Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0189.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Refugee Resettlement

Residential Treatment Center Services for Unaccompanied Children

HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0189

Application Due Date: 07/31/2023

Due Date for Applications:

July 31, 2023 (Project Period: January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027) June 3, 2024 (Project Period: January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028) June 3, 2025 (Project Period: January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029)

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Appendix

Funding Opportunity Title:

Residential Treatment Center Services for Unaccompanied Children Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACF-ORR-ZU-0189

Primary CFDA Number:

93.676 Due Date for Applications:

07/31/2023 Due Date for Applications:

July 31, 2023 (Project Period: January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027) June 3, 2024 (Project Period: January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028) June 3, 2025 (Project Period: January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2029)

Executive Summary

Notice:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for grants, please visit "How to Apply for a Grant" on the ACF Grants & Funding Page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

PROGRAM PURPOSE: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) provides temporary shelter care and other services to unaccompanied children (referred to as child, or children). A unaccompanied child is defined in statute as a child who has no lawful immigration status in the United States; has not attained 18 years of age; and with respect to whom there is no parent or legal guardian in the United States, or not parent or legal guardian in the United States is available to provide care and physical custody. ORR is seeking Residential Treatment Center (RTC) care providers that specialize in the high-quality care of children who have psychiatric or psychological issue that cannot be addressed in an outpatient setting and will require heightened behavioral and/or mental health support. For the purposes of this Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity (SNOFO), the term “care provider” refers to the prime recipient and, if applicable, its subrecipients.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligibility is unrestricted. This SNOFO is open to state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, for profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. See Section III. Eligibility Information for additional details including the licensing requirements for this SNOFO. Please note that certain programs in Texas, Florida, and South Carolina are exempt from the licensing requirements.

Applicants from these states must submit proof of licensure with their application as noted in Section IV.2. The Project Description, Additional Eligibility Documentation.

ACTIVITIES: RTC care providers provide comprehensive on-site services for children, such as education, case management, counseling, individual service plans, and access to medical services.

OUTCOMES AND MEASUREMENT: Recipients funded under this SNOFO will be evaluated based on the availability of the funded bed capacity, the safety of children while in the funded program, the recipient’s efforts to safely unify children with their sponsors, and children’s health and well-being.

Organizations funded under this SNOFO, will need to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and ORR requirements. ORR requirements include what is outlined in this SNOFO, the cooperative agreement, and the ORR Unaccompanied Children Program Policy Guide.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority ORR’s services for unaccompanied children are authorized under section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA of 2002), 6 U.S.C. § 279; Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA of 2008), 8 U.S.C. 1232, as amended; relevant portions of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA of 2003), 42 U.S.C. 15607, as amended; and 45 C.F.R. Part 411 - Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment Involving Unaccompanied Children. ORR must also comply with the terms of the Stipulated Settlement Agreement, Flores v. Reno, No. 85-4544- RJK (Px) (C.D. Cal. Jan. 17, 1997).

In December 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an Interim Final Rule (IFR) on standards to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment involving unaccompanied children (45 C.F.R. Part 411). The IFR sets forth standards to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and sexual harassment in ORR care provider facilities that house unaccompanied children in accordance with section 1101(c) of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Public Law (Pub. L.) 113-4 (VAWA 2013). VAWA 2013 directed the Secretary of HHS to adopt national standards for the detection, prevention, reduction, and punishment of rape and sexual assault in facilities that maintain custody of children. The standards apply to all ORR care provider facilities housing children with the exclusion of secure care provider facilities and individual foster care homes. The standards build upon and enhance existing state and local laws, regulations, and licensing standards.

Description https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-program-policy-guide

ORR is accepting applications for the fiscal year FY 2023 Residential Treatment Center Services for Unaccompanied Children. The purpose of this project is to fund organizations that demonstrate an ability to provide high-quality and child-centered residential care that ensures children’s safety and well-being.

PROGRAM PURPOSE

ORR may place children with RTC care providers who require psychiatric or psychological support and do not require inpatient hospitalization. ORR may place a child in an RTC if the child is determined to be a danger to self or others by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist consulted by ORR or an ORR-funded care provider. RTC care providers must have the capacity to accept all referrals and treat children with a history of psychological, physical, sexual, or emotional trauma that usually results in depression, dissociative disorders, conduct disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or any other qualifying psychiatric diagnoses. RTC care providers must deliver clinical treatment and related services, including psychiatric support and skill building, within the context of a safe group home or hospital setting under the supervision of a clinical team or attending psychiatrist.

