UC Program Services Child Welfare Systems Research_Data Analytics PWS_draft.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children Families

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SERVICES

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Administration for Children and Families

Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

Office of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) Performance Work Statement for the UC Program Services Child Welfare Systems Research & Data Analytics

5/16/2024

1.0 General

1.1 Introduction

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program is seeking child welfare research specialists with expertise and experience working with large child welfare systems and working knowledge of child immigration systems and services, and with executive agencies on policy recommendations. This requirement will not be responsible for development or implementation of improvements to existing IT infrastructure and systems. The contractor must have an academic background in child welfare research and use of performance measures and data analytics to inform and improve large child welfare systems, with use of data system architecture creation and use of data analytics to inform outcome measures and different child welfare systems process measures to yield performance information on child safety, well-being, and timely family reunification/unification outcomes.

1.2 Objective

The purpose of this task order is to identify areas for improvement of ORR UC Program data driven systems based on use of child welfare research experience and expertise with process findings to deliver research informed or proven recommendations on how existing child welfare systems and services, and steps in the service processes impact child experiences; to gain source documented understanding of impacts during influxes and other impacting events including quality, success, and delayed discharges. The successful contractor will work closely with ORR’s executive leadership for the following objectives:

Objective One: Identify and prioritize performance measures impacting child health, safety, and experiences while in ORR custody, including safe and timely discharge and family reunifications and while using post release services (PRS).

Objective Two: Use child welfare research experts with experience in child welfare policy and working on research-based projects with large residential child welfare systems to include use of data analytics to inform on child welfare performance metrics and outcomes reporting; and use data analytic techniques to analyze raw data and records to identify primary impacts and trends, combining key components to predict and inform strategies for planning, decision making, and carrying out high performing program services.

Objective Three: Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to develop key performance indicators and present source documented recommendations for improvements or enhancements to existing dashboards to capture key performance indicators and create a map of data sources and a methodology for matching the many data systems available.

1.3 Scope of UC Program Services Child Welfare Systems Research & Data

Analytics

The Contractor will be responsible for conducting research-based review and analysis of the full continuum of care and comprehensive services ORR UC Program provides to unaccompanied children who enter federal custody; as well as ORR’s systems of data collection and reporting of services, operations, and management for each of the models of congregate care and each of the levels of specialized care designed to cater to unique and individual needs of unaccompanied children. This includes via a research-based approach gain understanding of ORR UC program internal policies and procedures related to data collection and reporting, as well as guiding regulations and statutes; understanding and analysis of mechanisms, internal policies and procedures for data collection and reporting and recommendations for improvements, enhancements or changes to existing infrastructure based on source-documented findings.

Recommendations must be based on previous knowledge of and experience conducting research-based review of large child welfare systems, including residential care and congregate care systems.

The development and implementation of improvements to existing IT infrastructure and systems is not a responsibility of this requirement. The Contractor will utilize their academic background in child welfare research and use of performance measures and data analytics to inform and improve large child welfare systems, and expertise with use of data system architecture creation and use of data analytics to inform outcome measures and different child welfare systems process measures to yield performance information on child safety, well-being, and timely family reunification/unification outcomes.

With this, it will be imperative the Contractor gain a working understanding of what happens when unaccompanied children are apprehended by other federal agencies (usually by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration officials); and how UC are transferred to the care and custody of ORR. Refer to the following information in Section 1.4 as it is critical to developing a plan for executing tasks described in this PWS. Further, it will be imperative that the Contractor understand and gain working knowledge of the different types of shelter care and comprehensive services that the ORR UC Program operates to serve UC in federal custody. The corresponding definitions and descriptions are referred to in Section 1.4.

1.4 Background

On March 1, 2003, Section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, transferred responsibilities for the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children from the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the Director of the ORR.

Since then, ORR has cared for more than 560,000 children, incorporating child welfare values as well as the principles and provisions established by the Flores Settlement Agreement (FSA) in 1997, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its reauthorization acts, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2005 and 2008.

