The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights

What The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights does

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 in Chicago by Maria Woltjen, dedicated to advocating for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in U.S. government custody. The organization pairs trained Volunteer Child Advocates with interdisciplinary staff (attorneys and social workers) to accompany children through immigration proceedings, submit Best Interests Determinations (BIDs) to immigration courts and federal agencies, and provide weekly companionship. Across its 20-year operating history, the Young Center has served over 9,000 children from more than 70 countries, with 1,975 children served and 1,388 new cases opened in 2024 alone.

The organization operates four core programs distributed across a 10-office national footprint (Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Grand Rapids, and New Jersey): the Child Advocate Program (direct service delivery), the Technical Assistance Program (training and case consultation for professionals navigating state child welfare and immigration systems), the Policy & Litigation Program (impact litigation, amicus briefs, and legislative advocacy), and the Narrative Change Program (ethical storytelling). Volunteer infrastructure is central to the operating model — volunteers commit to at least 12 months of service, undergo 20+ hours of training, and donated 5,500 hours in 2024 (valued at $191,345). Pipeline development occurs through the Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship Program for law students and the Changemakers ambassador program.

Revenue is generated entirely through voluntary charitable contributions. Streams include individual one-time and recurring donations (Champions for Children monthly program), corporate matching gifts, gifts of stock, donor-advised funds, and legacy/bequest giving. There is no disclosed institutional investor, venture, or private equity ownership. The organization holds a 2023 GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. Its legal foundation rests on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2008, which first authorized federal appointment of Child Advocates for unaccompanied minors, and a July 2023 EOIR Director's Memorandum formally recognizing the Child Advocate role in immigration proceedings. The Young Center bills itself as the only organization in the United States providing independent Child Advocates to unaccompanied immigrant children in government custody.

Name

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights

Legal name

Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights

Website

https://theyoungcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pairs trained Volunteer Child Advocates with attorneys and social workers to accompany unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in U.S. government custody through immigration proceedings, operating across 10 national offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Immigrant Children's Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigrant & Refugee Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Child advocacy services
• Immigrant legal aid
• Social services nonprofit
• Child welfare advocacy
• Immigration court support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals supporting immigrant children's rights. Donors can give one-time, monthly, weekly, quarterly, or yearly. The organization offers a Champions for Children monthly giving program.
2. Corporate Matching Gifts: Employer matching gift programs where companies match employee donations to the organization.
3. Gift of Stock: Donors can make gifts of stock to support the organization.
4. Donor-Advised Fund: Donors can contribute through donor-advised funds to leverage tax benefits while supporting immigrant children.
5. Legacy Giving: Planned gifts and bequests allow donors to leave lasting legacies supporting the organization.
6. Recurring Donations: Monthly recurring donations from Champions for Children supporters providing sustained funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights provides independent Volunteer Child Advocates who are paired with interdisciplinary staff (attorneys and social workers) to accompany unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in U.S. government custody. Advocates submit Best Interests Determinations (BIDs) to immigration courts and government officials, accompany children to court hearings, and advocate for the children's safety, family unity, and well-being throughout immigration proceedings, including international safe repatriation support.

