Additional requirements relating to children with disabilities and children with mental health needs

(a) Prioritization of release The Director shall prioritize the release to sponsors of unaccompanied noncitizen children with disabilities so that such children may receive, in the community rather than in immigration custody, evidence-based, trauma-informed services tailored to their needs. (b) Access to services while in custody In the case of an unaccompanied noncitizen child with disabilities who cannot be expeditiously released, the Director shall provide access to any necessary service in the least restrictive integrated setting possible until a family-based placement is secured. (c) Support The Director shall support unaccompanied noncitizen children with disabilities by— (1) contracting with a range of placements so as to ensure that integrated settings are available for such children; (2) providing resources to support placement, such as by connecting providers with community-based services or assisting with licensing variances; and (3) developing and delivering trauma-informed disability-related training to all frontline care provider staff, in collaboration with stakeholders who have expertise in serving children with disabilities. (d) Network capacity Not less than 75 percent of all childcare facilities and foster care placements shall have appropriate State licensing and documented capability to house unaccompanied noncitizen children with disabilities.