U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 
Office of Inspector General 
 
 
HHSs Office of Refugee 
Resettlement Improved 
Coordination and 
Outreach to Promote the 
Safety and Well-Being of 
Unaccompanied Alien 
Children  
OEI-09-16-00260 
June 2017 
OEI-09-16-00260  Daniel R. Levinson 
 
Inspector General 
July 2017 
oig.hhs.gov 
 
oig.hhs.gov    Report in Brief  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services 
 
July 2017 
Office of Inspector General 
OEI-09-16-00260   
Why OIG Did This Review   HHSs Office of Refugee Resettlement 
Each year, tens of thousands of 
Improved Coordination and Outreach to 
children without legal status enter 
the United States unaccompanied by  Promote the Safety and Well-Being of 
their parents or legal guardians.  
Unaccompanied Alien Children  
These children are referred to as 
unaccompanied alien children (UAC).  
Between fiscal years 2012 and 2016,  What OIG Found 
the number of UAC entering the  Since OIGs 2008 report, HHS and DHS  Since OIGs 2008 report, HHS 
United States increased dramatically.   roles and responsibilities related to UAC  has improved its coordination 
Concern for the safety and  are now more clearly delineated in Federal  with DHS and increased its 
efforts to promote the safety 
well-being of these children after  law.  Further, HHS has improved its 
and well-being of UAC after 
their release from Federal custody  coordination with DHS and increased its 
their release from HHS 
has risen in recent years, especially in  efforts to promote the safety and 
custody.  Through these 
response to instances of human  well-being of UAC after their release from  efforts, HHS identified 
trafficking.    HHS custody.  The Departments have  concerns about the safety and 
signed a formal agreement regarding their  well-being of these children, 
In response to the influx and ongoing 
coordination.    and reported the concerns to 
concerns, this Office of Inspector 
investigative agencies. 
General (OIG) report follows up on a  Additionally, HHSs Office of Refugee 
2008 report on the placement, care,  Resettlement (ORR) has increased its 
and release of UAC.  In the  contact with UAC and their adult sponsors after the childs release from HHS 
2008 report, OIG found a lack of  custody through three efforts:  (1) case management services for the most 
clarity between the Department of  vulnerable children and their sponsors, (2) safety and well-being calls to each 
Health and Human Services (HHS)  child and their sponsors 30 days after release, and (3) helplines available to all 
and the Department of Homeland 
children and their sponsors.  These efforts allow ORR to identify concerns about 
Security (DHS) regarding their roles 
the safety of UAC and report such concerns to local law enforcement and child 
and responsibilities related to UAC.  
protective service agencies for investigation.  
OIG also found that at the time 
neither Department checked on  What OIG Concludes 
childrens safety and well-being after  In light of Federal law delineating HHS and DHS roles and responsibilities, the 
their release from Federal custody.   Departments improved coordination, and HHSs increased efforts to promote 
OIG recommended that the  the safety and well-being of UAC, OIG considers its prior recommendation 
Departments delineate their roles  implemented.  However, we recognize that these efforts do not guarantee that 
and responsibilities in a formal  all UAC are protected from harm.  UAC are a highly vulnerable population with 
agreement.    ongoing threats to their safety and well-being.  We encourage ORR to 
continue its efforts to contact these children after their release to sponsors 
How OIG Did This Review 
and provide case management services for those who are the most vulnerable.  
We interviewed officials from HHSs 
Further, ORR should continue to report any concerns about the safety and 
Office of Refugee Resettlement and 
well-being of UAC to the local law enforcement and child protective service 
DHS in July and August 2016; 
agencies that have jurisdiction to address such concerns, and to support these 
reviewed policies, laws, and 
agencies in any way possible.  Finally, we encourage ORR to continue its 
testimony related to UAC; and 
efforts to share information and coordinate with DHS.
examined related HHS data and 
documentation. 
Full report can be found at http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-09-16-00260.pdf.  BACKGROUND 
Each year, tens of thousands of children without legal status enter the United States 
unaccompanied by their parents or legal guardians.  These children are referred to as 
unaccompanied alien children (UAC).1  In 2008, OIG examined the placement, care, and 
release of UAC and found a lack of clarity between the Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding their roles and 
responsibilities related to UAC.2  OIG also found that the Departments rarely followed up 
with children after their release from HHS custody.  OIG recommended that HHS establish a 
formal agreement with DHS to delineate each Departments roles and responsibilities as 
they relate to UAC.   
We had two purposes for this study.  First, to examine HHSs progress toward 
implementing our 2008 recommendation that HHS establish a formal agreement with DHS 
to delineate each Departments roles and responsibilities as they relate to UAC.3  Second, 
we examined the efforts of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), within HHS, to 
promote the safety and well-being of children after their release from ORRs custody. 
In addition to this study, OIG has other ongoing efforts related to UAC.  The Office of Audit 
Services is reviewing selected ORR grantees compliance with Federal requirements and 
applicable health and safety standards for the care and release of children in their custody.  
These include:  building security, capacity, and fire inspection requirements; child medical 
services; and sponsor background checks and sponsor placement decisions.  Also, the 
Office of Investigations provides ongoing law enforcement consultation, training, and 
technical assistance in matters involving ORR.  For example, the Office of Investigations 
provides investigative expertise as appropriate in response to reports of abuse or neglect 
when children are in HHSs care and custody.  
Federal custody and care of UAC 
The majority of UAC who come into Federal custody are apprehended by DHS border 
patrol officers.4  When DHS apprehends a child, it temporarily detains and cares for the 
child.  DHS is required to hold UAC in safe and sanitary facilities and provide access to food 
 
