Supporting families in a dynamic immigration policy environment
Horizons began assessing and planning to support families that may be impacted by the new immigration policies in late 2024. While Horizons’ commitment to children and families remains unchanged, the environment in which our families are living is changing, and so our practices have adjusted too. The Family Partnerships team has adopted a four-pronged approach for moving their basis of knowledge about immigration support forward beginning with staff training. Additional services for parents were also implemented including:
- • Parent information sessions
- • Individual consultations, and
- • Mental and emotional wellbeing support for those vulnerable to policy changes
Recognizing the Family Partnerships staff needed additional information, they participated in a “Know Your Rights” training presented by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. Topics covered included:
- • Rights in interactions with immigration enforcement, including when immigration comes to your home or stops you while driving
- • Family preparedness in case of detainment
- • Where to get legal help for legal representation
- • Information on fraud and immigration scams
They also participated in an “Immigration 101” seminar which provided valuable insights on various ways individuals enter the United States and the types of status and options they may acquire as a result. The session was conducted by Julio Henríquez, a human rights and immigration attorney who is also a member of Horizons’ Advisory Council.
To support parent immigration education, the Family Partnerships team partnered with Greater Boston Legal Services to bring an in-person “Know Your Rights” training to parents in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. In addition, GBLS provides one-to-one consultations to parents with complex immigration cases. By partnering with the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Family Clinic, they were also able to offer mental and emotional health support to groups and individuals. The team also created “Family Preparedness Packets” which help families consider their emergency plans in case of detainment so that families feel more knowledgeable and prepared.
As this work continues to evolve, we are committed to continuing to provide a high-quality learning experience to the children we serve each day and a safe and supportive environment for our families.
