Executive Summary:

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Legislative Authority

Grants for Runaway and Homeless Youth Basic Center programs are authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974), as amended by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. sections 5701 through 5752.  Text of this legislation can be located at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/aboutfysb/RHYComp.pdf.

Funding Opportunity Description

History

In the early 1970s, an alarming number of youth were leaving home without parental permission, crossing State lines, and falling victim while away from home being exposed to exploitation and other dangers of street life.  In response to the widespread concern about the problem of runaway and homeless youth, Congress authorized the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act of 1974 which provided financial support for States through a competitive grant program. The implementation and administration of the program was placed in the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  

Today, FYSB continues to administer the BCP funding the organizations and shelters that serve and protect runaway and homeless youth.  BCP funds are allotted annually to each State based on the States' relative population of youth less than 18 years of age.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, $17.1 million in funding was awarded in "new start" grants to 131 agencies for BCP services.  An additional $31 million in funding was available to support 205 BCP projects in their second and third years.   

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to establish proposed or strengthen existing community-based BCPs that provide temporary emergency shelter and care to RHY.  BCPs provide shelter and support services that assist youth in crisis, reunite youth with their families (as appropriate), strengthen family relationships, and help youth transition to safe and appropriate alternative living arrangements where they can become independent, self-sufficient, contributing members of society.   

Scope of Services

Funds granted under this award may be used to establish, to renovate (not to exceed 15 percent of the grant award) and/or to operate local BCPs that provide services for RHY and their families outside of law enforcement and the child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems.

Program Requirements

1.  Mandatory Services:

• To establish, operate or renovate a local center to provide temporary emergency shelter and counseling services to runaway, homeless, and street youth, not more than 18 years of age.
  
  
• To provide temporary, safe and appropriate shelter (up to 15 days) for RHY.
  
  
• To deliver individual, family and group counseling services (as appropriate) to youth that encourage, where possible, the involvement of parents or legal guardians.

2.  Optional Services: The applicant may choose to provide the following optional services: street-based services, home-based services for families with youth at risk of separation from the family, drug abuse education and prevention services, and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.  These optional services must meet the following requirements:

A.  Street-based services.  To provide these services, programs must demonstrate plans that will ensure:

• The qualified supervision of staff, including on-street supervision by appropriately trained staff;
  
  
• Backup personnel for on-street staff;
  
  
• Initial and ongoing training for staff who provide street-based services; and
  
  
• Outreach activities for RHY and street youth.

B.  Home-based services for families with youth at risk of separation from the family.  To provide these services, programs must demonstrate plans that will ensure:

• Crisis services that provide 24-hour service responses to family crises including immediate access to temporary shelter. These services may be provided directly or through a third-party; 
  
  
• Counseling services and information are provided to youth and families (including unrelated individuals who reside in the household); 
  
  
• Services and information relating to basic life skills, interpersonal skill building, educational advancement, job attainment skills, mental and physical health care, parenting skills, financial planning and referral to sources of other needed services;
  
  
• Objectives and strategies to measure the success of delivered services are developed in partnership with families of RHY and youth at risk of separation from the family;
  
  
• Caseloads will remain low enough to ensure intensive involvement with the RHY and their family (recommended as 5 to 20 hours a week), and that the staff providing caseload management will be supervised by qualified individuals; and
  
  
• Initial and periodic training of staff that provide home-based services.
   

C.  Drug abuse education and prevention services.  To provide these services, programs must supply the following:

• A description of the types of services that will be provided and their objectives; and
  
  
• A description of the types of information and training that will be provided to individuals who deliver these services to RHY.

The applicant's signed application will constitute its assurance that when providing drug abuse education and prevention services, the applicant shall conduct outreach activities for runaway and homeless youth.

D.  Testing for sexually transmitted diseases.  When requested by the youth.

3.  Positive Youth Development (PYD): FYSB has worked to promote a PYD framework for all its funded grant programs and activities. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to develop their project descriptions with the PYD framework in mind as discussed below.

