The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) will award one cooperative agreement on a competitive basis for a period of three years to operate the Runaway and Homeless Youth National Communication System

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(NCS) Program.

The NCS Program is a dedicated toll-free, U.

S.

national communication system that provides information, referral services, crisis intervention, prevention approaches, and communication services to vulnerable, at-risk, and runaway and homeless youth and their families or legal guardians.

The purpose of the NCS is to a) prevent youth from running away and becoming homeless, and b) link youth with a family member or guardian, and/or an available resource that can provide and/or assist the youth in acquiring needed services.

To fulfill the objectives of the legislation, the NCS must provide, among other services, a neutral and confidential channel of communication that is available on a 24-hours per day, seven days per week, basis throughout the United States so that youth contemplating running away and runaway and homeless youth may re-establish contact with their parents or legal guardians if possible.

The NCS Program is also expected to work closely and collaboratively with FYSB to fulfill its mission as the federally funded communication system for runaway and homeless youth.

A full description of services that will be required of the NCS grantee will provided in the published announcement.