List of Governing Laws, Statutes, Settlement Agreements and Policies:

• Homeland Security Act of 2002 Section 462

• Flores Settlement Agreement in 1997

• Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its reauthorization acts

• William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of

2005 and 2008

• Standards To Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment

Involving Unaccompanied Children

• Saravia Settlement Agreement

• Lucas R. Settlement Consent Decree

• ORR Unaccompanied Children Policies can be found at:

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

• Complete and detailed legal background and authority can be found at:

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

Unaccompanied children apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) immigration officials are transferred to the care and custody of ORR. ORR promptly places unaccompanied children in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child, taking into consideration danger to self, danger to the community, and risk of flight. ORR takes into consideration the unique nature of each child’s situation and incorporates child welfare principles when making placement, clinical, case management, and release decisions that are in the best interest of the child. A major ORR objective is to improve the knowledge, skills and abilities of professionals working with unaccompanied children.

An unaccompanied child:

• Has no lawful immigration status in the United States

• Is under 18 years of age https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-program-policy-guide https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/policy-guidance/unaccompanied-children-program

• Has no parent or legal guardian in the United States or no parent or legal guardian in the United States is available to provide care and physical custody

Overview of Unaccompanied Children Program

ORR assumes the following responsibilities while caring for unaccompanied children entering the United States:

• Assuring the safety and well-being of all unaccompanied children while they are in ORR care and custody

• Making and implementing placement decisions.

• Ensuring best interests of all unaccompanied children are considered in decisions related to care and custody.

• Providing home assessments for the sponsor homes of certain at-risk categories of unaccompanied children.

• Overseeing the provision of Post Release Services for certain categories of children.

• Overseeing the infrastructure and personnel of ORR-funded care provider facilities.

• Conducting on-site monitoring visits of ORR-funded care provider facilities and ensuring compliance with ORR national care standards.

• Collecting, analyzing, and reporting statistical information on unaccompanied children.

• Providing training to federal, state, and local officials who have substantive contact with unaccompanied children.

• Providing training to staff of NGOs providing shelter, care, and services to all unaccompanied children.

• Developing procedures for age determinations and conducting these determinations along with DHS.

• Granting specific consent for state court jurisdiction over children.

• Cooperating with the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for

Immigration Review to ensure that sponsors of unaccompanied children receive legal orientation presentations.

• Ensuring, to the greatest extent practicable, that all unaccompanied children in custody have access to legal representation or counsel.

• Releasing unaccompanied children to qualified sponsors and family members determined capable of providing for the child's physical and mental well-being.

• Collecting, analyzing, and reporting statistical information.

• Granting specific consent for state court jurisdiction over children.

ORR helps unaccompanied children gain access to legal representation through the legal access task order that provides legal services in accordance with the Flores Settlement

Agreement, the TVPRA, and other associated legal documents. Through the legal services contract, children receive presentations about their rights and individualized legal screenings. The project also builds pro bono legal representation capacity. Many unaccompanied children meet conditions that make them eligible for legal relief to remain in the United States. They may qualify for:

• Asylum

• Special visas for children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by the parents or guardian

• Special visas for victims of severe forms of trafficking and other types of crime

• Adjustment of status for those who have a legal resident or citizen family member

Following apprehension by a federal agency (usually the DHS), unaccompanied children are transferred to the care and custody of ORR while awaiting immigration proceedings.

Unaccompanied children have many inter-related reasons for undertaking the difficult journey of traveling to the United States, which may include rejoining family already in the U.S., escaping violent communities or abusive family relationships in their home country, or finding work to support their families in home countries. The age of these unaccompanied children, their separation from parents and relatives, and the hazardous journey they take make them especially vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. Most unaccompanied children are cared for through a network of state licensed ORR-funded care providers, most of which are located close to areas where immigration officials apprehend large numbers of immigrants entering the U.S. The majority of these provider facilities are state licensed and must also meet ORR requirements to ensure a high level of quality care. Most of the care provider organizations currently operate under funding awarded through local cooperative agreements. In addition, ORR may place some unaccompanied children in individual out-of-network agreements, who partner with care provider organizations to provide services for unaccompanied children with special care demands. The Flores Settlement Agreement requires ORR to provide certain services to unaccompanied children while they are in government custody. While in ORR custody, unaccompanied children are required to receive an array of services, including residential care and supervision, clothing, food, individual and group counseling, medical/mental health care, legal services, case management, education/English as a Second Language, recreation, vocational education, acculturation, and access to religious services.

While most services are available on site, referrals to community-based providers are made when needed. Services are provided by multilingual staff in a manner that is sensitive to the language and culture of the populations served. Service provision is tailored to each unaccompanied child to maximize opportunities for success both while in care, and upon discharge from the program.

