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Dear Friend,
Cristina is a 17-year-old transgender teen, who lost her mother when she was a small child and was raised by her doting grandmother. After her grandmother’s passing, Cristina lived in an orphanage on the U.S.-Mexico border. She worked several restaurant jobs and earned enough to buy herself clothes and cosmetics that affirmed her gender. Living without a supportive family and community, Cristina was sexually trafficked in exchange for hormonal treatment, shelter, and food. When she realized the trafficking put her life in danger, Cristina fled to the United States. Upon entering the country, she was taken into government custody and appointed a Young Center Child Advocate. During their weekly meetings, Cristina quickly showed how much of an advocate she was for herself. Early on, Cristina shared information with her Child Advocate about her
gender identity. This demonstrated the level of trust our Child Advocate was able to build with Cristina in such a short amount of time; Cristina had not shared this information with anyone else.
The Young Center Child Advocate successfully advocated for Cristina’s acceptance into the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program because she did not have family here in the United States who could sponsor her release from government custody. Through the URM program, she was placed in a welcoming home and today, she is thriving. Through URM, Cristina also has access to support services, including indirect financial support for housing, food, medical care, and other necessities, until her 21st birthday.
Cristina’s story highlights how important the role of Child Advocates is in providing support, consistency, and guidance in an unaccompanied child’s life. Moreover, it shows how vital our child-led approach is when guaranteeing the best interests of the children we work with. Help support the Young Center and reach our fundraising goal of $100,000.00 by midnight.
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