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Family Reunification Monthly Update
April 2023
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For a complete list of ORR policies and procedures, click here.
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Here is the latest UAC program assignment list. Please use this updated list to find the Federal Field Specialist (FFS) when submitting home study reports.
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As of 3/17/23, our new ORR Project Officer (PO) is Jaqueline Mustache (jaquelin.mastache@acf.hhs.gov). The PO is to be copied on certain NOC submissions (i.e., media attention, death of a UC, and/or trafficking concerns)
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ORR and Department of Education - Explained Rights of UC to Enroll in School - Click here.
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ORR Language Services
ORR has in-person and remote interpretation available to children and ORR-eligible persons whose primary languages differ from what language resources may be found in-house or in that provider’s community. This contract can be leveraged for all language backgrounds and nationalities in the ORR network (e.g., Mayan language speakers).
If you have any children or clients in your census that do not speak English, Spanish, or a language found and available in your community, please follow the attached SOP. You should submit a request to ORRLanguageServices@acf.hhs.gov to deploy an in-person or remote interpreter for one-off important meetings/assessments or for the lifecycle that child remains in your care.
ORR is committed to ensuring language access and equity. Please take advantage of the Army’s interpretation capabilities if there are not viable and timely options in your community. Thank you for continuing to provide exceptional care for all children and new arrivals in your programs. Please do not hesitate to contact your ORRLanguageServices@acf.hhs.gov if you have any additional questions.
This contract can also be used for HQ translations as well as translation of client- or grantee-specific documentation (assuming there is a mission-critical rationale for a client or grantee-specific document translation).
Click here for the Request Form.
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ORR Digitial Fingerprint Site List
Attached you will find an updated ORR Digital Fingerprint Site List. Updates are in highlighted in yellow. Please ensure that you are using the most recent list when making fingerprint appointments for sponsors, household members, and adult caregivers.
REMINDERS:
- ORR digital fingerprint sites do not send paperwork (Coversheet, ARI, photo ID) to PSC. It is the case manager’s responsibility to submit paperwork to PSC to request the fingerprint check. See UAC MAP Section 2.5.1, Appendix 2.9, and Appendix 2.14.
- Case managers must make an appointment before directing the sponsor to travel to the digital site. The majority of digital sites conduct fingerprinting by appointment only (see ORR Digital Fingerprint Site List).
Click here for ORR Fingerprint Site List
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Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity Home Study, Post-Release Services
The Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) posted a Standing Notice of Funding Opportunity (SNOFO) on Grants.Gov, to solicit applications for organizations to provide post-release services and home studies to unaccompanied children released from the care of ORR to a vetted sponsor nationwide. ORR continues to work toward its goal of providing post-release services to all children discharged to sponsors and to expand support to include additional services and grantees so that post-release services can provide a stronger base of support upon discharge.
The SNOFO posted on Thursday, March 16, 2023, and can be accessed at this link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=346130. Applications are due by Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Anticipated award date is September 29, 2023. This SNOFO has been updated from previous funding announcements for home studies and post-release services and contemplates provision of post-release services for all unaccompanied children released from the care of ORR. As this is a SNOFO, ORR will have additional publications and awards in FY 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Post-release services are only one piece of the larger effort to promote safety and well-being of unaccompanied children, and the ORR team is excited to see the positive impact it will have toward our shared goals. We appreciate your help in driving changes to post release efforts by expanding post release services and increasing home studies capacity in our communities, states, and across the nation.
Please forward the SNOFO link to any organizations/agencies in your contacts list that may be interested in applying for this funding. If you have any questions regarding the SNOFO, please email Gail Houppert, Home Studies and Post Release Project Officer Supervisor, at HSPRS_ProjectOfficers@acf.hhs.gov.
For general information on the SNOFO process, please refer to the ACF website at How to Apply for a Grant. Providing home studies and post release services to unaccompanied children is a key priority for ORR. Please help ORR spread the word about this opportunity.
