Bilingual 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
• Other languages considered at this time are fluency in Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, and Portuguese
• 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 provide COVID-19 vaccination record
• Must be willing to commit approximately one hour per week to visit with an unaccompanied child

Volunteers are especially needed for the next virtual training on November 16 and 17. Both days are required to complete the training and begin volunteering; registration for this training closes on November 8.

1. Express interest below to record this opportunity in your Volunteer New York! profile and to alert the volunteer coordinator
2. Click here to complete a volunteer application with The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights. Volunteers who do not complete this step will not be registered!