Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children

For Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 competition. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has modified: Section I. Program Description (revised language related to vaccinations and Faith-Based Organizations); Section II. Federal Award Information (updated estimated funding and award amounts); Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times (provided applicable due dates); and Section VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements, Pertinent Federal Laws and Regulations for the UAC Program (updated the list of governing laws and regulations). Terminology was revised throughout the document to comply with Presidential Executive Orders. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau (UACB), within the Administration for Children and Families, provides temporary shelter care and other child welfare-related services to unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in ORR custody. Residential care services begin once ORR accepts a UAC for placement and end when the minor is released from ORR custody, turns 18 years of age, or the minor’s immigration case results in a final disposition of removal from the United States. Residential care and other child welfare-related services are provided by state-licensed residential care programs in the least restrictive setting appropriate for the UAC’s age and special needs. ORR is announcing the availability of funds under this Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity (SNOFO) to seek Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for UAC providers. For the purposes of this SNOFO, the term "care provider" refers to the prime recipient and if applicable, its subrecipient(s). LTFC providers, or care providers, are required to be licensed (child placement license and any other required license according to state regulations) in the state in which they are located to provide foster care services and are required to meet the needs of UAC by providing quality care in a community setting. UAC who may qualify for placement in LTFC include the following: minors between the ages of 0-17 years of age, sibling groups, pregnant/parenting teens, and/or minors who are especially vulnerable or with other special needs. All entities funded under this SNOFO must also comply with Flores v. Reno, No. 85-4544-RJK (Px) (C.D. Cal. Jan. 17, 1997) (the Flores Settlement Agreement); pertinent federal laws and regulations; and ORR policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, the ORR Policy Guide and Manual of Procedures. ORR encourages applicants to review ORR's policies, instructions, and procedures, as these will be critical to the overall program design. Please see Section VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements, Pertinent Federal Laws and Regulations for the UAC Program, for a list of relevant federal laws and regulations.