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USCCB/MRS Program Updates
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We're Hiring!
USCCB Family Reunification is still looking to hire one Program Specialist to assist with the increased workload related to the expansion. We are actively recruiting and hopeful to fill this position soon. If you know someone who might be interested, direct them to apply here.
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USCCB Family Reunification Program Assignment
Please see below for the new program assignment list. You should have been notified by your previously assigned CSS of the transition. Please note that for the next month, Asma and Dory will still be shadowed by previous CSS's to complete their last phase of CSS's training. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Simy Cuervo, Associate Director, Family Reunification
- At Promise Youth Solutions
Kailey Cano, CSS
- Catholic Charites of Atlanta
- Catholic Charities of San Diego
- Catholic Charities of Nashville
- Bethany Christian Services of Florida
McKenna Heap-Garner, CSS
- Catholic Charities of Ohio
- Bethany Christian Services of Maryland
- Catholic Charities of Newark
- Catholic Charities of Baltimore
Dory Dinoto, CSS
- Catholic Charities Arlington - KC Shadow
- Catholic Charities Boston - KC Shadow
- Catholic Charities of Los Angeles - SC Shadow
- International Christian Adoptions, Inc. - SC Shadow
Asma Rehman, CSS
- Catholic Charities of New York - MHG Shadow
- Catholic Charities of San Antonio - MHG Shadow
- Catholic Charities of Trenton - SC Shadow
- Catholic Charities of Houston - SC Shadow
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Quarterly Network Call
The 3rd network call of FY23 is scheduled for:
Wednesday, July 12th, 2023
2 -3:30 PM EST
Use this LINK to access the call via Zoom on the indicated day/time.
Meeting ID: 993 6384 8850
Passcode: 108855
Should you have any questions to submit prior to the call, please do so using this link. Questions must be submitted by 5pm EST on July 11th.
To find recordings of past meetings see resource section below.
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Community of Practice Call
The next Community of Practice Call is scheduled for:
Friday, June 16th
1:00 PM EST
Use this LINK to access the call via Zoom on the indicated day/time.
Meeting ID: 873 8791 7055
Passcode: 523485
Please reach out to Kailey Cano at kcano@usccb.org if you would like to volunteer to chair the meeting or submit a topic for discussion.
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USCCB FR Network Meeting Recordings and Handouts:
- First Network Call:
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The recording and handout for the first network call of FY23 (held January 11, 2023) can be accessed here.
- Password= Standard ORR PW.
- Network Call to discuss HS Expansion
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The recording and handout for the network call on February 2nd.
- Password= Standard ORR PW.
- Network Call to discuss new forms on February 17th.
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The recording for the network call on February 17th.
- Password=Standard ORR PW.
- Second Network Call:
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The recording and handout for the most recent network call held on April 12th, 2023 can be accessed here.
- Password = Standard ORR PW.
- Community of Practice Call:
- The recording from the last CoP call held on April 21st, 2023 can be accessed here.
- Password = Standard ORR PW.
- The materials shared can be accessed here.
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Children's Services Convening
November 1- 3, 2023
Washington, DC
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Safe Passages Family Reunification Training | |
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As a reminder, all NEW staff are required to complete 40 hours of pre-training prior to case assignment.
New Directors Orientation
New Program/Staff Onboarding Training:
*Partial recordings due to technical difficulties
All New Staff MUST complete Child Abuse and Neglect Background Checks before serving children. These must be completed for every state the employee has lived in for the past 5 years.
In the event that you are unable to print the certificate of completion for any mandatory training, please take a screenshot of the final screen, including your training score, and forward it to your assigned CSS.
