Fostering Sense of Belonging Among Immigrants and Refugees in Local Communities: A Stakeholder-Informed Approach

Background

Stakeholders, such as community leaders, service providers, and policymakers, have firsthand knowledge of the local context, including cultural dynamics, social norms, and institutional structures. They are often directly involved in crafting and executing programs and policies to support immigrants and refugees in local spaces. Engaging stakeholders promotes community ownership and empowerment, as their active participation in identifying barriers and solutions enhances their commitment to implementing changes and advocating for the needs of immigrant and refugee populations. We engaged local stakeholders in a midwestern U.S. city to harness their combined strengths and capabilities to garner contextually relevant solutions to foster a sense of belonging in the local community. We aimed to formulate strategic priorities for providing culturally responsive services and identify solutions to foster a sense of belonging and seamless integration of immigrants and refugees.

Methods

Our study is part of a larger transformative multi-level mixed methods research project grounded in a community-based participatory research approach. Using a multi-stakeholder perspective, we created a stakeholder framework comprised of seven categories: the public, policymakers and governments, the research community, practitioners and professionals, human service providers, civil society organizations, and private businesses. Qualitative data was collected through five 90-minute virtual focus group discussions, which were video recorded and transcribed verbatim. A total of 18 stakeholder members (60% female and 40% male) participated in these focus groups. Utilizing a framework analysis, a systematic approach to qualitative data analysis using a structured framework, data analysis followed five key phases: data familiarization, thematic framework identification, indexing and charting, mapping and interpretation, and summarizing and reporting. We used NVivo to code the data into an identified framework with five key concepts: belonging, barriers and facilitators, services, inclusion, and solutions. We employed a concept-mapping technique, a solution-oriented analysis method that visually represents relationships between ideas or concepts, to derive recommendations.

Findings

Participants emphasized the need to foster a sense of belonging among immigrant and refugee groups to shift away from surviving to a thriving culture. Six solution-focused themes emerged: (1) Building a sense of belonging is building a sense of community; (2) Fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion through multi-level local community support; (3) Breaking barriers: moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach; (4) Empowering immigrant Integration through systemic support; (5) Overcoming restrictive funding practices through cross-agency collaboration, and (6) Building positive narratives: shaping policies and practices.

Conclusion

Our study is not only a collection of findings, but a call to action. It underscores the need for enhanced coordination and collaboration in the service delivery system, with local government and philanthropic organizations playing pivotal roles in fostering immigrant inclusion efforts. Findings emphasize that fostering belonging requires a strong community ethos, necessitating culturally responsive support for diverse needs and capacities. Overcoming funding obstacles through cross-agency partnerships and promoting positive narratives are challenges, but also opportunities for shaping inclusive policies and practices, fostering social cohesion, and promoting inclusivity. Our study provides a stakeholder-informed approach to culturally responsive services for immigrants and refugees, offering a roadmap for their inclusion in resettlement spaces.