Children's Services
Every child has the right to a childhood that’s free from fear and full of opportunity. CWS has advanced this commitment since 1946 for hundreds of thousands of children across the United States, equipping communities that are stronger and more supportive of future generations. CWS delivers programs rooted in child protection principles, both directly and through community partnerships across multiple states to respond to unique local needs of refugee and immigrant youth, unaccompanied children, child trafficking survivors and other young people facing heightened risks.
Programs vary by community and may include wraparound support such as case management, food access, educational support, mental health and psychosocial supports, crisis and disaster response, legal services and other offerings tailored to local demographics. Programs center the dignity, resilience and lived experience of youth, affirming every child’s right to a safe future where their identity is celebrated.
As part of this focus, CWS operates nationally recognized programs specific to unaccompanied children. This work advances best practices in child protection and family reunification for children navigating complex legal and support systems. Services uniquely integrate child-centered, culturally-responsive and trauma-informed approaches for proven protection outcomes.
Services for Unaccompanied Children
Unaccompanied children arrive to the United States without a parent or legal guardian. Many come seeking protection from abuse, violence, trafficking and persecution. CWS is one of a select number of national organizations providing Home Study and Post Release Services for unaccompanied children who are at the fragile transition point of reunifying with family. These children are released from the Office of Refugee Resettlement custody into the care of a sponsor. Most join a relative or friend already living in the United States. It’s often a tough transition.
CWS supports the protective factors that keep children safe and strengthen families. We visit the homes where children will be living before they get there to make sure the environment will be a safe, stable placement for the child. We support the sponsor to prepare for the responsibility of promoting the arriving child’s safety, rights and needs. Once the child is living with their sponsor, CWS provides comprehensive case work to support each child’s wellbeing and goals during the transition. This work has reached more than 18,000 children across all U.S. states since 2021.
Additionally, CWS provides comprehensive immigration legal support to unaccompanied children, serving roughly 500 children annually in select states. These services include accompanying children to family court and immigration court, gathering evidence for and filing applications for immigration relief and advising children of their rights and options. Visit CWS’s legal services page for more information.
Policy and advocacy guide CWS’s efforts to advance state and national funding priorities that keep immigrant children safe. Through this work, CWS seeks to end the prolonged detention of children and policies that promote family separation, curb harmful enforcement practices that place children at risk and separate them from loved ones and protect every child’s right to due process and safety. See CWS’s action alerts for more information.
CWS Children's Services Overview
“The only thing I can say is, thank you. My brother was in good hands. Thank you to everyone. I know you do a good job and do the best for each child. Keep working because it helps so many children.”
Reports and Documents
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Latest Updates
Keeping Children Safe: Helping Three Siblings Move From Fear to Relief
When three siblings fled violence, legal support helped them find safety, stability and protection together.
Immigrant children come to the United States fleeing danger, not in search of it
Trigger warning: This blog mentions instances of sexual abuse. CWS Marks April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month: Immigrant children come to the United States fleeing danger, not in search of it. They have done it alone, walking thousands of miles, and they have done it cradled in a parent’s arms. For many of those fortunate to make it to …
Lessons from Jenga: One Child’s Journey Through Play
A simple game of Jenga helped one child open up about their experiences and seek healthy friendship. Every day, CWS celebrates the creative, patient work of building safety and hope for displaced children and their families. At CWS, we use creative tools like games and art to help children—especially those impacted by displacement—share their stories and make sense of their …