Upbring is in need of foster families to provide safe and nurturing foster homes for unaccompanied refugee children and youth living in the United States.
Through a partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), the Upbring Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program provides essential services to unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children and youth, including therapeutic and trauma-informed care, community-based medical and mental health services and case management. Upbring offers a culturally aware, home-like environment where children participate in culturally familiar community-based activities, including opportunities to practice their faith.
Our goal is to encourage each child’s personal and academic development and to empower them with the skills and resources they need to lead productive lives once they are reunified with a family member or an approved sponsor or emancipate from the URM Program.
We hope you’ll partner with us to provide the love and support unaccompanied refugee minors need to heal and thrive! Verified foster families will care for refugee children of all ages, but our greatest need is finding loving foster homes for males ages 15 and older. These teenagers need a welcoming family to help them transition to adulthood in a new country.
Upbring welcomes foster parents from all backgrounds to apply.
For more information about becoming a refugee foster parent with
Upbring, please Email: [email protected] or Call: 703-214-1073.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because Upbring is one of two URM provider agencies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, all prospective foster parent inquiries are first processed through a neutral third party (the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants) to ensure equitable distribution. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants will first collect basic data to determine the most appropriate URM provider agency. Once the intake process is complete, your information will be shared with said agency and a staff member will reach out to provide you with the next steps in the licensing process.
To reach the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants office, please contact 703-214-1073.
The children in our URM program migrated from Mexico, Central & South America, Cuba, and Haiti.
Many children have left their home in hopes of reuniting with family in the US, however, that is not always possible. Others are fleeing domestic abuse, poverty, or lack opportunities. All are seeking a better life.
These children have experienced life-changing trauma. In addition to leaving family and the only home they’ve ever known behind, they are navigating a new life and a new language.
The children in our care span all ages, and their individual needs vary. However, one of our greatest needs is finding loving foster homes for males ages 16 and 17. These children need a welcoming family to help them transition to adulthood in a new country.
Refugee foster parents must be thoroughly screened and verified by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). They also must be oriented and trained to handle the specific needs of Afghan refugee children.
Refugee foster parents must meet the following guidelines:
- 21 years of age or older
- Are bilingual
(preferred but not required) - May be single or married
(if married, for a minimum of 6 months) - May be retired or employed
- No history of abusing a child or another adult
- Must be emotionally and physically healthy
- No criminal history, or have proof of rehabilitation
- Have appropriate space in the home and safe transportation
While Upbring welcomes foster parents from all backgrounds, Hispanic/Latino families are especially encouraged to apply.
A person can remain in URM foster care up to the age of 21. If Upbring, youth, foster family and LIRS are in agreement.
Unaccompanied refugee minors are not generally eligible for adoption since family reunification is the objective of the program.
No. The URM program is separate from the Upbring Foster In Texas domestic foster care program.
For more information about becoming a refugee foster parent, please reach out to Kathy Montalvo (469) 660-6648 or [email protected].