Become a Volunteer Child Advocate
Join our community of hundreds of Volunteer Child Advocates across the country who provide accompaniment to unaccompanied immigrant children and youth, and advocate for their rights and best interests while in government custody.
What Are Child Advocates
A Young Center Volunteer Child Advocate is an adult who spends time with, and advocates on behalf of an individual unaccompanied immigrant child while they are in government custody and subject to deportation proceedings. Serving as a Child Advocate means being a reliable and trustworthy presence for children, and accordingly, we have a thorough clearance and training process.
Our Impact
Our work is possible thanks to the compassionate and generous support of Volunteer Child Advocates around the country who donate thousands of hours to accompany children as they face immigration proceedings. We are immensely grateful to every volunteer.
volunteers trained in 2023
3,349
hours donated
368
active volunteers assigned to children’s cases
21
volunteer trainings across the US
Sign Up for a Training Near You
Our trainings are ongoing across our 10 locations. We welcome volunteers from all cultures, professions, races, ethnicities and social backgrounds. Advocates must be at least 21 years old. We have a particular need for bilingual volunteers who speak Spanish. In Chicago, we always need volunteers who speak French, Romanian, Portuguese, Fulani, Lingala, Creole and other languages.
We get to know prospective volunteers through an initial screening interview, an application and reference check, and at the required Volunteer Child Advocate training.
In order to be eligible to enter the detention centers, volunteers must also submit to an FBI background check, a child abuse and neglect (CAN) background check, and a medical screening for tuberculosis.
Once assigned to an individual child, each Volunteer Child Advocate receives continuing training, support, and supervision from Young Center’s staff.
Apply Now!
Please complete the form if you are interested in volunteering to be a Child Advocate in any of our locations. Our volunteer coordinators will be reaching out to qualified individuals with more information. For questions about serving as a volunteer Child Advocate, contact volunteer@theyoungcenter.org.
Your Commitment
- Visit with the child each week.
- Help the child think through options and decisions.
- Accompany the child to court hearings and other important meetings and interviews.
- Conduct research on the child’s situation in his or her home country.
- Develop best interest recommendations with Young Center staff.
- Maintain communication with the Young Center staff.
- Advocate for the best interest of the child alongside Young Center staff.
Find a Training Near You
Make a difference in the life of an unaccompanied immigrant child by serving as a Volunteer Child Advocate in Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C, New Jersey, or Grand Rapids.
In Their Own Words
“I was nervous at first to be a volunteer, but I realized it’s just about showing up and being consistent. It might just be a couple of months you’re meeting with a child, but the impact you can have on their life is so important.
Priscila Marroquin, Chicago VCA
“The presence of our VCA’s is incredibly important precisely because they provide consistent and trusted adult presence that can make a child feel like there is someone there for them regardless of their situation.”
Priscilla Guadarrama, Young Center National Volunteer Program Manager
“They share a common spirit, one of tenacity blended with an appreciation for life. As I advocated for their rights, I also connected with them through activities and common themes like cute animals, and art.”
Ismelye Lara, Chicago VCA