You can be a care provider if you:

Can offer residential services 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.

Have a program that will provide capacity for up to 12 beds per program.

Can comply with all applicable state child welfare laws, regulations, state licensing standards, and all state and local building, fire, health, and safety codes.

Provide suitable living accommodations, including bed, chair, desk, and storage for clothing and other personal items.

Have the capacity to provide children with:

o culturally appropriate meals and snacks;

o several sets of new clothing and personal grooming items.

Provide accessibility to persons with disabilities.

Offer transportation to immigration courts, pro bono legal services, airports, and service providers.

Provide designated common areas, spaces for recreation, education, and case management; and confidential spaces for counseling, health services, and attorney meetings.

Provide a security system, with alarms and video monitoring to protect children and prevent unauthorized entrance and exit.

Provide the required services described in Section I. Program Description, Unaccompanied Children Program Required Services-Care Provider Responsibilities.

Meet licensing and accreditation requirements outlined in Section III. Eligibility Information; Section III. 3. Other, ORR Disqualification Factor; and Section IV.2. The Project Description, Additional Eligibility Documentation.

PROGRAM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

RTC care providers must develop and implement a staffing plan that provides for qualified staff to meet the diverse needs of the children who will receive services through this award. RTC care providers must obtain approval from ACF before hiring the below key personnel. Key personnel are staff members who must be part of the project and make a substantial contribution to its execution.

Program Director is responsible for the overall management of the programmatic, administrative, financial, and operational systems related to the provision of care and services;

provision of regular and timely reports to ORR regarding operations, services, and finances;

establishing a respectful and supportive workplace environment; and elevation of any issues or concerns to ORR. At a minimum, the Program Director must have a Master of Social Work (MSW) or an equivalent degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science degree; or a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of experience in child welfare administration, child protective services, and 2 years of experience in program management or as Director of a licensed childcare program. The Program Director must possess the administrator’s license for the care provider's facility(ies).

Assistant Program Director provides support to the Program Director and serves as a secondary liaison with ORR. The need for an Assistant Program Director will vary depending on the number of children served at a care provider facility(ies). At a minimum, the Assistant Program Director must have a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science plus 5 years of progressive employment experience with a social services or childcare agency or organization.

Lead Clinician coordinates clinical services, trains new clinicians, and supervises clinical staff.

At a minimum, the Lead Clinician must have an MSW plus 2 years of postgraduate direct service delivery experience; or a master’s degree or Ph.D. in psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science in which clinical experience is a program requirement plus 2 years of postgraduate direct service delivery experience; or a bachelor's degree plus 5 years of clinical employment experience in the behavioral sciences. The Lead Clinician must have supervisory experience and be licensed to provide clinical services in the state where the care provider is located.

Clinician conducts mental health assessments, provides ongoing individual and group counseling services, screens for human trafficking concerns, and provides crisis intervention services. At a minimum, the Clinician must have an MSW with clinical experience; or a master's degree in psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science in which direct clinical experience is a program requirement; or a bachelor's degree plus 5 years of clinical employment experience. The Clinician must be licensed to provide clinical services.

Lead Case Manager coordinates case management and safe and timely release services, trains new Case Managers, and supervises the work of other Case Managers. At minimum, the Lead Case Manager must have a master’s degree in the behavioral sciences, human services, or social services fields; or a bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of progressive employment experience that demonstrates supervisory and case management experience.

Prevention of Sexual Abuse (PSA) Compliance Manager is responsible for managing implementation and ongoing compliance with the IFR on preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse and sexual harassment. At a minimum, the PSA Compliance Manager must have a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences, human services, or social service fields; or a bachelor's degree in business administration or management and at least 1 year of experience working with child welfare standards, best practices, or quality assurance or compliance.

