Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
Imagine traveling across the world to a new country in search of a better life, like many pioneer ancestors of Utahns did generations ago. Now imagine doing that in today's world, as a child—without your parents. This is a reality that many refugee children across the world are facing.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, over half of the world's 43 million refugees are children. And not all of these displaced children have families to rely on. Seeking refuge in a new country is challenging in any circumstance, but seeking refuge as an unaccompanied minor comes with a host of difficulties.
If you're looking for a way to get involved with Utah's refugee community, consider becoming a refugee foster parent through Catholic Community Services.
Foster hope for refugees
Becoming a foster parent is a profound way to impact the lives of children in need. It's a tangible way to change lives! If you've ever felt the pull to become licensed as a foster parent, you can influence the life of an unaccompanied refugee minor by doing just that.
The Catholic Community Services Refugee Foster Care program places refugee minors who've been separated from their families with licensed and loving foster care homes.
Youths in this program have either been temporarily separated from their families, or in some cases, orphaned. They leave their homes to escape war, persecution, military recruitment, abuse, or trafficking. Surviving the odds stacked against them, these refugees are resettled to the United States without the comfort of their family with them.
There are fewer than 20 programs in the United States that resettle unaccompanied minors, and only one in Utah — Catholic Community Services' Refugee Foster Care program.
Learn more about the CCS Refugee Foster Care program
Through Catholic Community Services, unaccompanied refugee minors are placed in foster homes and have the option to stay in the program until they turn 21. Children eligible for the program include refugees, asylees, special immigrant juveniles, and survivors of human trafficking. Most of the youth are ages 15-17 upon arrival. They come from all over the world—most commonly from Central and Northeast Africa, Southeast Asia, Afghanistan, and Central America.
While in the program, a support team made up of family consultants, case managers, and transition to adult living coaches work with foster families to help the kids reach their goals and prepare for long-term self-sufficiency. All refugee children receive the same services as children in Utah foster care: necessities like medical care, financial support, mental health treatment, and education or job training.
Children are incredibly resilient, but these youth need a loving environment and a chance to succeed. This is only possible if there are foster families willing to welcome them into their homes.
If you're curious to find out more, Catholic Community Services holds regular information meetings on Zoom. Click here for the date of the next meeting or to fill out an inquiry form.
About Catholic Community Services
The mission of Catholic Community Services of Utah is to practice gospel values of love, compassion, and hope through service, support, and collaboration.
For decades, Catholic Community Services has helped refugees in Utah. They often partner with other faiths—like The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—as well as corporations and community organizations to combine forces in helping refugees. Last year at CCS, 625 refugees were resettled.
For more information on becoming a foster parent or to RSVP for the next information meeting, email rfcrecruiting@ccsutah.org.