The PYD approach is predicated on the understanding that all young people need support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change. With this support, they can develop self-assurance and create a healthy, successful life.  Key elements of PYD are:

• Healthy messages to adolescents about their bodies, their behaviors and their interactions;
  
  
• Safe and structured places for teens to study, recreate and socialize;
  
  
• Strengthened relationships with adult role models, such as parents, mentors, coaches or community leaders;
  
  
• Skill development in literacy, competence, work readiness and social skills; and
  
  
• Opportunities to serve others and build self-esteem.

If these factors are being addressed, young people can become not just "problem-free" but "fully prepared" and engaged constructively in their communities and society.  These key elements result in the following PYD outcomes:

• Increased opportunities and avenues for positive use of time;
  
  
• Increased opportunities for positive self-expression; and
  
  
• Increased opportunities for youth participation and civic engagement.

4.  Record Keeping:  Applicants must agree to keep adequate statistical records for profiling the youth and families served under this Federal grant. This information is required by program legislation and defined in the BCP contact report of the user-friendly Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information Systems (RHYMIS).  RHYMIS "entrance records" include anonymous, secure identifiers, demographic information about each youth, information about where they lived before coming to the youth center, who referred them, and what kind of issues they are aware of (e.g., employment, substance abuse, mental health).  "Exit records" describe services they received, education or employment status, living situation at exit, etc.  These requirements and data definitions are built into the RHYMIS software distributed to each grantee.  Hotline technical assistance is available during business hours.

Applicants must have the proper computer equipment to operate RHYMIS. Applicants may budget for computer equipment in their application as needed. For more information on the proper equipment, applicants may go to the RHYMIS fact sheet located on the FYSB website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/youthdivision/resources/rhymsfactsheet.htm or in Section VI.2 of this program announcement.

Please note that the RHYMIS software operates best with hardware in general use from 1999-present. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13) the data collection under RHYMIS is approved under Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 0970-0123, which expires September 30, 2010.

5.  Technical Assistance: Applicants must agree to receive and participate in technical assistance efforts as recommended by Federal staff. 

6.  Measuring Program Success:  FYSB is committed to fulfilling the objectives of its governing statute, the RHY Act, by providing temporary shelter and services for runaway, homeless, and street youth and ensuring the safe return of such youth to their homes or other appropriate alternative living arrangements according to the best interests of the youth.

Because any period of time living on the street is extremely dangerous, key parts of BCP services are in-home and prevention programs that engage at-risk youth and their families before the youth runs away.  BCPs are encouraged to establish prevention services of this nature.  In 2007, FYSB began upgrading RHYMIS, which every grantee must utilize, to measure the types and modes of prevention services delivery, as well as their effectiveness in keeping youth safely connected with their families and diverting them from running away or entering emergency shelter.

FYSB is committed to the following BCP goal, also tracked by RHYMIS:  to maintain at 90 percent or higher the proportion of youth living in safe and appropriate settings after exiting ACF-funded BCP services.

Additionally, the RHY Act requires that grantees in the RHY programs develop an adequate plan for providing counseling and aftercare services to such youth, for encouraging the involvement of their parents or legal guardians in counseling, and for ensuring, as possible, that aftercare services will be provided to those youth who are returned beyond the State in which the RHY center is located.  

To measure progress towards this goal, FYSB uses RHYMIS to track different exit situations from local BCP and other RHY programs, including family reunification, residential placements and programs such as Job Corps, entry into educational institutions or military service, and independent living situations, such as apartments or group homes.  Examples of practices to follow or services that agencies can provide that facilitate these outcomes include:

• A written transitional, aftercare or follow-up plan that the youth has helped develop and agrees to;
  
  
• Advice about and/or referral to appropriate mainstream assistance programs;
  
  
• Placement in appropriate, permanent, stable housing (not a shelter) or residency accommodations;
  
  
• Exit counseling, including, at minimum, a discussion between staff and the youth of exit options, resources, and destinations appropriate for his/her well-being and continued progress;
  
  
• Mentoring of youth during and/or after their term of services; and/or 
  
  
• Connection with appropriate mainstream programs that can provide health care, ongoing counseling, nutrition, job training/opportunities, or other resources for which the youth may be eligible.

