The Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA) grant reimburses states and replacement designees (RDs), non-state entities that administer a resettlement program, for three main services:
- Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
- Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA)
- Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) Program
Associated administrative costs for each are also covered. ORR-eligible populations determined ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and/or Medicaid are eligible for RCA and/or RMA for up to 12 months from their date of eligibility for ORR benefits and services. Certain categories of unaccompanied children and youth in the U.S. are eligible for the URM Program.
Refugee Cash Assistance
RCA benefits are generally equivalent to public cash benefit levels established by state governments. RCA helps individuals meet their most basic needs, such as for food, shelter, and transportation.
RCA processes and benefit amounts differ by location, depending on the structure the state or RD has put in place for its administration, and on the local public cash benefit levels or the state or RD levels, which have been proposed to and approved by ORR. State governments and RDs describe the features of their RCA program in a state plan and a budget estimate submitted to ORR each year.
Contact your State Refugee Coordinator for information about RCA in your state.
Refugee Medical Assistance
RMA provides short-term medical coverage to refugees ineligible for Medicaid. The benefits are generally similar to Medicaid.
In addition to providing access to healthcare, RMA funds enable refugees to receive a Medical Screening upon arrival in the U.S. States and RDs contract with local public and private health clinics to carry out the medical screenings and are then reimbursed for allowable costs. The goal is to protect the public health of resettling communities and to promote the self-sufficiency and successful resettlement of refugees.
RMA and Medical Screening programs differ by location. Services vary depending on state Medicaid programs and medical screening processes. State governments and RDs are required to outline the delivery of both programs in their annual plans and budget estimates that are submitted to ORR.
Contact your State Refugee Coordinator for information about RMA and your Refugee Health Coordinator for information about medical screening in your state.
Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program
CMA funds the URM Program, which provides foster care and other living arrangements, as well as the necessary care and services for vulnerable children and youth without a parent or custodian in the U.S. The participating states and RDs receive reimbursement for direct services and administrative costs.
Funding
CMA awards are allocated to states and RDs in quarterly installment grants based on the grantee’s submission of yearly estimates for reimbursable costs for the fiscal year, identified by type of expense, and a justification statement in support of the estimates.
Contact Information
RCA: draprograms@acf.hhs.gov
RMA: drhprograms@acf.hhs.gov
URM: urmprogram@acf.hhs.gov