The Refugee Act of 1980, Pub. L. No.
96-212, 8 U.S.C. 1522, amended the Immigration and Nationality Act
to create a domestic refugee resettlement program that provides
assistance and services to refugees resettling in the United
States. With the enactment of this legislation, the Office of
Refugee Resettlement (ORR) established comprehensive requirements
for a State-administered refugee resettlement program including
child welfare services to unaccompanied refugee minors. The
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program currently operates in 15
States and provides the same range of child welfare benefits and
services available to other foster children in those States as well
as services required by ORR regulation and policy guidance.
Originally, the URM Program provided services for refugee minors
arriving from overseas unaccompanied by a parent or adult relative.
Over the years Congress passed laws making other special
populations already in the United States eligible for the URM
Program. A completed URM Program Application must be submitted to
ORR for eligibility determination, initiation of placement efforts,
and approval to enter the URM Program. The URM Program Application
is completed on behalf of unaccompanied minors in the United States
who are applying for entry into the URM Program. Applications are
completed by case managers, attorneys, or other representatives
working with minors who are eligible for the URM Program. The
application includes biographical data and comprehensive
information on the minor and his/her needs (e.g., placement
history, family reunification efforts, medical needs, mental and
behavioral health needs, etc.). ORR uses the information collected
to determine a minor’s eligibility for the URM Program, and to
facilitate placement in the program. The application information is
also used to provide a recommendation to the ORR Director to
approve the minor to enter the URM Program. The Withdrawal of
Application or Declination of Placement Form is completed when a
minor who has submitted an application for the URM Program wishes
to withdraw this application before approval to enter the program,
or if the minor has been offered placement and wishes to decline
the placement. This form serves as official record for ORR to cease
placement efforts, or to offer the proposed placement to another
eligible applicant. The forms included in this information
collection request were previously approved under OMB #0970-0498.
We are requesting approval for the forms under a new OMB number,
specific to this collection of information. Minor changes are
proposed in comparison to the previously approved version of the
form.
US Code:
8
USC 1522(d) Name of Law: Refugee Act of 1980
The proposed revisions to each
form are minimal from the last OMB approval (previously approved
under OMB #0970-0498, expiration 7/31/2020). Certain terms on the
forms were changed to improve clarity for respondents. ORR is
currently seeking a new OMB number specific to these forms, as they
were previously approved as part of another information collection
package for ORR’s Unaccompanied Alien Children’s program.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 1 Withdrawal of Application or Declination of Placement Form
Supporting Statement_URM Program Application Forms_2020_final.docx
Withdrawal of Application or Declination of Placement Form