As a RTC care provider, organizations must also satisfy staffing ratios that are required based on the state’s licensing requirements and the ORR requirements included below:

1 on-duty Direct Care Staff for every 4 children during waking hours;

1 on-duty Direct Care Staff for every 8 children during sleeping hours;

Case Manager to child ration of 1:4, unless waived by ORR; and Clinician to child ratio of 1:4, unless waived by ORR.

RTC care providers are subject to the provisions of the Service Contract Act (SCA). For more information, please refer to Section I. Post-Award Requirements, SCA Requirements.

Consistent with ORR policies, RTC care providers must complete background investigations on all staff, contractors, and volunteers before their hire. For additional information on the specific types of checks that must be completed, please consult the ORR Unaccompanied Children Program Policy Guide Section 4.3 Personnel.

RTC care providers’ hiring and employment practices must also abide by all requirements aimed at preventing, detecting, and responding to sexual abuse and harassment. Sexual abuse and harassment have no place in the Unaccompanied Children Program and will not be tolerated.

All staff also must be at least 21 years of age, and have the requisite qualifications, training, and vaccinations. Staff must be able to show proof of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases transmitted by the respiratory route if working directly with children, including:

Varicella: Two doses of varicella vaccine (at least 4 weeks apart) OR born in the United States before 1980 with a reported history of chickenpox (verified by an adult present at the time of illness) OR titers indicating varicella immunity OR documentation from healthcare provider verifying previous infection.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Two doses of MMR vaccine (at least 4 weeks apart) OR titers indicating immunity to all three diseases.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP or Tdap): Complete DTaP or Tdap primary vaccination series. If primary vaccination series completed in childhood, one DTaP dose in adulthood.

Influenza: One dose annually during flu season.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech; or two doses of Moderna; or one dose of Janssen), with appropriate boosters if they become necessary. An individual is considered fully https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-program-policy-guide-section-4#:~:text=4.3.&text=Training%20ensures%20that%20employees%20understand,the%20individual%20care%20provider%20facility.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-program-policy-guide-section-4#:~:text=4.3.&text=Training%20ensures%20that%20employees%20understand,the%20individual%20care%20provider%20facility.

vaccinated 2 weeks after their final dose. Additional dose(s): a third vaccine dose for certain groups of people, or booster dose(s) as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Criteria for health care staff may differ. More information can be found by visiting the following link: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/. The RTC care provider is responsible for knowing and satisfying requirements beyond ORR's recommendations.

Response to Coronavirus Disease and Other Communicable Diseases: ORR recognizes that as a result of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, activities may need to be adjusted and public health interventions implemented to ensure the safety and health of children and care provider staff. If during the project period, grantees are required to adjust activities due to COVID-19 or other communicable diseases, ORR will exercise maximum flexibility, as needed.

Adjustments must be consistent with the health recommendations provided by ORR, the care provider’s local health jurisdiction, and the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html). Modifications must include safeguards to prevent the spread of disease;

planning to respond to disease cases among staff or children; and planning for staffing absenteeism and shortages.

Training Requirements

Newly hired employees, contractors, interns, and volunteers who will be in direct contact with children must complete pre-service training prior to having such contact. Staff will also be required to complete annual trainings. See ORR Unaccompanied Children Program Policy Guide Section 4.3.6 for additional information on ORR’s policies on sexual abuse and harassment.

Examples of the required trainings include the following:

The right of unaccompanied children and staff to be free from sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and inappropriate sexual behavior;

Recognition of physical, behavioral, and emotional signs of sexual abuse and methods of preventing and responding to such occurrences;

Procedures for reporting knowledge or suspicion of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, or inappropriate behavior as well as how to comply with relevant laws related to mandatory reporting;

Other trauma-informed trainings as identified by ORR on a rolling basis.

Training ensures that employees, contractors, volunteers, and foster parents understand their obligations under ORR policies. RTC care provider facilities must tailor trainings to the unique needs, attributes, and gender of the children in care at the individual care provider facility. For example, an employee must receive additional training if reassigned from a care provider facility that houses only males to a care provider facility that houses only females. RTC care providers must document the completion of all trainings in personnel files. RTC care providers must review and revise their training and development plan annually based on their training needs.

Unaccompanied Children Program Required Services - Care Provider Responsibilities https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/children-entering-united-states-unaccompanied-section-4#4.2 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/children-entering-united-states-unaccompanied-section-4#4.2

Recipient responsibilities are the activities that every recipient must implement.

