Long-Term Group Home

The Federal Office of Refugee Re-Settlement (ORR) promptly places Unaccompanied children* in the least restrictive setting that is determined to be in the best interests of the child, taking into consideration danger to self, danger to the community, and risk of flight. ORR looks at each child’s unique situation and incorporates child welfare principles when making placement, clinical, case management, and release decisions that are in the best interest of the child.

An unaccompanied child may be placed in a long-term foster care (LTFC) setting, such as community-based foster care or a community-based group home. Long-Term Foster Care (LTFC) providers must ensure that each child is placed in a licensed foster home or group home and consider the child’s preference, cultural, and linguistic needs when making placements.

Morrison Child & Family Services operates a Long-Term Group Home which is designated as a Long-Term Foster Care setting as part of the ORR Provider Network.

A child is a candidate for LTFC if they:

• Are expected to have a protracted stay of four months or more in ORR custody because they do not have a viable sponsor and/or the child is likely to be in ORR care for a prolonged time for other reasons AND
• Are under the age of 17 and 6 months at the time of placement, unless waived by both the referring and receiving Federal Field Staff (FFS), who will take into account the best interests of the child.

ORR considers the following factors when making an LTFC referral and placement decision:

• The child’s mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical health needs
• The child’s ability and commitment to live in a family and community-based setting
• The child’s age
• Availability of an appropriate placement that meets the child’s needs
• The legal service provider’s (LSP) recommendation of preferred locations for placement based on the child’s eligibility for immigration relief in each state

The Legal Service Provider’s recommendation of preferred locations for placement must be based on the child’s potential for immigration relief, type of immigration relief, and status of court hearings or relief petitions. ORR will consider the recommendation, in addition to the factors listed above, in determining the LTFC placement that is in the child’s best interest

We have designed our Long-Term Group Home program to provide a least restrictive and home-like environment. This includes the food, the languages spoken, the environment of care, the partnership with our local public schools that the youth are enrolled into to go to classes and participate in school sports and extra-curricular activities.

LTGH prioritizes education. All youth are enrolled in High School and many youth get enrolled in GED courses at PCC. This is particularly important when youth are close to leaving the program, so they have options if they decide not to continue in regular high school.

LTGH youth are encouraged to join extracurricular activities. This year there have been groups of youth participating in softball, baseball, soccer, and choir. Staff keep very busy making sure youth get to practices, games, and events!

Youth in this program have been able to play varsity sports, attend community college and college. Many youth who graduate from the program continue to attend school or work here in the Portland Metro Area. Other youth enroll in a program that works with Portland Youth Builders to incorporate Trade school with a GED Program.

For more detailed information please refer to ORR’s website.