Foster care for unaccompanied migrant children in Denver is projected to cost $2.4 million through September 30, 2025, according to the latest agenda from the Denver Mayor-Council meeting on Tuesday.
City spokesman Jon Ewing clarified that the funding for the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program is entirely federally funded, meaning the entire $2.4 million will be paid for by federal dollars, without any impact on Denver’s budget or the need for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to pay the state. The grant funding covers placement payments, emergency cash assistance, independent living costs, URM program supports, and staff expenses.
The Denver City Council has already approved the grant. According to a memo provided to the City Council, the URM program helps place children with refugee status who are living in the U.S. under the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. These children are then placed into the care of Denver Human Services. Lutheran Social Services of the Rocky Mountains is responsible for the placement of the children.
The program helps refugee children develop the skills they need for adulthood and self-sufficiency, and they may remain in the custody of Denver Human Services until they turn 21. Denver Human Services (DHS) will continue to participate in monthly URM meetings, annual training, and other activities to stay up-to-date on the specific rules and practices for serving the URM population.
Reasons for Children’s Separation from Families
The increase in unaccompanied migrant children arriving in the U.S. is largely driven by violence and extreme poverty in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. The Council on Foreign Relations reports that these three countries account for approximately two-thirds of the children apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border. Many children also come from Mexico, where the ongoing conflict with drug cartels has resulted in high levels of violence.
Some children cross the border in hopes of reuniting with family members already in the U.S., while others intentionally leave their families to escape abuse, criminal gangs, or government corruption. Some migrant parents also send their children alone, seeking asylum protections available for unaccompanied minors.
U.S. Government’s Responsibility
The U.S. government has a legal and court-mandated duty to care for unaccompanied migrant children. According to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) share the responsibility for these children, and must adhere to the 1997 Flores Settlement. This settlement was a result of a lawsuit against federal immigration authorities and sets standards for the care and treatment of unaccompanied minors.
Challenges for Refugee Children
Unaccompanied refugee children face unique challenges when they arrive in the U.S. Separation from their primary caregivers can have profound emotional and physical effects. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, young children separated from their primary attachment figures may struggle with trust and emotional regulation, which can affect their ability to form meaningful relationships. The trauma of separation and fear from witnessing their caregivers in distress can leave lasting psychological scars.
Increased Migrant Influx in Denver
Last month, Benjamin Kinghorn, the shelter director at Urban Peak, discussed the rising number of unaccompanied migrant children seeking shelter in Denver. Kinghorn noted that many of these children are traveling alone or with relatives, and when things don’t work out, they end up in need of services.
Kinghorn observed that the number of unaccompanied youth arriving from other countries in Denver is higher than before. However, Denver’s homeless support systems were not originally set up to serve migrants. Urban Peak, which provides services to homeless youth, has adapted to meet the needs of the growing migrant influx. The shelter’s new building, known as The Mothership, now includes special communities or pod-like dormitories to accommodate migrant children. One of these communities is dedicated solely to serving the needs of migrant children.
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