Home Study and Post-Release Services for Unaccompanied Children

This SNOFO has been updated for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 competition. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has modified: Executive Summary, II. Federal Award Information; Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times; Section VI.3. Reporting; and VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s). The Office of Refugee Resettlement/Division of Unaccompanied Children Operations (ORR/DUCO), within the Administration for Children and Families, is announcing the availability of funds for Home Study (HS) and Post-Release Services (PRS) for unaccompanied children. ORR's Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program conducts Home Studies for certain unaccompanied children, prior to their release from ORR custody, and provides PRS for unaccompanied children after they are released in accordance with the requirements of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008.A HS assesses a potential sponsor’s ability to meet an unaccompanied child’s needs upon release from ORR custody. Certain unaccompanied children must receive a HS according to statute, and ORR may, as a matter of its policies, require HS for other unaccompanied children, or fund discretionary home studies, but not all unaccompanied children in ORR custody receive a HS. PRS are available for all released unaccompanied children. PRS providers will be charged with a scope of services that includes three levels - virtual check-ins, case management services, and intensive in-home engagements. ORR provides Home Studies and PRS nationwide and needs HS/PRS providers to serve both high-need and remote locations where sponsors of unaccompanied children reside. ORR encourages providers located in or near geographic areas where unaccompanied children are commonly unified with sponsors to apply and will award bonus points to applicant providers with nationwide service delivery models. All entities funded under this SNOFO must comply with ORR HS/PRS policies and procedures, Flores v. Reno, Case No. CV 85-4544RJK (C.D. Cal. 1996) (the Flores Settlement Agreement) as applicable, and pertinent regulations and laws. ORR encourages applicants to review ORR's UC Program policies and procedures in the ORR UC Program Policy Guide and the UC Program Field Guidance.Please refer to the SNOFO when it publishes for more details on application closing dates and project periods.