Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) provides Transitional (or short-term) Foster Care to unaccompanied children in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Children placed in this program will stay on average of 7-90 days while case managers work to identify safe and appropriate family reunification options. Without the support of at-the-ready certified foster families, we wouldn’t be able to fulfill this mission. This program is made possible through a grant from Global Refuge and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In 1974, LSSNCA resettled a 10-year-old child from Cambodia who needed open heart surgery to survive. This was the first documented case of an unaccompanied refugee minor entering the organization's care. A local hospital unfortunately cancelled the operation as it didn't have the funds to cover it. LSSNCA guaranteed the hospital payment of $7,000 if they performed the operation. Over the course of the next year, LSSNCA paid off this bill. This dedication and generosity continues today with open doors to those seeking assistance.
We expect to serve more children and youth from El Salvador, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, and Venezuela.
We're always looking to grow our community of loving families. We're able to welcome 70 youth into our program, but currently need more foster families to meet the need.
To learn more about the children, youth, and families in the program, read stories in their own words about their experiences: A Journey of Firsts, The Importance of Support and Patience, and A Tale of Hope, Resilience, and Family.
LSSNCA also offers long-term foster care for unaccompanied refugee minors. Please consider signing up below for more information. Our team will reach out to you shortly.
WHAT IS TRANSITIONAL FOSTER CARE
Transitional, or short-term, foster care provides safe and loving homes for unaccompanied children - newborns to 17 years old - while their parents or legal guardians are sought in the United States. In fiscal year 2021, 122,731 unaccompanied children were referred to ORR/HHS, the government agency responsible for their custody and care.
WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN?
The federal definition of an unaccompanied child is one who has no lawful immigration status in the United States, is younger than 18 years old, and who, at the time they are identified, is not in the custody of a parent or legal guardian.
Unaccompanied children are often fleeing violence and conflict in their home countries, and/or may be seeking reunification with family members who are already in the U.S. In addition to the conditions that led them to flee, they often experience long, circuitous, and dangerous journeys to the U.S. Their lived experience, age, migration journeys, and separation from parents or custodians make unaccompanied children particularly vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
ORR places unaccompanied children in its network of community-based providers which provide a continuum of care to include shelters, transitional or long-term foster care or group homes, secure facilities, residential treatment centers, and other facilities that provide for special needs. Children receive classroom education, mental health services, access to legal services, and vocational training while case managers work to identify family reunification options.
WHO CAN BE A FOSTER PARENT OR RESOURCE PARENT?
We welcome foster parents who are over the age of 21, able to support the child’s needs, and pass a criminal background check. We invite and encourage those who are married or single, part of the LGBTQIA+ community; homeowners or renters; already-parents or those who are new to parenting to open their home and heart.
We provide informational sessions and training to prospective and current foster families, as well as case management and support services to children and youth.
Please consider opening your heart and home to a youth in need by becoming a transitional foster parent.
Who are resource parents?
Resource parents, or resource families, include foster parents, foster-to-adopt families, and extended family caregivers. They're someone who received training and certification to be both a foster parent and an adoptive parent, and can fulfill one or both roles as needed or prefered.
Servicios para Niños, Jóvenes y Familias Adopción Temporal
El cuidado temporal, o a corto plazo, proporciona hogares seguros y amorosos para niños no acompañados de 5 a 12 años, mientras que sus padres o tutores legales son buscados en los Estados Unidos. En el año fiscal de 2021, 122,7831 niños no acompañados fueron remitidos a la Oficina Federal de Reasentamiento de Refugiados (ORR) del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS), la agencia gubernamental responsable de su custodia y cuidado.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) proporciona cuidado de transición a niños no acompañados en el norte de Virginia a través de una concesión de Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) y el HHS/ORR. Los niños colocados en este programa permanecerán un promedio de 30-60 días mientras los administradores de casos trabajan para identificar opciones de reunificación familiar seguras y apropiadas. Sin el apoyo de familias de acogimiento listas, no podríamos cumplir esta misión.
¿Qué es un menor no acompañado?
La definición federal de un niño no acompañado es aquel que no tiene estatus migratorio legal en los Estados Unidos, es menor de 18 años y que, en el momento en que se identifica, no está bajo la custodia de un padre o tutor legal.
Los niños no acompañados a menudo huyen de la violencia y el conflicto en sus países de origen, y/o pueden estar buscando la reunificación con miembros de la familia que ya están en los EE. UU. Además de las condiciones que los llevaron a huir, a menudo experimentan viajes largos, tortuosos y peligrosos a los EE. UU. Su experiencia vivida, edad, viajes de migración y separación de padres o tutores legales hacen a los niños particularmente vulnerables a tráfico humano, explotación, y abuso.
ORR coloca a los niños no acompañados en su red de apoyo comunitario que proporciona atención, incluyendo refugios, hogares de acogida de transición o de larga duración, hogares grupales, instalaciones seguras, centros de tratamiento residenciales y otras instalaciones que atiendan necesidades especiales. Los niños reciben educación, servicios de salud mental, acceso a servicios legales y formación profesional, mientras que los administradores de casos trabajan para identificar las opciones de reunificación familiar.
¿Quién puede ser un padre adoptivo temporal?
Le damos la bienvenida a los padres adoptivos que tienen más de 21 años, que son capaces de satisfacer las necesidades del niño y que pasan la protección infantil y las verificaciones de antecedentes penales. Invitamos y animamos a aquellos que están casados o solteros; propietarios o inquilinos; ya son padres o no; y familias LGBTQIA+ a abrir sus hogares y corazones.
Proporcionamos sesiones informativas y capacitación a familias adoptivas potenciales y actuales, así como servicios de gestión de casos y apoyo a niños y jóvenes.
Por favor, considere abrir su corazón y su hogar a un joven necesitado convirtiéndose en un padre adoptivo de transición.