Definitions

AFTERCARE SERVICES - The provision of services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families following the youth's return home or the youth's placement in alternative living arrangements, which assist in alleviating the problems that contributed to his or her running away or being homeless. (45 CFR 1351.1)

AREA - A specific neighborhood or section of the locality in which the runaway and homeless youth project is or will be located. (45 CFR 1351.1)

BUDGET PERIOD -   The intervals of time into which a multi-year period of assistance is divided for budgetary and funding purposes.  Budget periods are usually 12-months long but may be shorter or longer, if appropriate. (Grants Administration Manual - GAM)

COORDINATED NETWORKS OF AGENICES - An association of two or more private agencies, whose purpose is to develop or strengthen services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families. (45 CFR 1351.1)

COUNSELING SERVICES - The provision of guidance, support, and advice to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families that are designed to alleviate the problems that contributed to the youth's running away or being homeless, resolve intra-family problems, to reunite such youth with their families, whenever appropriate, and to help them decide upon a future course of action. (45 CFR 1351.1)

DEMONSTRABLY FREQUENTED BY OR REACHABLE - Located in an area in which runaway or otherwise homeless youth congregate, or an area accessible to such youth by public transportation, or by the provision of transportation by the runaway and homeless youth project itself. (45 CFR 1351.1)

DRUG ABUSE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION SERVICES - Services to runaway and homeless youth to prevent or reduce the illicit use of drugs by such youth; and may include individual, family, group, and peer counseling; drop-in services; assistance to runaway and homeless youth in rural areas (including the development of community support groups); information and training relating to the illicit use of drugs by runaway and homeless youth, to individuals involved in providing services to such youth; and activities to improve the availability of local drug abuse prevention services to runaway and homeless youth. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)

HOME-BASED SERVICES - Services provided to youth and their families for the purpose of preventing such youth from running away, or otherwise becoming separated, from their families; assisting runaway youth to return to their families; and includes services that are provided in the residences of families (to the extent practicable), including intensive individual and family counseling; and training relating to life skills and parenting. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)

HOMELESS YOUTH - An individual who is not more than 21 years of age, or in the case of a youth seeking shelter in a center under Part A of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, not more than 18 years of age, and for the purposes of Part B, not less than 16 years of age; for whom it is not possible to live in a safe environment with a relative; and who has no other safe alternative living arrangement. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)

JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM - Agencies such as, but not limited to, juvenile courts, law enforcement, probation, parole, correctional institutions, training schools, and detention facilities. (45 CFR 1351.1)

LAW ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURE - Any police activity or agency with legal responsibility for enforcing a criminal code including police departments and sheriffs' offices. (45 CFR 1351.1)

LOCALITY - A unit of general government--for example, a city, county, township, town, parish, village, or a combination of such units.  Federally recognized Indian Tribes are eligible to apply for grants as local units of government. (45 CFR 1351.1)

PROJECT PERIOD - The total time stated in the Notice of Grant Award (including any amendments) for which Federal support is recommended.  The period will consist of one or more budget periods.  It does not constitute a commitment by the Federal Government to fund the entire period. (GAM)

RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH PROJECT - A locally-controlled human service program facility outside the law enforcement structure and the juvenile justice system that provides temporary shelter, directly or through other facilities, counseling, and aftercare services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth. (45 CFR 1351.1)

RUNAWAY YOUTH - A person under 18 years of age who absents himself or herself from home, or place of legal residence, without the permission of his or her family. (45 CFR 1351.1)

SHORT-TERM TRAINING - The provision of local, State, or regionally-based instruction to runaway or otherwise homeless youth service providers in skill areas that will directly strengthen service delivery. (45 CFR 1351.1)

STATE - Any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any Territory or possession of the United States. (45 CFR 1351.1)

STREET-BASED SERVICES - Services provided to runaway and homeless youth, and street youth in areas where they congregate.  These services are designed to assist such youth in making healthy personal choices regarding: where they live and how they behave, and may include identification of and outreach to runaway and homeless youth, and street youth; crisis intervention and counseling; information and referral for housing; information and referral for transitional living and health care services; as well as advocacy, education, and prevention services related to alcohol and drug abuse; sexual exploitation; sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and physical and sexual assault.  (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)

STREET YOUTH - An individual who is a runaway youth or indefinitely or intermittently a homeless youth; and spends a significant amount of time on the street or in other areas that increase the risk to such youth of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, prostitution, or drug abuse. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE - The provision of expertise, consultation and/or support for the purpose of strengthening the capabilities of grantee organizations to deliver services.  (45 CFR 1351.1)

TEMPORARY SHELTER - The provision of short-term (maximum of 15 days) room and board and core crisis intervention services, on a 24-hour basis by a RHY Project. (45 CFR 1351.1)

YOUTH AT RISK OF SEPARATION FROM THE FAMILY - An individual who is less than 18 years of age; and who has a history of running away from the family of such individual whose parent, guardian, or custodian is not willing to provide for the basic needs of such individual; or who is at risk of entering the child welfare system or juvenile justice system as a result of the lack of services available to the family to meet such needs. (Section 387 RHY Act, as amended)

Description

II. AWARD INFORMATION

The funds available for new awards and continuations in each State and insular area are listed below in the Basic Center Program Fiscal Year 2008 Allocations By State.  Funding amounts available in each State are approximations at the time of publication.  Actual amounts available may change due to the availability of funds.  In this table, the amounts shown in the "New Award" column are the amounts available for competition under this announcement.  The dollar amount available for awards in each State depends on the amount of the State's total allotment (based on the State's relative population of individuals who are less than 18 years of age) minus the amount required for non-competing continuations.  Therefore, where the amount required for non-competing continuations in any State equals or exceeds the State's total allotment, it is possible that no new awards will be made in the State.  Agencies in States where zero ($0) funding is reflected are highly encouraged to apply for grant funding in the event that additional funding becomes available.

All applicants under this competitive grant area will compete with other eligible applicants in the State in which they propose to deliver services.

Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants:

• State governments
• County governments
• Local Governments
• City or township governments
• Regional Organizations
• Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education
• Indian/Native American Tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organizations
• Public/Indian Housing Authorities
• Non-profits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education)
• Non-profits without 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education)
• Others (See below)
• Special district governments

Public and non-profit private entities and coordinated networks of such entities are eligible applicants under this announcement.

Current BCP grantees with project periods ending on or before September 29, 2008, and all other eligible applicants not currently receiving BCP funds may apply for a new competitive BCP grant under this announcement.

Current BCP grantees (including sub-grantees) with one or two years remaining in their project period may not apply for a new BC grant for the community they currently serve.  These grantees will receive instructions from their respective RHY Specialist on the procedures for applying for non-competitive continuation grants. 

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the statutory eligibility requirements are eligible to apply under this announcement.

Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes

3. Other:

Disqualification Factors

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package:

2. Content and Form of Application Submission:

Each application package must include the original and two copies. Do not staple the application or any section of the application.

The length of the entire application package must not exceed 90 pages.  This includes the required Federal Standard Forms (SF)/certifications (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B and Certification Regarding Lobbying), table of contents, project summary, project description, budget/budget justification, supplemental documentation, proof of non-profit status, summaries of sub-grants and contracts, and letters of agreement.  All pages of the application package must be sequentially numbered beginning with page one.  The required Federal forms will be counted towards the total number of pages. All pages of each application will be counted to determine the total length.  All pages exceeding the 90-page limit will be removed and will not be considered in the reviewing process.  A cover letter is not required.  Applicants are reminded that if a cover letter is submitted, it will count towards the 90-page limit.

The project description must be typed and double-spaced on a single-side of 8 1/2 x 11 inch plain white paper with at least 1/2 inch margins on all sides, using black print with 12-point size Times New Roman font.   For charts, budget tables, supplemental letters, and support documents, applicants may use a different point size and font, but no less than 10-point size and single-spaced.  Applicants that deviate from this format risk having their application not reviewed in its entirety.  A final decision will be made by the Office of Grants Management on whether applications that deviate from the prescribed format will be reviewed in their entirety.