RTC care providers are required to provide services to children in a structured, safe, and productive environment that meets their state guidelines, relevant federal laws, their cooperative agreement, and the ORR Unaccompanied Children Program Policy Guide. RTC care providers must arrange access to outside services (i.e. specialized service providers such as applied behavioral analysis therapists) on an as-needed basis to address specific issues. When this occurs, the RTC care provider must provide support to the outside providers and collaborate on any additional service plans.

All children in ORR custody must be cared for in a way that meets ORR minimum standards, and to ensure that children are free from discrimination and abuse. As a RTC care provider, you must provide key services and assessments that support the health and well-being of each child.

The services must be sensitive to the age, culture, religion, dietary needs, native language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other important individual needs of each child. RTC care providers must also ensure that children who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) are treated and served fairly during their time in ORR custody.

The services and assessments are required to be administered for all children even if they are in ORR custody for a short period of time. RTC care providers are required to have the capacity to provide services in the language spoken by the majority of children in their program or provide outside translation services.

In general, please refer to the Unaccompanied Children website for more information on the required services and polices. The required services and policies include the following:

I. Minimum Standards for RTC Service Provisions

Activities - RTC care providers are required to ensure that children participate in activities according to a recreation and leisure time plan that includes daily outdoor activities, weather permitting, of at least 1 hour per day of large muscle activity and 1 hour per day of structured leisure time activities other than television. Activities are required to be increased to a total of 3 hours daily on weekends and on other days when school is not in session. Recreation and leisure time activities are separate from the required physical education during school day instruction.

Legal Services - RTC care providers are required to provide children with ORR-supplied information about the availability of free legal assistance, the right to be represented by counsel at no expense to the federal government, the right to a removal hearing or a bond hearing before an immigration judge, the right to apply for legal relief or to request voluntary departure in lieu of removal, and the rights victims of trafficking have under TVPRA of 2008. RTC care providers are required to provide children with access to ORR-funded legal services. As children will meet individually and in groups with the ORR-funded legal service provider to receive legal services and assistance, RTC care providers must ensure the availability of sufficient, scheduled private time for children in https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/children-entering-united-states-unaccompanied-section-3 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/uc spaces that are free from extraneous noise and distractions and transport children to all hearings or proceedings to which the child is a party.

Educational Services - Educational services are required to be provided daily for a minimum of 6 hours; Monday through Friday, year-round, and be appropriate to the child’s level of development, education, and communication skills. Educational services are required to be administered in a structured classroom setting and concentrate primarily on the development of basic academic competencies and secondarily on English Language Training. The educational program consists of instruction, educational materials, and other reading materials in the following basic academic areas: Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Reading, Writing, and Physical Education. The program must also provide appropriate leisure time reading materials in languages other than English.

Religious Access - Whenever possible, RTC care providers must provide or arrange for access to religious services and counseling of the child's choice.

Right to Privacy - Children have a reasonable right to privacy that includes the right to the following: (a) wear his or her own clothes; (b) retain a private space in the residential facility for the storage of personal belongings; (c) talk privately on the phone, as permitted by RTC care provider's rules and regulations; (d) visit privately with guests, as permitted by the RTC care provider's rules and regulations; and (e) receive and send uncensored mail unless there is a reasonable belief that the mail contains contraband.

Rules/Behavior Management - RTC care providers' program rules and discipline standards are required to be formulated with consideration for the range of ages and maturity levels of children in the program and with cultural sensitivity towards all children. These standards must also encompass a strength-based and evidence-based behavior management system that focuses on improving social skills, addressing behavior issues in a non-punitive way, trauma-informed care approaches, such as using conflict resolution, problem-solving skills, and de-escalation techniques helping children and youth learn accountability and self-control, and preparing children to successfully integrate into a least restrictive level of care or community setting. An evidenced based behavior management system that focuses on improving social skills, addressing behavior issues in a non-punitive way, and preparing children to successfully integrate into a least restrictive level of care or community setting. Each shelter must have basic rules posted in both English and Spanish. RTC care providers must ensure rules and any other ORR-required documents such as these are accessible to children whose primary language is not English or Spanish and, where possible, include visuals, subject to verification by ORR. These rules must be reviewed with children upon placement with a focus on safety, respect, and group living. Misbehavior must be resolved on an individual basis. All interventions must be positive, strength-based, and must never subject children to corporal or other punishment, including humiliation, mental abuse, or punitive interference with the daily functions of living, such as eating or sleeping or ORR expected services, such as weekly calls to family or clinical sessions.

