Residential (group home, shelter, transitional foster care) services for unaccompanied alien children - lutheran social services of the south, INC

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. (doing business as Upbring) a $22.258 million cooperative agreement on April 1, 2026 under the Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs (CFDA 93.566).

The award funds residential shelter, group home, and transitional foster care services for unaccompanied alien children arriving in the United States without parents or legal guardians. Lutheran Social Services delivers temporary housing, medical care, education, and mental health support to children in its care. The organization identifies and vets suitable sponsors through comprehensive background checks and conducts case management and support services to safely reunite children with vetted sponsors in the least restrictive environment.

The period of performance runs from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029. Work is performed in Texas, including operations at established facilities: Bokenkamp Children's Shelter in Corpus Christi, New Hope Emergency Shelter in McAllen, and Grace House in McAllen. The cooperative agreement is a form of assistance funding typical of ORR's partnership with Lutheran Social Services, which has operated refugee and entrant services programs in Texas for over two decades.

DBA upbring 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.