National Communication System (NCS) for Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program

The NCS Program assists young people in communicating with their families and service providers. The NCS also provides crisis-interventions to youth who may be considering leaving home, youth who have left home, and youth experiencing homelessness. The NCS Program provides confidential, safe, and inclusive crisis services, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year throughout the United States and its territories to ensure youth and families have a place to reach out for assistance when needed. The NCS Program focuses on the following:

• Providing youth in crisis, youth who have run away, or youth who are experiencing homelessness, and their families, with a no-cost communication system to exchange messages or have conference calls with one another.
• Identifying resources for youth contemplating running away, youth who have run away, and youth experiencing homelessness in areas where the youth are located.
• Delivering crisis intervention to youth and families, when appropriate, to address problems and issues that surface during contact, via telephone, chat, email, and/or text.
• Providing prevention counseling and referrals to youth in crisis and youth contemplating running away.
• Facilitating access to transportation services, when appropriate, or to shelters, housing, counseling, medical assistance, and other vital services for youth who have run away from home or are experiencing housing instability, or homelessness.
• Providing families or guardians with support and referrals to organizations and agencies that may be able to assist them with preventing their youth from running away or becoming homeless. This may include information about shelters, counseling, medical assistance, and other critical services.
• Maintaining and building the database of services and resources available for youth and families reaching out to the NCS crisis services.
• Conducting outreach (online and off-line) to young people, including those at risk of running away or becoming homelessness, and youth from historically marginalized populations.
• Designing and disseminating resources and information on running away and youth homelessness prevention.
• Increasing the visibility of the NCS Program through collaboration; partnerships; and engagement with young people, service providers, youth-serving organizations, schools, and other key and diverse stakeholders nationwide.
• Expanding opportunities for supported youth engagement, through listening sessions, product development, marketing, and other leadership opportunities.
• Ensuring services are inclusive and accessible to all young people and their families, including, but not limited to, individuals and families from multiple racial and ethnic groups, youth who identify as LGBTQIA2S+; people with disabilities, youth and families with lower incomes; youth and families who live in rural areas; and other historically marginalized and underserved youth and families.

• City or township governments
• County governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
• 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
• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)
• Special district governments
• State governments

Estimated Total Program Funding: