.

Project oversight and management You’ll provide T/TA for RHY program recipients. T/TA helps ensure programs have the tools, knowledge, and best practices needed to support youth experiencing homelessness. You’ll need strong project management to ensure you can respond to new challenges, follow federal priorities, and continue improving support for RHY recipients.

At a minimum, you will:

• Create a management team that includes a full-time Project Director who leads the RHYTTAC project.

• Manage the budget, project activities, training, coaching, and communication with federal staff.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

• Meet regularly with the RHYTTAC federal project officer (FPO) and RHY leadership to share updates and get input.

• Assign staff or coaches to serve as main contacts for RHY recipients and federal staff in the ACF regions.

• Establish and maintain subject matter experts (SMEs) to provide targeted T/TA to support needs of RHY recipients.

• Set up a clear process to receive, review, track, and respond to all T/TA requests.

Development of T/TA products You’ll provide training, technical assistance, and capacity building support using different formats. Formats may include in-person visits, events, online courses, webinars, written materials, and group meetings held in person or online.

Training topics will be based on administration’s priorities, your needs, survey results, monitoring findings, current issues, and T/TA requests. Topics may include program rules, case management, education and job opportunities, homelessness prevention, anti-trafficking, support for parenting youth, legal services, substance use prevention, rural programs, domestic violence, and housing coordination.

At a minimum, you’ll:

• Maintain a free, easy-to-use website, learning system, and social media to share RHY training materials and resources.

• Develop and submit a plan for creating high-quality T/TA products.

• Create research-based training materials in different formats, such as webinars, trainings, fact sheets, toolkits, and briefing papers.

• Host at least four webinars or training each quarter to help recipients meet RHY Program and administrative requirements.

• Create at least four information sheets or infographics each year and update them, as needed.

• Create at least two short tipsheets each year that provide helpful guidance on RHY topics.

• Develop at least three interactive toolkits that are tested with RHY recipients, youth with lived experience, and federal staff.

• Develop at least three short briefing papers that include research and practical recommendations.

• Create a monthly/quarterly calendar of T/TA products, events, and resources to be developed and disseminated.

• Submit all final products to FYSB for review and approval.

• Share plans for how products will be tested and shared.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14

• Keep an organized, up-to-date catalog of all T/TA products.

• Provide a quarterly calendar of planned T/TA products.

• Ensure materials are accessible and available in multiple languages.

• Create a process for selecting qualified SMEs.

• Maintain a list of active SMEs by topical area who can help with training, policy guidance, research, and recipient support.

Delivery of targeted T/TA, capacity-building coaching, and engagement You’ll provide ongoing training, coaching, and support to help RHY recipients succeed.

This support helps programs improve services, respond to challenges, and better meet the needs of youth experiencing homelessness.

You must support RHY recipients in building family-centered, prevention-focused services that strengthen families, reduce youth homelessness, and prevent unnecessary child welfare (sometimes described as system) involvement.

At a minimum, you’ll:

• Maintain enough staff to provide one-on-one support to recipients.

• Meet with FPOs regularly to discuss trends and training needs.

• Work with SMEs to coach recipients on program and organizational challenges.

• Provide summaries or notes after T/TA activities that outline next steps and timelines.

• Stay in regular contact with recipients through calls, meetings, and regional check-ins.

• Share updates through newsletters or emails about training opportunities and resources.

• Maintain a platform for collaboration and peer-to-peer learning.

• Support recipients with onsite monitoring by helping them prepare, review reports, and assist with action plans, when needed.

• Track how recipients use online tools, training, and resources.

• Provide support before, during, or after disasters to help protect youth and staff.

• Develop and deliver T/TA that assist RHY recipients in effectively:

◦ Providing trauma-informed individual and family counseling and case management to intervene before a youth runs away.

◦ Selecting, using, and reporting on screening and assessment tools that identify youth and families with complex or high-level needs such as high risk

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 for human trafficking, sexual abuse/exploitation, homelessness, or legal problems.

◦ Implementing evidence-based, parenting curriculum and related family support services.

• Provide T/TA to support implementation and measurement of the RHY four core outcome areas.

