International Social Service-USA Branch

200 East Lexington Street Suite 1700

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: 443-451-1200 Fax: 443-451-1230

www.iss-usa.org iss-usa@iss-usa.org

TODAY YOU WILL:

Learn about the procedure governing the repatriation of unaccompanied minors

Be able to implement best practices to expedite the safe return, reunification, and placement of unaccompanied children awaiting repatriation.

Welcome Remarks (Housekeeping)

General information

Multiagency approach

Sample case scenarios

General procedure

Q & A Session

Closing Remarks

Webinar agenda:

International Social Service (ISS) was established in 1924 in Geneva, Switzerland. Our ISS American Branch is based in Baltimore, Maryland*

We are a Nonprofit, nongovernmental agency, part of an International Social Work Federation operating in 100 Countries around the world*

We promote resolutions in the best interests of children, adults and families separated by international borders*

We provide Intercountry social services, research, training, technical assistance and advocacy*

*From ISS-USA website

Who is ISS and What do We do?

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement and ISS-USA signed a cooperative agreement to provide repatriation services

The new five-year agreement will extend ISS's 15-year working relationship with the U.S. Repatriation Program.

In the last fiscal year, the repatriation program assisted more than 700 repatriates from 70 different countries with travel and other services.

ISS-HHS Cooperative agreement:

THE ISS-USA TEAM ( REPATRIATION)

Bernice Whittington, Repatriation Assistant

Amanda Williams Repatriation Assistant

Julie Rosicky, Executive Director

Stephney Allen, Director of Operations

Esther Keinkede, Finance Coordinator

Jennifer Gray, Database Coordinator

Mi Chang, Casework Manager

Audrey Sabiston, Case manager

Salome Sullivan, Training Manager

Repatriation case managers Repatriation assistant

Yalem Mulat,

Case manager

The Program was established in 1935 under Section 1113 of the Social Security Act.

The program is a repayable loan to the U.S. Government, not an entitlement.

Temporary assistance is provided for up to 90-days.

Program budget is capped at $1M. annually

Repatriates can request extensions and waivers/deferrals.

* From the HHS, ACF website

THE U.S. REPATRIATION PROGRAM:

LEGAL AUTHORITIES:

Statute: The Program is authorized under the Social

Security Act, Section 1313 (42 U.S.C. 1313) Title 42, Chapter

7, Subchapter XI, Part A, Assistance for United States

Citizens Returned From Foreign Countries*.

http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1113.htm

Regulation: Title 45, Chapter II, Part 211 and 212 of the Code of

Federal Regulations sets forth the rules which govern reception,

provision of temporary services, temporary assistance and related

services, and transportation to final destination for U.S. citizens

and their dependents returned from foreign countries.

* From the HHS, ACF, ORR website

A. Emergencies Repatriations (E.O. 12656 as amended)

A.Group Repatriations: evacuations of 50-500 individuals

B.Emergency Repatriations: evacuations of 500 or more individuals

B. Non-emergency Repatriations

A.Mentally ill repatriates (45 CFR 211)

B.Others (45 CFR 212)

THE PROGRAM MANAGES TWO MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

DOS

Safety

Embassy

Child

Repat

HHS

ORR

CPS STATE

Family

ISS

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

United States citizens and their

dependents, if they: (A) Are identified by the Department of State

as having returned, or been brought, from a

foreign country to the United States

because of the destitution of the citizen of

the United States or the illness of such

citizen or any of his dependents or because

of war, threat of war, invasion, or similar

crisis, and

(B) Are without available resources*

*42 USC Sec.1313, Title 42, Chapter 7, Subchapter XI, Part A, 1

HOW IS ELIGIBILITY DETERMINED?

Overseas by DOS

Within the CONUSA by HHS ISS-USA States

NON-EMERGENCY REFERRALS: UM

State or CBO

Receive the referral Provide Direct services

ISS-USA ORR Assess the case and

sends to ORR Approves or denies the case

DOS Embassy Washington DC

CPS

overseas

Parent is not

available

AN UNACCOMPANIED MINOR (UM)

Is defined as all children under the age of 18,

not in the care of their parents or another

adult legally designated to care for them.

The minor child will be repatriated when

he/she has been abandoned, when his/her

parent dies while traveling abroad; or when

the parent is arrested, incapacitated, or

otherwise unable or unwilling to provide care

for a child.

Minors will also be provided service through

the Repatriate Program when identified for

deportation.

How children become separated from their

families?*

Parent(s) are sent to their home country through immigration enforcement-the child is a US citizen and is taken in to social service custody;

Parent(s) are incarcerated;

Parent(s) are deceased;

Parent(s)’ rights are terminated due to abuse and/or neglect;

Parent(s) abandon the child;

Parent abducts the child and moves her to another country.

Adoption is disrupted and the child is returned to her country of origin.

* Retrieved from Felicity Northcott presentation ISS-USA

Arthur C. Helton Institute for the Study of International Social

Service

Who currently has custody- legal/physical and who is

making the decision to send the child back?

