RICHI Speaker Event: The Changing Landscape of Immigration Policy: Opportunities to Impact & Improve Children’s Health & Well-Being

ICAAP’s Refugee Immigrant Child Health Initiative welcome’s staff from the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights to share about their work to protect and advance the best interests of immigrant children seeking protection at the US border. The Young Center’s goal is to change the immigration system so that children in immigration proceedings are recognized as children, and best interests are made a part of the decision making process. Join us to learn more about issues affecting immigrant children, particularly unaccompanied children in government detention, and how you can support efforts in Illinois and nationally to advance the rights and best interests of immigrant children.

Speakers:

Marisa Chumil, LCSW, is a Child Advocate Program Co-Director at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. Since joining the organization in 2013, Marisa served as Staff Social Worker and then Deputy Director of Social Work, overseeing Child Advocate cases in Chicago, consulting on cases nationally for all Young Center offices, and coordinating the Young Center’s work on international home studies.

Kelly Albinak Kribs is a Co-Director for the Young Center’s newest program, the Technical Assistance Program. The Technical Assistance Program offers case consultations, mentorship, trainings, and resources to attorneys and service providers working with immigrant children involved in state court systems like the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Before coming into her current role, Kelly was an attorney with the Child Advocate Program for six years.

Jane Liu is a Senior Litigation Attorney with the Young Center and joined the Young Center in 2020. Jane has litigated public interest and civil rights cases for over fifteen years. Jane works on the Young Center’s policy team to engage in policy and legal advocacy at the national level to promote the consideration of best interests in all decisions concerning immigrant children and to create an immigrant system that treats children as children.