Covenant House New Jersey at the 2025 RHY National Grantee Training Conference
Last week, Covenant House New Jersey (CHNJ) participated in the 2025 Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) National Grantee Training Conference, held December 3–5 in Washington, DC. This annual convening, organized by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) in partnership with the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training, Technical Assistance, and Capacity Building Center (RHYTTAC), brings together federally funded providers from across the country to strengthen programs, share best practices, and improve outcomes for young people experiencing homelessness.
The theme of this year’s conference, “Harnessing Data for Healthy Outcomes,” underscored the growing importance of data-driven decision-making in youth services. Through plenary sessions, workshops, peer exchanges, and direct engagement with federal staff, grantees explored how consistent data collection, evaluation, and cross-agency learning can lead to more effective housing, health, and supportive service models for young people. At the same time, hearing directly from young people with lived experience of homelessness offered the most powerful lessons for all attendees.
CHNJ was represented by Kenneth Greer, Associate Director of Housing; Hillary Powell, Grant Manager; and Keesha Munoz-Stanley, Senior Service Manager of Housing (South). A highlight of the conference was the opportunity to connect in person with counterparts from Covenant House Georgia, including Jacqui W. Appling, MSW, Director of Campus and Community Housing, and Deborah Battle, Pregnant & Parenting Youth Program Coordinator. During a working lunch, the teams discussed shared challenges and emerging best practices—ranging from the implementation of FYI housing vouchers to adapting to the Covenant House new model of care, particularly for pregnant and parenting youth.
These peer-to-peer exchanges are a critical complement to formal training sessions. For CHNJ, they provide practical insights into how other grantees are navigating policy changes, strengthening housing pathways, and aligning federal resources with on-the-ground realities. Among partners within the Covenant House federation, exchanges targeted to our shared mission and expressed with shared language demonstrate the benefits of doing this work within an international learning community. CHNJ and the Covenant House federation are committed to continuous improvement and accountability—values that are central to responsible grant stewardship.
Participation in the RHY National Grantee Training Conference reflects CHNJ’s commitment to maximizing the impact of public and philanthropic investments. By staying closely connected to federal guidance, sector-wide innovation, and peer expertise, CHNJ is better equipped to translate funding into measurable, lasting outcomes for young people across New Jersey.