The application package should include the following and be in the following order: 

a. The Required Federal Forms/Certifications - See below for description

b. Table of Contents - This section should reference the order of the application sections and provide page numbers. 

c. One-Page Project Abstract -  This section should contain the following information:  agency name, city, State; proposed service area (state, county, city etc); amount of Federal funding requested for 12-month period; proposed model of program (for example host home shelter); target population (if applicable); point of contact, name, phone, and email; number of youth to shelter during the 36-month project; number of youth to receive non-shelter services during the 36-month project; two to three paragraph statement on what will be accomplished with the project. 

A suggested sample format is provided in Section VIII, Other Information. 

d. Project Description - This section is a comprehensive description of the proposed project, what it will accomplish and how it will be implemented.  The Project Description should address each of the categories in Section V.1, and be structured in a manner that addresses each of the evaluation criteria in a logical format in the following order: Objectives and Need for Assistance; Results and Benefits, Approach; Staff and Position Data; Organizational Profiles; and Budget and Budget Justification.  Applicants must title each section accordingly.

e. Budget and Budget Justification - The budget is a line-item format and must be in a worksheet, table, or spreadsheet that illustrates how calculations were derived.  The budget should reflect a 12-month budget period.  Each category heading within the line-item budget should correspond with the budget categories listed in Section B of the SF-424A (e.g. Personnel, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies, Contractual, Other, Indirect Charges).    

The budget justification is a narrative that provides a rationale for the items requested and how these items relate to the overall success of the project.

f. Proof of Non-Profit Status - See Section III.3 for acceptable documentation that must be submitted by date of award.

g. Third-Party Agreements - A summary of monetary sub-grant(s) and/or contract(s) must be provided as part of the application package.  The summary must include a description of the project services that will be completed through the sub-grant or contract using Federal funds or a non-Federal match, and the process by which the primary applicant will maintain a substantive role with the sub-grant and/or contract assuring compliance with the grant requirements and project performance.

h. Letters of Agreement - Letters of Agreement (LOA) are required if the applicant is proposing to provide services through a different agency or entity based on a non-monetary arrangement.  The LOA must enumerate the project services that will be completed under the agreement. 

i. Non-Federal Resources Commitment Letters - Letters from organizations, entities, or individuals agreeing to provide non-Federal resources (cash or in-kind) to the project.

D-U-N-S Requirement

Proof of Non-Profit Status

Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

3. Submission Dates and Times:

Due Date for Applications: 02/19/2008

Explanation of Due Dates

Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will be provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier services, or by hand delivery.   Applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement for applications that are submitted via http://www.Grants.gov.

Checklist

You may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.

4. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs:

State Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

5. Funding Restrictions:

No grant funds may be used for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug (42 U.S.C. 5752), see Section VI.3, Special Terms and Conditions of Awards.

Costs for acquisition and renovation of existing construction may not exceed 15 percent of the grant amount awarded.

6. Other Submission Requirements:

Submission by Mail

Hand Delivery

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13)

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and reviewing the collection information.

The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139, which expires 4/30/2010.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

1. Criteria:

Part I   THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW

PURPOSE

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS

Part II   GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE - 15 points

1. The extent, to which the application describes clear and appropriate program objectives that will fulfill the program purpose, as provided, required by and consistent with the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as described by Section I.
   
   
2. The extent to which the application describes a clear need for the proposed project through a discussion of the conditions of youth and families in the area to be served. 
   
   
3. The extent to which the application demonstrates that the services to be provided will be located in an area that is frequented by and/or easily accessible for the population to be served, through a description of the precise geographic location of program services.  Maps or other graphic aids may be included.
   
4. The extent to which the application provides documentation on the number of RHY in the area to be served.  If such data does not exist, the application should state this fact and provide a rationale to estimate the number of RHY in the area.
   

RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED - 15 points

1. The extent to which the applicant clearly specifies the number of at-risk youth to be served through residential and non-residential services (e.g., through outreach and education services, shelter and support services).  The application must provide the number of beds available for runaway and homeless youth.  Note: Under this grant, shelter capacity is restricted to a minimum of four RHY youth and a maximum capacity of 20 youth.  If the applicant is required by State or local law or regulations to meet a higher maximum of shelter beds to comply with licensure requirements for child and youth serving facilities, then the application must include such documentation.
   
