Who We Are

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Migration and Refugee Services (USCCB/MRS) is a leader in providing placement and care for unaccompanied, refugee, and immigrant children. With support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of State, MRS provides a continuum of care through its collaboration with a national network of 16 state-licensed Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) and Unaccompanied Child (UC) foster care programs. USCCB/MRS and our affiliate programs across the United States have been serving URM and UC in community-based programs for over four decades. We support some of the most vulnerable children on their path toward permanency in the United States. 

What We Do

To ensure that the best interests of unaccompanied children in the program are considered and protected, our national staff provide the following:

  • National placement coordination
  • Case and program consultation
  • Capacity development
  • Case oversight
  • Program monitoring and quality assurance
  • Research and evaluation
  • Training and technical assistance
  • Advocacy 

Our programs provide a range of care, from short stays in shelters and transitional foster care for children prior to placement with a sponsor in the United States, to longer-term care in community foster care for refugees and children pursuing legal relief, to independent living programs.

Learn more about the services provided to children in the URM Program.

How You Can Help

Become a foster parent to an unaccompanied refugee or immigrant minor! USCCB/MRS foster care programs are separate from domestic foster care programs, in that they have been developed by agencies with expertise in working with foreign-born children. Foster families are oriented towards the particular needs of refugee and immigrant children. 

Contact your local Catholic Charities agency to find out about local foster care needs and material and volunteer opportunities to support immigrant children and families in your area.

Donate to help our URM and UC programs by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Unaccompanied Children's Fund by downloading and returning the donation form. Please contact @email for additional questions on making a financial contribution to MRS.