FY2026 Runaway Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC)

The FY2026 Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC) is a three-year cooperative agreement with an estimated funding range of $1,800,000 to $2,500,000, set to begin on September 30, 2026, and conclude on September 29, 2029. Administered by the Administration for Children and Families’ Family and Youth Services Bureau within the Department of Health and Human Services, the award aims to strengthen national capacity among RHY program recipients and subrecipients through tailored training, technical assistance, and strategic coordination. The recipient will develop and disseminate evidence-based and evidence-informed resources for in-person and virtual delivery, provide targeted support to address service gaps, and lead collaborative efforts across federally funded youth-serving organizations. Performance is nationwide, with a required kick-off meeting in Washington, DC, and all activities must align with ACF’s strategic priorities on family stability, economic mobility, and high-quality youth care. Applicants must submit a comprehensive proposal through Grants.gov by August 14, 2026, with a combined narrative and attachment limit of 85 pages and must include required documents such as an ACF priorities alignment attestation, indirect cost agreement, nonprofit legal proof, organizational capacity documentation, and third-party agreements. The evaluation framework assigns 110 total points across six weighted factors, prioritizing the proposed approach and activities (40 points), followed by organizational capacity (25 points), impact measurement via logic model and evaluation plan (15 points), demonstration of need (10 points), alignment with ACF priorities (10 points), and budget reasonableness (10 points). Selection is based on a trade-off process, not cost competitiveness, and considers merit score, geographic equity, past performance, and alignment with underserved populations. Key personnel must have direct experience in runaway and homeless youth services, trauma-informed care, and positive youth development, with resumes submitted for approval and any substitutions requiring 30-day advance notice and formal authorization. The recipient must implement rigorous data security protocols to protect personally identifiable information, maintain sound financial controls under 2 CFR Part 200, and ensure secure disposal of sensitive data at project closeout. Intellectual property rights vest with the recipient but grant the federal government a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use all deliverables. A detailed transition-in plan, continuous quality improvement systems,