2.2 and 2.3 Sponsor Application Process and Participants in Release Process

Question 1

Categories of qualified sponsors

Answer 1

1: parent or legal guardian (included step parents with legal or joint custody of the child or teen)
2a. Brother, sister, grandparent, or other immediate relative (aunt, uncle, first cousin) who previously served as the UCs primary caregiver. Could include biological relative through legal marriage and half siblings
2B. An immediate relative (ie aunt, uncle, first cousin) not previously a primary caregiver. This includes biological relatives and relatives through legal marriage
3. Other sponsor, such as distant relatives and unrelated adult relatives
4. No sponsor identified

Question 2

2 instances where ORR does not release a uc to a parent or legal guardian

Answer 2

1. A court ordered termination of parents rights over the child
2. Substantial evidence the child would be at risk of harm if released to them.

Question 3

Six types of safe screening methods of a child’s care provider

Answer 3

1. Use of appropriate interpreters
2. Identity of the sponsor is obtained
3. Verification of family relationships
4. Coordination with UCs parents, legal guardians, or closest relatives prior to contacting non-relative adult potential sponsors
5. Screening for exploitation, abuse, trafficking, or other safety concerns
6. Engaging the child to communicated openly with care provider staff about his or her own sense of safety

Question 4

How quickly should sponsors be sent a sponsor package after being identified?

Answer 4

Within 24 hours, the care provider or national call center should send a sponsor package with the application and related documents

Question 5

10 items in the sponsor package

Answer 5

1. Packet cover letter
   2: release of information
2. Family reunification application
3. Sponsor care agreement
4. Flyer with contact information or organizations offering legal orientation program for custodians
5. Flyer with contact information for the UC sexual abuse hotline
6. Fingerprint instructions
7. Sponsor handbook
8. Letter of designation for care of a minor (if parent or legal guardian wishes to specify)
9. A flyer warning sponsors of potential fraud schemes

Question 6

Can the sponsor get help with the FRA package?

Answer 6

Yes, the care providers or others Amy assist, and can also help an FRA fill the application out in the form. The completed FRA is sent to the sponsor for verification.

Question 7

Documentation needed for release to sponsor

Answer 7

Sponsor must provide the FRA and proof of identity, address, and relationship to the child sponsors. They also should present documentation verifying the child they seek to sponsor, and all adults residing with the sponsor, as well as any other adult caregivers in the sponsor care plan

Question 8

Acceptable sponsor identity documents

Answer 8

List A (only need one)
1. Is passport or passport card
2. Permanent resident care or aliens registration receipt card
3. Foreign passport that contains a photograph
4. EAD
5. US drivers license

List B (need 2)
1. Us certificate of naturalization
2. Military id
3. Birth certificate
4. Marriage certificate
5. Court order for name change
6. Foreign national ID card
7. Consular passport renewal receipt with go to
8. Mexican consular I’d card
9. Foreign drivers license with photo
10. Foreign voter registration card with photo
11. Canadian border crossing card with photo
12. Mexican border crossing with photo and valid I-94
13. Refugee travel doc with photo
14. Something similae

Question 9

Prof of Childs identity

Answer 9

The sponsor must provide a birth certificate or the copy of a birth certificate

Question 10

Cat 2a evidence of primary caregiver

Answer 10

Any guardianship documents, other documents, corroborating interviews with the child. Potential sponsors, and other family members to figure out whether they were a primary caregicer

Question 11

What happens if a sponsor applicant provides false information?

Answer 11

ORR will report the incident to OIG and deny release if the fradulents doucmetns were submitted during release

Question 12

What is the legal orientation program for custodians

Answer 12

• informs sponsors of responsbilities making sure children appear at immigration proceedings
• protect child from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking as provided unthe the TVPRA
• Provides any info on legal pro-borno options

Question 13

Who provides legal orientation program for custodians

Answer 13

This is run by OLAP in EOIR at DOJ, who manage the LOPC and contract wiht legal service organizations to provide serivces to sponsors. Case manager must tell sponsors about going to LOPC though. Attendance at LOPC should be a part of a release assessment

Question 14

Will sponsors receive the Family Reunification Packet through the mail or electronically?

