Home Study and Post-Release Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children​​

The Administration for Children and Families, through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, is soliciting cooperative agreements for the Home Study and Post-Release Services (HS/PRS) program under solicitation HHS-2026-ACF-ORR-ZU-0019. This initiative provides critical support for unaccompanied alien children under 18 who lack legal permission to be in the U.S. and have no legal guardian. The program focuses on two primary functional areas: conducting thorough home studies to ensure children are placed in safe, appropriate environments and providing voluntary post-release services to facilitate family reunification, community integration, and stability while children navigate immigration proceedings. Core service areas include legal assistance, health and education support, youth and community resources, and specialized care for high-need cases. The agency intends to award up to 20 recipients with individual budget period ceilings of up to 100 million dollars, contributing to an expected total funding pool of 555 million dollars over a five-year project period. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to operate nationwide using either a multi-regional office model with at least four offices in different states or a remote workforce model spanning at least eight regions. Evaluation is based on a 125-point scale, prioritizing the purpose and need, the technical response, resources and capabilities, impact, and alignment with ACF priorities. Strict compliance requirements are in place, including mandatory FBI fingerprinting, child protective services checks, and ORR Central Registry checks for all staff and volunteers. Direct service staff must complete at least 20 hours of training before engaging with children. Additionally, providers must adhere to rigorous confidentiality standards and maintain case records for 50 years. Applications are due by October 1, 2026, via Grants.gov, and must include a detailed project narrative and supporting documentation, including proof of legal status for for-profit or small business entities.