   
2. The extent to which the application identifies quantitative outcomes and outputs for the proposed project that will fulfill the program purpose and scope of services as described in the authorizing RHY legislation and Section 1.  Note: Outcomes are the expected changes that will reasonably occur amongst youth, families and communities based on the program activities.  An example of a project outcome is included in Section I, Measuring Program Success. 
   
   
3. The extent to which the application demonstrates a sound relationship between program activities and quantitative outcomes. 
   
   
4. The extent to which the application provides an internal process, including the frequency, for tracking program performance using internal data to make periodic program adjustments that will improve performance.
   

APPROACH - 30 points

1. The extent to which the application identifies the services that will be provided, required by and consistent with, the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as described by Section I.  
   
   
2. The extent to which the application describes how the proposed project will operate programmatically to provide the services mandated by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as described in Section I.
   
   
3. If the application proposes to sub-grant or contract a significant portion of the proposed project, the extent to which the application demonstrates that the applicant will hold a substantive role in the administration and/or delivery of services of the proposed project.
   
   
4. The extent to which the application describes an outreach plan that will attract RHY eligible for services.
   
   
5. The extent to which the application describes an outreach plan that will attract members of ethnic, cultural, and racial minorities and/or persons with limited ability to speak English. 
   
   
6. The extent to which the application describes its coordination or service linkages with local agencies to ensure a continuum of care or referrals for RHY to receive services outside the scope of the proposed project, but that are important to meet the needs of the population. 
   
   
7. The extent to which the application describes plans for ensuring coordination with schools to which RHY will return, and for assisting the youth to stay current with the curricula of these schools, including specific information on how the applicant will work with the McKinney-Vento School District Liaison (as designated by the State Coordinator) to assure that RHY are provided information about the educational services available to such youth under 42 U.S.C. 11431 through 11435.  A list of McKinney-Vento State Coordinators can be found at www.serve.org/nche/downloads/sccontact.pdf.
   
   
8. The extent to which the application describes an effective plan for dealing with youth who have run away from foster care placements and correctional institutions and demonstrates that procedures are in accordance with Federal, State and local laws.
   
   
9. The extent to which the application demonstrates a plan to contact parents/guardians or other relatives of RHY seeking services, and to ensure (where appropriate) the safe return of the youth to family, and meets RHY regulation. 
   
   
10. The extent to which the application demonstrates an adequate plan to ensure aftercare services to all eligible RHY.  In addition, the plan must ensure aftercare services are provided to youth who reside in States other than where the BCP is located. 
    
    
11. The extent to which the application describes an effective plan to maintain confidentiality of records. 
    
    
12. If the applicant proposes to provide optional services, such as  home-based services, drug abuse education and prevention services, and/or street-based services, the extent to which the application demonstrates how the proposed project will operate programmatically to provide the services required by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as described in Section I.
    

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILES - 20 points

1. The extent to which the application demonstrates the organizational capacity necessary to oversee Federal grants through a description of the organization's fiscal controls and an explanation of the organization's governing oversight.
    
2. If the application proposes to sub-grant and/or contract to another organization that will provide direct services to youth and their families through this grant, then the extent to which the application demonstrates how the sub grant and/or contract will be monitored for grant compliance and project performance.
   
   
3. The extent to which the application describes their State and local licensing requirements to operate residential facilities for the proposed design and model of shelter and/or host homes and demonstrates their compliance with such requirements.  If the agency is using funds to start a program, the extent to which it demonstrates knowledge of its State and local licensing requirements and a plan to secure such licensing. If the agency is exempt from State and local licensing, an explanation on why the agency is exempt is needed.
   
   
4. The extent to which the application describes the organization's past experience in working with runaway, homeless, and street youth populations and demonstrates a sound relationship between organizational experience and the ability to provide program services as required by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as described in Section I.  Experience does not have to pertain only to past FYSB-funded program experience. Note: Past experience means that a major activity of the agency has been the provision of temporary shelter, counseling, and referral services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families, either directly or through linkages established with other community agencies.  The application must specify the length and time the organization has provided these services.
   