Visitation/Phone Calls - Children must be provided the opportunity to make a minimum of 2 telephone calls per week (10 minutes each) to family members and/or sponsors, in a private setting. Children are allowed to call both family members, and sponsors living in the United States and abroad. Children also have a right to receive visitors. Attorneys representing children must have unlimited telephone access to the children and the children may speak to other appropriate stakeholders, such as their consulate, the case coordinator, or child advocate. Visitations may need to occur in a setting other than the RTC to ensure the safety and well-being of the child and other minors in the facility.

Vocational Educational Services - RTC care providers are encouraged to create or provide access to vocational training opportunities that will provide children with practical and competitive job skills and assist in the preparation for adulthood.

Vocational programs may not replace academic education or be a substitute for the basic subject areas.

II. Case Management and Required Services

Orientation - Within 48 hours of admission, care providers are required to provide every child with a comprehensive program orientation that covers the program's services, rules (written and verbal), expectations, zero tolerance policy towards sexual abuse and sexual harassment, and the availability of free legal assistance. The orientation must be provided in formats that are accessible to children who are limited English proficient, deaf, visually impaired, or otherwise disabled, and those who have limited reading skills.

Individualized Needs Assessments - RTC care providers are required to provide an individualized ongoing assessment for each child which includes:

o Initial Intake Assessment must be completed within 24 hours of a child’s admission. This assessment guides the interviewer through a series of questions to obtain information about family members, immediate medical or mental health concerns, current medications, and any concerns about a child's personal safety.

o UC Assessment (initial intake assessment, psychosocial summary, medical information, and trauma and human trafficking assessment) must be completed within 5 days of the child’s admission. This assessment gathers initial information relating to the child’s journey, current medical concerns and health history, the child and family's psychosocial assessment, trauma and substance abuse history, information about a child's work history or concerns about working to pay off debt, exploitation or trafficking concerns, and other essential data relating to the identification and history of the child and his/her family.

o Assessment for Risk must be completed within 72 hours of a child’s admission and updated every 30 days. This assessment is used to identify risk factors for potential sexual victimization or sexual abuser tendencies, so early intervention can take place to mitigate any potential risks or safety concerns.

o UC Case Review must be completed at least every 30 days to assess the child’s:

Mental health and any special medical needs or issues that may require immediate intervention;

Educational assessment and plan;

Ongoing behavioral issues and any previous juvenile justice or criminal involvement;

Statement of religious preference and practice; and Identifying information. During the Case Review, the RTC care provider continues to and gather additional information regarding the child's immediate family members, other relatives, or family friends who may be residing in the United States and able to be the child’s sponsor.

Individual Service Plan - RTC care providers are required to complete a comprehensive and realistic Individual Service Plan (ISP) for each child in accordance with the child's needs as determined by the UC Assessment and assessment of any trafficking concerns.

ISPs are implemented and closely coordinated through clinical assessment and intervention plans and supported by the case management system. The ISP must be completed within 5 days of admission and updated every 30 days thereafter. In cases where human trafficking is suspected or confirmed, the care provider is required to refer the child to ACF’s Office on Trafficking in Persons and provide or refer the child to other services to ensure the child has access to all services guaranteed by the TVPRA Act of 2008. Same-sex supervision must be provided when indicated by individual treatment needs.

Case Management Services - RTC care providers are required to implement and administer a case management system that tracks and monitors a child's progress on a regular basis to ensure that each child receives the full range of program services in an integrated and comprehensive manner. Case managers are required to meet with children once a week, at a minimum, preferably in person. Case managers are required to remain up to date on ORR reunification policies and procedures, as well as ensure the timely release of minors with viable sponsors. The RTC care provider's case management team is also responsible for inputting and maintaining data into ORR's case management system, the UC Portal. All placement, transfer, and release requests, as well as all significant incident reports, are processed through this web-based system. When necessary, case management staff are required to also work collaboratively with agencies that conduct home studies and provide post-release services. If applicable, care providers are required to conduct safety and well-being follow-up calls to children and their sponsors 30 days after the child's release.

