HHS proposes tighter sponsor checks for unaccompanied children
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The proposal would tighten how the Office of Refugee Resettlement screens potential sponsors before placing unaccompanied children with them. Sponsors would need to provide acceptable proof of identity, proof of income, and information needed for background checks. The rule would affect potential sponsors, child welfare providers working with ORR, and unaccompanied children in federal custody. Sponsors may face more documentation requirements and longer suitability reviews, while ORR says the goal is safer placements.
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Key Changes
- Requires potential sponsors to provide acceptable proof of identity
- Requires potential sponsors to provide proof of income
- Updates background check and placement assessment requirements for sponsor suitability reviews
Obligations
What this law requires
Potential sponsors of unaccompanied children in ORR custody would be required to provide acceptable documentation proving their identity as part of the sponsor suitability assessment.
Potential sponsors of unaccompanied children in ORR custody would be required to provide proof of income before placement approval.
Potential sponsors would be required to provide information needed for background checks during ORR sponsor suitability assessments.
ORR would be required to apply amended background check requirements when conducting sponsor suitability assessments for potential placements of unaccompanied children.
ORR and related child welfare providers would need to consider examinations of unaccompanied children related to dangerousness to self or others as part of placement-related assessments where applicable.