1 An unaccompanied alien child is defined in statute as a child who has no lawful immigration 
status in the United States, is under 18 years old, and who has no parent or legal guardian in the 
United States available to provide care and physical custody.  8 U.S.C.  279(g)(2).  
2 OIG, Division of Unaccompanied Childrens Services:  Efforts to Serve Children, OEI-07-06-00290, 
March 2008.  The report references the Division of Unaccompanied Childrens Services, which is now 
referred to as the Division of Childrens Services within ORR. 
3 Prior to this review, ORR implemented two other recommendations from the 2008 OIG report 
related to oversight of residential facilities.   
4 ORR, ORR Guide:  Children Entering the United States Unaccompanied. Section 1.1 Summary of 
Policies for Placement and Transfer of Unaccompanied Children in ORR Care Provider Facilities.  In 
addition to DHS, in rare circumstances other Federal agencies may refer UAC to ORRs care. 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    1  and drinking water, medical assistance, and adequate supervision.5  DHS must then transfer 
the child to the custody of ORR within 72 hours.6  ORR places most of these children in 
residential facilities that provide access to legal services, education, and health care.  
Federal law requires the safe and timely release of children from ORRs custody to parents, 
guardians, relatives, or nonrelated adults, referred to as sponsors.7  ORR releases most 
children to their parents or an immediate relative (see Exhibit 1).8   
Exhibit 1:  Who is responsible for UAC safety and well-being?
Source:  OIG analysis, 2017. 
 
