2017-2018 Advocates for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

Who are we? 

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for the rights of unaccompanied immigrant children. The Young Center provides volunteer Child Advocates (guardians ad litem) for trafficking victims and unaccompanied immigrant children. We serve children from our Chicago, Harlingen, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Washington, DC offices.

Who are our Child Advocates? 

Our Child Advocates are adults who volunteer to spend time with and advocate on behalf of an individual unaccompanied immigrant child while he or she is in federal custody and subject to immigration proceedings. We welcome volunteers from all cultures, professions, races, ethnicities and social backgrounds. 

We are looking for bilingual volunteers who speak Spanish, Mam, K'iche', or other languages indigenous to Central America and Mexico. We are also seeking volunteers who speak Punjabi, Romanian, and Haitian Creole at this time.

How can I become a Child Advocate? 

Before being assigned, Advocates must complete a two-day training session. New volunteers must be 21 years old, have their own transportation, undergo a federal and state background check, speak Spanish and be willing to commit approximately one hour per week to visit with an unaccompanied child. 

Once assigned to an individual child, each Advocate receives continuing training, support, and supervision from the Young Center.