Most children are in the custody of Child Protective Services

overseas, orphanage, police, hospital, etc.

The embassy has the authority to request the repatriation on

behalf of the child. In some case they can evoke the Health and

Safety exception.

Why our state?

DOS makes the determination about the state of final destination.

Like Repatriating adults, children have a right to be resettled in their state of

last residence or in a state where they have family or other ties.

Usually the child is repatriated to the state where there is a responsible

relative to take care of him/her or have visitation with him/her, if unable to care

for the child directly.

If no relative can be found, the child is returned to the state of last residence

or birth and placed in foster care.

KEY ISSUES WHEN REPATRIATING

UNACCOMPANIED MINORS:

Family

Escort

Travel

Language

State

Placement

options

Home

study

Why is it a home study necessary when

repatriating an unaccompanied minor?

A home study is completed prior to placement to ensure the safety, permanency & well-being of the child.

Whenever possible, the parents of unaccompanied minors will give written consent for their child/ren to receive local U.S. social services such as foster care or a supervised relative placement.

If the parent(s) is/are not available to provide consent overseas, and there is no other appropriate placement found in the U.S., then the child is repatriated and placed in foster care and becomes a ward of the State upon arrival to the U.S.

The state takes temporary custody of the child if parents are not available or children are removed from the care of their parents.

Repatriating children is similar to children

coming from other states, via the ICPC (Inter-

state Compact Placement of Children).

PLACEMENT OPTIONS:

Family member

3. Foster care

Family Friend

Parent

Group Home

Hospital

Who will have custody upon arrival?

Child Protective Services (CPS) by Emergency

custody petition

Custodial Parent

Extended family if cleared by CPS

Don’t forget…

Follow your state procedure to

ensure a timely meet and greet

Make sure the authorized

relative of custodial parent

signs the repayment agreement

If child is placed in Foster care

the case will be closed upon

arrival

Unaccompanied minor going to CPS:

CASE SAMPLE:

An 8-year-old girl was in foster care in Honduras due to physical

abuse while in the care of her stepmother. In 2009 the child’s mother,

left the child in the care of her Honduran stepmother.

The child’s father was arrested on a fugitive warrant when he returned

to the US. He was currently serving a 12-year sentence in a federal

prison in MN for wire fraud and related crimes, so was not able to take

custody of the child upon her return to the U.S.

The maternal grandmother was researched as a possible placement

for the child in Miami, Florida but unfortunately she did not have the

appropriate resources to raise her grandchild. No other relatives were

available as a placement resource.

If States don’t have jurisdiction in abuse/neglect situations when children are overseas and are in need of placement in foster care. There is always a solution …

For example in the previous case:

This UM arrived at Miami, was met by

the repatriation caseworker, and

immediately CPS child abuse hotline

was called to make a report of an

abandoned child at the airport.

Once the report was made, Family

Safety was able to take temporary

custody of the child and placed her in

foster care.

The unaccompanied minor was repatriated on 01/26/00. He arrived with an escort at his

final destination and was met by FCCS staff and the grandmother at the airport.

The child's custody was transferred upon arrival to the grandmother and the child was

placed under her care with the supervision of the children services for support.

The case was closed immediately as the grandmother did not wish to seek any additional

services.

Kinship placement: A 2-year-old U.S. citizen child in Malawi was

abused by his biological mother.

The mother agreed to allow the child to be

repatriated to the US on the provision that the

child be placed with his biological grandmother

in Ohio.

Prior to his arrival Franklin County Children

Services (FCCS) had completed a home study

and police clearance on the grandmother.

The home study indicated that the grandmother

would be a suitable placement for the child.

The child was eventually repatriated to California met by a child protective

caseworker and taken into custody and placed in foster care. The state is

investigating the mother for trafficking and abandonment.

A 13-year-old girl was abandoned by her mother in

Mexico. The girl reported that her mother sent her by

bus alone to Mexico, to visit her birth father. The girl

spent several days with him and then he abandoned her

at the local grocery store.

The Mexican social worker reported that the girl was

sexually abused by the father. The girl was placed in

Mexican foster care (DIF) and the DIF social worker

tried a find a relative in Mexico to care for the girl.

Child protective services in CA had an open case for

this child as well. The case worker reported that the

child had run away. Child protective in CA did its best to

find a relative placement in the U.S.

An aunt was located in Arizona however it was

determined that she would be unable to care for this 13-

year old child.

UM TEEN:

POST-ARRIVAL

After arrival inform that all went as planned.

Forward to ISS-USA case manager all loan repayment

forms signed by the repatriate’s authorized legal

guardian.

Send a request for a loan waiver

Close the case

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Salome Sullivan

Repatriation Program Training Manager

International Social Service-USA

200 East Lexington Street, Suite 1700

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: 443-451-1205 Skype: ssullivan2

Fax: 443-451-1230

Email: ssullivan@iss-usa.org www.iss-usa.org

“Bringing resolution across borders

Trayendo resoluciones entre fronteras”

Thank you! With your help we are making a huge

difference in the life of our repatriates

Any questions or comments?