 
5 Flores Settlement Agreement, Case No. CV 85-4544-RJK(Px) (C.D. Cal. Jan. 17, 1997).  The Flores 
Settlement Agreement initially applied to the Immigration and Naturalization Service and now 
extends to DHS and ORR. 
6 William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008,  235(b)(3) 
(P.L. 110-457, December 23, 2008) (codified at 8 U.S.C.  1232 (b)(3)).  This requirement applies to 
children from noncontiguous countries only.  Children from contiguous countries are generally 
returned to their country of origin. 
7 8 U.S.C.  1232(c). 
8 GAO, Unaccompanied Children:  HHS Can Take Further Actions to Monitor their Care, February 2016, 
p. 30. 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    2  Screening potential sponsors and notification of expectations 
The process for release of UAC from ORR custody to a sponsor involves multiple steps, 
including the evaluation of the suitability of the potential sponsor.  ORR evaluates sponsors 
through verification of the sponsors identity and relationship to the child, background 
checks, and in some cases home studies.9   
According to ORR policy, all potential sponsors undergo a criminal public records check 
and a sex offender registry check.  If a potential sponsor is not a parent or legal guardian, 
ORR also conducts a fingerprint background check.  Additionally, if a potential sponsor is a 
parent or legal guardian, a fingerprint background check is required when there is a 
documented risk to the safety of the child, the child is especially vulnerable, and/or the case 
is referred for a home study.10   
Under Federal law, ORR must conduct a home study as part of its evaluation of a potential 
sponsor for certain UAC, such as victims of human trafficking or abuse or those who have 
special needs.11  ORR may also choose to conduct home studies for other children at its 
discretion.  A home study consists of interviews, a home visit, and a written report 
containing the home study case workers findings.  The purposes of a home study are to 
assess the potential sponsors ability to meet the child's needs, to educate and prepare the 
sponsor for the childs release, and to verify information gathered from sponsors.12 
Before releasing UAC, ORR notifies sponsors of several expectations of sponsorship in a 
document referred to as the sponsor care agreement.13  Expectations for sponsors 
include, but are not limited to, providing for the education, safety, and well-being of the 
child; notifying DHS of changes of address; and ensuring that the child attends all future 
immigration hearings.   
Services for sponsors and UAC after release from ORR custody 
After ORR releases UAC to sponsors, ORR is required to provide services to children who 
received a home study.  These services include assistance in connecting children and their 
sponsors to community-based resources such as locating legal representation, enrolling 
children in school, and obtaining health care.  For the purposes of this report, we refer to 
these services as case management services. 14  ORR may also provide case management 
services to other children at its discretion. 
 
9 8 U.S.C.  1232(c)(3)(A). 
10 ORR, ORR Guide:  Children Entering the United States Unaccompanied. Section 2.5.1 ORR Policies on 
Requesting Background Checks of Sponsors:  Criteria for Background Checks.   
11 8 U.S.C.  1232(c)(3)(B). 
12 ORR, ORR Guide:  Children Entering the United States Unaccompanied. Section 2.4.2 Home Study 
Requirement.   
13 The sponsor care agreement is available online at 
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/unaccompanied-childrens-services.  Accessed on March 10, 
2017. 
14 8 U.S.C.  1232(c)(3)(B).   
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    3  Significant increases in the number of UAC and concerns about safety 
and well-being after their release to sponsors 
The number of UAC that ORR released to sponsors significantly increased during the last 
5 years, from approximately 8,869 in fiscal year (FY) 2012 to 52,147 in FY 2016 (see 
Exhibit 2).  In FY 2014, the number of children that ORR released to sponsors surged to 
53,515more than double from the previous yearand exceeded ORRs program 
planning, physical capacity and staffing, and stretched authorized funding.15  During the 
same period, ORR released a small number of children to a sponsor who was part of a 
trafficking conspiracy.  These children were housed in poor conditions, forced to work long 
hours, not enrolled in school, and threatened with physical harm.  The sponsor, along with 
two co-conspirators, subsequently pleaded guilty to charges related to the trafficking 
scheme.  The case drew significant attention to, and increased concern about, the 
well-being of UAC after they are released from ORRs care and custody.16   
External factors such as 
violence, poverty, and political 
Exhibit2:  Number of UAC Released to 
turmoil in UACs home 
Sponsors in FY 2012FY 2016
countries are unpredictable 
and affect the number of 
60,000
children coming into ORRs 
53,515
52,147
custody.17  For example, in FY 
2016, ORR experienced 
40,000
another surge of UAC as it 
released 52,147 children to  27,840
sponsors, up from 27,840 in 
20,196
20,000
FY 2015.  According to ORR, 
this unpredictability creates  8,869
serious operational challenges 
0
because ORR may not have 
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
access to additional funding 
during surges.18  By law, ORR   
Source:  Annual totals provided by ORR.
is required to safely house 
children after it takes custody 
 
15 ORR, Office of Refugee Resettlement Year in Review  FY 2014, January 2015.  Accessed at 
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/office-of-refugee-resettlement-year-in-review-fy2014 
on March 7, 2017. 
16 United States Senate, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs, Protecting Unaccompanied Alien Children from Trafficking and 
Other Abuses:  The Role of the Office of Refugee Resettlement.  January 28, 2016, p. 1. 
17 Migration Policy Institute, Trends in Unaccompanied Child and Family Migration from Central 
America, January 2016, p. 6. 
18 United States Senate, Committee on Judiciary, Questions for the Record, The Unaccompanied 
Children Crisis:  Does the Administration Have a Plan to Stop the Border Surge and Adequately 
Monitor the Children?  February 23, 2016. 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    4  from DHS, screen potential sponsors, and timely release children to sponsors.19  Therefore, 
according to ORR, it would be difficult for it to significantly or substantially expand 
postrelease services beyond the efforts described in this report without contingency 
funding.20 
METHODOLOGY 
Data Collection and Analysis 
To examine HHSs progress toward establishing a formal agreement with DHS, we reviewed 
the Memorandum of Agreement signed by DHS and ORR in February 2016 and the William 
Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.  We conducted 
structured interviews with four officials from ORR and two officials from DHS in July and 
August 2016.  We requested status updates and clarifications by email as needed through 
December 2016. 
To examine ORRs efforts to promote the safety and well-being of UAC after their release 
to sponsors, we reviewed documentation and data related to ORRs efforts, including:  
(1) all written policies and procedures related to these efforts; (2) data related to safety and 
well-being calls and ORRs Sexual Abuse Hotline for the first half of FY 2016; 
(3) performance progress reports for grantee organizations that provided case 
management services during the first half of FY 2016; and (4) other data related to UAC, 
such as the number of children released to sponsors in the first two quarters of FY 2016.  
We also discussed ORRs efforts during interviews with agency officials. 
Limitations  
We did not independently verify the data that ORR provided or the information submitted 
to ORR by its grantees.   
Standards  
This study was conducted in accordance with the Quality Standards for Inspection and 
Evaluation issued by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency. 
   
 
19 8 U.S.C.  1232(c).  
20 Letter to Senator Claire McCaskill from Mark H. Greenberg, Acting Assistant Secretary for the 
Administration for Children and Families.  February 22, 2016. 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    5  FINDINGS 
Since 2008, coordination between HHS and DHS has improved, 
and their roles and responsibilities are more clearly defined 
The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), 
and a 2016 formal agreement between HHS and DHS, have helped to outline each 
Departments roles and responsibilities related to UAC.21  Officials from both Departments 
reported that they use these two documents as a framework for their coordination.  In 
addition, these officials reported better lines of communication and infrastructure to support 
coordination, particularly in response to the surge of children that entered the country in 
2014.  Officials also reported that the Departments communicate daily across staff levels on 
various issues.  In light of this progress, OIG now considers the 2008 recommendation, to 
establish a formal agreement that delineates the roles and responsibilities of HHS and DHS, 
as implemented. 
TVPRA helped to outline roles and responsibilities for HHS and DHS  
In 2008, Congress enacted the TVPRA, which broadly outlined HHS and DHS roles and 
responsibilities for the care and placement of UAC.22  As OIGs 2008 report highlighted, 
prior to the enactment of TVPRA, the obligations of each agency related to UACfrom the 
time of their apprehension through the time of their immigration hearingremained 
unclear.  TVPRA provided the framework for coordination between the two Departments by 
specifying requirements for the transport, custody, and care of UAC (see Appendix).  
Officials from both Departments reported that TVPRA has led to smoother operations, 
increased communication, and interagency collaboration. 
Although the bulk of TVPRA requirements relate to responsibilities while UAC are still in the 
custody of either DHS or HHS, TVPRA did assign a role to HHS relating to children after 
their release to sponsors.  TVPRA requires HHS to provide case management services to 
certain vulnerable children, as discussed in detail later in this report.  TVPRA did not assign 
any responsibilities to DHS relating to children after their release to sponsors. 
HHS and DHS entered into a formal agreement that further outlines each 
Departments roles and responsibilities  
In addition to following requirements in the TVPRA, HHS and DHS have taken steps to 
improve interdepartmental coordination.  In February 2016, the Departments entered into a 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which recognized the shared goal to protect UAC 
from mistreatment, exploitation, and trafficking.23  In the MOA, both Departments agreed 
to establish a structure of coordination to monitor and resolve issues and share 
 
