Bilingual Child Advocates for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights advocates for the rights of unaccompanied immigrant children and trafficking victims by providing them with Volunteer Child Advocates (guardians ad litem). These advocates 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. Volunteers from all cultures, professions, races, ethnicities, and social backgrounds are welcome to become Child Advocates.

Once assigned to an individual child, each Advocate receives continued training, support, and supervision from the Young Center. Currently, bilingual volunteers are needed to conduct in-person visits for one hour a week, preferably during weekday mornings or afternoons.

Volunteer requirements:

• Must be 21+
• Must be fluent or highly proficient in Spanish, Mam, K'iche', Kekchi, Chuj
• Must be able to travel to at least one of the facilities served by the Young Center in Westchester, Harlem, or the Bronx
• Must attend a two-day in-person training
• Must be able to clear a federal and state background check
• Must provide proof of a negative tuberculosis test within the past 12 months to enter a detention facility
• Must be willing to commit approximately one hour per week to visit with an unaccompanied child

Express interest below!