Nurturing Strong Families

Kandelia provides whole family support so immigrant and refugee families and communities can thrive. We strive to be strong and stable partners for families in their quest for academic achievement and full participation in American society.

Recently arrived immigrant and refugee families face significant language and cultural challenges in navigating their new environment. As English language learners, they confront barriers to pursuing academic opportunities for their children. They encounter hurdles to accessing resources that will help their families flourish.

We meet families where they are with culturally responsive support and services that reduce systemic barriers to opportunity. Most families we work with have children attending Seattle World School, one of only a few public schools in the country designed for newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth.

Our family programs emphasize building and maintaining positive, healthy relationships within families and between families, schools and communities. We create opportunities for individual and group learning using equitable and trauma-informed, restorative practices. We take a multi-generational approach that engages parents and youth as well as guardians, aunts and uncles, and grandparents.

Skills classes and workshops

We offer a range of classes during the school year, including English literacy and computer classes. Coursework goes beyond technical skill building to support healthy communication and positive relationship development. Families gain tools to navigate the academic system—such as using computer skills to check student grades and attendance—and to guide their children to make healthy choices.

Parent education and family self-sufficiency classes

These monthly classes address the opportunities and challenges of raising a family in a new country using a peer-learning model. 

Family support

We provide individualized case management for participants in our family programs to help them stabilize and thrive.

Kandelia is honored to coordinate our family programs in collaboration with Seattle World School and other community partners. To learn more, contact Thu Le at thu.le@kandelia.org.