21 William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, P.L. 110-457. 
December 23, 2008.  
22 Ibid.  
23 HHS and DHS, Memorandum of Agreement Between the Department of Homeland Security and the 
Department of Health and Human Services Regarding Unaccompanied Alien Children, February 2016. 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    6  information.  The MOA also established a Senior Leadership Council comprised of 
high-level staff across various agencies that serves as the coordinating body for 
interdepartmental cooperation on the care, processing, and transport of children.  ORR 
reported that the Senior Leadership Council meets about every other month and also 
serves as a forum for discussing broader policy issues arising from operational concerns.  
One activity that the Council has undertaken is developing a Joint Concept of Operations to 
further formalize the working relationship between HHS and DHS, establish procedures for 
consistent interdepartmental coordination regarding UAC, and identify other areas that 
need to be addressed. 
Since 2008, ORR has increased its contact with UAC after their 
release to sponsors, which allows ORR to identify and report 
safety concerns  
Since 2008, ORR implemented three efforts that increase contact with UAC after their 
release to sponsors and promote their safety and well-being.  The three efforts that ORR 
implemented are (1) case management services for highly vulnerable children and their 
sponsors, (2) safety and well-being calls for all children and sponsors 30 days after release, 
and (3) helplines available to all children and sponsors to report concerns and identify 
services in their communities. 
Through these three efforts, ORR is able to identify and report concerns about UAC to local 
investigative agencies.  ORR officials reported that all ORR staff and service providers must 
report suspected cases of abuse or neglect to investigative agencies that include child 
protective services and local law enforcement, in accordance with State law.  According to 
ORR, it continues to track all reported cases to determine whether it needs to take further 
action.  Because ORR is not a law enforcement agency, its staff and service providers do not 
themselves undertake investigative or enforcement actions.  Rather, they rely on local 
agencies that have jurisdiction to address such concerns.  Through these three efforts, in 
the first half of 2016, ORR reported concerns to investigative agencies about the safety and 
well-being of 135 UAC.  These concerns included allegations of sexual abuse, neglect and 
abandonment, trafficking, runaways, and children not attending school. 
ORR provides case management services to highly vulnerable UAC 
ORR offers case management services to approximately 20 percent of UAC who are 
released to sponsors.24  Since 2008, under TVPRA, ORR is required to offer case 
management services to children who received a home study before being released to 
their sponsor.25  Although not required by law, ORR expanded case management services 
in July 2015 to, at its discretion, other highly vulnerable UAC, including those who are 
 
24 In FY 2016, ORR provided case management services to 10,546 of the 52,147 UAC released to 
sponsors. 
25 ORR conducts home studies for children that it determines are victims of human trafficking or 
abuse or have special needs.  8 U.S.C.  1232(c)(3)(B). 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    7  12 years old and under who are released to a nonrelative sponsor, or who ORR identifies as 
needing additional assistance in connecting with resources in the community.   
Case management services may include a combination of home visits, telephone contacts, 
written correspondence, community referrals, provision of educational materials, and 
support groups.  In general, service providers meet with UAC who receive case 
management services at least three times during the initial 6-month period following their 
release to the sponsor, and as needed until the childs immigration hearing, 18th birthday, 
or services are no longer needed.26 
On average, UAC receive case management services for less than 9 months.27  ORR data 
indicate that services end for a large group of these children because ORR determines that 
case management services are no longer needed.  Sponsors may also refuse case 
management services, though they rarely do.  While providing case management services 
during the first half of FY 2016, ORR service providers identified and reported safety and 
well-being concerns for 89 children to child protective services.28 
ORR attempts to contact all UAC and their sponsors 30 days after release 
Beginning in August 2015, ORR has attempted to contact every child and their sponsor by 
phone 30 days after UAC are released from ORR custody.29  Through the calls, service 
providers attempt to determine whether the child is safe and inquire about issues such as 
whether the child is attending school and aware of upcoming court dates.   
During the first half of FY 2016, ORR attempted to contact each of the 25,975 UAC it 
released to sponsors.  ORR was able to contact 89 percent of sponsors and 84 percent of 
children 3037 days after release from ORR custody.  As the result of these calls, ORR 
reported safety and well-being concerns for 36 children to investigative agencies.  The 
36 concerns included 22 children who ran away from the sponsors home, 5 children not 
attending school, 3 allegations of neglect or abandonment, 3 changes of address, 
2 allegations of human trafficking, and 1 allegation of sexual abuse.   
ORR operates two helplines available to all UAC and sponsors 
ORR began operating two helplines in 2015 that are available to all sponsors and UAC after 
their release from ORR custody.  The first, the Sexual Abuse Hotline, accepts reports of 
sexual abuse relating to UAC.  During the first half of FY 2016, ORR staff reported 
10 allegations of sexual abuse of children to investigative agencies based on calls to the 
Sexual Abuse Hotline.   
ORR operates an additional helpline, the National Call Center, to offer assistance to UAC 
and sponsors after the childs release, such as referring them to services in their local 
 
