Immigrants and their children are a vital part of Connecticut’s present and its future. Comprising 15 percent of the state's residents, immigrants have driven all population and workforce growth over the last decade and a half. In addition, about 30 percent of Connecticut children are part of immigrant families. Most immigrants in the state, as in the country overall, are successful and self-sufficient. However, many face periodic economic challenges, and most immigrants can benefit from integration support in their first several years in the United States.

With an eye to the state’s future vitality, this report focuses on key state policies and services that aim to support upward mobility for all Connecticut families, examining ways in which they meet the needs of low-income immigrants and their children and how they might more effectively do so.

Drawing on interviews with state and local actors, the study considers the following issue areas: adult education and workforce development, housing, low-wage workers, health care and social assistance, small businesses, immigration legal services, K-12 education, and early childhood services. The study also highlights opportunities to improve statewide coordination on immigrant integration and immigration policy issues.