Overview of Shelter care Definitions (In order of most restrictive to least restrictive):

Secure Care: A secure or locked level of care for unaccompanied children who have been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense, or are chargeable with such an offense, or whose alleged conduct poses a threat to self or others. The determination of which unaccompanied children meet secure placement criteria is made by ORR, and assignment of physical custody to a care provider is made as immediately as possible by ORR. Secure levels of care are licensed in their respective state to operate as a secure facility that houses juveniles with issues surrounding violence and criminal behavior. Secure care providers provide temporary and safe custody of unaccompanied children who meet the placement criteria as defined here:

Diagnostic Center Care: Provides humane and secure environments for unaccompanied children who have conflicting mental health diagnosis or limited information regarding violent criminal behavior that delivers comprehensive evaluations by licensed medical practitioners to determine least restrictive placement options as alternative to secure placement in juvenile detention.

Diagnostic centers provide temporary and safe custody of unaccompanied children for diagnostic purposes not to be utilized for more than 30 days or otherwise periods of time prescribed by a licensed medical provider. The purpose of Diagnostic Center care is to accept and accurately assess unaccompanied children with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental health issues.

Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Care: A secure unit to provide a humane and therapeutic environment for unaccompanied children between the ages of 12 – 17 with serious psychiatric or psychological issues that result in aggressive behaviors towards others and themselves, and behaviors that cannot be managed in Residential Treatment Center placement.

Unaccompanied children who meet criteria for Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Care receive care and custody, assessment and diagnosis, and treatment and discharge plans.

Residential Treatment Center Care: Care that provides a humane and therapeutic environment for unaccompanied children with serious mental health issues, while delivering comprehensive services. Residential treatment care provides temporary and safe custody of unaccompanied children between the ages of 12 - 17 with serious psychiatric or psychological issues or underlying mental health symptoms or diagnosis that cannot be addressed in an outpatient setting.

Staff Secure Care: Supervised care and living quarters that provide a humane and therapeutic environment for unaccompanied children ages 12 – 17 who have behavioral and/or criminal issues that require close supervision, but do not require placement in a secure setting, while delivering comprehensive services. Staff secure care provides temporary and safe custody of unaccompanied children with behavioral and/or criminal issues that require close supervision.

Therapeutic Group Home Care: Therapeutic care that provides a humane and therapeutic environment for unaccompanied children; while delivering comprehensive mental health services; and when appropriate, transfer to least restrictive setting. Therapeutic Foster or Group Home Care provides temporary and safe custody of unaccompanied children between the ages 12 to 17 who are not a danger to self or others and who would benefit from enhanced behavioral health services or who require a smaller care setting, but do not require Residential Treatment Center level of care.

Influx Center Facility Care (ICF): Immediate shelter care includes unlicensed influx care facilities (ICFs). ICF shelter care is for unaccompanied children who are at least 13 years of age and expected to be released to a family member or sponsor family within 30 days.

Youth placed in ICF care do not have any known special needs including mental health or identified disabilities, behavioral health issues, medical issues or dental issues that would be better served at an alternative setting; and speak English or Spanish as preferred language. ICF shelter care does not serve pregnant or parenting unaccompanied children or unaccompanied children who might be a danger to themselves or others and have not having been charged with or convicted of a criminal offense.

Community Based Care (Transitional; Long-term; and Therapeutic Foster Care): This continuum of care includes basic and therapeutic foster family settings as well as supervised independent living group home settings for unaccompanied children (UC), which are funded and administered by ORR. It aims to place and support the most vulnerable children in ORR care most effectively. ORR gives priority for community-based care to tender age children, pregnant or parenting UC, and children with special needs, children who are projected to have an extended stay in ORR care or who have no identified sponsor, and children who are moving towards independent living or close to aging out of ORR care. Community-Based Care is a new program model which will eventually phase out the terms long-term foster care (LTFC) and transitional foster care (TFC) provided at 45 CFR § 411.5.

