Worldwide, children usually constitute more than half of the total refugee population. Many of the Burmese in refugee camps scattered across Malaysia and Thailand are children who have been separated from their families. These children have often fled from portering, or carrying supplies and rations for the Burmese military. These children, referred to as Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URMs), can be interviewed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees while in the refugee camps. If determined to be eligible for refugee status they can then be resettled to the United States (as well as other countries that resettle refugees).
Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service is currently sending us referrals for
these
Burmese children to be placed into foster care. Once given this URM
status the
children are eligible to receive access to health care, education,
financial support, counseling, and all of the other benefits available
to a
child in foster care. We are recruiting and training individuals and
families
to serve as resource parents for these children. We are currently
receiving referrals from many Burmese children, although URMs from
Liberia, Sudan, Vietnam, Ethiopia and many other countries have been
resettled by
LCFS in the past. With the help of LCFS and dedicated foster parents,
these
children can complete their education, pursue college or a trade, learn
English, acculturate, and become self-sufficient, contributing citizens
of our community.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming a resource parent for these children, please contact our Rising Sun Office in Philadelphia at (215) 456-5700 ext. 230.
