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Grants / Department of Health and Human Services / Administration for Children and Families - ORR

HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0167: Residential (Staff Secure) Services for Unaccompanied Children

Closed Closed December 12, 2023 Opportunity HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0167

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Residential Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children (HHS-2027-ACF-ORR-ZU-0045). Status: Closes December 29, 2026 (52 days left). It is in our archive of Administration for Children and Families - ORR notices from 2023.

Administration for Children and Families - ORR offered grants of up to $20.0 million (at least $1.0 million) to any type of organization. It expected to make about 10 awards worth $40.0 million in total. Applications closed on December 12, 2023.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed October 13, 2023. Checked November 7, 2026.

Key dates

PostedFebruary 23, 2023
DeadlineDecember 12, 2023
Archived by Grants.govJanuary 11, 2024

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to any type of organization.

All 15 applicant types the notice lists

Eligibility is unrestricted. Applicants must submit documentation of their state child placement license issued by a state licensing agency for each proposed state within their application to provide residential care services for children; Texas-based programs must provide proof of such state child placement licensure in the State of Texas as of August 30, 2021, that was subsequently rescinded pursuant to § 726 TAC § 745.115(1)(B). Florida-based programs must provide proof of such state child placement licensure in the State of Florida as of September 28, 2021, that subsequently lapsed or expired, or is reasonably expected to lapse or expire, pursuant to Florida Executive Order No. 21-223, § 8. South Carolina based programs must provide proof of state licensure in South Carolina as of April 12, 2021, that subsequently lapsed or expired, or is reasonably expected to lapse or expire, pursuant to South Carolina Executive Order No. 2021-19. Applicants in other states that are delicensed because they house, will house, or are planning to house unaccompanied children, must submit evidence, including citation to any relevant law, executive order, or regulation, that delicenses or effectively delicenses the program. Applicants' failure to submit the required documentation will be disqualified from the application review process and from funding under this SNOFO. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

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Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The Office of Refugee Resettlement/Division of Unaccompanied Children Operations (ORR/DUCO), within the Administration for Children and Families, provides temporary shelter care and other child welfare-related services to unaccompanied children (UC) in ORR custody. Residential care services begin once ORR accepts a UC for placement and end when the minor is released from ORR custody, turns 18 years of age, or the minor’s immigration case results in a final disposition of removal from the United States. Residential care and other child welfare-related services are provided by state-licensed residential care programs in the least restrictive setting appropriate for the UC’s age and special needs. ORR is announcing the availability of funds under this Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity (SNOFO) to seek staff secure residential care providers. A staff secure care provider facility maintains stricter security measures, such as higher staff to UC ratio for supervision, to control disruptive behavior and to prevent escape. Residential care providers operating a staff secure facility must be licensed (state child placement license and facility license) to provide residential care services for UC that require a heightened level of supervision. All entities funded under this SNOFO must also comply with Flores v. Reno, Case No. CV 85- 4544 RJK (C.D. Cal. 1996) (the Flores Settlement Agreement); pertinent federal laws and regulations; and ORR policies and procedures, including, but not limited to, the ORR Policy Guide and Manual of Procedures. ORR encourages applicants to review ORR's policies, instructions, and procedures at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-program-policy-guide as these will be critical to the overall program design. Please refer to this SNOFO when it publishes for more details on application closing dates and project periods.

Category: Income Security and Social Services.

Who has won Unaccompanied Alien Children Program grants before

From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Unaccompanied Alien Children Program (93.676) awarded $12 billion across 564 grant awards, an average of $20.6 million per award.

Largest recipients, fiscal 2021 to 2025
RecipientStateAwardsAmount
Southwest Key Programs IncTexas22$3.2 billion
BCFS Health and Human ServicesTexas13$1.2 billion
Compass ConnectionsTexas12$1.0 billion
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service IncMaryland22$489 million
National Youth Advocate Program, Inc.Ohio10$449 million

Top states: Texas ($6.2 billion), New York ($1.3 billion), Maryland ($810 million), Virginia ($730 million), California ($512 million).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, HHS-2027-ACF-ORR-ZU-0045, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.

Questions people ask

Is HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0167 still open?

No. It closed on December 12, 2023. A newer notice is open: HHS-2027-ACF-ORR-ZU-0045, closes December 29, 2026 (52 days left).

Who can apply for Residential (Staff Secure) Services for Unaccompanied Children?

Administration for Children and Families - ORR accepted applications from any type of organization. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for Residential (Staff Secure) Services for Unaccompanied Children?

Closed December 12, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $20.0 million each. About $40.0 million in total across about 10 awards.

Who has won Unaccompanied Alien Children Program grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Southwest Key Programs Inc, BCFS Health and Human Services, Compass Connections. The program made 564 awards worth $12 billion in that time.

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