However, unaccompanied children may be placed in community-based care setting designed for long-term care, such as community-based foster care or extended care group homes. A child is a candidate for long term care when they are expected to have a protracted stay of four months or more in ORR custody because they do not have a viable sponsor and a legal service provider has identified the child or youth as potentially eligible for immigration relief, and the child is under the age of 17 and 6 months at the time of placement. ORR also considers a long-term care placement on a case-by-case basis for an unaccompanied alien child who will have a longer stay https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.law.cornell.edu%2Fcfr%2Ftext%2F45%2F411.5&data=05%7C01%7Cvalerie.pelskohout%40acf.hhs.gov%7Cddbbd071cd6340df0be908db5260f83c%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C638194348670313571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IYPwcb1SL1xIBZcXPIJ9cjQY6lvoF8gX5VDmKOYMOF4%3D&reserved=0 due to other circumstances. ORR considers other circumstances when making decisions for long-term community-based care including: the child’s age and mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health needs; child’s ability and commitment to live in a family and community-based setting; availability of an appropriate placement to meet the child’s needs.

While making placement decisions that fit and support the unique and individual needs of each unaccompanied child in ORR custody, the UC Program leadership, supervisory and management staff must ensure and oversee that all types of shelter facilities for unaccompanied children deliver high quality services. A summary of required comprehensive services UC Program leadership and supervisory, management and field specialist staff are responsible to ensure compliance with is provided here.

Overview of Required Comprehensive Services:

Consistent with federal law, ORR places children while in our care in the least restrictive setting that is in the best interest of the child, considering potential flight risk and danger to self and others. Presently, all ORR funded state-licensed and influx care facility services include:

Acculturation and Adaptation Services are required for unaccompanied children in ORR custody and included activities aimed at development of social and interpersonal skills that contribute to the ability for unaccompanied children to live independently and responsibly in the community.

Planned Activities shall ensure unaccompanied children participate in activities according to a recreation and leisure time plan that includes daily outdoor activities, weather permitting, of at least one (1) hour per day of large muscle activity and one (1) hour per day of structured leisure time activities other than television. Activities shall be increased to a total of three (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.

Case Management Services are administered through a case management system that tracks and monitors the progress of unaccompanied children on a regular basis to ensure children receive the full range of program services in an integrated and comprehensive manner. Case management services are provided seven (7) days a week and ensure continuity during holidays.

Case managers ensure safe and timely release of minors with viable ORR approved sponsors.

Disabilities Services are be provided for unaccompanied children with a verified disability.

Disabilities services include evaluation services for children suspected of possessing a disability.

If an unaccompanied child is found to have a disability, then an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed by qualified education staff and a 504 Services plan shall be implemented. In addition, if the behaviors/symptoms displayed by a child is tied to the reasons they are in the stepped-up facility, local programs must explain the reasons that the current placement is appropriate and cannot be met at a less restrictive level of care.

Education Services are provided daily for a minimum of six (6) hours Monday – Friday, year-round and are appropriate to each child’s level of development, education, and communication skills. Instruction time is administered in a structured classroom setting designed for unaccompanied children and concentrate primarily on the development of basic academic competencies and secondarily on English language training. The program consists of instruction, education materials, and other reading materials in the following academic areas: science, social studies, mathematics, reading, writing, physical education and shall provide appropriate leisure time reading in other languages. In some cases, unaccompanied children in ORR custody attend the local school programs.

Group Counseling Sessions occur twice a week at a minimum for unaccompanied children in ORR custody. One (1) of the sessions may be substituted by family or house meetings. At least one (1) of the sessions provides psycho-educational curriculum that may be adjusted according to child population needs. Session topics are designed and catered to the level of care population.

Individual counseling is provided for all unaccompanied children in care, at least one (1) individual counseling session per week by a qualified clinician. Counseling sessions meet specific objectives of assessing and responding to mental health needs; reviewing progress; establishing new short-term objectives; and addressing the development progress, immediate concerns, and crisis-related needs of each unaccompanied children.

Individualized Needs Assessments are provided for all unaccompanied children in care to include individualized ongoing assessments. The first Initial Intake Assessment is completed within 24 hours of admission; and an assessment of risk is conducted within 72 hours and updated every 30 days to include a psychosocial summary noting and evaluating current medical information, and an assessment for trauma and human trafficking.

Individual Service Plans (ISP) are comprehensive and realistic plans for all unaccompanied children in accordance with each child’s needs, as determined by the assessments and assessment of any trafficking concerns. ISPs are implemented and closely coordinated through an operative clinical assessment and intervention plan and, through ORR’s case management system and are completed within five (5) days of admission and every 30 days thereafter. In cases where human trafficking is suspected or confirmed, the care provider refers the child to ACF’s Office on Trafficking in Persons and provide or refer the child for other services to ensure they have access to all services guaranteed by TVPRA of 2008.