7-Day Case Management - RTC care providers must provide case management services 7-days-a-week and ensure case management services are provided during holidays.

Maintenance of Case Files - RTC care providers must maintain comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date case files, as well as electronic records on children that are kept confidential and secure at all times. All unaccompanied children-related records are the property of ORR and are required to be provided to ORR upon request. Electronic records include those on the care provider’s network drive as well as those on the UC Portal. RTC care providers must have written policies and procedures for organizing and maintaining the content of active and closed case files that incorporate state licensing requirements, accrediting agency requirements, and ORR policies and procedures. RTC care providers must ensure compliance with 45 C.F.R. § 75.303(e) to take reasonable measures to safeguard protected personally identifiable information of children such as name, date of birth, A-number, etc.

Safe and Timely Release Services - RTC care providers must adhere to ORR’s policies and procedures that are in place to ensure the care and safety of children. These policies require the timely release of children to qualified parents, guardians, relatives, or other adults, referred to as “sponsors.” Safe and timely release must occur within a setting that promotes public safety and ensures that sponsors are able to provide for the physical and mental well-being of each child. The law requires ORR to protect children from smugglers, traffickers, or others who might seek to victimize or otherwise engage children in criminal, harmful or exploitative activity. As such, ORR evaluates potential sponsors’ ability to provide for the child’s physical and mental well-being. The process for the safe and timely release of a child from ORR custody involves many steps, including the identification of sponsors; the sponsor’s submission of the application for release and supporting documentation; and evaluating the suitability of the sponsor, including verification of the sponsor’s identity and relationship to the child, background checks, and, in some cases, home studies; and planning for post-release.

Safety Planning - RTC care providers must develop a written safety and security plan that includes policies and procedures for all children in their care and program staff. The safety plan must address emergency situations covering the following areas: runaways;

shelter-in-place (e.g., due to tornadoes or high wind weather events); evacuation (e.g., due to a hurricane, fire, or other emergency); medical and mental health emergencies; and disease outbreaks. These plans must be exercised at least once per year.

Transportation/Escort - RTC care providers are required to provide children with transportation services to local airports and if necessary, provide an escort for the children according to ORR policies, and provide transportation to local services and appointments, such as medical and dental appointments, immigration court hearings, or community services as part of the ISP.

Acculturation and Adaptation Services - RTC care providers are required to provide services that include the development of social and interpersonal skills that contribute to the ability to live independently and responsibly in the community.

III. Medical and Well-Being

Medical Services - RTC care providers are required to establish relationships with healthcare providers who will accept ORR's fee-for-service payment system (if not directly hired by the care provider program) and follow ORR's medical and dental guidelines for the following services:

o A complete medical examination (including screening for infectious diseases) within 2 business days (48 hours, excluding weekends and federal holidays) of admission, per ORR stay in custody, including appropriate immunizations in accordance with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' Immunization Schedule;

o Family planning services;

o An initial dental exam 60 to 90 days after admission to a care provider program;

o Follow-up immunizations; and o Emergency health care services.

RTC care providers must also be able to administer prescribed medications and special diets and arrange for appropriate mental health interventions and forensic medical examination, as necessary. Care providers may only use award funds to pay for certain medical expenses, such as medical supplies and medical personnel. Please see Section IV.6. Funding Restrictions for more information.

Mental Health Services - RTC care providers are required to provide clinical services, including regular on-site individual and group counseling sessions and an ability to access community mental health services for children with special needs. Community mental health services include psychiatric evaluations and treatment, medication assessments and management, crisis intervention, in-patient acute psychiatric care, and other clinical interventions as identified by ORR. RTC care providers must utilize evidenced-based best practices to reduce behavioral issues, create a safe environment, implement therapeutic-based care, and provide children with the necessary skills to move toward a stable, less intensive level of care.

