Daisy Cordero, an unaccompanied child case manager working in New York and New Jersey, risks not only her own health but also that of her family to continue reuniting children with their loved ones. Daisy shares how the pandemic has made her even more passionate about her job—giving children safe and loving homes even with the world in disarray.
In May, Daisy recorded a podcast about how the coronavirus is changing home study protocols and strengthening her commitment to unaccompanied children. Below is a portion of her interview, which has been edited for length and clarity.
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How do unaccompanied children crossing the U.S. southern border get to places like New York and New Jersey?
Once children cross the border, they’re apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol. Because capacity is limited in local shelters, they are sent to shelters or foster homes in other states, including California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. But the sponsor—the family member or friend who is ultimately going to receive and care for the child in their home—may live in a different state.
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When an unaccompanied child is referred to Bethany’s care, how does Bethany help? What is your role?
My job starts once the child is established in a shelter or in a foster home while they’re waiting to be reunited with a parent or trusted family friend. Before the child can be released to their permanent placement, we do a home study to gather more information about the child and also the sponsor who is going to care for and protect the unaccompanied child.
Under normal circumstances, when a home study is required, I do an interview with the child. I do a separate interview with the sponsor and every other person who lives in the sponsor’s home. I also do a home inspection to make sure the child has a place to sleep and the home is safe.
There are reasons why a home study may or may not be required; the Office of Refugee Resettlement makes that determination for each case. In cases where the child was threatened or abused in their home country, a home study is required. When a child is released to a sponsor without a home study, I do a follow-up visit within the child’s first 90 days in the home. I make sure the child is enrolled and attending school and that the sponsor has resources to establish the child in this new environment. I can also help with resources that can strengthen the relationship for both the child and the sponsor.
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How has the coronavirus changed how you do your work, especially around going into people’s homes?
The protocol has changed. Now we do interviews mostly by phone, but we do still go into homes for the home inspection.
But here’s how I see it—although the process has changed, my commitment hasn’t. In fact, my commitment is higher because the risk is higher. These kids were already vulnerable because they’re undocumented. But now with this crisis, and them being a foreign-born child in the U.S., their risk is higher. So I am even more driven to protect them, to serve them, and to give them everything I have through Bethany.
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There are a lot of unknowns with COVID-19. How is it impacting you when you don’t have a choice whether or not to go into someone’s home, when you don’t know if anyone there could expose you to the virus?
I leave my house healthy, protecting myself and my kids, but I don’t know if I will still be healthy when I come home. Even with gloves and a mask to protect myself and changing my clothes before I go inside my home, it’s risky. But my commitment to my work pushes me to continue.
The home study is the only reason I go into someone’s home. The home study, in many cases, has to happen for a waiting child to be reunited with their sponsor, which most of the time is a parent. They’re depending on me to complete the home study and inspection before they can be reunited.
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Has the coronavirus lengthened the process to reunite children with their family members?
Sometimes it does if the sponsor or someone in the home is exhibiting symptoms when I schedule the home inspection. If they test positive, then we need to wait 14 days while they’re in quarantine, and they have to be tested again and test negative. And for children, especially younger children, it’s frustrating to continue waiting because they often don’t understand what’s happening. There’s no way to comfort a child who just wants to be with their mom or dad.
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Considering the risk—not only to your health but your family’s—why do you do it? Why is it worth the risk to help these children?
Unaccompanied children are very vulnerable, and they need people to empower them. Even though they suffered a lot in their home country, they need to know there are good things to come. I’ve committed myself since Day 1. That means I put 100% of me into my work.
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