About KIND:

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. KIND has provided nearly 18,000 children with high quality representation in their immigration proceedings by training more than 41,000 attorneys and legal staff and cultivating partnerships with over 600 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

Position Summary:

KIND seeks a Program Coordinator, Family Separation within its International Programs department to support the efforts of the NGO Steering Committee in the Ms. L v. ICE litigation regarding families separated at the U.S. border by the Trump administration. The Program Coordinator will further the Steering Committee’s efforts to locate class members and facilitate family reunification by coordinating across KIND departments, with other committee members, and with the ACLU. The Committee is searching for and working to support over 1,000 separated children and parents throughout the United States, Central America and Mexico, and in other countries, in close collaboration with other organizations providing legal, psychosocial and humanitarian support. The Program Coordinator will provide high-level support to senior NGO and law firm Steering Committee staff in a fast-paced and fluid setting.

This is position is funded for one year with potential for renewal.

Essential Functions:

• Assist the Steering Committee with its family search and support activities and act as focal point to ensure timely implementation of members’ tasks, including maintaining a list of Do-outs, following up regularly with responsible parties, and providing weekly progress updates to the Committee.
• Conduct direct outreach and screening of families as part of Committee search and reunification efforts, and for other purposes as needed. Support organization and management of volunteer calling efforts.
• Develop and implement outreach strategies to locate family members as needed.
• Collaborate with other large-scale family separation service providers to ensure coordinated outreach to families, timely updates to families’ contact, case and referral information, and protection of personal data.
• Liaise with third-party search providers and provide regular progress updates to the Committee.
• Maintain KIND’s intake waitlist, including communicating regularly with relevant Committee members about located parents pending protection referrals in order to ensure timely contact with families.
• Manage parent and child referral systems, maintain updated lists of pending referrals and placements, and support KIND’s International Programs and Special Programs teams with direct referrals to service providers. 
• Follow-up with and maintain regular contact with families with reunification, legal or other service needs who have not yet been placed with providers.
• Update clients’ contact, hearing and referral information in relevant databases, along with updates on case and reunification status and other specific needs as relevant.
• Serve as case database expert, working closely with KIND’s International Programs team and the Committee leads to develop and produce relevant data reports, and ensuring accurate data maintenance.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Advanced fluency in Spanish language (oral and written)
• Undergraduate degree
• At least one (1) year experience working with youth, immigrants, refugees, and/or populations in vulnerable situations, including survivors of abuse, human trafficking, or other trauma
• Experience conducting legal intakes or interviews preferred
• At least one (1) year experience working with databases and data management, preferably in a legal setting
• Demonstrated commitment to issues affecting immigrants
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, and attention to detail
• Strong cultural competency and cross-cultural communication skills
• Strong professional judgment and discretion, and ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple attorneys and other staff at various organizations
• Experience working with volunteers appreciated.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing; adapt to a high-volume workload with fast-changing deadlines and priorities; and work within a remote office environment and have regular interaction via telephone, videoconference and email

Application Instructions:

Please be advised that an employment application will need to be submitted along with your resume and cover letter, in order to be considered for the desired role.

KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.