 
Fact Sheet: Family and Youth Services Bureau Domestic Violence/Runaway and Homeless Youth Collaboration on the Prevention of Adolescent Dating Violence
History and Purpose
Runaway and homeless youth are particularly vulnerable to dating violence. Many were raised in abusive households; others are the victims of neglect, abandonment, or severe family conflict.
Without adult supervision or positive relationship role models, these young people can fall victim to sexual predators or violent partners. Often, young people do not see themselves as victims of physical or sexual abuse, or they are slow to speak up about what has happened to them.
Since adolescent dating violence shares many of the same characteristics as adult relationship violence, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families /Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) sought to promote collaboration between grantees in two of its related programs: Family Violence Prevention and Services and Runaway and Homeless Youth.
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Program was originally authorized by sections 301-313 of Title III of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 and most recently by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-36). The program funds a range of discretionary projects each year to: (1) prevent family violence; (2) protect victims and their dependents; (3) improve the design, delivery, and coordination of services to address family violence; (4) gather information on the incidences of family violence; and (5) increase knowledge and understanding of issues through research, demonstration, and evaluation projects.
Authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act of 1974, as amended by the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-96), FYSB’s Runaway and Homeless Youth Program assists homeless youth by providing basic necessities, reuniting youth with their families when possible, and aiding the transition to adulthood for older homeless youth who cannot return home.
FYSB currently funds 16 projects throughout the country that are collaborating to address teen dating violence among runaway and homeless youth.
Services Provided
FYSB’s mission 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 goals of FYSB programs are to provide positive alternatives for youth, ensure their safety, and maximize their potential to take advantage of available opportunities.
To encourage healthy relationships among runaway, homeless, and all young people, DV/RHY grantees develop strategies to reduce adolescent dating violence through community awareness activities, education and prevention programs, and information gathering.
Activities can include:
- Helping social service agencies and community members share knowledge about dating violence
- Developing training materials and curricula
- Collecting data that advances knowledge in both the DV and RHY fields
- Developing protocols for effective strategies of prevention or intervention
FYSB’s Grant Award Process
FYSB solicits competitive applications for the DV/RHY collaboration through funding announcements on the Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.gov.
For More Information
For further information about FYSB’s DV/RHY collaboration, contact the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth, P.O. Box 13505, Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505; (301) 608-8098; fax: (301) 608-8721; e-mail: ncfy@acf.hhs.gov; Web site: ncfy.acf.hhs.gov.