City Council Renews Funding for Youth Guardianship Project

Last week, the New York City Council, with the support of Council Speaker Julie Menin and leaders Linda Lee and Crystal Hudson, released its long-awaited Schedule C, investing $19.4 million in the legal services for immigrant youth across the city. 

We are grateful to once again receive $300,000 to support our Youth Guardianship Program (YGP), marking the second consecutive year of City Council funding. We are also proud to stand alongside our partners in the Immigrant Child Advocates’ Relief Effort Coalition (ICARE), led by Sierra Kraft at ROCC NYC and Co-Counsel NYC, in ensuring that immigrant children have access to the legal representation they deserve.

The Youth Guardianship Project serves young migrants under the age of 21 who have experienced abuse or abandonment and are eligible to seek lawful permanent residency through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). We guide young people through the SIJS process and represent them in the guardianship proceedings in Family Court that make this protection possible. 

No child should have to face the legal system alone. Thanks to this renewed investment, we can continue standing beside young people as they navigate complex Family Court proceedings and pursue a safer, more stable future. We are honored to continue serving children whose resilience, determination, and hope strengthen our communities and remind us of the city we strive to be.