---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 11821"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "11821"
heading: "Establishment of program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/11821"
units:
  - "Chapter 123 — Drug Abuse Education and Prevention"
  - "Subchapter II — Program for Runaway and Homeless Youth"
---

# §11821. Establishment of program

- (a) **Program aims—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall make grants to public and private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), organizations, and institutions to carry out research, demonstration, and services [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) designed—
  - (1) to provide individual, family, and group counseling to runaway youth and their families and to homeless youth for the purpose of preventing or reducing the [illicit](/usc/42/11851.md?p=6) use of [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) by such youth,
  - (2) to develop and support peer counseling programs for runaway and homeless youth related to the [illicit](/usc/42/11851.md?p=6) use of [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4),
  - (3) to develop and support community education activities related to [illicit](/usc/42/11851.md?p=6) use of [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) by runaway and homeless youth, including outreach to youth individually,
  - (4) to provide to runaway and homeless youth in rural areas assistance (including the development of community support groups) related to the [illicit](/usc/42/11851.md?p=6) use of [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4),
  - (5) to provide to individuals involved in providing services to runaway and homeless youth, information and training regarding issues related to the [illicit](/usc/42/11851.md?p=6) use of [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) by runaway and homeless youth,
  - (6) to support research on the [illicit](/usc/42/11851.md?p=6) [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) use by runaway and homeless youth, and the effects on such youth of [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse by family members, and any correlation between such use and attempts at suicide, and
  - (7) to improve the availability and coordination of local services related to [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse, for runaway and homeless youth.
- (b) **Priority—** In selecting among applicants for grants under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall give priority to [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and organizations that have experience in providing services to runaway and homeless youth.
- (c) **Limitation—** Grants under this section may be made for a period not to exceed 3 years.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–690, title III, § 3511, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4255.)