Family and Youth Services Bureau
Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Monitoring System
Overview
The mission of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is to provide national leadership on youth and family issues. The Bureau promotes positive outcomes for children, youth, and families by supporting a wide range of comprehensive services and collaborations at the local, Tribal, State, and national levels.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Monitoring System enables the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) to monitor services provided to young people through its Basic Center Program, Transitional Living Program for Older Homeless Youth (TLP), and Street Outreach Program.
The Monitoring System has three components:
- A monitoring instrument that defines a set of performance requirements for FYSB-funded runaway and homeless youth service agencies
- A procedures manual used to plan, conduct, and follow up on Monitoring System activities
- A pool of peer monitors and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Office staff trained in using the Monitoring System
Through the system, FYSB identifies effective program practices and areas to be improved through technical assistance.
History and Purpose
FYSB assesses its grantee projects at least every 3 years, including visiting each grantee on site (as required by Part F, Section 386, of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended by the Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Protection Act [Public Law 108–96]).
FYSB developed its current system of monitoring grantees in the early 1990s. The Monitoring System is administered by the Regional Offices with the support of a logistical contractor. Monitoring visits typically involve an entrance conference, several days of interviews, inspection of the facilities, reviews of case files and other agency documents, and an exit conference. Grantees usually conduct a self-assessment before the visit to allow reviewers to obtain factual information, leaving time during the site review for interaction and interviews.
Monitoring teams are, in most cases, made up of a Federal reviewer, from the Regional Office staff, and a peer monitor. Federal reviewers address financial and compliance issues, while peer monitors address program issues, provide technical assistance, and share best practices. The monitoring team then prepares a written report that identifies strengths and areas that require corrective action within a specified timeframe. Grantees have the opportunity to review and respond to draft monitoring reports. When grantees are found to be out of compliance, they are offered training and technical assistance to improve their performance.
FYSB assesses and revises the Monitoring System as necessary to enhance the quality of information collected about grantee performance.
For More Information
Further information on FYSB’s Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Monitoring System is available from:
Paulette Wiggins
McFarland & Associates, Inc.
8601 Georgia Avenue
Suite 601
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-0780
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