The Young Center is a champion for the best interests of children who arrive in the United States on their own, from all corners of the world. We serve as trusted allies for these children while they are in deportation proceedings, advocating for their best interests, and standing for the creation of a dedicated children’s immigrant justice system that ensures the safety and well-being of every child.
Young Center attorneys and social workers, along with bilingual volunteers, are appointed as Child Advocate (guardian ad litem) by the Department of Health and Human Services. Our role is to advocate for their best interests—from custody and release to the ultimate decision about whether the child will be allowed to remain in the U.S. Our goal is to change both immigration policy and practice so that immigrant children are recognized first as children and their best interests are considered in every decision.
Our goal is to change the immigration system so that children in immigration proceedings are recognized as children, and their best interests are made a part of the decision-making process.
Funds raised fight for the best interests of unaccompanied immigrant children.
This is what a gift can do:
$50 - Arranges for a telephone/video call for a detained parent and child
$100 - Provides travel for a Child Advocate to visit a child in detention weekly
$250 - Offers a backpack & necessities for a child just released from custody
$500 - Assists in locating detained parents of a child
$1000+ - Provides an international safety assessment and home study for a child being repatriated
Tips for starting a fundraiser:
-If you can, make a contribution at any level first, that way you can tell your contacts that you've donated and ask them to join you.
-Make a list of people you'll reach out to! Emailing or calling is a great way to get your friends and family on board because it's personal. (Social media is a terrific option too!)