Legal Services and Rights to Privacy are rights afforded to all unaccompanied children in ORR custody and care. Local ORR funded shelters and care programs are provided with ORR-supplied information regarding 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 of victims of trafficking under TVPRA of 2008. The ORR has a nation-wide task order for the provision of legal services. The contractor’s responsibility is to coordinate with the legal services contractor to provide the legal services for unaccompanied children in the contractor’s care. The contractor’s responsibility is to ensure children have access to the legal support services so they can perform “Know Your Rights” presentations, legal screenings, private meetings, and phone calls.

Medical Services are required and ORR funded shelter and care programs establish relationships with local health care providers who shall accept ORR’s fee-for-service payment system (if not directly hired by the contractor); and who shall follow ORR’s medical and dental guidelines for the following services: Complete medical examination (including screening for infectious diseases) shall be completed within two (2) business days (48 hours, excluding weekends and federal holidays) of admission, per ORR stay in custody including appropriate immunizations in accordance with the United State Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Immunization Schedule; family planning services; Initial dental exam 60 – 90 days after admission; follow-up immunizations; and emergency health care services.

Mental Health Services are provided and include regular on-site individual and group counseling sessions, and to have an ability to access community mental health services for unaccompanied children with special needs. Community mental health services include psychiatric evaluations and or psychological evaluations, treatment, medication assessments and management, crisis intervention, in-patient acute psychiatric care, and other clinical interventions as identified by ORR. ORR provides funding to employ on site clinicians who shall meet with unaccompanied children at a minimum one time a week for individual sessions; and they shall also perform clinical groups no less than 1x a week and shall organize a community group 1x a week for US.

Nutritional Services are provided in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (HHS) nutritional guidelines and state licensing requirements. The contractor shall establish procedures to accommodate dietary restrictions, food allergies, health issues, and religious or spiritual requirements.

Comprehensive Program Orientation is provided for all unaccompanied children within 48 hours of admission to an ORR shelter or care facility and covers the program's services, rules (written and verbal), and all other pertinent information about the facility and program expectations.

Orientations are provided in formats accessible to unaccompanied children who are limited English proficient, deaf, visually impaired, or otherwise disabled, as well as those who have limited reading skills; and care providers ensure effective communication for unaccompanied children with communication disabilities.

Rules and Behavior Management standards are formulated by local shelter and care programs with consideration for the range of ages and maturity levels of unaccompanied children in each shelter or level of care program and cultural sensitivity towards all unaccompanied children.

Standards are evidenced-encompass strength-based behavior management and 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. Each shelter posts basic rules in both English and Spanish.

Religious Access is required to be provided or arranged for access to religious services and counseling of the unaccompanied child’s choice when possible. Unaccompanied children entering ORR custody come from a wide array of cultures, practices, languages, and beliefs.

Local shelter and care programs maintain cultural awareness and have systems in place to provide opportunities for unaccompanied children to observe and practice their spiritual or religious beliefs.

Visitation and Phone Call opportunities are provided for unaccompanied children to communicate with family members and/or sponsors, in a private setting. There is no limit on the length of calls for unaccompanied children with their attorneys of record. Unaccompanied children are allowed to call both family members and sponsors living in the United States and abroad. Unaccompanied children also have a right to receive visitors. Attorneys of record are required to have reasonable access to unaccompanied children, and care providers must exhaust all efforts to utilize video calls over audio-only calls, where the family, sponsor and/or other approved contacts have access to video calling technology.

Transportation services are provided for unaccompanied children to local airports and to local services and appointments, such as medical and dental appointments, immigration court hearings, or community services as part of the Individual Service Plan (ISP).

Overview of UC Program Leadership, Supervisor, Management and Field Specialists:

Executive Leadership includes senior level Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and ORR federal staff who play an intricate role in policymaking and advising constituencies, to include reporting to and preparing updates on services to unaccompanied children in ORR custody to Congress.

Leadership Positions are responsible to ORR Executive leadership and drive the UC Program Mission, Objectives and Outcomes. Leadership positions serve in a critical role impacting UC

Program operations quality and compliance and directly supervise top UC Program managers;

and are decision makers regarding program operational improvements and policy changes necessary for compliance with laws, regulations and settlement agreements and overall program efficacy.