26 ORR, Division of Unaccompanied Childrens Services Home Study and Post-Release Services 
Guidance, December 2010. 
27 According to ORR, UAC receive case management services for an average of 267 days. 
28 We were unable to identify the specific reasons for concern for these 89 children on the basis of 
the documentation we reviewed. 
29 According to ORR policy, service providers must make a minimum of three attempts to contact 
children and sponsors. 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    8  communities and accepting reports of safety and well-being concerns.  As of December 
2016, ORR did not have data on the number of calls received by the National Call Center or 
whether any of the calls resulted in reports to investigative agencies.   
 
CONCLUSION 
Coordination between Federal departments as they work to respond to influxes of UAC 
entering the United States, and continued contact with the children after ORR releases 
them to the custody of sponsors, are critical to promoting the safety and well-being of 
UAC.  
In the 2008 OIG report, we found a lack of clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of 
HHS and DHS, and that neither Department checked on UACs safety and well-being after 
their release to sponsors.  We recommended that the Departments delineate their roles 
and responsibilities.  Soon after, the enactment of the TVPRA clarified certain roles and 
responsibilities by assigning specific tasks to each Department.  HHS and DHS have also 
improved their communication and cooperation and established an MOA and leadership 
council focused on coordination.   
ORR has gone beyond the requirements in TVPRA and widely increased its contact with 
UAC and sponsors after the childs release from ORRs custody.  ORR now provides case 
management services to the most vulnerable children and their sponsors, attempts to 
contact all children and their sponsors 30 days after release, and operates helplines 
available to all children and their sponsors.  These efforts allow ORR to identify concerns 
about the safety of UAC, and report such concerns to law enforcement and child protective 
service agencies for investigation.  
In light of these developments, OIG now considers its prior recommendation implemented.  
Although the roles and responsibilities of Federal agencies are defined and ORR has gone 
beyond Federal requirements in order to better protect UACs safety and well-being, we 
recognize that these efforts do not guarantee that all UAC are protected from harm.  UAC 
are a highly vulnerable population with ongoing potential threats to their safety and 
well-being, including human trafficking, abuse, and risk of exploitation by or other harm 
from gangs.  We encourage ORR to continue its efforts to contact these children after their 
release to sponsors and provide case management services for those who are the most 
vulnerable.  Further, ORR should continue to report any concerns about the safety and 
well-being of UAC to the local law enforcement and child protective service agencies that 
have jurisdiction to address such concerns, and to support these agencies in any way 
possible.  Finally, we encourage ORR to continue its efforts to share information and 
coordinate with DHS.   
 
