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

The Administration for Children and Families, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office of Refugee Resettlement, has released the Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0162. This funding opportunity supports the provision of Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children. The Office of Refugee Resettlement is charged with providing temporary shelter, child welfare, and placement services for minors in federal custody who lack lawful immigration status and have no parent or legal guardian available in the United States. These services are intended to ensure children are housed in the least restrictive setting appropriate for their age and needs until they can be safely released, turn 18, or receive a final immigration disposition. The program is authorized under Section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, and associated regulations, as well as the Flores Settlement Agreement. This program seeks licensed providers capable of offering foster care and group home placements for minors ages 0 to 17, including sibling groups, pregnant or parenting teens, and children with special needs or vulnerabilities. Applicants must be fully licensed to provide child placement services in their state and maintain compliance with ORR’s policy guides, program manuals, and relevant federal law. The cooperative agreements awarded will support long-term foster care placements, therapeutic foster care, group homes, and therapeutic group homes, as well as respite care capacity. Providers are expected to ensure adequate staffing, adhere to child welfare best practices, and incorporate trauma-informed approaches. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to provide or arrange for case management, legal representation, medical and mental health care, education, acculturation services, and safe and timely release planning. They must also establish partnerships with local resources including schools, legal aid, community health providers, and immigration courts. Strong safeguards for health, safety, privacy, and compliance with nondiscrimination protections are required. The program anticipates funding approximately 100 awards, with an estimated total of $140,000,000 available, subject to federal appropriations. Awards range from a minimum of $500,000 to a maximum of $12,000,000 per budget period, depending on facility size and scope. Each project period will last 36 months and is divided into three annual budget periods. Continuation funding is contingent upon compliance, progress, and available resources. Recipients are required to comply with the Service Contract Act wage and benefit requirements, reporting obligations, and program evaluation. Construction and major renovations are prohibited uses of funds, though minor approved alterations may be permitted with prior approval. Eligibility is unrestricted, though individuals, sole proprietorships, and foreign entities are specifically excluded. Applicants must provide documentation of state licensure for each proposed care facility. Faith-based and community organizations are eligible provided they comply with federal nondiscrimination rules and submit alternative service plans if religious objections preclude provision of certain services. Matching or cost-sharing is not required. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with strict formatting rules and mandatory documentation including budget justification, legal status certifications, staff resumes or position descriptions, and lease documentation where applicable. Applications are due by 2025-11-17 at 11:59 PM ET. Paper submissions are not permitted unless an exemption is granted by ACF. The anticipated start date for funded projects is 2026-05-01. Review will be based on technical merit, program design, organizational capacity, and adherence to statutory and program requirements. Applicants may contact Anita White at the Office of Grants Management, Administration for Children and Families, Washington, DC at anita.white@acf.hhs.gov for application package requests and clarification. The cooperative agreement emphasizes a close working relationship with ORR, which retains authority over critical case management decisions, release approvals, and program compliance oversight.