Management Positions are responsible for leading divisions, teams and work groups assigned specific roles and job duties for the delivery of program services for unaccompanied children in ORR custody. Supervisory staff are responsible for recruitment and hiring of talent and filling key positions within the UC Program federal workforce. Supervisory staff are also responsible for ensuring productive and quality workflow, resolving challenges, mitigating work productivity risks, as well as to manage UC Program federal management and team lead staff.

Supervisory Positions are responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, and managing different divisions of work, and work of specialized teams and workgroups of UC Program services and play decisional roles with management of work and overseeing management and compliance of unaccompanied children program operations.

Field Specialists are Subject Matter Experts (SME) with varied expertise in child welfare, licensing, and other expert knowledge that oversee quality and compliance of local shelter care and services.

1.5 Type of Task Order Contemplated

The government intends to award a Firm-Fixed Price task order.

1.6 Period of Performance

Base Period: June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025 Option Period One: June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026 Option Period Two: June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 Option Period Three: June 1, 2027 – May 31, 2028 Option Period Four: June 1, 2028 – May 31, 2029

1.7 Place of Performance

The work to be performed under this task order shall be performed from the contractor’s worksite and ORR Headquarters located in the Mary E. Switzer building, 330 C Street SW, Washington DC 20201, for up-to two in-person meetings annually. Refer to Section 2.8

1.8 Recognized Holidays

The following provides information on recognized holidays for the purpose of the PWS. If submittal of any documentation (e.g., deliverables, submittals, etc.) deadlines fall on a holiday, the workday prior to the holiday shall apply as the deadline for submittal.

United States (US) Federal Holidays

The Contractor is not required to perform requirements of this PWS on Federal Holidays.

US Federal Holidays New Year’s Day January 1st Martin Luther King’s Birthday 3rd Monday in January Presidents’ Day 3rd Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Juneteenth National Independence Day June 19th Independence Day July 4th Labor Day 1st Monday in September Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October Veterans Day November 11th Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November Christmas Day December 25th

In addition to days designated as holidays, the Government observes the following days:

• Any other day designated by Federal Statute

• Any other day designated by Executive Order

• Presidential Inauguration Day

• Any other day designated by the President’s Proclamation

It is understood and agreed between the Government and the Contractor that observance of such days by Government personnel shall not otherwise be a reason for an additional period of performance, or entitlement of compensation except as set forth within the task order. If Government personnel are unavailable due to furlough or any other reason, the Contractor shall contact the CO or the COR to receive direction.

1.9 Specific Requirements/Tasks

1.9.1 Participate In Task Order Post-Award Orientation

The contractor shall participate in a post-award orientation meeting that serves as an introduction between the contractor and federal personnel who shall be involved with the contractor’s administration of this task order and shall provide an opportunity to discuss technical, management, and security and reporting procedures. The post-award meeting shall be held no later than (NLT) five (5) business days after task order award. The post-award meeting shall be for a full half-day and may be scheduled as virtual. The post-award meeting shall provide time to review the task order tasks and deliverables together and discuss key issues impacting the successful launch of the base year of the task order. A list of subject matter items the contractor shall be prepared to discuss during the post-award meeting include, but are not limited to:

• Overview of task order requirements.

• Contractor’s key personnel and any vacancies in key personnel positions.

• Monthly invoice requirements.

1.9.2 Post-Award Orientation Meeting Report

The Contractor shall submit a draft post-award meeting report summarizing issues discussed, any resolutions or action items resulting from the post-award meeting. The Contractor shall submit a draft post-award orientation meeting report to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and Contracting Officer (CO) no later than three (3) business days after the post-award meeting for review. The COR and CO shall return the draft report to the contractor no later than three (3) government business days of receipt with any comments, questions, or requests for clarifications.

The contractor shall fully address the government’s comments, questions, and requests for clarifications, and submit a final report to the CO and COR NLT three (3) business days after receiving the draft report with government comments.

