The Lexington School for the Deaf provides wraparound family services including free American Sign Language classes and assistance navigating the health, legal and shelter systems, particularly for immigrant families. The gaps immigrant families face in accessing necessary services creates psychological distress, especially for children. But research shows community-based supports, like The Lexington School, help address those gaps and improve mental health outcomes.

The basketball academy in Queens teaches basketball and English language skills to Spanish-speaking immigrant children. The academy helps youth navigate culture shock, bullying and the lack of community they may feel when they first arrive in the country, while ensuring they still maintain a sense of their parents’ language and culture.

The Kupalinka theater school is a space for adult and children refugees from Belarus and Ukraine to gather to learn how to run a theater and perform for the community. Theater classes help keep the culture and native languages of their homelands alive. The theater also provides a safe space for fun, creativity and connection, helping refugees manage the stress and grief of fleeing home.

"The Nest" in Tijuana is a space for migrant children to relax and be themselves during a very stressful time. "The Nest" was established by the Pedagogical Institute of Los Angeles and sits across the street from a shelter where many of their students live. Parents and other migrants also benefit from the space which they describe as stress-relieving.

The Poetry Project provides a platform for young refugees to create poetry, share their stories, and learn about German culture. The initiative started with weekly meetings for 7 young refugees to workshop poetry about the refugee experience, including leaving loved ones, why they left, and how they feel in their new home country. Their live performances have won prizes and their audiences respond emotionally. The group’s success allowed it to expand to more participants and reach a wider audience. The experience helped some participants integrate more smoothly into German society, where they have thrived.

Migrants fleeing their homes in search of safety are finding refuge in nature. A Chicago nonprofit, REACH, is helping refugee families “find community, support, and confidence via wilderness adventures.” Wilderness experiences are providing recreation and the therapeutic effects of nature.