La Jornada

Our La Jornada program provides services to unaccompanied children and youth from around the world. Those we serve have faced extreme deprivation and hardship including violence and human trafficking. They need caring, reliable adults to keep them safe and help them navigate their transition to the next step on their journey. Children and youth served in our La Jornada program are in desperate need of safety, refuge, medical care, education, legal assistance, and a chance to acculturate and flourish. 

NYAP offers three different programs designed to keep unaccompanied children and youth safe, reunite them with family or a family friend when possible, and help them get a head start on their new life. Our programs include Transitional Foster Care, Long-Term Foster Care, and Home Study/Post Release.

Contact Us

  • 855-JORNADA (567-6232)

  • lajornada@nyap.org

La Jornada has a presence in all 50 states and US territories.

Open your heart and home.
Become a certified NYAP foster parent today.

By becoming a foster parent, you have the power to shape their journey positively. Many of these children have faced immense trauma and challenges. NYAP is here, hand in hand with them, as a guiding force and partner.

La Jornada Foster Parent Qualifications

While foster parents are just as unique as the children and youth they care for, the most important qualifications to become a foster parent include the ability to provide a safe, loving, and nurturing home.

Foster parents may be single, married, or cohabitating couples. Prospective foster parents must be willing to participate in an in-depth home study process and work collaboratively with the licensing team to demonstrate they are:

  • Bilingual individuals, 21 years of age or older

  • In good physical and mental health.

  • Financially stable and secure.

  • Able to provide adequate physical space in their home to ensure a child or youth's privacy and comfort.

  • Able to provide positive references.

  • Willing to complete background checks.

  • Willing to engage in pre-service training.

  • Willing to work with multiple NYAP team members including educators, therapists, case managers, and medical professionals.


National Youth Advocate Program deeply values and is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and seeks and welcomes a diverse community of foster parents. Additional qualifications can vary by state.