Answer 14

Case managers will work with sponsors to identify the best way to get packets to them, whether electronically, by fax,or by postage

Question 15

Do sponsors need assistance from an attorney or paide representative to complete the packet?

Answer 15

No. the UC’s case manager can help the sponsor complete the form and explain the process

Question 16

Is it possible for a UC’s spouse to be a sponsor?

Answer 16

This is considered on a case by case basis

Question 17

Is it possible for family members in the US to proactively contact ORR about children who may have entered the country unaccompanied?

Answer 17

Yes - they can call the ORR national call center

Question 18

Role of ORR FFS in release process

Answer 18

FFSs are assigned to a group of care providers within a geographic region and have the authority to approve all UC transfer and release decisions, oversee care providers to make sure services are done properly, and serve as a locla liaison to communicty stakdeholder, including other federal agencies, local elgal service providers, communities, child advocates, etc.They also provide guidance, direction, and technical assistance to care providers. They also make sfinal decisions as to whether home studies are docuted and/or post-release services are provided

Question 19

Case m

Question 20

Six rols of case manager in communicating with the potential sponsor:

Answer 20

1. provides direct assistance on completing the sponsor application packet and ensuring supporting documentation.
2. Involves the sponsor in amking a plan for individualized services for the UC as appropriate.
3. Keeps the sponsor informed of the UC’s progress and current functioning
4. Provides the sponsor with detailed information about the UC’s needs in order to fully assess the sponsor’s ability to provide care and services, including completing a sponsor care plan, when necessary
5. Discusses services that are available in the sponsor’s community for hhe UC
6. Shares relevant info on the UC in accordance with applicable privacy and info-sharing policy, iuncluding a UC’s pregnancy or abortion decision and in collaboration with the UC and child’s clinician in a way that best servves the child’s safety and well-being

Question 21

Case manager reporting requirements

Answer 21

• Provides weekly status updates to the UC’s assigned case coordinator and FFS on the progress of a safe and timely release and any delays
• Weekly statu updates (monthly for LTFC) to the UC on tehir case and provision of services, preferably in person
• Informs other stakeholders on the progress of a child’s case, including notification a UC may not have a potnetial sponsor, and any final release decisions.
• Keep law enforcement aware if they are involved in the process

Question 22

8 roles of a UC Case Coordinator

Answer 22

1. Provide timely review and assessment of potential sponsors and UC to make recommendations for release in conjunction with case manager
2. Assist ORR ins ensuring children are in lease restrictive setting while receiving appropriate services
3. Meet with individual UC and care provider staff and UC-designated ORR-funded care provider sites.
4. Provide targeted child welf-re-based assistance to care provider staff, as directed by ORR staff
5. Make recommendations for home study and PRS for at-risk children
6. Make placement recommendations for children who require more specializated levels fo care, such as LTFC and RTC
7. Participate in collaborative meetings with local stakeholders
8. Participate in staffing of cases with care providers and designated ORR staff

Question 23

Four duties of Child Advocates

Answer 23

1. Client visits: the CA meetis with UC regularly and speaks with care provider staff to understand the child’s background and situation
2. Decision making: The CA helps the UC understand legal and care-related issues, explains consequences of decisions made in response to those issues, and assists the child in making decisions when thi child requests help
3. Best interests advocacy: the child advocate develops a serivce plan containing besst-interest recommendations with respect to the care, placement, and release options, and keeps the care provider, ORR, and the legal service provider or attorney aapprised of the plan and advocacy efforts
4. Case update: the CA collaborates and communicates wtih the care provider, ORR, and other stakeholder in the planning and performance of advocacy effort. Fro chidren released from ORR care, CAs provide timeliny updates as appropriate or requested

Question 24

Which UC receive child advocates?

Answer 24

Typically, victims of traficking and other vulnerable children