FY 2018 Refugee Social Services Formula Allocations

Dear Colleague Letter 18-05

Publication Date: October 1, 2018
Current as of:

Date: September 28, 2018

Dear Colleague:

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has determined the Refugee Support Services (RSS) funding for each state and replacement designee (RD) for fiscal year (FY) 2018. The attached table displays the FY 2018 RSS base funding and the "population served"1 figures used to determine the allocations. To arrive at the "population served" figures, ORR counts the FY 20172 population data in the ORR Refugee Arrivals Data System (RADS) made up of Department of State refugee arrival data, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) arrival data, and Victims of Trafficking (VOT) data. ORR then compares or matches data submitted by states through the ORR-5 data form for the same time period for all other eligible populations and includes those individuals in the population served totals. ORR then divides the total amount of funds available by the adjusted "population served" figure to calculate each state's funding allocation.

States that have a "population served" of fewer than 75 people who have been in the United States for one year or less receive a base amount of $75,000. The base amount provides states with funding to support a minimal structure for the provision of employment and other support services necessary for successful resettlement in American communities.

Services
States must provide services in accordance with 45 CFR Part 400 Subpart I -- Refugee Social Services and Policy Letter (PL) 18-04. Although the allocation formula is based on the most recent fiscal year (12 months) refugee population served, states may provide services to refugees who have been in the country up to 60 months (5 years), with the exception of referral and interpreter services and citizenship and naturalization preparation services for which there is no time limitation (45 CFR §400.152(b)).

The regulations at 45 CFR §400.154 and §400.155 indicate the allowable social services. States must submit requests to the ORR Director and receive approval, as provided under 45 CFR §400.155(h), if they wish to provide additional services not included in these sections.

In accordance with 45 CFR §400.147, states must provide social services to refugees in the following order of priority, except in certain individual extreme circumstances: (a) all newly arriving refugees during their first year in the United States who apply for services; (b) refugees who are receiving cash assistance; (c) unemployed refugees who are not receiving cash assistance; and (d) employed refugees in need of services to retain employment or to attain economic independence. States should, to the extent possible, ensure that all newly arriving refugees receive refugee-specific services designed to address the employment barriers that refugees typically face.

Secondary Migration
All states were credited in determining formula allocation amounts for secondary migration based on record verification and in accordance with ORR guidance.

ORR further determined that severely impacted states in FY 2017 with secondary migration partial credit counts of more than 250 receive additional support to address the needs of this population. This supplemental funding of $800,000 was allocated based upon a per capita rate reflecting full credit for those impacted States.  

Reporting
States must submit (1) the ORR-6 Performance Reports on a trimester basis and (2) Standard Form (SF) 425 Federal Financial Report on a quarterly basis.

States use Schedule A and Schedule C of the ORR-6 (0MB Clearance Number 0970-0036) for Performance Reports, which they submit to ORR. The ORR-6 Performance Report may be found at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/report-forms.

In addition, States are required to submit the identification of all RSS enrollments through the ORR-5.  ORR appreciates all efforts to ensure this enhanced data collection and will be issuing further guidance to support a more consistent service provision to include initial assessment and follow-up activities.  

Beginning with FY16 grant awards, grantees must submit SF-425 Federal Financial Reports through the Payment Management System (PMS). For questions regarding PMS, please contact the PMS Help Desk at 877.614.5533 or pmssupport@psc.gov.

If you have any questions about the Social Services allocations, please contact lulia Kramar at 202.401.5686 or iulia.kramar@acf.hhs.gov

Sincerely,
E. Scott Lloyd, Director
Office of Refugee Resettlement

Footnotes

1. "Population served" includes the total number of refugees, Amerasians, SIVs, and VOT arrivals.  Also included are state matched data for Cuban and Haitian Entrants (including Cuban Medical Professional Parolees and Havana Parolees) and asylees (all populations are adjusted for verified secondary migration.)

