Residential Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children
Funds organizations providing round-the-clock residential or transitional foster care for unaccompanied children, with particular interest in services near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Funder: Administration for Children and Families - ORR
Due Dates: November 17, 2026 (Optional webinar) | December 29, 2026 (FY27 application) | April 1, 2027 (Expected project start) | December 29, 2027 (FY28 application)
Funding Amounts: $2,000,000–$5,600,000 for the first budget period; planned three-year projects; $280,000,000 total estimated funding
Summary: Supports child-centered group home, shelter, and transitional foster care services for unaccompanied children in ORR custody.
Key Information: Applications must include active licenses for each proposed service model, including required child placement licenses.
Description
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), funds residential providers offering high-quality, child-centered care for unaccompanied children. Cooperative agreements support group homes, shelters, and transitional foster care. Providers are responsible for children's day-to-day physical care and safety while children remain in federal legal custody.
Funded programs must provide comprehensive services, including education, case management, counseling, recreation, and access to health care. Services must operate around the clock, with capacity to accept children at any time when safe and consistent with state licensing requirements. ORR particularly prioritizes residential beds and transitional foster care near the U.S. southern border with Mexico, and smaller shelters and group homes that support individualized attention, close supervision, and stable care.
