We recommend you apply for 5-star Certified Welcoming
Congratulations! Based on the results of this assessment, we recommend you pursue a 5-star Certified Welcoming designation for your community.
What does it mean to be 5-star Certified Welcoming?
To earn the 5-star Certified Welcoming designation, local governments must meet the corresponding set of criteria from the Welcoming Standard.
Within the seven framework areas of the Welcoming Standard, local governments must fulfill multiple criteria based on the star designation they pursue. All criteria must be fulfilled in order to receive a star designation.
Each star designation builds on the previous star — for example, a 2-star certification requires meeting the criteria for both 1-star and 2-star.
5-star Certified Welcoming criteria
CE 1.0 - Programs support immigrants in obtaining U.S. citizenship.
CE 2.0 - Programs support eligible immigrants in voting.
CE 3.0 - Programs support immigrants in developing civic leadership skills and are accessible to speakers of languages other than English.
CE 3.1 - A program connects immigrants with local government departments and community resources with the goal of supporting immigrants in navigating and accessing these services.
CE 3.2 - The program (CE 3.1) is accessible to speakers of languages other than English.
CE 4.0 - Programs build immigrant youth leadership.
CE 4.1 - Programs address barriers to immigrant participation in public hearings and meetings.
CE 4.2 - Programs address language access needs for participation in public hearings and meetings.
CE 5.0 -Programs address barriers to immigrant participation on local government commissions and boards.
CE 5.1 - Programs address language access needs for participation in public boards and commissions.
CE 5.2 - Programs engage state and/or local election offices on barriers to voting for eligible immigrants.
CE 5.3 - Programs provide training to immigrant residents on accessing and using local government data and information.
CC 1.0 - Local government leadership does not make public statements discouraging immigration or immigrant inclusion.
CC 1.1 - There is ongoing public communication from local government leadership about its commitment to welcoming immigrants.
CC 1.2 - Local government leadership does not make public statements directly attacking individuals or groups on the basis of their immigration status, national origin, religion, ethnicity, race, gender and gender identity, ancestry, sexual orientation, or ability.
CC 1.3 - The local government participates in celebrations of immigrant cultures, customs, and beliefs.
CC 2.0 - Programs bring together immigrant and nonimmigrant residents to build relationships.
CC 2.1 - Arts and creative placemaking programs highlight the diverse artistic traditions of the community in public spaces.
CC 2.2 - Community efforts advancing immigrant inclusion are connected to broader equity work.
CC 3.0 - Local government efforts to advance immigrant inclusion are connected to and reinforce the local government’s broader equity work.
CC 4.0 -Programs that serve diverse immigrant and non-immigrant residents embed strategies to build relationships between immigrant and non-immigrant participants.
CC 4.1 - Programs work to address biases about others held by non-immigrant residents.
CC 4.2 - Programs work to address biases about others held by immigrant residents.
CC 5.0 - The local government accommodates diverse cultural and religious practices in its daily operations.
CC 5.1 - Programs resource initiatives that bring immigrant and non-immigrant residents together to identify and work on common interests or challenges.
EC 1.0 - Programs support immigrant job seekers in finding and obtaining employment.
EC 1.1 - Programs support immigrant business owners in starting, sustaining, or growing their businesses.
EC 2.0 - Programs support immigrant adults in accessing additional education to obtain the skills and degrees required to meet their employment goals.
EC 2.1 - Programs address barriers for immigrant entrepreneurs and business owners.
EC 3.0 - Local workforce agencies have information on current and projected demographic trends of the local immigrant population and the unique barriers faced by immigrant job seekers.
EC 3.1 - Programs support immigrant job seekers in communicating foreign work experience and skills for U.S. employers.
EC 3.2 - Chambers of commerce and/or economic development agencies are engaged in immigrant inclusion work.
EC 4.0 - Programs support immigrants in meeting occupational certification and/or credentialing requirements.
EC 4.1 - Programs support immigrant business owners in accessing capital to start, sustain, and grow their businesses.
