Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) Protects Unaccompanied and Separated Children

USA for UNHCR is a proud supporter of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), the preeminent international nongovernmental organization devoted to the protection of unaccompanied and separated children. Funding from USA for UNHCR has helped KIND expand its services to minors in need of legal protection and built up its capacity to provide social services, including trauma-informed care and therapy.

In September, USA for UNHCR met with the legal team from KIND’s Atlanta office to learn more about how they’re supporting unaccompanied minors in Georgia. According to Christina Iturralde Thomas, managing attorney in the Atlanta office, the need for legal representation for unaccompanied minors in Georgia is immense.

“By 2015 [when our office opened], there were thousands of unaccompanied children arriving in Georgia,” says Christina. “There were so many children arriving and not enough attorneys to help. When we opened the doors at KIND it was seen as this hope, this amazing opportunity to try to meet the need.”

To help represent as many children as possible, KIND relies on pro bono attorneys to help meet the growing need. The Atlanta legal community has welcomed KIND’s work from day one. In addition to legal representation, KIND helps connect clients with psychosocial care, education resources and housing. 

“It takes a village to meet the needs of our clients and I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last eight years,” says Christina.