   
5. If the agency is a current recipient of funds from ACF for non-BCP services that support RHY, then the application will be evaluated on the extent to which it shows how the services supported by these funds are, or will be, integrated with the existing services. 
   

STAFF AND POSITION DATA - 15 points

1. The extent to which the application includes an organizational chart that demonstrates the relationship between all positions (including consultants, sub-grants and/or contractors) to be funded through this grant.  The application must provide the name of the person employed in each position or note that the position is vacant.  The application must identify the person/position who would serve as the Point of Contact (POC) for this grant.    POC information must include the telephone number and email address.  If the telephone number or email address is not available, the applicant must state this and describe a plan for providing a telephone number and email address to the Federal Project Officer should the application be approved for funding.
   
   
2. The extent to which the application provides a staffing plan that demonstrates a sound relationship between the proposed responsibilities of program staff and the educational and professional experience required for staff positions through a discussion of position descriptions and resumes or biographical sketches of key staff, including consultants, which correspond to the organizational chart.  Note:  Key Staff is defined as those staff members responsible for direct oversight, management, or implementation of the proposed project and/or direct services to youth being served.
   
   
3. The extent to which the application states the expected or estimated ratio of staff to youth in the shelter facility and demonstrates that this ratio is sufficient to ensure adequate supervision and treatment of youth accessing services.  The application must demonstrate that this ratio is in compliance with State and local licensing requirements.
   
   
4. The extent to which the application addresses the agency's policy for conducting criminal history and child abuse registry checks on staff who come into contact with children and youth served or proposed to be served by the agency and that the policy is in compliance with State and local law. 
   
   
5. The extent to which the application describes a plan for training project staff in appropriate topics to safely and effectively serve RHY and to deal appropriately with the issues they will encounter while serving these youth.
   

BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - 5 points

1. The extent to which a detailed line item budget for the Federal and Non-Federal share of project costs is included and demonstrates how cost estimates were derived.
    
2. The extent to which the application demonstrates how the funds requested are necessary and essential to accomplish the scope of services as required by the authorizing RHY legislation and FYSB program requirements as described in Section I.

2. Review and Selection Process:

Applications submitted under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review screening to determine that (1) the application was received by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions in this announcement, and (2) the applicant is eligible for funding based on the eligibility requirements in Sections II and III. 

Applications that pass the initial ACF screening will be evaluated and rated by an independent review panel made up of non-Federal reviewers who are experts in the field.  The review panel will use the evaluation criteria listed in Section V.I to review and score the applications.  The panels will assign a score (maximum 100) to each application and identify the application's strengths and weaknesses.  

The results of these reviews will assist the FYSB Associate Commissioner and program staff in considering competing applications.  Reviewers' scores will weigh heavily in funding decisions, but will not be the only factors considered.  Applications generally will be considered in order of the average scores assigned by reviewers.  However, highly ranked applications are not guaranteed funding because other factors are taken into consideration.  These include, but are not limited to: comments of reviewers and government officials, staff evaluation and input, geographic distribution, previous program performance of applicants, compliance with grant terms under previous HHS grants, audit reports, investigative reports, and an applicant's progress in resolving any final audit disallowance on previous FYSB or other Federal agency grants. 

The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of a proposed project, and to determine the likelihood of its success.  The evaluation criteria are closely related and are considered as a whole in judging the overall quality of an application.  Points are awarded only to an application that is responsive to the evaluation criteria within the context of this program announcement.

FYSB has the authority to pass over ranking order based on geographic area (location) and capacity needs.

As required by the RHY Act, in making grant award decisions, priority for funding shall be given to private entities with past experience in providing services to runaway, homeless and street youth and private entities that request grant funding less than $200,000.   Past experience means that a major activity of the agency has been the provision of temporary shelter, counseling, and referral services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families, either directly or through linkages established with other community agencies.

Please reference Section IV.2 for information on non-Federal reviewers in the review process.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates:

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Award Notices:

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

Grantees are subject to requirement in 45 CFR Part 1351, Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Administration Requirements.