Coordination of national and regional events You will plan and manage all RHY recipient training events, including New Recipient Orientation, National Grantee Training, and regional or program-specific trainings.

These events help recipients meet program goals and learn from one another.

At a minimum, you will:

• Create a marketing plan to promote events through email, websites, and social media.

• Identify locations and secure venue contracts for all in-person trainings.

• Manage event registration and communication with attendees.

• Ensure key staff participate in all training events.

• Develop training content, presentations, and identifying SMEs.

• Hold regular meetings with FYSB to share event updates.

• Support post-event follow-up activities.

• Manage event logistics for both virtual and in-person training.

• Provide materials and support for new RHY recipients each year.

• Help plan national training event themes, schedules, and workshops.

• Support presenters, speakers, and event operations.

• Provide onsite or virtual support during events.

Incorporation of data and feedback You’ll collect approved data to help improve training and services. All data collection must follow federal rules, receive Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Clearance as required and is subject to federal oversight from ACF.

At a minimum, you’ll:

• Conduct an annual, national needs assessment survey to identify RHY recipients’ training needs.

• Regularly review data and use findings to improve program performance.

• Collect feedback after events and prepare reports on training quality and outcomes.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16

• Prepare post-event reports on planning, registration, and delivery.

• Gather feedback from recipients, federal staff, partners, and youth.

• Create quarterly reports that summarize trends, challenges, and promising practices.

• Implement a project performance evaluation plan that measures progress, assess results, and use information to improve the project over time.

Partnership with service providers, national partners, youth who have experienced homelessness You will work with service providers, youth who have experienced homelessness, national partners, and RHY networks to improve training and services. These partnerships help share ideas, strengthen systems, and improve outcomes for youth.

At a minimum, you’ll:

• Lead partners in creating a plan to share training resources.

• Work with other programs and agencies to share best practices and address challenges.

• Partner on joint training and awareness efforts related to RHY issues.

• Engage youth and young adults, who have experienced homelessness, to help design and review T/TA products.

• Support RHY recipients in creating youth advisory boards.

• Develop youth-centered activities to raise awareness and increase engagement.

In addition, as the T/TA provider for the RHY Division, you must integrate and promote positive youth development (PYD) and approaches that recognize trauma into all products and resources you develop.

Positive youth development and the impact of trauma FYSB’s RHY program uses a positive youth development (PYD) framework to foster self-determination, resilience, life skills, and strengths. PYD emphasizes achieving developmentally appropriate milestones, positive interactions with family, school and neighborhood, and healthy messaging, safe spaces, role models, skill development, and service opportunities. This intentional, prosocial approach engages youth in communities, schools, and families, promoting leadership through targeted projects and activities. Learn more on the FYSB website.

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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://acf.gov/fysb/

Work plan As a recipient, you must submit a work plan that includes, at a minimum:

• A description of all transition activities in the transition-in plan.

• Job descriptions for all project staff and a training plan for staff.

• A list of required project activities, including timelines, responsible staff, and plans for carrying out, sharing, and updating the work.

• A plan for organizing and delivering annual national, regional, and program-specific training events. This must include planning committees, SMEs or presenters, logistics, registration, draft agendas, staff roles, materials, and post-event evaluations.

• A plan to regularly gather feedback from FPOs and RHY recipients to identify T/TA needs.

• A plan for regular meetings with the RHYTTAC FPO and RHY leadership to discuss priorities, trends, and grantee support needs.

• A plan for collecting and analyzing data, including how findings may be used to update the work plan, when needed.

• Quarterly reports to FYSB that summarize all T/TA requests, their status, and outcomes.

• All required fiscal and program reports, submitted on time.

Human trafficking of children and youth Youth experiencing homelessness, unstable housing, or involvement with child welfare systems are at increased risk of human trafficking and exploitation. In alignment with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (TVPRA), the RHY Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center will support RHY providers in strengthening their capacity to prevent, identify, and respond to trafficking among youth served through RHY programs, including through training, resources, and trauma-informed, survivor-centered practices.

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 the TVPRA as amended and codified at 22 U.S.C. 7102(11), 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.

