[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 41364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16573]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of Refugee Resettlement


Noncompetitive Urgent Single Source Unaccompanied Alien Children 
Trauma Initiative

AGENCY: Division of Unaccompanied Children's Services, Office of 
Refugee Resettlement, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice to Award a Noncompetitive Urgent Single Source 
Unaccompanied Alien Children Trauma Initiative.

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    CFDA#: 93.676.
    Legislative Authority: Section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 279), which, in March 2003, transferred responsibility 
for the Unaccompanied Alien Children's Program from the Commissioner of 
the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to the Director 
of Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS).
    Amount of Award: $1,826,037.00.
    Project Period: July 15, 2008-January 15, 2011.
    Summary: Notice is hereby given that the Office of Refugee 
Resettlement's Division of Unaccompanied Children's Services (ORR/DUCS) 
will award a noncompetitive urgent single-source award to the Latin 
American Health Institute (LHI) to provide urgent care for 
unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in response to an unsolicited 
application.
    ORR/DUCS-funded facilities currently have very limited capacity to 
help UAC cope with potentially devastating consequences of trauma. Such 
limited trauma-informed services within the ORR/DUCS network of care 
puts UAC and the ORR/DUCS program at tremendous risk.
    A great number of UAC have been subjected to severe trauma, 
including sexual abuse and sexual assault in their home countries or on 
their journey to the U.S.; gang violence; domestic violence; traumatic 
loss of a parent; and physical abuse and neglect. In addition, UAC 
experience the increased probability of ongoing trauma as a result of 
their uncertain legal status and return to difficult life 
circumstances. ORR/DUCS-funded facilities currently have very limited 
specifically targeted capacity to help UAC cope with the potentially 
devastating consequences of trauma.
    Trauma affects children in very complex ways, including behavioral 
problems and potential involvement with the juvenile justice system; 
suicidal ideation and attempts; serious depression; and lasting delays 
in reaching emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal developmental 
milestones. ORR/DUCS-funded care providers are in a unique position to 
assist and intervene in these cases in order to minimize the harmful 
effects of past and possible ongoing trauma.
    The lack of expertise in addressing trauma leaves the ORR/DUCS-
funded care provider facilities staff particularly vulnerable to the 
occupational hazards of working with traumatized children, such as 
vicarious trauma, boundary violations with children, job burnout, and 
high staff turnover.
    The youth workers in the ORR/DUCS-funded facilities do not have 
specific knowledge of childhood trauma and more importantly, they lack 
effective responses such that they are left ill-prepared to handle the 
complex needs of the UAC in their care. Without this type of expertise, 
staff in the facilities may in certain situations indirectly or 
unknowingly foster an environment that perpetuates trauma for the 
children. Trauma training will prepare care provider facility staff to 
better help UAC and to convey accurate information to their sponsors, 
thus creating safer outcomes for the youth and the communities where 
they are released. The LHI Unaccompanied Alien Children Trauma 
Initiative will provide specialized training in delivery of trauma-
informed services, and identification of ways that promote mastery and 
resilience in trauma victims, based on proven expertise in child trauma 
and immigrant and refugee experience.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Dunn, Director, Division of 
Unaccompanied Children's Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 900 
D Street, SW., Washington, DC 20047. e-mail: [email protected] 
and phone: 202-401-5523.

    Dated: July 7, 2008.
David H. Siegel,
Acting Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. E8-16573 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P