The township board annually may appropriate funds to private nonprofit organizations for the purpose of providing services to runaway or homeless youths and their families. The services may include temporary shelter, food, clothing, medical care, transportation, individual and family counseling, and any other service necessary to provide adequate temporary, protective care for runaway or homeless youths and to reunite the youths with their parents or guardians. For purposes of this Section, “runaway or homeless youth” means a person under the age of 18 years who is absent from his legal residence without the consent of his parent or legal guardian or who is without a place of shelter where supervision and care are available.