Greetings FR Network,
On Friday, May 22nd, 2020, ORR notified Post Release Service providers that due to a current court order (mandating that ORR release UAC to their sponsors without unnecessary delay), ORR will temporarily be waiving fingerprint (FP) checks and releasing children to sponsors who have not completed them. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsors are having a hard time getting their fingerprint checks completed due to designated fingerprinting sites being temporarily closed or only having limited availability. ORR reports that there is a process to this waiver requirement, and that children will only be released after all other background checks are completed, and there are no red flags.
Due to the order, ORR has asked that PRS providers assist sponsors with arranging and obtaining their fingerprints checks and submitting them to the shelter case manager. This will include PRS providers:
- Provide PRS only services to the UAC and their sponsors with the main referral reason being that the sponsor does not have their fingerprint checks completed
- ORR noted that this may be indicated in the release request
- Assisting the sponsor with scheduling FP appointments, which may include looking for other options outside of the designated fingerprint sites
- Fingerprints can be completed electronically or via a fingerprint card (the fingerprint card will need to be mailed to the shelter case manager)
- Following up with the sponsor every 7 days until the fingerprints have been completed and submitted to the shelter case manager
- Emails should be sent to the shelter case manager, your assigned CSS, and the USCCBFR (usccbfr@usccb.org) referral email address
- Submitting a NOC to ORR within 30 days if the sponsor has not been able to obtain/complete the fingerprint checks
- Potentially reporting the sponsor to CPS due to non-compliance
- When calling CPS, the provider can inform CPS that under ORR’s requirements as a sponsor of a UAC, the sponsor is required to submit fingerprint checks, and the sponsor is not in compliance
- If the sponsor has been making efforts and attempts to obtain FP checks, but is just not successful, please notify your CSS to assess the necessity of reporting this to CPS
- If no initial contact has been established or the sponsor declines services, the both a NOC and report to CPS must be made
- ORR is aware of the concern’s providers have about calling CPS, and ORR acknowledges that these reports may not be taken, but feel that it is best practice to make a note of it
- Once fingerprint checks are completed and sent to ORR, the shelter case manager will update the results in the UAC portal; if there are any concerns regarding the FP results, the FFS will notify the provider.
ORR reported that they believe that only a small percentage of children will be released without sponsor fingerprint checks and are asking for providers to continue to assess these cases for any additional risks that may be associated to releasing children to sponsors without fingerprint checks. If you would like to get more information on ORR’s policy and procedures regarding fingerprint checks, please see
MAPS section 2
for more guidance.
We are continuing to gather more information from ORR and will provide the network with updates as we receive them from ORR. We will have a brief network call this
Friday, May 29
th
at
3:00pm
EST to review this guidance. If you have any initial questions, please use this
link
or the one below so that we can ensure that we address any questions you may have.
