Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

Interstate Resources

• American Public Human Services Association's 2002  "Guide to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children."
• As the introduction states, "The interstate compact on the placement of children is the best means [available] to ensure protection and services to children who are placed across state lines for foster care or adoption. The Compact is a uniform law that has been enacted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands."

• Child Welfare Information Gateway's "Online Resources for State Child Welfare Law and Policy."
• This publication provides ready access to State laws and regulations regarding child protection by listing the part of the code for each State that contains the laws addressing child protection and the web address for the corresponding statute.

• Undocumented Immigrant Youth: Guide for Advocates and Service Providers, Policy Brief No. 2, November, 2006.
• Produced by the National Collaboration for Youth and the National Juvenile Justice Network. This publication outlines the risks and obstacles that undocumented immigrant youth face in both the immigration and juvenile justice systems. The brief also recommends policies and actions that immigration advocates, youth advocates, and service providers could adopt to improve the safety and well-being of immigrant youth.

• Bridging Refugee Youth & Children's Services' (BRYCS) Guardianship Information by State. October, 2006.
• BRYCS's ongoing project to gather current information for each state and provide links to state court websites for specific information.

• Lawyers for Children, Inc.'s Guide for Immigrant Youth.
• As part of their "You are Not Alone" series, Lawyers for Children, Inc. has published this excellent guide for immigrant youth in New York and beyond. The guide is written for youth and answers questions about immigration, status, children's rights, how to get a green card and seek assistance.