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 a cooperative agreement totaling $18.497 million to Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. (doing business as Upbring) 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 provides temporary housing, medical care, education, and mental health support while conducting comprehensive background checks to identify and vet suitable sponsors for reunification. The program maintains ongoing case management and support services to place children in the least restrictive environment.

Performance runs through March 31, 2029, with all work performed in Texas. Lutheran Social Services operates multiple facilities across the state, including Bokenkamp Children's Shelter in Corpus Christi, New Hope Emergency Shelter in McAllen, and Grace House in McAllen, which provides up to 60 emergency shelter beds and 16 therapeutic beds.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement, a sub-office within the Administration for Children and Families, administers this award as part of the federal residential services program for unaccompanied alien children.

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.