Volunteer Child Advocate Interest Form
Thank you so much for your interest in becoming a Volunteer Child Advocate!
Due to the nature of our work and the extensive contact Volunteer Child Advocates have with children and adolescents, Young Center requires all Volunteer Child Advocates to:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Commit to serving as a Volunteer Child Advocate for at least 12 months
- Submit all required application materials
- Complete an interview with a Volunteer Coordinator
- Attend and complete all aspects of the Volunteer Child Advocate Training
- Submit to and pass FBI and State Criminal Background Checks
- Sumit to and pass Child Abuse and Neglect Registry checks for all states they have lived in during the last five years.
- Provide results of a tuberculosis test (results must be negative)
- Volunteer Coordinators will review completed applications and will reach out to qualified individuals with more information. Although we cannot respond to all application submissions, we keep them on file for reference. All sites offer in-person trainings twice a year—once in the fall and once in the spring.
Not sure where you fit in? We still encourage you to apply. We’ll review your information and be in touch if opportunities align with your location and background.
Still exploring whether this is the right fit for you? Join one of our upcoming information sessions! Our staff will share more about the Young Center, the role of a Volunteer Child Advocate, requirements to get started, and answer any questions you may have.
National Volunteer Information Sessions
October 13, 4:00 PM PST | 6:00 PM CT | 7:00 PM ET – Register Here
October 19, 4:30 PM PST | 6:30 PM CT | 7:30 PM ET – Register Here
November 3, 5:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM CT | 8:00 PM ET – Register Here
November 11, 12:00 PM PST | 2:00 PM CT | 3:00 PM ET – Register Here
Training Dates and Site Needs
Chicago, IL
Serving Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Tennessee
Training Dates: Sept. 19-20,2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish, French, Pular, Indigenous languages of Guatemala, Romanian, and Romani.
The children we serve: are located in Cook, Champaign, and Lake County (IL), Fulton and DeKalb Counties (GA), Dane County (WI), Davidson County (TN), and Indianapolis (IN)
Grand Rapids, MI
Serving Michigan and Ohio
Training Dates: Oct. 24-25, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish, Haitian Creole, Arabic, French, Central American Indigenous Languages, Mayan Indigenous Languages
The children we serve: are located in Kent, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Ingham, Wayne, and Eaton Counties, Michigan.
Harlingen, TX
Training Dates: Nov. 7-8, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish.
The children we serve: are located in Willacy, Cameron, and Nueces Counties, Texas.
Houston, TX
Training Dates: September 12-13, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish and Indigenous languages.
The children we serve: are located in Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Chambers, Austin, and Colorado Counties.
San Antonio, TX
Training Dates: September 26-27, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish
The children we serve: are located in Bexar, Ft. Worth, and Dallas Counties, Texas.
Los Angeles, CA
Training Dates: September 26-27, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish, French, Dari, or Arabic.
The children we serve: are located in Los Angeles and Pasadena counties.
Washington D.C.
Serving D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida
Training Dates: April 10 and 11, 2027
Application Deadline: March 19, 2027
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish, and Indigenous languages of Central America.
The children we serve: are located in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties (VA); Martinsburg (WV); and Allegheny, Dauphin, and Bucks Counties (PA).
New York City, NY
Training Dates: September 19-20, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish
The children we serve: are located in Westchester county NY, and Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn boroughs.
Phoenix, AZ
Training Dates: November 7-8, 2026
We are seeking volunteers who speak: Spanish; indigenous Guatemalan languages such as Q’eqchi’/Kekchi, Mam, and Quiche; Tzotzil; and Russian.
The children we serve: are located in the Central and East Valley of the Phoenix metro area and in Tucson.
Sign up to be a volunteer here!