Home Visiting as a Bridge: Supporting Immigrant and Refugee Families Through Transition and Growth
This study explores how home visiting programs can provide immigrant and refugee families with consistent, culturally responsive support as they navigate early parenting and resettlement in a new country. Through interviews and program data from families across Illinois, the research reveals how home visiting helps families build stability, engage in their children’s development, and strengthen their sense of belonging and agency.
What We Did
Researchers from Chapin Hall and the University of Chicago Crown Family School partnered with Baby TALK, a statewide home visiting network, and the Refugee Wellness Lab, which studies the mental health outcomes of diverse communities with different immigration statuses, to assess how services supported immigrant and refugee families between 2021 and 2024. The team gathered:
- program data from nearly 1,000 families across 9 Baby TALK sites,
- developmental screening data for 1,501 children, and
- interviews with 35 participants, including program directors, home visitors, and parents.
The study examined implementation practices, family engagement, and outcomes related to child development, parent well-being, and resource connection.
Watch a video about this research:
What We Found
- Language and cultural diversity: Families represented 24 languages/dialects, with English, Spanish, and Arabic being the most common. Baby TALK home visiting successfully served this diverse group of families.
- Shifting needs over time: In the first 6 months, families prioritized basic needs (food, clothing, medical care). Over time, needs shifted toward English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, employment support, and immigration services.
- Child development monitoring: Over 91% of children met developmental milestones, while 9% were referred for early intervention, reflecting the program’s strength in early identification, reflecting the program’s strength in early identification.
- Trust-based relationships: Home visitors played a central role in fostering trust, often becoming the most consistent support in families’ lives.
- Family empowerment: Parents gained confidence, knowledge, and skills to advocate for their children’s development and education.
- Culturally responsive practices: Home visitors adapted strategies to honor families’ cultural values, routines, and parenting beliefs.
- Addressing isolation and trauma: Families reported emotional support from home visitors helped them manage the stress of resettlement and parenting in a new country.
- Building long-term belonging: Home visiting helped families envision a future rooted in independence, cultural identity, and community connection.
What It Means
The study highlights the critical role home visiting programs can play in supporting resettled families through major life transitions. As U.S. communities become increasingly diverse, expanding access to culturally responsive home visiting services can promote stability and equip families with tools to nurture their children’s development.
Practitioners need trauma-informed, culturally attuned training to meet families where they are emotionally, linguistically, and socially. Researchers can build on this foundation by examining the long-term impact of home visiting on parent mental health, family self-sufficiency, and child outcomes. These combined efforts can strengthen children’s development and ease families’ integration into life in the United States.
Want to learn more about this research? Contact Aimee Hilado (learn more about her here) or Reiko Kakuyama-Villaber.
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