The Guatemalan-Maya Center is a port of call for thousands who find themselves new in the county and challenged by navigating the services of healthcare, education, and immigration. We are here to help not only the families, but also are frequently called upon by the institutions who find themselves unprepared and inexperienced with the cultural interpretation these populations represent as they s
eek services to acclimatize to new social and cultural norms. Over the past year, tens of thousands of children from Central and South America have been streaming through our borders in search of safety, the comfort of relatives already living in the U.S., and the chance at a new life. Palm Beach County is now home to nearly 900* children refugees who are desperate for a life free from the overwhelming fears of extreme poverty and the very real threats of violence, abuse, extortion and kidnapping. Among its complex and multi-faceted roles in supporting and empowering Palm Beach County’s most at-risk populations, the Guatemalan Maya Center has become a critical leader in family reunification. Click here to see media accounts of these children and how the Center is assisting them to build new lives and reconnect with family. The Guatemalan-Maya Center is a recognized provider of Family Reunification Safe Passages Post Release and Home Study Services Program sponsored by Migration & Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Through this program, the Office of Refugee Resettlement can refer a child to the Center for home visits with their sponsor, assistance with enrolling in school and health care services, including mental health counseling, and referrals for legal representation. This ensures a safe and stable home will be provided to the child while they adapt to a new life and family. We are excited to partner with Americans for Immigrant Justice (AIJ) whose immigration attorneys come to the Center twice a month for consultation and legal representation for children under the age of 18. They see families by appointment only and make referrals when necessary. The Guatemala-Maya Center is also working with Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and Catholic Charities for immigration support and referrals. If you or someone you know needs legal immigration services, please call our office at 561-547-0085.