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    9  APPENDIX 
Key HHS and DHS roles and responsibilities addressed in the William Wilberforce 
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 related to UAC: 
Roles and Responsibilities  Department 
Notification  HHS must be notified within 48 hours upon the  DHS and any other 
apprehension of UAC or any claim or suspicion  Departments or 
that an alien in the custody of a Federal  Agencies of the 
department or agency is under 18 years of age.  Federal 
Government 
Transfer  Except in the case of exceptional circumstances,  DHS and any other 
a child shall be transferred to HHS no later than  Departments or 
72 hours after the child is determined to be an  Agencies of the 
unaccompanied alien.  Federal 
Government 
Safe and  UAC in the custody of HHS shall be promptly  HHS 
Secure  placed in the least restrictive setting that is in the 
Placement  best interest of the child. 
Suitability  UAC may not be placed with a sponsor unless HHS  HHS 
Assessment  makes a determination that the potential sponsor 
is capable of providing for the childs physical and 
mental well-being.  HHS shall, at a minimum, verify 
the sponsors identity and relationship to the child 
and that the sponsor has not engaged in any 
activity that would indicate a potential risk to the 
child. 
Postrelease  HHS shall provide followup services for UAC that  HHS 
Activities  received a home study.  HHS is also authorized to 
conduct followup services in cases involving 
children with mental health or other needs who 
could benefit from ongoing assistance from a 
social welfare agency. 
Source:  William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), 
 235(b)(3) (P.L. 110-457, December 23, 2008) (codified at 8 U.S.C.  1232 (b) and (c)).   
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    10  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
China Tantameng and Rosemary Rawlins served as the team leaders for this study.  Office 
of Evaluation and Inspections staff who provided support include Kevin Farber and Melicia 
Seay.  
This report was prepared under the direction of Blaine Collins, Regional Inspector General 
for Evaluation and Inspections in the San Francisco regional office, and Abby Amoroso and 
Michael Henry, Deputy Regional Inspectors General.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To obtain additional information concerning this report or to obtain copies, contact the 
Office of Public Affairs at Public.Affairs@oig.hhs.gov.   
HHSs ORR Improved Coordination and Outreach to Promote the Safety and Well-Being of UAC 
OEI-09-16-00260    11  About the Office of Inspector General 
The mission of the Office of Inspector General (OIG), as mandated by Public Law 95-452, as 
amended, is to protect the integrity of the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) programs, as well as the health and welfare of beneficiaries served by those 
programs.  This statutory mission is carried out through a nationwide network of audits, 
investigations, and inspections conducted by the following operating components: 
Office of Audit Services 
The Office of Audit Services (OAS) provides auditing services for HHS, either by conducting 
audits with its own audit resources or by overseeing audit work done by others.  Audits 
examine the performance of HHS programs and/or its grantees and contractors in carrying 
out their respective responsibilities and are intended to provide independent assessments 
of HHS programs and operations.  These assessments help reduce waste, abuse, and 
mismanagement and promote economy and efficiency throughout HHS. 
Office of Evaluation and Inspections 
The Office of Evaluation and Inspections (OEI) conducts national evaluations to provide 
HHS, Congress, and the public with timely, useful, and reliable information on significant 
issues.  These evaluations focus on preventing fraud, waste, or abuse and promoting 
economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of departmental programs.  To promote impact, OEI 
reports also present practical recommendations for improving program operations.  
Office of Investigations 
The Office of Investigations (OI) conducts criminal, civil, and administrative investigations of 
fraud and misconduct related to HHS programs, operations, and beneficiaries.  With 
investigators working in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, OI utilizes its resources 
by actively coordinating with the Department of Justice and other Federal, State, and local 
law enforcement authorities.  The investigative efforts of OI often lead to criminal 
convictions, administrative sanctions, and/or civil monetary penalties. 
Office of Counsel to the Inspector General 
The Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG) provides general legal services to 
OIG, rendering advice and opinions on HHS programs and operations and providing all 
legal support for OIGs internal operations.  OCIG represents OIG in all civil and 
administrative fraud and abuse cases involving HHS programs, including False Claims Act, 
program exclusion, and civil monetary penalty cases.  In connection with these cases, OCIG 
also negotiates and monitors corporate integrity agreements.  OCIG renders advisory 
opinions, issues compliance program guidance, publishes fraud alerts, and provides other 
guidance to the health care industry concerning the anti-kickback statute and other OIG 
enforcement authorities.