Sterile Needles

Applicants are advised that no grant funds may be used for any program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for the hypodermic injection of any illegal drug.  Prospective grantees are advised that entities that receive BCP grant funds and that operate a program of distributing sterile needles or syringes for hypodermic injections of illegal drugs, must account for all funds used for such programs separately from any expenditure of BCP grant funds. (42 U.S.C. 5752.)  See Section IV.5, Funding Restrictions. 

Confidentiality

Section 312 of the RHY Act requires grantees to keep adequate statistical records profiling the youth and family members whom it serves (including youth who are not referred to out-of-home shelter services), except that records maintained on individual runaway and homeless youth shall not be disclosed without the consent of the individual youth and parent or legal guardian to anyone other than another agency compiling statistical records or a government agency involved in the disposition of criminal charges against an individual runaway and homeless youth, and reports or other documents based on such statistical records shall not disclose the identity of individual runaway and homeless youth.  Moreover, section 384 of the RHY Act requires that records containing the identity of individual youth pursuant to this Act under no circumstances be disclosed or transferred to any individual or to any public or private agency. 

Separate Accounting

Section 389 of the RHY act requires any individual or entity who receives any funds awarded under the RHY Act and who carries out any program described in subsection (a) of the Act to account for all funds used for such program separately from any funds contained in this title.

Continuation of Project

An initial grant award will be for a 12-month budget period.  The award of continuation grants beyond the initial 12-month budget period will be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress on the part of the grantee, and a determination that the continued funding would be in the best interest of the Federal Government.

3. Reporting Requirements:

Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System (RHYMIS)

Grantees must agree to keep adequate statistical records profiling the youth and families served under the Federal grant and to gather and submit program and client data required by FYSB. This information is required by the RHY program legislation and defined in user-friendly RHYMIS.  Recipients of a grant administered through FYSB are required and expected to submit the data via RHYMIS or in an approved format that RHYMIS can receive.  Grantees have the option of using RHYMIS for internal management improvement or for research and other program needs.  A RHYMIS hotline/help desk is available at 888-749-6474, and/or at rhymis_help@csc.com.

FYSB will fund computer software for RHY program data collection through RHYMIS.  An applicant lacking the computer equipment (hardware) for RHYMIS data collection must include an estimated cost for such equipment in their proposed budget.  If the applicant already has such equipment, this fact must be noted. (Note:  Existing grantees generally report that their staff has been able to easily train themselves to operate RHYMIS due to its user-friendliness, prompts, help features, and FYSB's technical support service.)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13) the data collection under RHYMIS is approved under OMB control number 0970-0123, which expires September 30, 2010.

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

Program Office Contact:

Kelli Matson-Geist
Family and Youth Services Bureau
ACYF Operations Center
c/o The Dixon Group, Inc.
118 Q Street, NE.
Washington, DC 20002-2132
Phone:  866-796-1591
Email: FYSB@dixongroup.com
TTY or TTD: ACYF Operations Center
Phone: 711

Grants Management Office Contact:

Lisa Dammar
ACYF Grants Officer
Office of Grants Management
Administration for Children and Families
c/o The Dixon Group, Inc.
118 Q Street, NE.
Washington, DC 20002-2132
Phone:  866-796-1591
Email: FYSB@dixongroup.com

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

The following resources are available to all applicants:

• The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) website:  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/.
  
  
• The National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY),  (301) 608-8098;  http://www.ncfy.com.
  
  
• The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center (RHYTTAC)  (800) 806-2711; http://www.nrcys.ou.edu/rhyttac/; rhytechnicalassistance@ou.edu

One-Page Project Abstract (suggested sample format):  This format is only suggested to assist the writers in developing their abstract.  Applicants must address every issue in the abstract, but may choose a different format to relay the information. 

Agency Name, City, State

Proposed Service Area (State, county, city, etc.)                                    

Amount of Federal Funding requested for 12-month period

Proposed model of program (for example host home shelter)

Target Population (if applicable)

Point of Contact, name, phone, and email

Number of youth to shelter during the 36-month project

Number of youth to receive non-shelter services during the 36-month project

Two to three paragraph statement on what will be accomplished with the project.