Grants

Mission of the Family and Youth Services Bureau

The mission of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is to support the organizations and communities that work every day to put an end to youth homelessness, adolescent pregnancy and domestic violence.

Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP)

Purpose

Through the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), FYSB awards grants to State agencies to educate young people on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The program targets youth ages 10-19 who are homeless, in foster care, live in rural areas or in geographic areas with high teen birth rates, or come from racial or ethnic minority groups. The program also supports pregnant youth and mothers under the age of 21.

 
PREP projects replicate effective, evidence-based program models or substantially incorporate elements of projects that have been proven to delay sexual activity, increase condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, or reduce pregnancy among youth. Through a systematic review, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) selected 28 models that States could use, depending on the needs and age of the target population in each State.

History

On March 23, 2010, the President signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Act amended Title V of the Social Security Act to include PREP. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families and FYSB jointly oversee the program.

Services

In addition to education on abstinence and contraceptive use, PREP projects also offer services to prepare young people for adulthood by implementing activities that address three or more of the subject areas below:

• Healthy relationships, including development of positive self-esteem and relationship dynamics, friendships, dating, romantic involvement, marriage and family interactions;
• Positive adolescent development, to include promotion of healthy attitudes and values about adolescent growth and development, body image, racial and ethnic diversity, and other related subjects;
• Financial literacy, to support the development of self-sufficiency and independent living skills;
• Parent-child communication skills;
• Education and employment preparation skills; and
• Healthy life skills, such as goal-setting, decision making, negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, and stress management.

 
States may also provide referrals to youth for pregnancy prevention-related health care services and may help enroll eligible youth in public assistance programs, like Medicaid, CHIP or any other Federal or State assistance program for which they may be eligible.

Measuring Effectivness

HHS will oversee a large-scale evaluation effort focused on measuring the effectiveness of each project. Performance measures established by HHS include:

• The number of youth served and hours of service delivery;
• Fidelity to the program model or adaptation of the program model for the target population;
• Community partnerships and competence in working with the target population;
• Reported gains in knowledge, changes in behavioral intentions and changes in self-reported behaviors of participants; and
• Community data, like birth rates and the incidence of sexually transmitted infections.

Grant Award Process

FYSB provides PREP funding as formula grants to States. All States and U.S. Territories were eligible to apply for a minimum of $250,000 per year for fiscal years 2021-2026. Allotments were calculated based on the number of young people in each State or Territory. States can administer the project directly or through sub-awards to public or private entities. In FY 2025, a total of $70 million was awarded to 49 grantees. 

For More Information

For further information about PREP, contact the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 800, N. Bethesda, MD 20852; (301) 608-8098; e-mail: ncfy@acf.hhs.gov.

Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program

Purpose

The purpose of the Title V State SRAE Program is to provide messages to youth that normalizes the optimal health behavior of avoiding non-marital sexual activity. Title V State SRAE is a prevention education program targeted to youth ages 10 to 19. Programmatic services must be medically accurate and complete; age-appropriate; based on adolescent learning and developmental theories for the age group receiving the education; and culturally appropriate, recognizing the experiences of youth from diverse communities, backgrounds, and experiences.

Education on sexual risk avoidance must address each of the following topics:

• (A) The holistic individual and societal benefits associated with personal responsibility, self-regulation, goalsetting, healthy decision making, and a focus on the future.

• (B) The advantage of refraining from non-marital sexual activity to improve the future prospects and physical and emotional health of youth.

• (C) The increased likelihood of avoiding poverty when youth attain self-sufficiency and emotional maturity before engaging in sexual activity.

• (D) The foundational components of healthy relationships and their impact on the formation of healthy marriages and safe and stable families.

• (E) How other youth risk behaviors, such as drug and alcohol usage, increase the risk for teen sex.

• (F) How to resist and avoid, and receive help regarding, sexual coercion and dating violence, recognizing that even with consent teen sex remains a youth risk behavior.

Authorization: The Title V SRAE Program is authorized by Section 510 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 710), amended by Section 50502 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-123) and extended by Section 3301, Division C, Title III of the American Relief Act, 2025 (Pub. L. No. 118-158).

History

• 2018–2026: Title V State Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (Title V State SRAE) Program

• 2011: Affordable Care Act (ACA) Abstinence Education Program

• 2005–2006: Abstinence Education Program

• 1997: Published as Abstinence Education

Reports

• Financial Reports: Expenditure reports are required using the SF-425 Federal Financial Report. The frequency of reporting is listed in the notice of funding opportunity and in the award terms and conditions. For more information, see: https://acf.gov/grants/manage-grant/reporting.

• Tangible Personal Property: If requesting funds to purchase equipment, the recipient must request prior approval. When the equipment is no longer needed, the SF-428 Tangible Personal Property—Cover Page with the SF-428 Attachment C must be submitted to the Office of Grants Management.

• Progress/Performance Reports: Performance progress reports are required using the SF-PPR ACF Performance Progress Report. Title V State SRAE recipients must submit their reports online through the Online Data Collection (OLDC) system within GrantSolutions.

• Frequency: Semi-Annually; Annually; Project Closeout/Final Report.

Award Procedure

Recipients are notified that funds have been awarded through a Notice of Award (NOA) issued by the Administration for Children and Families. In Fiscal Year 2025, the program successfully awarded approximately $49.3 million to 36 state and territorial grantees through the Title V State formula stream.

Contact Information

Administering Office: Mousumi Banikya, Director Division of Positive Youth Development 330 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20201 Email: mousumi.banikya@acf.hhs.gov | Phone: 202-619-1066

Further Information: For further information regarding the SRAE program, contact the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB):

• Email: fysb.nofo.srae@acf.hhs.gov

• Websites: www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb