'There's always a need': Volunteers needed to serve as a voice for migrant children during legal process (Alicia Neaves, KENS 5 – San Antonio CBS)
When [unaccompanied immigrant] children cross the border, they're taken into federal custody before they're placed in a shelter. That's where The Young Center of San Antonio comes in. The non-profit with 10 locations nationwide advocates for the rights and best interests of unaccompanied children in federal custody. "Learn their story, learn their background and basically help us be the voice for the children in this immigration process that it can be very complex even for adults," explained Veronica Rodriguez, Managing Attorney for The Young Center's San Antonio/DFW branch. These volunteer advocates listen and relay the child's story and wishes to a judge or other decision makers. "The work that we do, while it is very important and very impactful, it can also sometimes be very heavy," said Rodriguez. "Maybe they've been a victim of trafficking or maybe they have a medical or physical disability, or maybe they've been separated from their parents."
"We Have a Responsibility." Six Funders Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Children and Families (Martha Ramirez, Inside Philanthropy)
With numbers of unaccompanied migrant children at record highs in recent years, and many immigrant families in the U.S. struggling, there’s a vast well of need. Here are some funders who’ve been writing those checks.
Center for newly-arrived undocumented children seeks Bronx volunteers (Emily Swanson, Bronx Times)
If you’re one of many Bronx adults who speak multiple languages and enjoy working with kids, you might consider a volunteer opportunity with the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, which helps young undocumented children get acclimated to their new life in the U.S. The center, which operates 10 offices nationwide, is seeking volunteers, especially Bronx volunteers, because many resources for new immigrants are already located within the borough. Also, many Bronxites come from similar backgrounds and can be “cultural peers” to the new arrivals, said Ari Cannavino, volunteer coordinator.
Nonprofit seeks bilingual volunteers to help unaccompanied migrant kids in metro Phoenix (Kirsten Dorman, KJZZ)
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is seeking volunteers that speak a variety of languages in the Phoenix metro area to help unaccompanied kids in federal custody navigate the often confusing and overwhelming American immigration system. Phoenix volunteer coordinator Isobel Conroy said volunteers’ weekly visits allow staff attorneys and social workers a unique window of understanding the children they represent. “They can meet with the child as well,” said Conroy, “but they learn through the volunteers' visits how the child is doing, if there's anything that they might need, any supports that they might need. And also, more than anything, understanding who that child is, what their wishes are, and what they need in order to ensure that they're safe.”
Migrant children were put in abusive shelters for years, suit says. Critics blame lack of oversight (Jaime Ding and Valerie Gonzalez, Associated Press)
The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, a nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrant children, called for children in custody to be immediately reunited with family members and have access to attorneys as well as “independent courts who will hear their claims of harm.”
