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, through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, awarded Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. (doing business as Upbring) a cooperative agreement totaling $9.13 million on April 1, 2026, under CFDA 93.566 (Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs).

Lutheran Social Services operates residential shelter, group home, and transitional foster care programs providing temporary care and services for unaccompanied alien children arriving in the United States without parents or legal guardians. The program delivers housing, medical care, education, and mental health support while identifying and vetting suitable sponsors through comprehensive background checks. Services include ongoing case management and support to safely reunite children with vetted sponsors in the least restrictive environment.

The award obligates $9.13 million and runs through March 31, 2029. Place of performance is Texas, where Lutheran Social Services operates multiple facilities 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 Refugee and Entrant Assistance program provides funding for cash and medical assistance, foster care, and youth services for refugees and eligible entrants, with the unaccompanied alien children component supporting care and administrative costs for enrolled unaccompanied refugee minors.

DBA upbring is a federally funded residential TFC 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.