Home Study and Post Release Services for Unaccompanied Children

The Office of Refugee Resettlement/Division of Children's Services (ORR/DCS), within the Administration for Children and Families, conducts Home Studies for certain unaccompanied children (UC), prior to their release from ORR custody, and provides Post Release Services for UC after they are released in accordance with the requirements of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008. To safely release UC to sponsors living in the United States certain categories of UC are referred for Home Studies. In order to promote the safety and well-being of UC after their release to a sponsor in the U.S., certain categories of children are referred for Post Release Services. Post Release Services are required for all UC who receive a Home Study. When there is no safety risk in releasing a UC to a sponsor but additional assistance is needed to connect the UC and sponsor to resources upon discharge from ORR custody, the case may also be referred for Post Release Services (i.e., no home study is required). ORR is announcing this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to seek Home Study and Post Release Service providers. Applicants must apply to provide both services. All entities funded under this FOA must comply with ORR/DCS Home Study and Post Release Services' policies and procedures, the Flores Settlement Agreement, the Perez-Olano Settlement Agreement, Case No. CV05-3604 (C.D. Cal., Dec. 14, 2010), and pertinent regulations and laws. ORR encourages applicants to review ORR/DCS' policies at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ programs/orr/resource/children- entering-the-united- states- unaccompanied.