The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a division of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), manages vital programs dedicated to supporting unaccompanied children who have arrived in the United States. Among these, two key initiatives stand out: the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program and the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Program. While both serve vulnerable minors, the URM program is specifically tailored to offer comprehensive foster care to unaccompanied refugee minors.
The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Foster Care Program is designed to serve some of the world’s most at-risk youth – children and teenagers who have fled persecution, violence, or abuse and have entered the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian. These young individuals, representing approximately 50 different nationalities, require specialized care that addresses both their child welfare needs and their experiences as refugees.
What distinguishes the URM program is its unique approach, blending child welfare best practices with expertise in refugee resettlement. This combination allows the program to effectively care for minors who have experienced forced migration and often significant trauma. Through partnerships with state agencies and local service providers, ORR ensures that unaccompanied refugee minors and other special youth populations within the U.S. receive the essential care and services they need to thrive. This includes granting legal authority to act in place of unavailable parents, mirroring the support provided to all children in foster care within the state. State entities, with ORR support, administer and oversee the program, ensuring adherence to all program and financial regulations.
The success of the unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program hinges on broad community involvement. Foster parents are at the heart of this program, alongside mentors, former unaccompanied refugee minors themselves, volunteers, faith-based leaders, ethnic community leaders, educators, coaches, business owners, and countless other dedicated individuals.
Who is Eligible for the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Foster Care Program?
Initially, the URM program was exclusively for unaccompanied minors who had been formally granted refugee status while still overseas. However, recognizing the needs of other vulnerable populations, Congress broadened the eligibility criteria over time. Currently, the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Foster Care Program extends its services to:
- Refugees
- Asylees
- Cuban and Haitian entrants
- Certain minors with Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification or Status
- Victims of Human Trafficking
- U Status recipients
- Paroled Unaccompanied Afghan Minors
- Paroled Unaccompanied Ukrainian Minors
With the exception of refugees directly referred by the U.S. Department of State, all other potentially eligible minors, including those under the purview of ORR’s Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau, are required to undergo an application process to be considered for placement and services within the unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program. ORR makes the final determination on program entry, basing its decision on the minor’s best interests and the availability of suitable placement options.
Services Provided by the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Foster Care Program
The primary focus of the unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program is the safety, education, well-being, and eventual self-sufficiency of each minor under its care. Services are meticulously designed to meet state child welfare standards and comply with all relevant ORR regulations and policies.
The comprehensive services offered may include:
- Financial assistance for housing, food, clothing, and essential needs
- Intensive case management provided by experienced social workers
- English language training and educational support
- Preparation for independent living as young adults
- Educational Training Vouchers to support further education
- Access to comprehensive health care, including dental and mental health services
- Vocational training and career planning guidance
- Cultural orientation and support for social adjustment
- Preservation of the minor’s ethnic and religious heritage
- Safety planning to ensure their well-being
- Coordination of immigration-related legal assistance
- Family tracing and reunification services
Family Reunification and Foster Care Placements
The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Foster Care Program prioritizes family reunification whenever it is safe and appropriate. When possible, the program actively works to reunify minors with their parents or other suitable adult relatives. However, in cases where parents are deceased, untraceable, or deemed unfit due to abuse or neglect, long-term foster care placements become crucial. Placement options are varied and tailored to individual needs, including traditional foster homes, group homes, supervised independent living arrangements, and residential treatment facilities for those with more intensive needs.
Program Providers and Locations
Two national agencies play a pivotal role in facilitating placements for the unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program: Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service – LIRS) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). These agencies collaborate closely with local URM service providers across various states to ensure effective program delivery.
Local providers offering services under the unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program are located in:
- Arizona: Phoenix
- California: Fullerton, San Jose, Sacramento
- Colorado: Denver, Colorado Springs
- District of Columbia: Washington, D.C.
- Florida: Miami
- Massachusetts: Worcester, Waltham
- Michigan: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing
- Mississippi: Jackson
- North Dakota: Fargo
- New York: Rochester, Syracuse
- Pennsylvania: Jenkintown
- Texas: Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth
- Utah: Salt Lake City
- Virginia: Richmond
- Washington: Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane
Funding and Contact Information
The unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program is financially supported through ORR’s Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA) grants, distributed to specific states via State Refugee Coordinators’ offices. These state offices then allocate funding to the local URM service providers who directly serve the youth.
For further inquiries about the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Foster Care Program, please reach out via email to [email protected].
Research and Program Evaluation
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to continuous improvement and understanding of the unaccompanied refugee minors foster care program. In 2021, ACF’s Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) completed a comprehensive three-year descriptive study of the URM program. This research aimed to gain deeper insights into the range of child welfare services and benefits provided, as well as the characteristics and experiences of the young people served. Key findings include detailed analyses of youth demographics, living arrangements, service utilization, and critical milestones such as obtaining lawful permanent resident status and educational achievements. OPRE has published several resources related to this study, including a select findings brief, a final report, and program provider snapshots. Additionally, special topic reports focusing on education and mental health within the URM program offer valuable insights that extend beyond the program itself and can benefit other ORR initiatives and grantees.
