1. Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program Molly Daggett, MSW Program Manager Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance DSHS

2. History Began in 1980 in Washington State Part of Refugee Act of 1980
Two agencies, Catholic Community Services and Lutheran Community Services Northwest (USCCB and LIRS)
Way to resettle refugee children who did not have a parent or adult caregiver
Currently operate in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and Vancouver

3. Countries of Origin
Initially Vietnam and Cambodia, now countries include:
Burma (Chin, Rohingya), Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Cameroon, Eritrea, Sudan, Liberia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico

4. Eligibility
Refugees – overseas refugee youth who have been separated from parent or caregiver
Victims of trafficking – youth with eligibility letters from ORR who lack a parent or caregiver
Special Immigrant Juveniles – youth who received this visa while in federal custody
Asylees
Family breakdown
Cuban/Haitian Entrants; U visa recipients

5. Unaccompanied Children
12,000 in ORR care in U.S.
Most have entered U.S. to reunify with parent
Average length of stay 2 months
Placed initially in shelters or foster care
5 facilities in Washington
When gain qualifying status, can transfer to
URM program

6. Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Services
Foster care/group care/semi independent placement
Intensive case management services
Agency assumes legal custody
Legal immigration assistance, mental health counseling, school advocacy
Independent living skills training
Support for higher education

7. Independent Living Curriculum
Areas of focus:
Educational Planning and Career Preparation
Financial Stability
Access to Health Care
Stable Housing
Reliable and Appropriate Transportation
Identification and Realization of Personal Goals

8. Parent Curriculum Foster Parent trainings focus on
Cultural and religious backgrounds
Working with traumatized youth
Issues relevant to all teens – substance abuse prevention, healthy relationships
Working with bio families
Refugee processing overseas
Helping youth adjust to your home
Communicating effectively cross-culturally

9. Higher Education
Youth receive assistance pursuing post-secondary education:
Governor’s Scholarship
College Success Foundation
Treehouse
Program provides IL services (not eligible for DCYF)
FAFSA Workshops, Educational Summits
Mirror domestic services including IL, TL, ETV funding

10. Thank you! Contact: Molly Daggett, MSW
Program Manager Office of Refugee & Immigrant Assistance
Economic Services Administration
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
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