Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2017 ACF ORR ZU 1135

  • The HHS-ACF-ORR in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Standing Announcement for Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Children" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.676.
  • This funding opportunity was created on May 31, 2016 and posted on May 31, 2016.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 01, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
Apply for HHS 2017 ACF ORR ZU 1135

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Opportunity Summary:

The Standing Announcement for Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Children is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), specifically the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Division of Children s Services. Its purpose is to expand and support community-based, state-licensed long-term foster care programs that can provide safe, appropriate, and stable placements for unaccompanied children (UC) who are in ORR custody. ORR is responsible for arranging temporary care for these children after they are accepted into ORR placement, and services continue until the child is released from ORR custody, turns 18, or their immigration case ends in a final removal outcome. The central emphasis in this announcement is ensuring that children are served in the least restrictive setting that fits their age, developmental stage, and individual needs, using licensed child welfare placements rather than more institutional settings whenever long-term foster care is appropriate.

The FOA is designed to identify providers that can deliver high-quality foster care in ordinary community environments and that can respond to a range of child welfare circumstances. The children who may be placed into long-term foster care under this model include infants through 17-year-olds, sibling groups who need to remain together, pregnant or parenting teens who require additional supports, and children who are considered especially vulnerable or who have other complex needs. In practice, this means applicants should be prepared to demonstrate the ability to recruit, screen, train, and support foster families; ensure access to education, medical and behavioral health services; provide case management and child welfare oversight; and maintain placements that prioritize safety, stability, and well-being while immigration proceedings and related legal processes unfold.

Awards are made as cooperative agreements, which usually signals a more active federal role during the project period than a standard grant, often including ongoing coordination, monitoring, and program guidance. The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services, with CFDA number 93.676. The announcement anticipated up to 15 awards, with an award ceiling of $2,500,000 per award (the document does not specify a floor). While the notice is framed as a standing announcement, the listed closing date in the source data is August 1, 2016, and the opportunity number is HHS-2017-ACF-ORR-ZU-1135, originally posted May 31, 2016, which is important context for anyone researching the historical record of this solicitation or looking for successor opportunities.

Eligibility is broad and includes many public and private entities that could plausibly operate or coordinate foster care services. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. In other words, ORR left the door open to a wide variety of organizations, but the practical gating requirement is that long-term foster care providers must be licensed in the state where they operate to provide foster care services and must be able to meet ORR s child welfare standards for unaccompanied children.

A major condition of funding is compliance with the core legal and policy framework governing the care and custody of unaccompanied children. Funded entities must comply with the Flores settlement agreement (Flores v. Reno) and the Perez-Olano settlement agreement, along with relevant regulations, laws, and ORR policies, instructions, and procedures. This matters because these agreements and related ORR policies shape expectations around placement appropriateness, standards of care, children s rights and protections, and the overall conduct of custody and release planning. The announcement specifically encourages applicants to review ORR s published policies and procedures for unaccompanied children because those requirements are treated as foundational to program design and day-to-day operations. In effect, a competitive applicant would need to show not only capacity to run foster placements, but also a clear operational plan for meeting ORR compliance obligations, coordinating with ORR on referrals and releases, documenting care, and maintaining oversight consistent with federal expectations for child safety and well-being.

FAQs: Standing Announcement for Residential (Long Term Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Children (ORR)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Division of Children's Services. It supports residential services delivered through community-based, state-licensed long-term foster care programs for unaccompanied children (UC) in ORR custody.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The purpose is to expand and support community-based, state-licensed long-term foster care capacity so unaccompanied children in ORR custody can be placed in safe, appropriate, and stable foster care settings when long-term foster care is appropriate.

Who are "unaccompanied children" in this context?

In this announcement, unaccompanied children (UC) refers to children who have been accepted into ORR placement and are in ORR custody, and for whom ORR is responsible for arranging temporary care while immigration proceedings and related legal processes unfold.

How long do services continue for a child placed through this program?

Services continue until the child is released from ORR custody, turns 18, or their immigration case ends in a final removal outcome.

What type of placements does ORR emphasize in this announcement?

The central emphasis is serving children in the least restrictive setting that fits their age, developmental stage, and individual needs. The announcement highlights using licensed child welfare placements rather than more institutional settings whenever long-term foster care is appropriate.

What is meant by "long-term foster care" under this opportunity?