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Additional Training Opportunities | |
Opinion | The Rich World Has a Shockingly High Tolerance for Cruelty | Very few people choose to leave home. It chooses you. | | |
As Migrant Children Were Put to Work, U.S. Ignored Warnings | The White House and federal agencies were repeatedly alerted to signs of children at risk. The warnings were ignored or missed. When Antonio Diaz Mendez arrived in the U.S. from Guatemala at age 14, he was already deep in debt and largely on his own. Credit... | | | |
Biden Administration Plans Crackdown on Migrant Child Labor | The move came days after a Times investigation showed children were working in dangerous jobs throughout the United States. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. | | | |
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NOC Submission: ORR Email Template
ORR has asked that we use a new template for all NOC email submissions. Please copy and paste the template information in all NOC emails that you submit to ORR.
The subject line of the email should continue to read "USCCB NOC: XX, XX (last 4 of A#)"
Email Body:
· NOC Synopsis
· UC’s Initials and last 4 of A#
· New Address for Sponsor - YES or NO
· Flag Address - YES or NO
· Flag Sponsor- YES or NO
· Flag entered in portal by PRS Provider - YES or NO
***Standard password applies***
Subrecipient of USCCB
NEW FY 2023 NOC Template
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Monthly reports
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Monthly Reports are due the 2nd Friday of the following month. There are several data components from the reports that are used to complete subsequent reports that USCCB/MRS Safe Passages Family Reunification submits to ORR. Please remember to submit your monthly reports on time.
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The 2023 Updated Monthly Report Form can be found here.
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Next Monthly Report is due on May 12th.
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New HS Template Form and Write-Up Guide
New HS Template Form Here.
New HS Write-up Guide Here.
* Please note due to the type of PDF, these files must be saved to your computer and opened with Adobe Pro. The forms are not compatible with browser pdf viewers. However, you can still save the PDF from the browser view. Please reached out to your CSS if you have questions.
- Please remember that you may use this form now if you would like, however it is not mandatory until we sign our Cooperative Agreement Addendum with ORR.
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Please remember to add HHM interviews to the additional comments section.
- Print the form to PDF to be able to include revisions.
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PRS Leveling Down / TVPRA Closure Request Form
- Please use the following Assessment Form to request a PRS Level 2 to Level down to Level 1 or if you would like to close a PRS/TVRPA Case that has been open and stable for more than 1 year.
- If you have questions, contact your CSS.
- Please see the following guidance for more information.
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FY 23 Budget Revisions
Any site thinking about modifying their budgets should submit a new budget to Michelle Peterson - mpeterson@usccb.org for review and approval. This is for USCCB Programs who budgeted for Level 3 and need to modify their budgets to hire for PRS Level 1 & 2.
Reminder: All subgrantee programs are required to submit reimbursement requests not later than 30 calendar days following the end of the month in which the expenditure being submitted for reimbursement is incurred. This policy applies to specifically to all Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Unaccompanied Children’s Programs- Family Reunification/Home Study and Post Release Services and Foster Care Providers. Requests for reimbursement that are older than 30 days from the date of the expense will be subject to denial by USCCB.
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General Reminders
Capacity Issues - If any sub-recipient program experiences capacity issues due to staffing challenges, medical leave, etc., please notify your CSS immediately via email and be sure to include Minh Martinez, Referral and Placement Specialist.
UAC Portal Access:
Please reach out to Simy Cuervo or Kailey Cano to register new employees on the UAC portal.
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Please remember to change your UAC Portal password when prompted via email; as a precaution, be sure to check your spam folders for the alerts. Failure to update your password within the time indicated will result in suspension of your Portal account.
- Also, you MUST login to the Portal weekly/bi-weekly to prevent being locked out due to inactivity.
- If you are locked out of the UAC Portal - Please reach out to the UAC portal Help Desk.
MRIS Updates:
- We are actively working on adjusting MRIS to reflect the new FY23 Level System inputted by ORR. However, in the meantime,
- Please indicate the level of the case in the PRS reports.
FY23 Monitoring Visits:
- If you have a particular month or time of year you would prefer for monitoring visits, please let your CSS know. We are actively scheduling monitoring for FY23.
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