National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CY-0160
- Agency
-
Administration for Children and Families
Department of Health and Human Services
- Applications due
- Award size
- $1,000,000 to $1,800,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
-
- 93.623 Basic Center Grant
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Income Security and Social Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- State Governments
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Independent School Districts
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Special District Governments
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- County Governments
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- City/Township Governments
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Tim D. Joyce timothy.joyce@acf.hhs.gov (202) 401-3438
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families is seeking applicants for one cooperative agreement to operate the National Communication System (NCS) for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, with an application deadline of August 19, 2026. This single-award opportunity requires a mandatory 10 percent cost-share of the total project cost.
Eligible applicants include state and local governments, public and private 501(c)(3) nonprofits, institutions of higher education, tribal governments, special district governments, public or Indian housing authorities, and faith-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status or equivalent. The award ceiling is $1.8 million total for the three-year project period, with a minimum of $1 million for the first budget period.
The NCS operates as a dedicated toll-free, 24-hour national communication system providing information, referral services, crisis intervention, and prevention services to vulnerable, at-risk, runaway, and homeless youth and their families or legal guardians. The recipient must operate a toll-free hotline and multiple digital communication platforms (text, chat, email), implement a crisis intervention model, maintain a comprehensive referral database covering all U.S. states and territories with at least 700 contact referrals within six months, develop an NCS web portal with prevention and community education resources, screen for human trafficking, and respond to at least 100,000 yearly contacts. The program prioritizes serving diverse populations including American Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. Performance requirements include semiannual progress and financial reports and a comprehensive final report due 90 days after the project period ends. The project start date is September 30, 2026. Applications are limited to 95 pages and must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. The Assistance Listing is 93.623.
Synopsis
The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth will award one cooperative agreement on a competitive basis for a period of three years to operate the National Communication System (NCS) for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program. The NCS is a dedicated toll-free, US national communication system that provides information, referral services, crisis intervention, prevention approaches, and other supportive services to vulnerable, at-risk, and runaway and homeless youth, and their families or legal guardians. The purpose of the NCS is to a) prevent youth from running away and becoming homeless, b) link youth with a family member or guardian, and/or an available resource that can provide and/or assist the youth in acquiring needed services, and c) increase prevention education to reduce runaway incidents and youth homelessness.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CY-0160 (2).pdf |
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