Shaina Simenas is a Co-Director for the Young Center’s Technical Assistance Program. Shaina has been a staff member with the Young Center since 2016 and prior to joining the Technical Assistance Program, Shaina served as the Managing Social Worker for the New York office. Through her work with the Young Center’s Child Advocate program, Shaina has extensive experience advocating for the best interests of vulnerable unaccompanied immigrant children in federal custody on issues of care, custody, reunification, safe repatriation, and legal relief. She holds master’s degrees in Public Health and Social Work from New York University. While at New York University she worked with middle and high school students in the Bronx, facilitating individual and group counseling for those at risk of dropping out. She received her undergraduate degree from American University in Health Promotion with a minor in Spanish. She first joined the Young Center as a volunteer Child Advocate in 2015.