Residential (Group Home, Shelter, Transitional Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children

The Residential (Group Home, Shelter, Transitional Foster Care) Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children funding opportunity is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program aims to ensure the well-being and safety of unaccompanied alien children under the legal custody of the federal government by funding organizations capable of providing high-quality, child-centered care. These care services must be available on a 24/7 basis and able to accept children at any time, provided it aligns with state licensing regulations and maintains the children's safety. This funding opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding mechanism and falls under the category of Income Security and Social Services. It seeks to support organizations delivering residential care services including group homes, shelters, and transitional foster care for unaccompanied children. While applicants do not need to be licensed at the time of application, they must obtain the necessary licenses before children can be placed in their care. The care provider is defined as the main grant recipient and any applicable subrecipient involved in the project. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and others), tribal governments and organizations, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, small and large for-profit businesses, and faith-based organizations. Individual and foreign applicants are not eligible. Current grantees must consider the end date of their current projects and may apply if their project period aligns with the new award date or if they propose services in new locations to avoid duplication of services in the same area. The application process for this opportunity is expected to open on June 16, 2025, with a submission deadline of September 8, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. Awards are anticipated to be announced on November 1, 2025, with projects starting the same day. The total estimated program funding is $1.5 billion, with anticipated individual awards ranging from $15 million to $500 million, and approximately 100 awards expected. Prospective applicants can direct their inquiries to Joseph Clark at [email protected]. Further details and updates are available through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Refugee Resettlement website at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/grants/ucb. As this is a forecasted opportunity, applicants should regularly monitor the official site for final application materials and any changes in deadlines or requirements.

Ensure readiness for 24/7 operations, secure licensing prior to child placement, avoid duplicative services in same location, and review your current project timelines if already a recipient.