The International Institute of New England Hires Leah Jacobs Varo as its Unaccompanied Children’s Program Director  

BOSTON – November 1, 2024 – The International Institute of New England (IINE), one of the region’s longest-established nonprofits serving refugees and immigrants, has announced the hiring of Leah Jacobs Varo as the new director of its Unaccompanied Children’s Program.  

With a master’s degree in social work and a deep passion for healthcare and immigration policy, Leah has spent her career advocating for child welfare. As the Unaccompanied Children’s Program Director, Leah will oversee a team focused on helping to reunify hundreds of children each year seeking refuge from violence, poverty, and political instability in Central America with their U.S.-based families. Working throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and the New York Metro area, IINE connects children, some as young as two years old, with mental and physical health services and school and youth programs, helps them find an attorney to secure legal protections, and provides critical support and trauma-informed care as they begin to recover from past experiences and family separation. 

From 2018-2021, Leah worked at IINE as a family support specialist before being promoted to regional supervisor. She most recently worked at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) in Washington, D.C. as a regional supervisor of the Unaccompanied Minors Home Study and Post-Release Services Program, overseeing a team of caseworkers.  

“In recent years, our Unaccompanied Children’s Program has grown substantially, now serving more than 900 children every year,” said IINE President and CEO Jeff Thielman. “We are thrilled to have Leah rejoin our organization during such a pivotal period. Her expertise and dedication will be critical as we create safety for more children in need than ever before.”  

“Coming back to IINE is like coming home,” said Leah. “I am humbled by the incredible passion and drive of the caseworkers, and I look forward to sharing my own experiences to continue to grow our team and the number of children and families we are able to help.” 

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND

The International Institute of New England (IINE) creates opportunities for refugees and immigrants to succeed through resettlement, education, career advancement and pathways to citizenship. With locations in Boston and Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire, IINE serves more than 20,000 individuals annually, including people displaced by political instability, violence, and climate crises, child and adult survivors of human trafficking, and unaccompanied children joining family members in New England. IINE offers a comprehensive range of programs and services to help newcomers feel welcome; achieve stability and security; access resources in their new communities; advance their education and employment goals; and integrate into their communities. IINE’s expertise builds on more than a century of service and accomplishes its mission in partnership with community groups, stakeholders, and supporters throughout New England.