EC 5.0 - Programs work with relevant state agencies to address barriers to occupational licensing for immigrant residents.
EC 5.1 - Programs work with employers to build welcoming work environments.
EC 5.2 - Programs work with employers to identify and address barriers to hiring immigrant job seekers.
EC 5.3 - Programs work with employers and immigrant employees to identify and address barriers to retaining immigrant staff.
EC 5.4 -Programs address barriers to obtaining local government procurement and contracting opportunities.
ED 1.0 - Programs address barriers to navigating local K-12 school district(s) for immigrant families.
ED 1.1 - Local K-12 school districts provide language accessible information about the school system and services available to immigrant families. ED 1.2 Programs work to address barriers to adult English language classes.
ED 2.0 - Programs support immigrant family engagement in their child’s education.
ED 2.1 - Programs support immigrant students in understanding and accessing higher education opportunities.
ED 2.2 - Programs address barriers to the adult education infrastructure for immigrant adults.
ED 3.0 - Programs train K-12 educators and staff on teaching and supporting diverse student populations, including immigrant students.
ED 3.1 - Programs support immigrant students in accessing career technical education.
ED 3.2 - K-12 schools support immigrant students that have limited or interrupted formal education to attain their educational goals.
ED 3.3 - Programs provide contextualized English language classes for adult English learners.
ED 4.0 - Programs work with K-12 schools to regularly collect feedback from immigrant families on the school environment.
ED 4.1 - Programs address barriers to participation in family engagement programs for immigrant families.
ED 4.2 - Programs address barriers to early childhood education and care for immigrant children.
ED 5.0 - K-12 schools accommodate diverse cultural and religious practices in daily operations.
ED 5.1 - Programs support immigrant students in accessing mental health services.
ED 5.2 - Programs engage the state government on expanding access to adult education programs for immigrant adults.
ED 5.3 - Programs engage the state government on expanding access to early childhood education and care programs for immigrant children.
EA 1.0 - Local government departments disseminate information on government services, resources, and public benefits with the goal of expanding access to immigrants.
EA 2.0 - Information from the local government (EA 1.0) is communicated through outreach methods that are proven to be effective in reaching immigrant residents.
EA 2.1 - Programs address barriers to immigrants accessing and navigating preventative healthcare.
EA 2.2 - Programs inform immigrants of workers’ rights.
EA 2.3 - Programs address barriers to digital inclusion for immigrant residents.
EA 3.0 - Information from the local government (EA 1.0) is provided in languages other than English.
EA 3.1 - Programs address barriers to immigrants accessing immigration legal services.
EA 3.2 - Programs address barriers to immigrants accessing and navigating maternal and infant healthcare.
EA 4.0 - Programs address barriers to immigrants accessing and navigating mental health services.
EA 4.1 - Programs address barriers to accessing rental housing for immigrants.
EA 4.2 - Local mobility planning efforts address the needs and priorities of immigrant residents.
EA 4.3 - Programs address barriers to immigrants in accessing civil legal services.
EA 5.0 - Information from the local government (EA 1.0) is proactively written and designed with translation the diversity of residents in mind.
EA 5.1 - Programs address barriers to homeownership for immigrants.
EA 5.2 - Programs work with the state government and/or regional transit authorities on expanding access to transportation, including addressing the needs and priorities of immigrant residents.
EA 5.3 - Programs provide training to those in the legal system on the potential impact of criminal convictions on residents with different immigration statuses.
GL 1.0 - The local government has one or more staff positions whose responsibilities include advancing immigrant inclusion.
GL 1.1 - The local government has a process in place to ensure regular communication with immigrant residents.
GL 1.2 - Public libraries implement an immigrant inclusion strategy.
GL 2.0 -The local government leadership has an immigrant inclusion strategy for its departments and agencies.
GL 2.1 - A group of local leaders and residents regularly convenes to advance immigrant inclusion efforts.
