The purpose of this program is to provide street-based prevention services to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, sexual exploitation, and severe forms of human trafficking. Projects must assist youth who are less than 22 years of age through services such as outreach, prevention, individualized assessment, service linkages, case planning, and follow-up. Funding is intended to benefit the target population by increasing personal safety, social and emotional well-being, and self-sufficiency; and by helping them build permanent connections with families, communities, schools, and other positive social networks.
The funding agency supports projects that:
- Implement outreach intervention strategies to keep youth safe and help them leave the streets
- Provide approaches to identify and minimize sexual exploitation and human trafficking situations
- Coordinate and sustain partnerships in order to expand access to services that respond to the needs of youth experiencing homelessness
- Establish and/or strengthen the integration of comprehensive services that enhance protective factors
- Provide preventive services that enhance protective factors, such as connection to schools, vocational services, friends, and caring adults
- Identify and provide services to youth who are victims of any type of sexual victimization and severe forms of human trafficking
Projects must utilize a framework that promotes positive youth development and trauma-informed care, uses evidence-informed practices, and provides social support and relationship capacity building.
Projects must adhere to a comprehensive street youth-centered services model that includes the following components:
- Outreach
- Gateway services
- Screening and assessment
- Harm reduction
- Access to emergency shelter
- Crisis stabilization
- Continuum service linkages
- Follow-up
- Drop-in center services (optional)