The Texas Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (TX-URM) program ensures that eligible unaccompanied minor populations receive the full range of assistance, care, and services available to all foster children in the state by establishing a legal authority to act in place of the child’s unavailable parent(s).

Our programs encourage reunification of children with their parents or other appropriate adult relatives through family tracing and coordination with local refugee resettlement agencies. However, if reunification is not possible, each program works to design a case specific permanency plan for each minor or youth in care. Minors whose parents are deceased, untraceable, or inappropriate due to abuse or neglect may be placed in foster care for a long-term basis. Other placement and long-term permanency options include group homes, semi-independent living, independent living, placement with a relative, and residential treatment facilities.

Additional services include:

• Indirect financial support for housing, food, clothing, medical care, and other necessities
• Intensive case management by social workers
• Independent living skills training
• Educational support including educational training vouchers (ETVs)
• English language training
• Career/college counseling and training
• Mental health services
• Assistance adjusting immigration status
• Cultural activities
• Recreational opportunities
• Support for social integration
• Cultural and religious preservation

USCCB/TX-URM sub-grants with the following agencies: Catholic Charities of Dallas (CCD) and Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston (CCGH), which provide direct, community-based services to URMs. CCD has administered the URM program since 2019, following transfer of the program from Catholic Charities Fort Worth, which administered the program since 2009. CCD’s core staff and programming continues to operate out of Fort Worth; CCGH has provided URM services in partnership with USCCB/MRS since 2003. USCCB/TX-URM provides oversight to CCD and CCGH for the provision of URM services to URM children and ensures compliance with ORR policies and procedures, Texas DFPS minimum standards, and Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

USCCB/MRS sub-grants with Baptist Child and Family Services (BCFS) for administration of Educational Training Vouchers (ETVs) to URMs.