42 U.S.C. § 12338 — Supportive services

(a) Authority. The Commissioner runs a grant program for states that have already designated an independent State body under section 12336 and set up coordinated services under section 12337. The chief executive officer distributes these grants under an approved state plan, to test successful ways of filling service gaps identified through state planning and advocacy work. (b) Eligible services. To qualify, services must: (1) help make community-based services efficient, coordinated, and easy to access, through case planning, case management, intake and assessment, and information and referral; and (2) serve at least one of these purposes: (A) provide safe shelter to young people and families, especially in emergencies; (B) provide transitional living services to homeless young people; (C) help young people stay physically and mentally well; (D) provide health screening to catch or prevent illness, plus better treatment and counseling; (E) help children develop so they are ready to learn when school starts; (F) improve the quality of education, especially through dropout prevention, helping dropouts return, and vocational training; (G) provide training, apprenticeships, and job opportunities; (H) support community service and civic, cultural, and recreational activities that build self-esteem and a stake in the community; (I) help young people take part in decisions about their own lives; (J) encourage young people and families to use community facilities and services available to them; (K) make sure young people who cannot live with their biological families have a safe place to stay until they can go home or live independently; and (L) prevent the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of young people.