ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Across the country, thousands of immigrant children must navigate multiple complicated and inequitable legal systems. Some are in probate, conservatorship, abuse and neglect, or family court proceedings. Others may face juvenile delinquency charges. Many of these children are also at risk of deportation through the immigration courts.
Most undocumented children have limited access to legal resources and support systems to effectively maneuver through both state court systems and the federal U.S. immigration system. These dynamics can negatively impact a child’s safety and well-being, the outcome of their immigration case, and their connection to family, language, and culture.
Supporting Immigrant Children in State Court Systems
To support children caught between the federal immigration system and state court systems, the Young Center launched its Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which offers multidisciplinary case consultations and trainings to children’s state court advocates and direct service providers.
Holistically Addressing Cross-System Gaps in Understanding and Resources
TAP aims to improve the outcomes for immigrant children in state child welfare and juvenile detention systems by offering guidance and support directly to the professionals and court advocates serving them. The program is co-led by a Young Center social worker and attorney who provide expertise and resources with a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed lens.
TAP engages on a variety of situations involving immigrant children caught in multiple legal systems, such as children and youth who are:
involved in child welfare (dependency or custody) proceedings in state court systems;
experiencing placement instability after a parent’s detention or deportation;
involved in juvenile delinquency cases that could impact immigration status;
navigating complex family reunification in the U.S. or abroad after separation.
Request Assistance
Case Consultations: TAP accepts national and international requests for assistance. Our services are tailored for stakeholders working with immigrant children in state child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We also consult with advocates and service providers serving reunifying families that were separated under the Trump administration’s family separation policy. We welcome requests from other individuals and organizations as well.
Trainings: TAP also offers trainings across the U.S. to help ensure that immigrant youth involved in state court systems have equitable access to family, culture, community, and permanency. These trainings can be general—for example, ways to include parents in home country in state court proceedings—or specific to an organization’s needs. With these trainings, TAP strives to build the capacity of agencies and advocates to navigate the inevitable complexities that arise when immigrant children are involved in multiple legal systems.
To request a training, please email TAP@theyoungcenter.org.