Product overview

The Young Center is a non-profit child advocacy organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant children. The core service is the Child Advocate Program, which pairs Volunteer Child Advocates with interdisciplinary staff to accompany unaccompanied and separated children in government custody. This is supported by the Technical Assistance Program (providing consultations to professionals serving immigrant children in state systems), Policy & Litigation Program (driving systemic change through legal advocacy), and Narrative Change Program (amplifying children's voices through ethical storytelling). Additional offerings include the Elizabeth Frankel Fellowship Program for law students, a Volunteer Child Advocate Training program, Safe Repatriation Support services, donation processing, and the Changemakers community engagement program. Together, these programs provide holistic support from direct advocacy through policy reform and community mobilization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Child Advocate Program The flagship program providing independent Volunteer Child Advocates to unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in government custody, submitting best interests determinations (BIDs) to government officials and advocating for children's rights, safety, and well-being throughout immigration proceedings.
• Technical Assistance Program Provides interdisciplinary case consultations, training, and mentorship to attorneys, caseworkers, and professionals serving immigrant children involved in state child welfare and court systems, helping navigate the intersection of immigration and child welfare.
• Policy & Litigation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9,000 children served from more than 70 countries over 20 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership on the All Children Belong Campaign, a narrative change and state policy initiative to advance laws protecting children regardless of immigration status. Joint advocacy and policy work.
• Casey Family ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership with Casey Family Programs, a leading child welfare organization, to build capacity for agencies and advocates navigating the intersection of immigration and child welfare systems. Collaboration focused on improving outcomes for immigrant children involved in multiple legal systems.
• Seneca Family of AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Seneca Family of Agencies, a California-based child welfare organization, to serve immigrant children at the intersection of immigration and child welfare systems with culturally sensitive and trauma-informed support.
• International NGOs and Social WorkerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with non-governmental organizations and independent social workers/psychologists to conduct international home studies in countries worldwide including Angola, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela for safe repatriation assessments.
• Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel partnership on litigation including FOIA lawsuits to force disclosure of government policies affecting immigrant children. Collaboration on legal advocacy for immigrant family unity.
• Legal Services for Children, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel partnership on litigation including FOIA requests related to ICE wellness checks on unaccompanied children and their families.
• Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLPmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublic interest law firm serving as co-counsel on FOIA litigation including Young Center v. DOJ case demanding transparency on expedited scheduling of children's cases in immigration court.
• American Academy of PediatricsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsing partner for HELP for Separated Children Act legislation. The AAP has documented how aggressive immigration enforcement adversely affects child health and well-being.
• Women's Refugee CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsing partner for HELP for Separated Children Act. Collaboration on advocacy for family unity and protection of children in immigration enforcement.
• Justice in MotionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsing partner for HELP for Separated Children Act. Advocacy for codifying parental rights protections in immigration enforcement.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsing partner for HELP for Separated Children Act. Collaboration on protecting children from immigration enforcement impacts on families.
• University of Chicago Law School Immigrant Child Advocacy ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrom 2009 to 2015, Young Center co-taught the Immigrant Child Advocacy Clinic at University of Chicago Law School, mentoring law students and developing skills for public interest careers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services): RAICES is the largest immigration legal services nonprofit in Texas, operating in Houston and San Antonio — two of Young Center's core office cities — and serving overlapping unaccompanied minor populations.
• Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC): ILRC is a national immigration law and policy organization that partners with Young Center as co-counsel on FOIA litigation affecting immigrant children, operating in the same federal advocacy and litigation lane.
• Women's Refugee Commission (WRC): WRC advocates for the rights of women, children, and families displaced by conflict and persecution, including unaccompanied immigrant children in U.S. custody. WRC is a co-endorsing partner with Young Center on federal legislation.
• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND): KIND provides direct legal representation and advocacy for unaccompanied immigrant children in the U.S., sharing Young Center's target population and federal-systems intervention model. Young Center and KIND are co-endorsing partners on the HELP for Separated Children Act.
• Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project: Florence Project provides free legal services to adults and children in immigration detention in Arizona, directly overlapping Young Center's Phoenix and border-state advocacy footprint and target population.
• Legal Services for Children, Inc. Legal Services for Children provides direct legal and social services to youth in the Bay Area, including immigrant minors. Co-counsel partner with Young Center on FOIA work related to ICE wellness checks on unaccompanied children.
• Justice in Motion: Justice in Motion protects migrants' rights through a transnational network of in-country legal partners, paralleling Young Center's international home-study/repatriation partnerships. Co-endorsing partner on the HELP for Separated Children Act.

Broad incumbents

• National Immigration Law Center (NILC): NILC is a leading national advocacy organization defending the rights of low-income immigrants, with overlapping federal impact-litigation and policy advocacy capabilities that complement Young Center's child-focused mandate.
• Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC): CLINIC operates the largest network of immigration legal services programs in the U.S., providing broader-scope immigration representation and training that includes but is not specialized to unaccompanied children.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Immigrants' Rights Project: ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project litigates major federal immigration cases and pursues systemic reform, operating alongside Young Center on amicus briefs and federal impact litigation involving immigrant children.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheYoungCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theyoungcenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/theyoungcenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@theyoungcenter
• Xx.com/theyoungcenter

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights