IDENTIFY A CARETAKER

If you could be detained or deported, you should speak with a trusted family member/friend (over 18 years of age) to see if he/she will act as a standby guardian in case you are detained or deported.

If there are two people whom you want to name as standby guardians, name one as first and the second as an alternate.  This creates more safety for your children in case the first person becomes ill or is unable to care for them and allows the second person to step in and care for your children without having to sign more forms.

After you and the standby guardian(s) have completed and signed the Parental Designation and Consent to Beginning of Standby Guardianship Form (the Form) be sure that the standby guardian(s) have a completed copy and instruct them to keep it in a safe place.

Also give the standby guardian(s) copies of your children’s birth certificates as well as each parent’s full legal name, date of birth, country of origin and Alien number (if the parent has one).  This information will allow the standby guardian to locate you on the ICE Online Detainee Locator.

Discuss with the standby guardian(s) important concerns related to your children’s care, such as where they will attend school, whether they have any medications or treatments that are ongoing, educational needs, child care providers, the child’s primary medical provider and contact information of other professionals who provide services to the child.

If your child is old enough to understand, sit down with your child and explain your safety plan and the name of the person you have chosen to act as standby guardian.  Give the child the cell phone number(s) of the standby guardian(s) and tell him to keep them in a safe place.

Go over the Safety Planning Tools provided below and fill them out.