[Federal Register: July 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 41364]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18jy08-98]
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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: Maureen.Dunn@acf.hhs.gov
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