45 C.F.R. Subpart B—Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grant
Title 45 - Public Welfare
The purpose of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant is to establish or strengthen existing or proposed community-based runaway and homeless youth projects to provide temporary shelter and care to runaway or otherwise homeless youth who are in need of temporary shelter, counseling and aftercare services. The Department is concerned about the increasing numbers of youth who leave, and stay away from, their homes without permission of their families. There is also national concern about runaway and homeless youth who have no resources, who live on the street, and who represent law enforcement problems in the communities to which they run. The problems of runaway or otherwise homeless youth should not be the responsibility of already overburdened police departments and juvenile justice authorities. Rather, Congress intends that the responsibility for locating, assisting, and returning such youth should be placed with low-cost, community-based human service programs. States localities, private entities, and coordinated networks of such entities are eligible to apply for a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant unless they are part of the law enforcement structure or the juvenile justice system. [54 FR 20855, May 15, 1989; 55 FR 5601, Feb. 16, 1990] In making Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grants, HHS gives priority to those private agencies which have had past experience in dealing with runaway or otherwise homeless youth. HHS also gives priority to applicants whose total grant requests for services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth are less than $100,000 and whose project budgets, considering all funding sources, are smaller than $150,000. 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. HHS requires a non-Federal share which is equal to at least 10 percent of the Federal funds that will be received under this grant program for any fiscal year. [54 FR 20855, May 15, 1989; 55 FR 5601, Feb. 16, 1990] (a) The initial notice of grant award specifies how long HHS intends to support the project without requiring the project to recompete for funds. This period, called the project period, will not exceed five years. (b) Generally the grant will initially be for one year. A grantee must submit a separate application to have the support continued for each subsequent year. Continuation awards within the project period will be made provided the grantee has made satisfactory progress, funds are available, and HHS determines that continued funding is in the best interest of the Government. [43 FR 55635, Nov. 28, 1978, as amended at 65 FR 50141, Aug. 17, 2000] Costs which can be supported include, but are not limited to, temporary shelter, referral services, counseling services, aftercare services, and staff training. Costs for acquisition and renovation of existing structures may not normally exceed 15 percent of the grant award. HHS may waive this limitation upon written request under special circumstances based on demonstrated need. A Runaway and Homeless Youth Progam grant does not cover the cost of constructing new facilities. HHS publishes annually in the (a) Obtain a program announcement from the (b) Obtain an application package from one of HHS's Regional Offices; and (c) Submit a completed application to the Grants Management Office at the appropriate Regional Office. [43 FR 55635, Nov. 28, 1978, as amended at 48 FR 29202, June 24, 1983] In reviewing applications for a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant, HHS takes into consideration a number of factors, including: (a) Whether the application meets one or more of the program's funding priorities; (see §1351.12) (b) The need for Federal support based on the number of runaway or otherwise homeless youth in the area in which the runaway and homeless youth project is or will be located; (c) The availability of services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth in the area in which the runaway and homeless youth project is located; (d) Whether there is a minimum residential capacity of four and a maximum residential capacity not to exceed 20 youth with a ratio of staff to youth sufficient to assure adequate supervision and treatment; (e) Plans for meeting the best interests of the youth involving, when possible, both the youth and the family. These must include contacts with the families. This contact should be made within 24 hours, but must be made no more than 72 hours following the time of the youth's admission into the runaway and homeless youth project. The plans must also include assuring the youth's safe return home or to local government officials or law enforcement officials and indicate efforts to provide appropriate alternative living arrangements. (f) Plans for the delivery of aftercare or counseling services to runaway or otherwise homeless youth and their families; (g) Whether the estimated cost to the Department for the runaway and homeless youth project is reasonable considering the anticipated results; (h) Whether the proposed personnel are well qualified and the applicant agency has adequate facilities and resources; (i) Whether the proposed project design, if well executed, is capable of attaining program objectives; (j) The consistency of the grant application with the provisions of the Act and these regulations. (a) Several other HHS rules and regulations apply to applicants for or recipients of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grants. These include: (1) The provisions of 45 CFR part 74 pertaining to the Administration of Grants; (2) The provisions of 45 CFR part 16, Departmental Grants Appeal Process, and the provisions of Informal Grant Appeal Procedures (Indirect Costs) in volume 45 CFR part 75; (3) The provisions of 45 CFR part 80 and 45 CFR part 81 pertaining to nondiscrimination under programs receiving Federal assistance, and hearing procedures; (4) The provisions of 45 CFR part 84 pertaining to discrimination on the basis of handicap; (5) The provisions of 45 CFR part 46 pertaining to protection of human subjects. (b) Several program policies regarding confidentiality of information, treatment, conflict of interest and State protection apply to recipients of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grants. These include: (1) Confidential information. All information including lists of names, addresses, photographs, and records of evaluation of individuals served by a runaway and homeless youth project shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed or transferred to any individual or to any public or private agency without written consent of the youth and family. Youth served by a runaway and homeless youth project shall have the right to review their records; to correct a record or file a statement of disagreement; and to be apprised of the individuals who have reviewed their records. Procedures shall be established for the training of project staff in the protection of these rights and for the secure storage of records. (2) Medical, psychiatric or psychological treatment. No youth shall be subject to medical, psychiatric or psychological treatment without the consent of the youth and family unless otherwise permitted by State law. (3) Conflict of interest. Employees or individuals participating in a program or project under the Act shall not use their positions for a purpose that is, or gives the appearance of being, motivated by a desire for private gain for themselves or others, particularly those with whom they have family, business or other ties. (4) State law protection. HHS policies regarding confidential information and experimentation and treatment shall not apply if HHS finds that State law is more protective of the rights of runaway or otherwise homeless youth. (c) Nothing in the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act or these regulations gives the Federal Government control over the staffing and personnel decisions regarding individuals hired by a runaway and homeless youth project receiving Federal funds.
Title 45: Public Welfare
PART 1351—RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH PROGRAM
Subpart B—Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grant
§ 1351.10 What is the purpose of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
§ 1351.11 Who is eligible to apply for a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
§ 1351.12 Who gets priority for the award of a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
§ 1351.13 What are the Federal and non-Federal match requirements under a Runaway and Homeless Youth grant?
§ 1351.14 What is the period for which a grant will be awarded?
§ 1351.15 What costs are supportable under a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
§ 1351.16 What costs are not allowable under a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
§ 1351.17 How is application made for a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
§ 1351.18 What criteria has HHS established for deciding which Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant applications to fund?
§ 1351.19 What additional information should an applicant or grantee have about a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grant?
