Title V Competitive Sexual Risk Avoidance Education

The Title V Competitive Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Family and Youth Services Bureau, Division of Positive Youth Development. This federal funding opportunity supports the development and implementation of educational programs designed to help youth voluntarily refrain from nonmarital sexual activity. The program aligns with broader federal priorities focused on youth well being, family stability, and economic self sufficiency, and emphasizes evidence based, medically accurate, and age appropriate education models that promote responsible decision making and healthy life outcomes. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that provide structured sexual risk avoidance education to youth ages 10 to 19. Funded programs must emphasize abstinence from nonmarital sexual activity as an optimal health behavior while also teaching personal responsibility, self regulation, and goal setting. The program requires integration of evidence based practices and alignment with statutory educational topics, including healthy relationships, avoidance of risky behaviors such as substance use, and resistance to coercion or dating violence. Programs must also incorporate positive youth development approaches and may include trauma informed care and human trafficking awareness education. Funding is provided through grants with an expected total program funding amount exceeding eight million dollars and approximately twenty awards anticipated. Individual awards range from a minimum of 13501 to a maximum of 450000 for the first year, with a two year project period consisting of two one year budget cycles. Funding is contingent upon federal appropriations, satisfactory progress, and compliance with program requirements. Allowable uses of funds include curriculum development, program delivery, staff training, and evaluation activities, while restrictions prohibit expenditures such as construction, real property purchase, healthcare services, abortion related services, and certain diversity related initiatives. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes local governments, school districts, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, faith based organizations, for profit entities, and tribal organizations. However, eligibility is geographically restricted to organizations located in specific states and territories that did not accept state level allocations for the program. Individuals, foreign entities, and federal agencies are not eligible to apply. Applicants must also demonstrate the capacity to implement programs locally and comply with all federal administrative and reporting requirements. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes two primary files along with standard federal forms. Applicants must prepare a detailed project narrative, budget and justification, and supporting documentation such as organizational capacity materials and third party agreements. The application must adhere to strict formatting and content guidelines and is subject to both initial screening and merit based review. Evaluation criteria include purpose and need, program response, expected impact, organizational capacity, budget justification, and alignment with federal priorities. Applications are due by August 17 2026 at 1159 pm Eastern Time, with an expected project start date of September 30 2026. Applicants are required to maintain active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. Award decisions are based on merit review scores as well as geographic distribution, past performance, and alignment with agency priorities. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award and must comply with ongoing reporting requirements, including semiannual performance and financial reports, participation in training, and implementation of sustainability plans. This funding opportunity represents a recurring federal initiative designed to support youth development programs nationwide within eligible jurisdictions. It emphasizes accountability, evidence based programming, and measurable outcomes, and requires recipients to maintain program integrity, fiscal stewardship, and alignment with federal policy priorities throughout the project lifecycle.

Align proposal closely with ACF priorities and clearly demonstrate evidence based curriculum, measurable outcomes, and strong organizational capacity.