Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) staff from our San Francisco and Fresno offices recently came together for a coordinated advocacy effort to protect funding for the Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project (CHIRP). Staff reached out to key state decision-makers—including members of the Assembly and Senate budget committees and the Governor’s office—urging full funding of CHIRP at $15 million in the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 state budget.
CHIRP delivers a proven, holistic model of care by pairing each child with both an immigration attorney and a social services case worker. This approach ensures children receive not only legal representation but also critical support such as access to housing, education, and mental health services.
Fully funding CHIRP is both a moral imperative and a sound investment. When children receive coordinated legal and social support, they are more likely to succeed in school, build stability, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Without this funding, many children would be left to navigate complex immigration proceedings—and their daily lives—without the support they need to remain safe and stable.
During outreach efforts, staff connected with legislative offices to emphasize the urgency of sustaining CHIRP. Across these conversations, a clear message emerged: CHIRP plays a vital role in ensuring unaccompanied children are not left to face immigration proceedings alone.
Responses from legislative offices reflected both strong support for CHIRP and the realities of an evolving budget process. Staff were receptive, taking detailed notes and encouraging continued outreach—particularly to key budget leaders. Several offices expressed alignment with CHIRP’s goals, while others noted that negotiations are ongoing and funding decisions remain in flux. Importantly, legislative staff emphasized that preliminary proposals are not final and underscored the importance of continued engagement as the budget process moves forward.
Offices also noted increased attention to CHIRP in recent weeks, with multiple points of contact raising the issue. This growing visibility reinforces that support for unaccompanied children remains a priority for advocates and stakeholders across the state.
This moment underscores the importance of sustained engagement beyond a single round of outreach. Continued communication with policymakers will be critical to ensuring that CHIRP remains a priority in final budget negotiations. To help maintain momentum, KIND is encouraging supporters to take action by contacting their representatives and urging them to protect funding for unaccompanied children: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/defend-unaccompanied-kids-in-california?source=direct_link
Beyond the immediate funding request, this effort highlights what is at stake. Each conversation reflects the experiences of children who have already endured significant hardship and now face an uncertain future. CHIRP ensures they are not navigating that uncertainty alone and provides the stability and support necessary to help them rebuild their lives.
