The vision
Strong 21st Century communities are ones that connect and include people of all backgrounds. By doing so, communities - and those who live there - will meet their highest civic and economic potential. As places look to harness the vibrancy that comes from diverse talent and a more global workforce, welcoming and inclusive communities will set themselves apart.
Smart local government leaders across the country are already working to gain this competitive edge. Certified Welcoming provides an exciting new avenue for measuring, promoting, guiding, and validating these efforts.
Distinguish your community
Communities that meet the Welcoming Standard earn the title of Certified Welcoming and will build competitive advantage. They also will have opportunities to share their welcoming practices on regional, national, and global stages.
The Welcoming Standard
Through the Welcoming Standard, we have captured the core of what it means to be welcoming. Developed in collaboration with diverse experts including Welcoming Cities and Counties, and with input from the public at large, the Standard provides a comprehensive roadmap for immigrant inclusion. The Welcoming Standard addresses a range of essential components, from language access to hiring practices and more.
Beyond traditional immigrant integration strategies, the Welcoming Standard also includes practices for fostering greater unity between immigrants and U.S. born residents. The Welcoming Standard is organized according to our framework categories:
- Government Leadership
- Civic Engagement
- Equitable Access
- Education
- Connected Communities
- Economic Development
- Safe Communities
Explore the Welcoming Standard
Certification process
The certification process formally evaluates and assesses your community’s efforts to provide an inclusive place for all. Candidates submit an application; complete a self-assessment; and receive an evaluative site visit and a detailed final report that identifies local strengths and provides a roadmap for areas of growth.
Wondering if your city or county is ready to become Certified Welcoming? Take our quick pre-assessment test to find out where your community stands!
1. Submit
Application
2. Complete
Self-Assessment
3. Complete
Audit
4. Receive
Report
Apply to be Certified
Who can apply
The Certified Welcoming program is accepting city and county government applicants. Partners, such as nonprofits, can contribute to the process at any stage, including completing the application, contributing to the self-assessment, and being consultants during the site visit.
Cost
Application fee: $100 (nonrefundable and applied to certification fee)
Certification fee: $12,000 $6,000 - Discounted for 2018!
Certification Scholarship
To support certification in communities where the fee may be a barrier to accessing the full benefits of becoming Certified Welcoming, Welcoming America has created a scholarship program for local governments. The scholarship is currently closed. Please check back for additional information or contact us at [email protected] to learn more.
Certification timeline
Certificates are valid for three years. To maintain certification, local governments will need to show continued leadership on immigrant inclusion, momentum to meet Standard implementation, and complete an audit before the certificate expires.