Individual Counseling - RTC care providers are required to provide at least one individual counseling session per week, for each child. A qualified clinician conducts the counseling session with the specific objective of assessing and responding to the children’s mental health needs; reviewing the children’s progress and establishing new short-term objectives; and addressing the developmental progress, immediate concerns, and crisis-related needs of each child.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html

Group Counseling - RTC care providers are required to provide group counseling sessions twice a week, at a minimum. One of these two groups counseling sessions can be submitted by "family or house meeting." At least one group counseling session must be provided according to a psycho-educational curriculum and may be adjusted according to the needs of the population.

Nutritional Services - RTC care providers must provide nutritional services in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS nutritional guidelines and state licensing requirements. Care provider must establish procedures to accommodate dietary restrictions, food allergies, health issues, and religious, cultural, or spiritual dietary requirements.

FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

ACF is mindful that potential recipients may have religious objections to providing certain kinds of services. ACF is committed to exploring ways for faith-based organizations to partner with ACF and other recipients even if they object to providing specific services on religious grounds.

At the same time, ACF is committed to providing the full range of legally permissible services to people who need them and to do so in a timely fashion and in a manner that respects the diverse religious and cultural backgrounds of those we serve. To accomplish these goals, ORR requires organizations that have a religious objection to providing any child-required service to indicate in their application that they have such an objection and include a summary of an alternative approach that clearly describes how the organization will meet its award obligations. Please refer to Section IV.2. The Project Description, Program Implementation and Design for more information.

The alternative approach must ensure that children in ORR’s custody understand the full range of services available in the program, and must provide a mechanism by which children requesting such services can receive them, either directly through the recipient or through partnering organization(s). If an alternative approach is proposed, ORR will review the alternative approach during the merit review process to preliminary determine whether it is consistent in principle with the following three criteria: 1) the approach will ensure timely provision of all services for which the individual is eligible; 2) the approach is not burdensome to the child; and

3) the approach is operationally feasible for ACF. These findings will be finalized during the award negotiations, and, if ACF/ORR decides to fund the proposal, the cooperative agreement will be conditioned on an obligation to ensure that the alternative approach conforms to these criteria.

SUBAWARDS

Recipients under this award program may opt to transfer a portion of substantive programmatic work to other organizations through subaward(s).

The prime recipient must maintain a substantive role in the project. ACF defines a substantive role as conducting activities and/or providing services funded under the award that are necessary and integral to the completion of the project. Subrecipient monitoring activities alone as specified in 45 C.F.R. § 75.352 do not constitute a substantive role. Furthermore, ACF does not fund awards where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute.

Subrecipient(s) must meet the eligibility requirements identified in Section III.1. Eligible Applicants. Additionally, all subrecipient(s) must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned by the System for Award Management (SAM), if they do not already have one. Prime recipients are required to check SAM to verify that the subrecipient(s) is/are not debarred, suspended, or ineligible.

Please reference the Award Term and Condition on Subawards and the ACF Administrative and National Policy Requirements website for further requirements involving subawards.

Please note that the SCA has been determined to apply to the Unaccompanied Children Program cooperative agreement awards and subrecipients, including awards made pursuant to this SNOFO. See Section I. Post-Award Requirements, SCA Requirements; Section VI.2, Administrative and National Policy Requirements, SCA; and Appendix A.

Monitoring and Quality Assurance of Subrecipient Agencies

RTC care providers that choose to utilize a subrecipient(s) agency(ies) to provide delivery of RTC beds and/or the requirements listed in Section I. Program Description, Unaccompanied Children Program Required Services-Care Provider Responsibilities will be required to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the agency(ies) and a subaward agreement. The MOU must clearly define milestones (i.e., all ORR timeframes that are stipulated in this SNOFO), progress markers, and reporting requirements, and the potential for discontinuation of the subaward if these are not satisfactorily met. RTC care providers must have established corrective action policies and procedures to guide the practice of a subrecipient(s) and to ensure compliance. In addition, ORR requires that RTC care providers conduct on-site, annual monitoring of their subrecipient(s) to ensure that they comply with all requirements outlined in this SNOFO, ORR policies, and all applicable laws and regulations, including 45 C.F.R. §§ 75.351- 75.353. RTC care providers must ensure ORR’s timely accessibility to corrective action plans and monitoring reports of subrecipients.

POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS

SCA Requirements

The SCA establishes standards for prevailing wages and safety and health protections for employees performing work for contractors and subcontractors involving the federal government and the District of Columbia. The SCA has been determined to apply to the Unaccompanied Children Program cooperative agreement awards and subrecipients, including awards made pursuant to this SNOFO. For this reason, every service employee under this agreement must be paid not less than the monetary wages and must be furnished fringe benefits that the Secretary of Labor has determined to be prevailing in the locality for the classification in which the employee https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements#book_content_14 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements is working. The term service employee means any person engaged in the performance of a contract entered into by the United States government unless otherwise exempted under section 7 of the SCA, whether negotiated or advertised, the principal purpose of which is to furnish services in the United States (other than any person employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 4.156 and defined in 29 C.F.R. part 541, as of July 30, 1976, and any subsequent revision of those regulations); and shall include all such persons regardless of any contractual relationship that may be alleged to exist between a contractor or subcontractor and such persons.

The definition of service employees expressly excludes those employees who are employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity as set forth in 29 C.F.R. § 4.156 and defined in 29 C.F.R. Part 541. Some of the specific types of service employees who may be employed on service contracts are noted in other sections which discuss the application of the Act to employees.

The SCA applies to service employees under cooperative agreements awarded through this SNOFO, and to service employees covered under subrecipient or vendor relationships that are included within cooperative agreements awarded under this SNOFO.

RTC care providers are subject to the provisions of the SCA and implementing regulations found in Title 29 of the C.F.R. Part 4 and must abide by applicable DOL wage determinations, which can be found at https://alpha.sam.gov/content/wage-determinations in their programs. See also Appendix A (providing SCA labor standards clauses described at 29 C.F.R. Part 4). This award also is subject to Executive Order 14026, Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, and its implementing regulations at 29 C.F.R. Part 23 (see Appendix B); and Executive Order 13706, Establishing Paid Sick Leave for Federal Contractors, and its implementing regulations at 29 C.F.R. Part 13 (Appendix C).

In computing SCA wage and fringe benefit rates, applicants can initiate a SAM.gov search.

Prospective applicants shall enter the location of the unaccompanied children facility identified in the application in the search field to access the applicable SCA wage determination. Once the applicable SCA wage determination has been selected, applicants must then identify the occupation code and title on the wage determination list that corresponds with the position at the unaccompanied children facility within the application to identify the prevailing wage and fringe benefits for that position. Information about identifying the applicable occupation code for positions at unaccompanied children shelter facilities can be found at Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Classifications for ORR Providers. Please note that information on this website is provided to assist applicants and awarded recipients still bear full responsibility for ensuring that the position is correctly selected by comparing the work a position will perform against the position description.

Additional information about the SCA in general may be found on the DOL website at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/service-contracts. Specific information about the SCA labor standards provisions and procedures may be found at 29 C.F.R. Part 4 -https://alpha.sam.gov/content/wage-determinations. For additional information and reference to the SCA within this SNOFO, please refer to Section VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements and Appendix A.

https://alpha.sam.gov/content/wage-determinations https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/service-contract-act-wage-classifications https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/service-contract-act-wage-classifications https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/service-contracts https://alpha.sam.gov/content/wage-determinations.

Program Performance Evaluation

To provide high-quality services for all children, ORR has established standardized performance metrics to clearly communicate ORR priorities and will collect data quarterly and assess data via the ORR official system of record. The list of metrics and scoring criteria can be found in Appendix D.

Once beds are delivered per facility and available for child placement, ORR will collect data quarterly to assess the performance of recipients under this SNOFO. ORR will share data through a scorecard for each facility to help care providers meet established goals. A recipient’s performance on each metric will be scored and assessed as green, yellow, or red, as outlined in Appendix D. ORR will contact recipients on a quarterly basis to discuss issues related to performance or compliance with ORR policies. If the recipient is not in compliance with the performance scoring baseline outlined for each metric in Appendix D and ORR deems the situation requires escalation, corrective actions, and funding restrictions could be applied as per 45 C.F.R. § 75.207 Specific award conditions and/or 45 C.F.R. § 75.371 Remedies for noncompliance. In some circumstances, these measures could affect the continuation of the award. When considering recipients for future awards or expansions, performance in this area will be taken into consideration.

Should any adjustments be made in the future to the…