Long-term foster care here refers to state-licensed foster care placements in ordinary community environments that provide stable care for unaccompanied children in ORR custody for an extended period, as appropriate to the child's needs and situation.

What kinds of children might be served by these long-term foster care programs?

The announcement notes that children who may be placed include infants through 17-year-olds, sibling groups who need to remain together, pregnant or parenting teens who require additional supports, and children considered especially vulnerable or with other complex needs.

What capabilities are applicants expected to demonstrate?

Applicants are expected to be able to recruit, screen, train, and support foster families; ensure access to education, medical care, and behavioral health services; provide case management and child welfare oversight; and maintain placements that prioritize safety, stability, and well-being while legal and immigration matters proceed.

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

Awards are made as cooperative agreements. This generally indicates a more active federal role during the project period than a standard grant, often including ongoing coordination, monitoring, and program guidance.

Which federal office is administering this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by HHS/ACF/ORR, specifically ORR's Division of Children's Services.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.676.

How many awards were anticipated?

The announcement anticipated up to 15 awards.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $2,500,000 per award.

Is there a minimum award amount (floor) stated?

No floor is specified in the provided information.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is HHS-2017-ACF-ORR-ZU-1135.

When was the opportunity originally posted and when was it due?

It was originally posted on May 31, 2016, and the listed closing date in the source data is August 1, 2016.

Why does the posting and closing date matter?

Because this notice is framed as a standing announcement but shows a 2016 closing date, those dates are important for anyone researching the historical record of this solicitation or trying to identify successor opportunities.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.

Does broad eligibility mean any organization can operate the foster care program?

Not necessarily. While many entity types are eligible to apply, a practical gating requirement is that long-term foster care providers must be licensed in the state where they operate to provide foster care services and must be able to meet ORR child welfare standards for unaccompanied children.

What licensing requirements apply to providers?

Providers must be licensed in the state where they operate to provide foster care services. This state licensing requirement is described as a key practical requirement for operating long-term foster care under this model.

What legal and policy requirements must funded programs follow?

Funded entities must comply with the Flores settlement agreement (Flores v. Reno) and the Perez-Olano settlement agreement, along with relevant regulations, laws, and ORR policies, instructions, and procedures.

Why are the Flores and Perez-Olano settlement agreements relevant to this program?

They shape expectations around placement appropriateness, standards of care, children's rights and protections, and the overall conduct of custody and release planning for unaccompanied children served in ORR custody.

What does ORR expect applicants to do regarding ORR policies and procedures?

The announcement specifically encourages applicants to review ORR's published policies and procedures for unaccompanied children, treating them as foundational to program design and day-to-day operations.

What does "least restrictive setting" mean in the context of this FOA?

Based on the announcement language, it means prioritizing placements that fit a child's age, developmental stage, and individual needs while avoiding unnecessarily restrictive or institutional settings when a licensed foster care placement is appropriate.

What kinds of services and supports are expected for children in foster care placements?

The announcement highlights access to education, medical services, and behavioral health services, along with case management and child welfare oversight designed to support safety, stability, and well-being.

What role does ORR play once an award is made?

Because awards are cooperative agreements, ORR is expected to have an active role that may include ongoing coordination, monitoring, and program guidance during the project period.

What does ORR's responsibility for "temporary care" mean for this program?

ORR is responsible for arranging care for children after they are accepted into ORR placement. Under this opportunity, that care may be delivered through community-based long-term foster care until release from ORR custody, the child turns 18, or the immigration case reaches a final removal outcome.

What does the announcement suggest about serving sibling groups?

It explicitly notes sibling groups as a population that may be served, indicating programs should be able to support placements that keep siblings together when needed.

What does the announcement suggest about serving pregnant or parenting teens?

It identifies pregnant or parenting teens as potential placements and notes they may require additional supports, implying programs should be prepared for those circumstances within their foster care model.

What does the announcement mean by "especially vulnerable" or "complex needs"?

The announcement uses these terms to signal that some children placed may have heightened vulnerabilities or needs that require more intensive supports and careful oversight within a foster care setting.

What should a competitive applicant be able to show beyond basic foster care capacity?

The announcement indicates applicants should demonstrate an operational plan for ORR compliance obligations, coordination with ORR on referrals and releases, documentation of care, and oversight consistent with federal expectations for child safety and well-being.

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