Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. (doing business as Upbring) received a $8.29 million Cooperative Agreement from the Office of Refugee Resettlement under the Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs (CFDA 93.566) for the period April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029. The award funds a federally supported residential shelter program that provides temporary care and services for unaccompanied alien children arriving in the United States without parents or legal guardians. The program delivers essential services including housing, medical care, education, and mental health support while conducting comprehensive background checks to identify and vet suitable sponsors for case placement.

The primary objective of this agreement is to safely reunite unaccompanied children with vetted sponsors in the least restrictive environment possible while maintaining ongoing case management and support services. The program operates in Texas and aligns with CFDA 93.566's broader mandate to support the resettlement and integration of vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied refugee minors, through coordinated care and sponsorship placement activities.