Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Children

The Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Children grant, administered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), supports the provision of foster and group home care to unaccompanied children (UC) in federal custody. ORR’s Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Operations (DUCO) is responsible for the placement, care, and eventual release of these children. This grant is governed by several federal statutes including the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, and related regulations such as the Flores Settlement Agreement and the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The purpose of this program is to ensure that UCs, who do not have viable sponsors and require extended care, are provided with safe, appropriate, and licensed long-term foster care. Services under this grant include the provision of foster or group homes, educational services, mental and physical health care, acculturation programs, case management, legal services, and support for safe and timely release when possible. All services must be trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and compliant with both federal laws and ORR policies. Specific populations served include children aged 0–17, pregnant and parenting teens, sibling groups, and those with special vulnerabilities. Grants under this program are awarded as cooperative agreements, giving ORR substantial involvement in program design and oversight. Award amounts range from $500,000 to $1,000,000 per budget period, with a total estimated program funding of $15 million. The program anticipates making approximately 15 awards. Funding will be provided for a 36-month project period divided into three 12-month budget periods. ORR may terminate or reduce funding for grantees failing to meet licensure or performance expectations, and will evaluate grantees using a standardized metrics scorecard. Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations, such as nonprofit and for-profit entities, public and private institutions of higher education, and local and tribal governments. However, individuals, sole proprietors, and foreign entities are not eligible. All applicants must be licensed by the state in which they operate to provide foster or group home services for dependent children. Failure to submit valid licensure documentation for each proposed facility will result in disqualification. Additional eligibility documentation must be provided at the time of application, including leases or letters of intent for property use. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. The deadline for FY 2025 applications is January 3, 2025, with the project period running from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. The anticipated award start date is November 1, 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline or those exceeding the $1,000,000 award ceiling will be disqualified. Applications must follow specific formatting and submission requirements, including the submission of only two files: one containing the narrative and budget, and the other containing appendices and supporting documents. For additional information, applicants may contact Karen Code, the Grants Management Specialist, at (202) 401-6888 or Karen.Code@acf.hhs.gov. Applicants are encouraged to consult ORR’s Unaccompanied Children Program Policy Guide and ensure all required assessments, documentation, and reporting are consistent with program expectations. The opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis but is expected to recur annually, with the next cycle opening likely in January 2026 based on the published due date.

Submit only two PDF files and strictly follow all formatting and content requirements. Missing licenses or exceeding award ceiling leads to disqualification.