HoMELESS yOUTH:
Funding and Technical Assistance
RHY programs are funded through a variety of public and private sources, including state and federal grants, foundations, and corporate and individuals donations. Due to this range of funding sources, the total resources available in any community to support RHY programs vary widely across the country.
A key source of funds for these programs is the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, administered by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Through its Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, FYSB funds street outreach, short-term shelter, and longer-term transitional living and maternity group home programs that serve and protect these young people.
Programs and Services funded by the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
The RHY Act first passed in 1974 in response to a need identified primarily within the field of youth services. In part, the Act is intended to fund and provide a system of programs and services to address youth homelessness through a strength-based model as an alternative to larger, punitive systems such as justice and child welfare. Prior to this act being passed, a youth that ran away was placed in a juvenile detention center and processed through the justice system without services in place to address the issue underlying the running behavior.
Today, FYSB continues to fund core runaway and homeless youth programs under the provisions of the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-378).
In FY 2008:
- 371 programs received a total of $45.7 million in funding under the Basic Center Program.
- 218 programs received a total of $41.0 million under the Transition Living Program for Older Homeless Youth Program.
- 161 programs received a total of $15.6 million under the Street Outreach Program.
Training and Technical Assistance for RHY Programs
Training and Technical assistance needs of RHY grantees are met through two centers that form The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center (RHYTTAC). RHYTTAC provides comprehensive training and technical assistance services to all Runaway and Homeless Youth Program grantees. FYSB has cooperative agreements with the University of Oklahoma National Resource Center for Youth Services.”
The centers assist FYSB grantee agencies in developing new approaches to serving runaway and homeless youth, in accessing new resources, and in establishing linkages with other grantees with similar interests and concerns. Through the centers, FYSB tracks trends in youth and family issues, identifies and shares best practices, sponsors conferences and workshops, and provides direct T/TA.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training Center (info@rhyttac.net) coordinates: grantee meetings and conferences; skill-based training sessions that provide opportunities for hands-on participation, direct observation, and expert feedback: and distance learning training that focuses on core competencies needed by youth workers; courses are offered online and address topics such as Positive Youth Development, dynamics of runaway and homeless youth, cultural competency, crisis counseling, street culture, conflict resolution, resiliency, asset-based approaches, mental health issues, and staff safety and boundaries.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Technical Assistance Center (info@rhyttac.net) offers: intensive skill-based technical assistance for newly funded and/or inexperienced grantees; program-specific, individualized technical assistance through consultation; technical assistance that addresses the grantee’s program-specific needs; and information sharing, especially regarding new and emerging information concerning service provision and best practices.
Contact Information
Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Centers
National Safe Place
2429 Crittenden Drive
Louisville, KY 40217
Phone: (800) 806-2711
Email: info@rhyttac.net
Web: info@rhyttac.net