2. October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017

FY 2018 Refugee Support Services Base Formula Allocation

State Refugees Special Immigrant Visas  Victims of Trafficking Cuban/Haitian Entrants  Asylees Split Credit C/H & Asylee Adjustments for Secondary Migration Total with Adjustments Total Year RSS Base
 Alabama  59 15 0 18 1 0.00 9.67 103  $114,132
 Alaska  70 0 1 1 9 0.00 2.00 83  $91,975
 Arizona  2,009 296 51 409 80 0.00 187.42 3,032  $3,359,680
 Arkansas  58 16 0 1 0 0.00 0.00 75  $83,106
 California  5,003 7,487 119 352 1,338 12.83 220.25 14,532  $16,102,453
 Colorado  1,072 414 4 125 57 10.50 112.67 1,795  $1,988,993
 Connecticut  379 241 15 18 24 0.50 37.50 715  $792,273
 Delaware  16 9 0 22 0 0.50 0.00 48  $75,000
 District Of Columbia  1 1 24 2 55 1.50 9.00 94  $104,278
 Florida  1,562 262 52 29,298 173 282.83 226.58 31,856  $35,298,954
 Georgia  1,755 355 10 166 15 0.00 93.00 2,394  $2,652,732
 Hawaii  3 1 0 0 2 0.00 0.00 6  $75,000
 Idaho  594 65 0 2 0 0.00 28.33 689  $763,465
 Illinois  1,618 267 69 57 79 3.00 71.17 2,164  $2,397,877
 Indiana  1,008 36 1 11 10 0.50 34.00 1,101  $1,219,995
 Iowa  620 43 1 43 4 5.00 80.33 796  $882,027
 Kansas  525 26 0 19 0 0.00 44.00 614  $680,359
 Kentucky  1,520 99 5 928 19 19.50 176.17 2,767  $3,066,042
 Louisiana  79 21 4 114 70 3.00 11.83 303  $335,748
 Maine   266 41   0 57 0.00 24.17 388  $501,329
 Maryland  1,010 958 3 17 302 3.00 67.00 2,360  $2,615,047
 Massachusetts  1,019 162 8 470 89 10.50 51.33 1,810  $2,005,612
 Michigan  2,441 428 10 94 12 5.33 86.67 3,077  $3,409,544
 Minnesota  1,578 99 33 10 49 5.50 440.83 2,215  $2,938,343
 Mississippi  9 0 0 8 12 0.00 0.00 29  $75,000
 Missouri  1,090 245 2 39 1 0.50 123.83 1,501  $1,663,221
 Montana  81 3 0 0 0 0.00 5.50 90  $99,727
 Nebraska  1,167 194 1 25 8 3.00 45.67 1,444  $1,600,055
 Nevada  397 122 0 800 19 14.50 93.25 1,446  $ 1,602,280
 New Hampshire  312 31 0 0 0 0.00 14.00 357  $395,582
 New Jersey   357 133 7 392 55 9.17 21.33 975  $1,080,369
 New Mexico  141 27 2 11 2 0.00 12.00 195  $216,321
 New York  2,928 675 139 357 395 30.83 154.42 4,679  $5,184,668
 North Carolina  1,803 199 7 205 47 14.83 110.33 2,386  $2,643,868
 North Dakota  385 17 2 0 19 0.50 29.25 453  $501,957
 Ohio  2,770 218 3 17 34 3.50 128.00 3,174  $3,517,024
 Oklahoma  246 12 1 18 7 1.00 28.33 313  $346,830
 Oregon  929 157 22 137 16 5.50 73.17 1,340  $1,484,818
 Pennsylvania  2,026 320 22 0 0 0.00 76.17 2,444  $2,708,136
 Rhode Island  157 0 2 14 1 0.00 24.00 198  $219,401
 South Carolina  229 17 2 17 0 1.00 8.50 275  $304,720
 South Dakota  299 4 1 9 1 0.00 39.50 354  $392,259
 Tennessee  1,001 189 0 118 72 0.50 70.33 1,451  $1,607,820
 Texas  4,582 3,176 207 3,943 444 160.67 288.08 12,801  $14,500,508
 Utah  686 95 7 25 3 2.50 34.83 853  $945,189
 Vermont  230 3 0 0 5 0.00 3.50 242  $268,155
 Virginia  997 2,843 32 131 120 18.50 105.67 4,247  $4,705,963
 Washington  2,864 1,073 23 34 273 7.50 131.58 4,406  $4,882,156
 West Virginia  13 2 1 0 0 0.00 0.50 17  $75,000
 Wisconsin  895 82 2 0 1 0.00 32.33 1,012  $1,121,375
Total 50,859 21,179 895 38,477 3,980 638.00 3,668.00 119,699  $133,696,366

 

  • FY 2018 RSS Formula Allocation total funding does not include School Impact, Youth Mentoring and Services for Older Refugees Set-Asides.
  • A portion of California’s RSS Formula Allocation was awarded to the San Diego Wilson-Fish Program.
  • A portion of Missouri’s RSS Formula Allocation was awarded to the RD.
  • Texas’s RSS Formula Allocation was awarded between the RDs.
  • Minnesota’s total year base funding includes $483,951 in supplemental secondary migration funding.
  • Texas’s total year base funding includes $316,049 in supplemental secondary migration funding.
  • Maine’s RD total year base amount includes $70,906 to compensate for funds that were not expended by the State of Maine after withdrawing from the program.
  • Splits are records for C/H Entrants and Asylees that are submitted by two or more states. States receive partial credit for funding purposes for individuals that are split among two or more states. If two states submit a record for the same individual, each state will receive 50% credit. If three states submit a record for the same individual, each state will receive 33% credit. Splits are different from secondary migrations because they do not refer to individuals that move between states but are records for individuals that are claimed by two or more states. For example, if Georgia and Florida submit an Asylee or C/H Entrant record for the same individual, this would be considered a split. If an individual moved from Florida to Georgia, this would be considered a secondary migration.
  • States receive partial credit for funding purposes for secondary migration for all populations. If an individual moves between two states, each state will receive 50% credit. If an individual moves between three states, each state will receive 33% credit. Secondary migration is noted by states in the Migration Status and Date of Migration field on the ORR-5 form.