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Step 1: Review the Opportunity 18 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:22%20section:7102%20edition:prelim)

• 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, as the T/TA provider for the RHY Division, must address human trafficking in the T/TA products. This includes requiring RHY providers to adapt from and utilize standardized screening tool(s) that are validated and evidence-and trauma-informed to identify trafficking concerns and evaluate client needs throughout the service relationship. The recipient must include one or multiple tools as resources, 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 (1) during the youth’s initial intake into the program, (2) any time a youth returns from a missing episode, and (3) 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 incorporating 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.

Services for victims of trafficking As disclosures may happen during screening and/or at any point during time of service, 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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 19 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 and/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 T/TA products. 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 T/TA products and resources. Resource 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

The recipient, as the T/TA provider for the RHY Division, must support RHY recipients in providing universal education on human trafficking to all clients. 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 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.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 20 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 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

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, 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.).

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, healthcare, and mental health settings

Human Trafficking Screening Tool

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

Healthcare setting

Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking

X Ages 12–18, sex trafficking only

Healthcare setting

Sensitive or confidential information Records containing the identity of individual youths under this award may under no circumstances be disclosed or transferred to any individual or to any public or private agency.

Key personnel Key personnel are individuals identified by the applicant whose knowledge, expertise, and leadership are critical to the successful implementation and management of the RHYTTAC cooperative agreement.

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 21 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westcoastcc.org%2Fcse-it%2F&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Caa59ec2acf2b479f6c4f08de9fe87976%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639124018027419605%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=RBOEKi5lIvdnn8kg%2F2syuUA2OYsf5HM7JxQCOuRv%2Foc%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westcoastcc.org%2Fcse-it%2F&data=05%7C02%7CResa.Matthew%40acf.hhs.gov%7Caa59ec2acf2b479f6c4f08de9fe87976%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C639124018027444960%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Yttm59%2FRPwmjeJmsh5bK2NmVvXdGbPsyq0Dk6LG92Cg%3D&reserved=0 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These individuals are expected to play significant roles in program oversight, strategic direction, T/TA delivery, partnership coordination, and overall project performance.

Changes to key personnel may require prior approval from ACF.

Cooperative agreement — Description of ACF’s involvement A cooperative agreement is used when we anticipate substantial involvement between ACF and the recipient during the project period. It extends beyond normal oversight and stewardship responsibilities and functions.

For this cooperative agreement, an FYSB FPO will collaborate with your organization to:

• Provide approval for enhancements and changes to the work plan and budget during the project period.

• Be actively involved in developing the long-term strategies for implementing the project.

• Participate in meetings and conferences hosted by you related to RHYTTAC.

• Participate in focus groups or listening sessions about RHYTTAC T/TA development, capacity building, partner participation, and youth input/feedback, as appropriate.

• Communicate changes to expectations for performance, or changes in FYSB policies, and provide appropriate technical assistance to implement the changes.

• Support efforts to evaluate RHYTTAC services.

• Consult on current and proposed new data collection elements.

In addition, FYSB will review and approve:

• Resumes for key project staff.

• List of names, expertise, and locations (city, county, state) of individuals, organizations, and agencies who may serve as subject matter experts (SMEs) in support of RHY program objectives.

• Content on the RHYTTAC website and e-Learning platforms.

• Plans for using volunteers in the RHYTTAC work (if applicable). The plan should include recruitment processes and volunteer protocols (including expected time to be donated to the RHYTTAC).

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 22

Transition-in plan You must develop, maintain, and carry out a transition-in plan. The plan must explain how you’ll ensure continuous services as you transition into managing RHYTTAC responsibilities and activities. Your activities must reflect the final, approved plan.

At a minimum, the transition-in plan must include a:

• List of planned transition activities.

• Description of current training, T/TA, and capacity building support activities for recipients.

• Timeline with key transition milestones.

• Description of staff, funding, and other resources needed for the transition.

• Description of security considerations during the transition.

• List of potential risks and plans to reduce or prevent them.

• Plan for notifying and training users during the transition.

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:

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

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 23 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

◦ 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.

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.

• Pre-award costs.

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

• Distribution of sterile needles or syringes. NOTE: Include a statement attesting that your grant funded programs are not supporting or facilitating any harm reduction activities.

• 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.

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 —…