2.0 Child Safety, Well-Being, And Timely Discharges And Family Reunification Performance Measures

ORR assumes the following responsibilities while caring for UC entering the United States:

• Making and implementing placement decisions

• Ensuring that the interests of the child are considered in decisions related to care and custody

• Providing home assessments for certain at-risk categories of UC

• Conducting follow-up services for certain categories of children

• Overseeing the infrastructure and personnel of ORR-funded care provider facilities

• Conducting on-site monitoring visits of ORR-funded care provider facilities and ensuring compliance with ORR national care standards

• Collecting, analyzing, and reporting statistical information on UC

• Providing training to federal, state, and local officials who have substantive contact with unaccompanied children

• Developing procedures for age determinations and conducting these determinations along with DHS

• Granting specific consent for state court jurisdiction over children

• Cooperating with the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review to ensure that sponsors of unaccompanied children receive legal orientation presentations

• Ensuring, to the greatest extent practicable, that all unaccompanied children in custody have access to legal representation or counsel

• Releasing UC to qualified sponsors and family members who are determined to be capable of providing for the child's physical and mental well-being

• Assist unaccompanied children gain access to legal representation through the legal access project. Through the project, children receive presentations about their rights and individualized legal screenings. The project also builds pro bono legal representation capacity.

ORR’s mission as the Executive Agency in ACF responsible for the care and custody of unaccompanied children, is to promote the health, well-being, and stability of unaccompanied children while in federal custody, and ensure safe and healthy family reunification or unification with a sponsor family. In support of its mission, ORR must develop and maintain strong internal policies, protocols and performance oversight of services and resources to ensure compliance with the full list of comprehensive services described under section 1.3 Scope of Services for UC and in each of the described levels of residential care services. These services must be culturally responsive, trauma-informed and strength based. As the Executive Agency responsible for unaccompanied children, the ORR is also responsible for reporting to Congress, constituents, advocacy groups and lawmakers on the status of program services and operations and for reporting on the quality and compliance of the full continuum of care required to serve all UC in federal custody.

The Contractor shall provide evidenced-based research and program evaluation of ORR UC Program data collection and reporting of services, operations, and management. Additionally, the Contractor shall identify and prioritize performance measures across ORR’s continuum of care for UC in federal custody, including safe and timely discharge and family reunifications/unifications and utilization of available PRS. The Contractor shall utilize evidenced-based research methods for studying and analyzing ORR UC Program infrastructure of systems for data collection on and reporting of systems and processes designed for serving children and youth, birth to age eighteen (18); including analysis of steps and services to ensure safety and well-being for pregnant and parenting youth. The following list includes, but is not exhaustive, of activities the contractor shall carry-out in meeting the objectives of this requirement:

1. Review and understand ORR UC Program’s data collection and reporting of services, operations, and management for each of the models of congregate care and each of the levels of specialized care designed to cater to unique and individual needs of unaccompanied children.

2. Identify data and reporting mechanisms that have the highest impact to child safety and wellbeing, timely discharges and family reunifications/unifications, and PRS to inform work with requirements of PWS. This shall include the policies and procedures related to data collection and reporting.

3. Analyze existing ORR mechanisms, policies and procedures for data collection and reporting and recommend changes based on findings. Recommendations must be based on previous knowledge of and experience with child welfare systems, including residential care and congregate care systems.

4. Utilize a research-based strategy that encompasses ORR use and reporting of raw data and a series of case reports and data point studies as part of contractor’s system for review.

5. Include evidentiary standards to develop metrics and decipher what are key performance measures impacting the health and safety and experiences of children while they are in ORR custody and utilizing PRS.

6. Be responsible for correlating and reporting on relationships between each key performance measure lifted from existing ORR data systems and reporting mechanisms to identify and inform cause and effects of processes and policies designed to ensure child safety, well-being, and timely discharges, family unification outcomes and post release services

7. Employ a well-designed methodology for identifying and describing performance measure improvements and recommendations to enhance data architecture while incorporating a data analytics system that is automated and informing using a custom data analytics evaluation template provided to the CO and COR NLT 10 business days from the task order award date.

8. Performance measures shall be accompanied by a description of each measure based on evidentiary standards and describe then the relationships between measures and why analysis of each performance action or service identified is critical and pertinent to child safety, health, and timely discharge and family unifications.

9. Identify compliance and desired outcome factors, and quality metrics within the overall existing system of services, data collection and records that are critical to ensuring 100% child safety, well-being, and timely discharges and family reunifications for UC; utilize these findings to draft recommendations based on evidentiary standards of review using a data analytics evaluation template.

10. Provide regular interactive reports to UC Program Leadership and COR to inform leadership on an adequate and regular schedule.

