What services are provided for unaccompanied child victims of trafficking?
LIRS and USCCB are responsible for coordinating with local specialized foster care programs to place unaccompanied trafficked children in culturally appropriate foster homes, group homes, or independent living arrangements, appropriate to the youth’s developmental needs. These programs were established to serve unaccompanied refugee minors and are funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). These foster care programs, therefore, are referred to as the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor programs (URM). Through the URM programs, these children will receive intensive case management, education, health care, mental health counseling, legal assistance, independent living skills training, and many other services. They are eligible to remain in foster care until they turn 20 or 21 years old, depending on the foster care rules of the state. In order for a trafficked child to enter a URM program, the ORR must issue a letter of eligibility to the unaccompanied child.
