Volunteer Child Advocate Training

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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. These 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. 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, our NY office is in need of bilingual volunteers who are available to conduct in person weekly visits for one hour as a Child Advocate.

Volunteer requirements:

• Must be 21+ years of age.
• Must be fluent or highly proficient in Spanish, Mam, K'iche', Kekchi, or Chuj.
• Must be able to travel to at least one of the facilities served by the Young Center in Westchester County, Harlem, and the Bronx.
• Must attend a two-day in person training in February 2023.
• 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.

Child Advocate Training Dates

• February 11 & 12 th - In Person Training
• Event Location - TBD
• Times - TBD

Virtual Info Session Dates

• Dec. 13 at 6pm
• Jan. 12 at 12pm
• Jan. 18 at 6pm