[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5661-5663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2612]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families
[Proposed Program Priorities--ACF/ACYF/RHYP 99-1]


Runaway and Homeless Youth Program: Fiscal Year (FY) 1999; 
Proposed Program Priorities

AGENCY: Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), Administration on 
Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments on proposed FY 1999 
Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program Priorities.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 5662]]

    The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act requires the Secretary to 
publish annually, for public comment, a proposed plan specifying 
priorities the Department will follow in awarding grants under the Act. 
The public is urged to provide comments in response to this notice. 
Suggestions and recommendations will be taken into consideration in the 
development of final priorities.
    The notice of the actual solicitation for grant applications will 
be published later during FY 1999 in the Federal Register. No 
applications for funding should be submitted at this time.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be mailed or submitted in electronic 
form to: Karen E. Cook, Youth Development Program Specialist, Family 
and Youth Services Bureau, 330 C Street S.W., Washington, DC 20447; 
(202) 205-8087. E-mail: K[email protected]
    Introduction: The Family and Youth Services Bureau of the 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families awards funds to public 
and private agencies to provide services to youth in at-risk 
situations.
    The Runaway and Homeless Youth Basic Center Grant Program (BCP), 
provides financial assistance to local agencies to develop and 
strengthen services to meet the immediate needs (e.g., outreach, 
temporary shelter, counseling, and aftercare services) of runaway and 
homeless youth and their families.
    The Transitional Living Program for Older Homeless Youth (TLP), 
supports local agencies which provide long-term shelter (up to 18 
months), life-skill training and support services to homeless youth to 
assist them in making a smooth transition to self-sufficiency and to 
prevent long-term dependency on social services.
    The Street Outreach Program (SOP), provides street-based education 
and outreach, counseling information, referral services and offers 
emergency shelter to young people who have been, or who are at risk of 
being, sexually abused or exploited, with the goal of helping them 
leave the streets.
    Central to all FYSB programs and activities is a priority that 
services are delivered through a comprehensive youth development 
approach. A developmental perspective views adolescence as the passage 
from the dependence of the child to the independence and self-
sufficiency of the adult. The various emotional, intellectual, social 
and physical changes during this passage are natural, healthy responses 
to the challenges and opportunities of growing up.
    The tasks of youth services providers are seen, thus, not as 
correcting the problems of troubled youth, but rather as providing for 
the successive developmental needs of maturing individuals: the 
psychological need to develop a clear self-identity; the sociological 
need to be an effective and contributing member of the community; the 
economic need to prepare for and enter into a career; and the familial 
needs for sharing, for trusting, for giving and receiving love and 
commitment. This developmental approach is fundamental to all FYSB 
programs and activities.
    Financial assistance for programs and support efforts discussed 
below is contingent upon the availability of funds.

I. Proposed Grant Funding in FY 1999

A. Basic Center

    Approximately 65 percent of the Basic Center grants awarded in FY 
1999 will be non-competing continuation grants and approximately 35 
percent will be competitive new awards.
    Eligible applicants for new awards are current grantees with 
project periods ending in FY 1999 and otherwise eligible applicants who 
are not current grantees. The applications will be reviewed by State, 
and awards will be made during the last quarter of FY 1999 (July--
September 1999). FYSB is considering making awards for five-year 
project periods and encourages public comments on this approach.

B. Transitional Living Program

    All FY 1999 funds for Transitional Living Programs will be awarded 
in the form of continuation grants. There will be a competitive 
solicitation for new-start TLP applications in FY 1999.
    However, funds for new start applications are expected to be 
awarded if available in FY 2000. FYSB is considering making awards for 
five-year project periods and encourages public comments on this 
approach.

C. Street Outreach Program

    All FY 1999 funds for Street Outreach Programs will be awarded in 
the form of continuation grants. FYSB is considering making awards for 
five-year project periods and encourages public comments on this 
approach.

D. Training and Technical Assistance

    In FY 1999, a national competition will be held to provide training 
and technical assistance services to runaway and homeless youth service 
providers. These services are currently provided via cooperative 
agreements with ten organizations across the country. FYSB is 
considering a range of approaches to meet the needs of programs and 
encourages public comment.

E. National Communications System

    In the second quarter of FY 1999, FYSB expects to award a new five-
year grant to the successful applicant to run the National 
Communications System to provide information, referral services, crisis 
intervention and communication services to runaway and homeless youth 
and their families. Applications for this grant were solicited in the 
FY 1998 Program Announcement for the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Program.

II. Proposed Contracts in FY 1999

A. National Clearinghouse on Runaway and Homeless Youth

    In FY 1997, the Family and Youth Services Bureau awarded a five-
year contract to support a National Clearinghouse on Youth and Families 
(NCFY). The purpose of the Clearinghouse is to disseminate information 
to professionals and agencies involved in youth development efforts 
and/or the delivery of direct services to runaway, homeless and at-risk 
youth. The Clearinghouse collects, maintains and disseminates reports 
and other materials, identifies areas in which new or additional 
information is needed, and develops documents and materials relevant to 
FYSB's mission and the needs of the field. It is expected that this 
contract will receive continuation funding in FY 1999.

B. Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System (RHYMIS)

    In FY 1997, the Family and Youth Services Bureau awarded a three-
year contract for continued development and implementation of the 
Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System (RHYMIS). 
RHYMIS is used by grantees to report statistical information on client 
characteristics and services provided. It is expected that this 
contract will receive continuation funding in FY 1999.

C. Monitoring Support for FYSB Programs

    A comprehensive monitoring instrument and site visit protocols, 
including a peer-review component, are used for monitoring runaway and 
homeless youth programs. In FY 1997, the Family and Youth Services 
Bureau awarded a three-year contract to provide logistical support for 
peer review

[[Page 5663]]

monitoring. It is expected that this contract will receive continuation 
funding in FY 1999.

III. Proposed Research and Demonstration Activities in FY 1999

    Section 315 of the Act authorizes the Department to award funds to 
States, localities, and private entities to carry out research, 
demonstration, and service projects designed to increase knowledge 
concerning, and to improve services for, runaway and homeless youth. 
These activities identify emerging issues and develop and test models 
which address such issues.
    During FY 1999, the Family and Youth Services Bureau will continue 
to:
    Support the nine Youth Development State Collaboration grants which 
were awarded in FY 1998 to facilitate the use of a youth development 
approach by States as they address the needs of adolescents at the 
State and local levels;
    Support a youth development approach to the provision of services, 
both from theoretical and practical perspectives;
    Pursue the development of youth development performance based 
indicators and outcome measures as a method of evaluating the 
effectiveness of youth services; and
    Collaborate with Federal government agencies, State governments and 
local community based youth services organizations.

References

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.623, Runaway and 
Homeless Youth Program; Number 93.550, Transitional Living Program 
for Homeless Youth; and Number 93.623, Training and Technical 
Assistance Grants)

    Dated: January 25, 1999.
Patricia Montoya,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 99-2612 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P