This participatory project will engage immigrant advocates and frontline workers to examine how the narratives in Massachusetts affect immigrant families' access to basic rights and essential services, such as healthcare, nutrition, and housing. Many immigrants encounter exclusionary attitudes rooted in scarcity-driven or discriminatory narratives, creating barriers to services for which they are eligible even in immigrant-friendly policy environments. By analyzing these narratives through a multilevel lens and working to replace them with evidence-based counter-narratives , this research aims to develop strategies that make public services more accessible, creating equitable opportunities for immigrant communities.
Research Questions
- How do exclusionary narratives from frontline workers affect immigrant access to public benefits?
- What narrative shifts or policy adaptations can improve immigrant inclusion and service access?
- How do community narratives shape immigrant experiences in accessing public resources?
The project aims to provide practical insights for policymakers and service providers to foster more inclusive and equitable access to essential services for immigrant populations.