Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CY 0160
The National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within ACYF/FYSB, to operate a nationwide communication hub for runaway and homeless youth. Through this opportunity, the Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth plans to fund one organization under a cooperative agreement for a three-year project period. The funded operator will run a dedicated, toll-free national communication system serving youth across the United States, along with their families or legal guardians, by delivering information and referrals, crisis intervention, prevention-oriented support, and other services designed to stabilize situations before they escalate.
The central goals of the National Communication System (NCS) are prevention and connection. The program is intended to help prevent young people from running away or becoming homeless, to link youth with a family member or legal guardian when appropriate, and to connect youth to safe and available resources that can provide services directly or help them obtain needed supports. A third major emphasis is prevention education, meaning outreach and learning strategies aimed at reducing runaway incidents and youth homelessness over time, not just responding after a crisis occurs.
Because the award is structured as a cooperative agreement, the selected recipient should expect substantial involvement from the federal program office compared with a typical grant. In practical terms, this usually means more ongoing coordination, shared planning, and federal input on performance expectations and continuous improvement as the communication system operates. The work is national in scope and inherently service-oriented, relying on dependable availability, well-developed referral networks, and strong protocols for handling crisis contacts, safety concerns, and appropriate follow-up.
Priority consideration is tied to demonstrated experience, consistent with section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act. Applicants that can show a strong track record providing communication services to vulnerable youth, youth at risk, and runaway and homeless youth will be better positioned. The opportunity specifically calls out technology-driven service capacity, including telephone-based services as well as Internet-based supports, mobile applications, and other modern communication tools. That emphasis signals that the program is not only about answering calls, but also about meeting youth where they are across platforms, providing accessible and youth-friendly ways to seek help, information, and referrals.
Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible, and foreign entities are also ineligible; applications from either will be disqualified before merit review.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CY-0160 and CFDA/Assistance Listing 93.623. The agency expects to make a single award, with an award ceiling of $1,800,000. The application closing date is August 19, 2026, and the opportunity was created on July 21, 2026. Overall, the competition is aimed at selecting one highly capable national operator with proven, multi-channel youth communication expertise to run a reliable, high-impact system that prevents runaway episodes, reduces youth homelessness, and connects young people quickly to safe supports and services.Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CY 0160
- The Administration for Children Families - ACYF/FYSB in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.623.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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FAQs: National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (NCS)
What is the National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth Program?
The National Communication System (NCS) for Runaway and Homeless Youth is a federal discretionary funding opportunity through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within ACYF/FYSB. It supports the operation of a nationwide communication hub designed to serve runaway and homeless youth across the United States, along with their families or legal guardians.
What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund a national operator to run a dedicated, toll-free communication system that provides information and referrals, crisis intervention, prevention-oriented support, and related services. The overall intent is to stabilize situations before they escalate, help prevent runaway episodes and youth homelessness, and connect young people to safe, available resources.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within ACYF/FYSB, specifically through the Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth.
What kind of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This award is structured as a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. That means the selected recipient should expect substantial involvement from the federal program office, including ongoing coordination, shared planning, and federal input on performance expectations and continuous improvement while the communication system operates.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The agency expects to make a single award.
What is the project period for the award?
The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth plans to fund one organization for a three-year project period.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $1,800,000.
What services is the funded organization expected to provide?
Based on the opportunity description, the funded operator is expected to deliver a reliable national communication system that can provide:
- Information and referrals
- Crisis intervention
- Prevention-oriented support
- Other services designed to stabilize situations before they escalate
Who is the communication system intended to serve?
The communication system is intended to serve youth across the United States, including runaway and homeless youth and youth at risk, as well as their families or legal guardians.
What are the central goals of the National Communication System?
The central goals are prevention and connection. The program is intended to:
- Help prevent young people from running away or becoming homeless
- Link youth with a family member or legal guardian when appropriate
- Connect youth to safe and available resources that can provide services directly or help youth obtain needed supports
What does “prevention education” mean in this opportunity?
Prevention education is described as outreach and learning strategies aimed at reducing runaway incidents and youth homelessness over time. The emphasis is on proactive work, not only responding after a crisis occurs.
Is this program limited to phone services, or does it include online tools too?
The opportunity emphasizes technology-driven service capacity. It specifically calls out telephone-based services as well as Internet-based supports, mobile applications, and other modern communication tools. The intent is to meet youth where they are across platforms, not only through phone calls.
What does “national in scope” mean for applicants?
The work is described as national in scope, meaning the operator is expected to run a nationwide communication hub serving youth across the United States. This implies a need for dependable availability, well-developed referral networks, and strong protocols for handling crisis contacts, safety concerns, and appropriate follow-up at a national level.
What capabilities are implied as important for the operator?
The description indicates the operator should be able to provide dependable availability, maintain well-developed referral networks, and implement strong protocols for crisis contacts, safety concerns, and follow-up. The operator should also be capable of delivering multi-channel communication services (phone and technology-enabled tools) in a youth-friendly and accessible way.
Is experience with runaway and homeless youth a priority factor?
Yes. Priority consideration is tied to demonstrated experience consistent with section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Act. Applicants with a strong track record providing communication services to vulnerable youth, youth at risk, and runaway and homeless youth are positioned more competitively based on the description provided.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors. Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities
- Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (not institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (not institutions of higher education)
- Faith-based and community organizations (if they meet the stated requirements)
Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly stated as eligible, as long as they meet the stated requirements.
Are individuals or sole proprietorships eligible?
No. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are ineligible, and applications from foreign entities will be disqualified before merit review.
What happens if an ineligible entity applies?
The description states that applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) or foreign entities will be disqualified before merit review.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CY-0160.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 93.623.
When is the application due?
The application closing date is August 19, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 21, 2026.
What is the program ultimately trying to achieve?
The competition aims to select one highly capable national operator with proven multi-channel youth communication expertise to run a reliable, high-impact system. The stated outcomes emphasized in the description include preventing runaway episodes, reducing youth homelessness, and connecting young people quickly to safe supports and services.
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