Building Trust with Immigrant and Refugee Families: Spreading and Adapting 2Gen Working Practices

How can service organizations build trust with immigrant families, and what positive results can come from trusting relationships? This brief explores two-generation (2Gen) practices—interventions that work with both parents and children—that aim to build trust with immigrant families. Several broad strategies arose from survey results, interviews, webinars, and peer advising and learning convenings: to build trust, many of the best 2Gen service organizations are intentionally hiring and retaining culturally competent staff and creating welcoming and safe spaces to meet and work with immigrant families.

This brief is part of a set of four by the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, Migration Policy Institute, and Higher Heights Consulting that explore 2Gen working practices that serve immigrant and refugee families. The others look at approaches to serving families with different immigration statuses, overcoming language barriers, and developing cultural competencies.