Family Reunification Monthly Update
August 2021
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Quarterly Network Call
***Please note that the 4th network call has been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 12th
2 -3:30 PM EST***
The recording and handout for the 3rd quarter network call of FY21 can be accessed here.
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USCCB Closings
September 6th
(Labor Day)
October 11th
(Columbus Day)
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ORR Program Updates
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There were no ORR program updates pertinent to HS/PRS programs during the month of July. For a complete list of ORR policies and procedures, click here.
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Here is the latest Federal Field Specialist (FFS) and Case Coordinator (CC) UAC program assignment lists as of August 2021. Please use these updated lists when submitting home study reports.
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USCCB/MRS Program Updates
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FY21 Monitoring visits have been tentatively scheduled with all sub-recipient programs. You will receive more detailed information regarding your visit from your assigned CSS.
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Staffing Update: CSS Monique Harvey's last day was Friday, August 27th. Please note that her programs have been reassigned to either Nikeita Lawrence or Simy Cuervo. see the CSS assignment list below;he asterisk identifies programs that are set to transfer to CSS John Abraham once he completes his training.
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Nikeita Lawrence (nlawrence@usccb.org)
- Catholic Charities San Antonio, TX
- Catholic Charities Trenton, NJ*
- Catholic Charities Arlington, VA
- Catholic Charities Boston, MA
- Catholic Charities Baltimore, MD
- Catholic Charities Newark, NJ
- Bethany Christian Services Maryland
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Simy Cuervo (scuervo@usccb.org)
- Catholic Charities San Diego, CA
- Catholic Charities Nashville, TN
- International Christian Adoptions - ICA*
- Catholic Charities Las Angeles, CA*
- Catholic Charities Houston, TX*
- Catholic Charities Atlanta, GA
- Bethany Christian Services Florida
- Catholic Charities Cincinnati, OH
- Catholic Charities New York, NY
*With the continued transition and the increased case loads, we appreciate your patience and understanding. For matters that require immediate attention, please include "URGENT" in the email subject line.
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Children's Services Convening
September 27th-30th
The Safe Passages Family Reunification program is joining forces with the USCCB/MRS Foster Care program for the 2021 Children's Services Convening. This free virtual conference is open to all sub-recipients of both programs and will offer an array of training opportunities.
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Afghan Children
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On August 26th, an email was sent to the entire USCCB/MRS Children's Services network regarding the devastating news coming out of Afghanistan and it's potential implications for our work. In preparation, please inform your CSS as soon as possible, of your agency's ability to serve this population, as ORR will be accepting referrals of Afghan unaccompanied children with parole status into the UC program.
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Justice for Immigrants - Afghanistan Evacuation Resource Page
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Training
NOTE: As we are nearing beginning 4th quarter of this fiscal year, all sub-recipient staff should have completed at minimum, 75% (30 hrs.) of the 40 annual training hours required by ORR.
Mandatory Training:
New Program/Staff Onboarding Training:
*Partial recordings due to technical difficulties
Additional Training Opportunities:
*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
*FY21Training Tracker - Please note that the training tracker has been updated to include the new mandated trauma and UAC Portal training requirements. Please utilize this tracker moving forward.
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Reminders
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Director of Children's Services - As a reminder, Lindsay Shah is the new Director of Children's Services and should be included on NOCs for CPS involvement. Lindsay's email address is LShah@usccb.org.
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Acting Assistant Director of Family Reunification - As a reminder, Simy Cuervo is the acting Assistant Director of Family Reunification. Please be sure to copy Simy (SCuervo@usccb.org) on all NOC and home study submission emails.
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Flagging Sponsors - Per ORR's request, please remember to specifically indicate in NOCs whether or not the sponsor should be flagged. This is particularly important as it pertains to NOCs for placement disruption, CPS, or lost contact. This should be noted in both the submission email as well as the NOC report
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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. The monthly report form can be found here.
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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, Child Placement Specialist.
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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.
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Current NOC Template - This is the latest NOC template, reflecting our new ORR Project Officer (PO), Michelle Sheedy. Please use this updated template moving forward. This NOC flowchart can be used as a reminder of what constitutes a NOC and any additional persons that should be included on the submission email.
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Enhanced Post Release Services (ePRS) - As previously mentioned, ORR partnered with grantees of the National Center for Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) to provide post release services to eligible unaccompanied alien children (UAC) and their sponsors who will require intensive services to maintain placement and/or continued services to ensure that continuity of care and services are not disrupted. ePRS are currently available to UC discharged or reunified with a sponsor in the following states: in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, or Florida. Learn more about ePRS and the eligibility requirements here. If you have a UC to refer for ePRS, please complete this referral form and the referral process flowchart as it relates to subrecipient program staff.
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Migration Protection Protocols - Please continue to track/report Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) (also known as “Remain in Mexico”). Additional information on the MPP can be found here. Please review and complete the information indicated here for all cases in which a child reports being impacted in any capacity by MPP.
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