2.1 Data Analytics System Advisement

The Contractor shall study and analyze the capacity and value of existing data points collected and recorded in a system maintained and utilized by ORR management and field specialists for documenting, record keeping, and reporting and informing on status of UC Program outcomes, as well as for noting and synthesizing trends for informed planning, and development of short- and long-term goals for program planning and improvements. Contractor(s) shall:

1. Utilize expert advisement in analyzing existing raw data and records to identify primary impacts and trends, combining key components to predict and inform strategies for planning, decision making, and carrying out high performing program services to inform the Government for consideration

2. Propose additional data points and informing relationships between data points and program operation policy, and child outcomes which should be taken into consideration for improved program monitoring of performance outcomes and informing management decision making.

3. Collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders to achieve and validate expert observations which explain and support proposed data architecture improvements and recommendations based on evidentiary standards and source documentation.

4. Document review and analysis observations to identify and describe impact of existing gaps in data points that may be identified, as well as impacting record-keeping practices and policies.

5. Provide analysis and consideration of relationships to action-based policies existing or new recommendations based on data points in the record. For example, how do data points exist and inform daily work decisions of UC Program management and field specialists; and how does or can the data analytics be applied to inform UC Program leadership on a regular and automated basis, and in real time for all critical issues impacting an individual child’s safety, wellbeing and safe and timely discharge and family unification.

The Contractor’s system of studying opportunities for improvement in development or use of data analytics shall produce source documented recommendations for UC Program leadership that will positively impact and improve capacity of existing record keeping and reporting that informs timely, responsive actionable management inquiries, directives, or changes to ensure resolution or improved situations. Contractor(s) shall:

1. Evaluate database automations to ensure all barriers and necessary service decisions and actions impacting child safety, health, and timely discharges and family unifications are timely recognized, highlighted, tracked, and satisfactorily resolved.

2. Ensure all recommendations, improvement opportunities, and advisement on data analytics capture key performance indicators and map data sources and a methodology for matching the many data systems improvements available.

2.2 KEY PERSONNEL

The following staff positions are identified as key personnel. The Contractor shall ensure that candidates filling key personnel positions meet minimum requirements to include any subject matter or skill certifications for qualifications to perform the position responsibilities and shall ensure descriptions of key position minimum requirements are contained in signed job descriptions for each key personnel position/labor category. Each job description shall include a section on essential functions as mandated by American with Disabilities Act (ADA). If there is a change in a key personnel position listed below during the period of performance of this task order, the Contractor shall submit notification to the COR along with credentials for the proposed candidate to fill the position vacancy.

Project Manager The Project Manager shall serve as the lead child welfare expert and lead for process finding and performance measure research. This position will also serve as the lead for systems analyst work and lead analysis of raw data and record keeping practices and systems to find trends and answer key questions pertaining to program operations and data informed strategies to ensuring child safety, health, timely discharge, and safe successful family unifications for children in ORR custody. This position will lead the project work to identify research informed or proven business, performance, and service questions relevant to ensuring child safety, health, and timely discharges; and produce regular schedule of reports on findings of historical trends, gaps in information, and recommendations for improved quality indicators and performance measures that support informed decision making for UC Program leadership and predict future needs for successful program planning. Including but not limited to recommendation for information updates including automation considerations for management and reporting value, and ensuring strategies align with industry best practices.

Project Manager minimum qualifications include:

• Master’s Degree in Child Welfare, Social Work or other relevant degree with a minimum of

10 years’ experience working as an expert overseeing child welfare and immigration services; and relevant experience working with programmatic statistics and program evaluation and improvement metrics with large systems of child welfare.

• Strong background in analytics platforms (Power BI and Tableau), data architecture/framework, data warehouses, algorithmic programing, and data visualization;

and experience with diagnoses of models-in-use and steps to transform/adapt those models for greater utility.

• Working experience with childcare licensing and accreditation regulations and quality childcare and shelter programming; including immigration and adoption systems.

• Strong understanding of application of data analytics for informing management.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong organizational and leadership skills.

Child Welfare Systems Analytics Strategist The Child Welfare Systems Analytics Strategist shall apply previous relevant experience in child welfare and child immigration systems to design templates for applying latest approaches to data analytic activities of existing raw data bases and policies for developing and implementing data strategies to update and improve performance indicators utilized to monitor and measure performance outcomes related to child safety, health, and timely discharges and family unifications.