GL 2.2 - Participants of the group advancing immigrant inclusion (GL 2.1) reflect the diversity of the community in demographics, constituencies, and sectors.
GL 2.3 - The group advancing immigrant inclusion (GL 2.1) has a process in place to ensure regular bidirectional communication with immigrant communities.
GL 2.4 - The group (GL 2.1) informs local government staff and is able to provide direct feedback on issues impacting and priorities of the immigrant community.
GL 2.5 - Local recreational programs implement an immigrant inclusion strategy.
GL 3.0 - Local government departments know the demographics of the immigrant population and have access to tools to serve these residents.*
GL 3.1 - The local government has a language access policy that includes interpretation and translation protocols for all externally facing government departments.*
GL 3.2 - The local government provides regular training to its staff about language access requirements, available resources to provide meaningful language access, and working with speakers of languages other than English.*
GL 3.3 - The local government regularly assesses language access needs and usage across departments in order to improve each department’s ability to conduct business in languages other than English.*
GL 4.0 - A community-wide strategy for immigrant inclusion is set through a feedback process including immigrant and non-immigrant residents representing the diversity in the community.
GL 4.1 - There is a process in place to regularly update the strategy (GL 4.0) with feedback from immigrant and non-immigrant residents.
GL 4.2 - Local government departments annually set and monitor goals for immigrant inclusion informed by the needs of immigrant residents and the community-wide strategy (GL 4.0).*
GL 5.0 - Local government departments have programs that build relationships with immigrant residents.*
GL 5.1 - Local government departments have programs that address the needs and priorities of immigrant residents.*
GL 5.2 - Local government departments receive training on working with diverse populations, including immigrants.
GL 5.3 - Programs engage regional jurisdictions on adopting and implementing welcoming policies and programs across the region.
GL 5.4 - The local housing authority implements an immigrant inclusion strategy.
SC 1.0 - Local law enforcement agencies have programs in place to build trust and mutual understanding with immigrant communities and immigrant-serving organizations.
SC 1.1 - Local law enforcement agencies do not have policies in place where the primary purpose is to detain or deport immigrants.
SC 2.0 - Programs inform immigrants of their rights and responsibilities when interacting with local law enforcement and the legal system.
SC 2.1 - Programs inform immigrants of their rights and responsibilities when interacting with immigration enforcement and the detention system.
SC 2.2 - Local law enforcement agencies have programs to ensure regular communication with immigrant residents.
SC 2.3 - Programs connect immigrant victims and witnesses of crime with community resources.
SC 3.0 - Law enforcement staff receive regular training, over the course of their career, on working with diverse residents, including immigrants.
SC 3.1 - A policy is in place that clarifies the jurisdiction and separation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement agencies.
SC 3.2 - Local emergency management agencies have a plan to inform immigrants of community emergencies, and that plan includes communication methods that are effective in reaching speakers of languages other than English.
SC 4.0 - Local emergency notification platforms are available in languages other than English.
SC 4.1 - The local government has a process in place to identify the priorities and goals of immigrant residents for creating a safer community.
SC 5.0 - Local law enforcement has one or more staff positions whose responsibilities include advancing immigrant inclusion.
SC 5.1 -Law enforcement agencies publicly share data on arrests, jail population, use of deadly force, resident complaints, and language access usage and disaggregate this data by race, ethnicity, gender, and geography.
Next steps to certify your community
Once you’re ready to become Certified Welcoming, learn more about the process, costs, and other considerations on our website.
Please print or save this page for future reference. If you plan to pursue certification, get started by taking one of the following actions:
Want to achieve a different star designation?
Achieving any Certified Welcoming star designation is a major accomplishment. However, if you feel your community qualifies for a different star designation, review the criteria your community needs to meet for each star designation in our guide, Become a Welcoming Community: Guide to Achieving the Certified Welcoming Designation Under the Welcoming Standard Version 2.0.
Please email us at certified@welcomingamerica.org if you'd like to discuss your results.
