Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ORR ZU 0019
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement funding opportunity called "Home Study and Post-Release Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children" (Opportunity Number: HHS 2026 ACF ORR ZU 0019; CFDA: 93.676). The program sits within the broader ORR responsibility to provide temporary care for unaccompanied children who arrive in the United States without lawful immigration status and without a parent or legal guardian in the country who can provide care. The central purpose of this grant is to support two tightly connected service areas that are critical to child safety and stability: (1) home studies conducted before a child is released to a sponsor, and (2) post-release services that continue after the child is placed with that sponsor.
The home study portion focuses on assessing whether a proposed sponsor home is safe, appropriate, and able to meet a childs needs before ORR releases the child from custody. In practical terms, this means grantees help ORR make better-informed release decisions by gathering and evaluating information about the home environment, the sponsors capacity and preparedness, and any risk factors that could affect the childs safety and well-being. The intent is not just a checklist exercise, but a safeguard designed to reduce the chance that a child is released into an unsafe situation and to ensure sponsors understand what caregiving will involve.
The post-release services portion is designed to help both the child and sponsor succeed after reunification. Once the child is living with a sponsor, services emphasize adjustment and stabilization, connection to community-based supports, health and safety, and navigating the immigration court process. These supports are meant to reduce isolation, address practical barriers (like school enrollment or accessing health care), and strengthen the sponsor-child placement so it can remain safe and stable while the childs immigration case continues. In short, ORR is funding organizations to provide ongoing, structured support that can identify concerns early, connect families to resources, and help prevent crises that might otherwise lead to harm or placement disruption.
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal government expects an active partnership and substantial involvement in how the work is carried out compared to a standard grant. The award ceiling is up to $50,000,000, and ORR expects to make about 15 awards. The opportunity was created on 2026-06-05, and the original closing date listed is 2027-10-01.
Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors, including state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); and other eligible entities as defined in the notice. Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements. At the same time, the notice is clear about who cannot apply: applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships), federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
The notice also includes important rules for current ORR-funded recipients. Organizations that are in the final year of their current project period need to check their project end date, and if that end date lines up with the projected award date for this new opportunity and they want to continue providing services, they must apply under this funding opportunity. Organizations that are not in the final year of their project period can still apply, but only if they propose services in a new facility and a new location from where they are currently funded. ORR also notes that ACF does not fund multiple projects offering the same type of service in the same location, which is meant to prevent duplication and ensure coverage is spread where it is needed.
Overall, the grant aims to strengthen child protection and successful community placement for unaccompanied children by combining careful, pre-release screening of sponsor homes with structured, post-release supports that help children and sponsors navigate daily life, access community resources, maintain safety and health, and manage the stresses and requirements of immigration proceedings.Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ORR ZU 0019
- The Administration for Children and Families - ORR in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Home Study and Post-Release Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.676.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-10-01.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: 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 that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Home Study and Post-Release Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
What type of funding instrument is this?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the notice description, a cooperative agreement generally indicates an active partnership with the federal government and substantial federal involvement in how the work is carried out, compared to a standard grant.
What is the central purpose of this program?
The central purpose is to support two connected service areas critical to child safety and stability: (1) home studies conducted before ORR releases a child to a sponsor, and (2) post-release services that continue after the child is placed with that sponsor.
Who are the children served by this program?
The program sits within ORR's responsibility to provide temporary care for unaccompanied children who arrive in the United States without lawful immigration status and without a parent or legal guardian in the country who can provide care.
What are "home studies" under this opportunity?
Home studies are assessments completed before a child is released to a sponsor to determine whether the proposed sponsor home is safe, appropriate, and able to meet the child's needs.
What is the goal of the home study component?
The goal is to help ORR make better-informed release decisions by gathering and evaluating information about the home environment, the sponsor's capacity and preparedness, and any risk factors that could affect the child's safety and well-being.
Are home studies described as more than a checklist?
Yes. The notice emphasizes that the intent is not merely a checklist exercise, but a safeguard to reduce the chance of release into an unsafe situation and to ensure sponsors understand what caregiving will involve.
What are "post-release services" under this opportunity?
Post-release services are structured supports provided after reunification, once the child is living with a sponsor.
What is the goal of the post-release services component?
The goal is to help both the child and sponsor succeed after reunification by supporting adjustment and stabilization, connecting them to community-based supports, promoting health and safety, and helping them navigate the immigration court process.
What kinds of challenges are post-release services meant to address?
They are intended to reduce isolation, address practical barriers (such as school enrollment or accessing health care), strengthen the sponsor-child placement, and identify concerns early to help prevent crises that could lead to harm or placement disruption.
How do the home study and post-release components work together?
The home study helps inform safe release decisions before placement, while post-release services provide ongoing support after placement to maintain safety and stability as the child's immigration case continues.
What is the Opportunity Number?
The Opportunity Number is HHS 2026 ACF ORR ZU 0019.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 93.676.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is up to $50,000,000.
How many awards does ORR expect to make?
ORR expects to make about 15 awards.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2027-10-01.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors, including: state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits); and other eligible entities as defined in the notice.
Are faith-based and community organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly eligible as long as they meet the stated requirements.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships), federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
Can an individual or sole proprietor apply for this funding?
No. Individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
Can a federal agency or other federal entity apply?
No. Federal entities are not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
Can a foreign organization apply?
No. Foreign entities are not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
What does ORR say about current ORR-funded recipients in the final year of their project period?
Organizations in the final year of their current project period should check their project end date. If the end date aligns with the projected award date for this new opportunity and they want to continue providing services, they must apply under this funding opportunity.
Can current ORR-funded recipients who are not in the final year apply?
Yes, but only if they propose services in a new facility and a new location from where they are currently funded.
Does ACF allow multiple projects offering the same service in the same location?
No. ORR notes that ACF does not fund multiple projects offering the same type of service in the same location, to prevent duplication and help ensure coverage is spread where needed.
What overall outcomes is this grant intended to support?
The grant is intended to strengthen child protection and successful community placement for unaccompanied children by combining careful pre-release screening of sponsor homes with structured post-release supports that promote safety, stability, connection to resources, health and well-being, and navigation of immigration proceedings.
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