Residential (group home, shelter, transitional foster care) services for unaccompanied alien children - mercyfirst is a federally funded residential shelter program within the office of refugee…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Mercyfirst a $11.172 million cooperative agreement on April 1, 2026, under the Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs (CFDA 93.566) to provide residential shelter and group home services for unaccompanied alien children arriving in the United States without parents or legal guardians.

Mercyfirst, doing business as ST Marys Children & Family Services and based in Syosset, New York, delivers housing, medical care, education, and mental health support to enrolled children. The organization identifies and vets suitable sponsors through comprehensive background checks and maintains case management and support services with the objective of safely reuniting children with vetted sponsors in the least restrictive environment.

The award runs through March 31, 2029, with place of performance in New York. This is a cooperative agreement, an assistance type that establishes a collaborative relationship between the federal agency and the recipient.

Residential (group home, shelter, transitional foster care) services for unaccompanied alien children - mercyfirst is a federally funded residential shelter program within the office of refugee resettlement (ORR) that provides temporary care and services for unaccompanied alien children arriving in the united states without parents or legal guardians. The program ensures children receive essential services including housing, medical care, education, and mental health support while identifying and vetting suitable sponsors through comprehensive background checks. The primary objective is to safely reunite children with vetted sponsors in the least restrictive environment while maintaining ongoing case management and support services.