ABSTRACT
In recent years there has been increasing interest on the part of social scientists in the study of immigrant groups, organizations and service providers. In this chapter, I address two specific theoretical and empirical gaps in the literature on immigration and organizations. First, I discuss factors related to the development of immigrant organizations and present the main characteristics of immigrant groups, organizations and service providers in New York City. Second, I examine the functions that these organizations have in four areas of the migration process: the development, management and maintenance of networks; the provision of social services to immigrant children and families; the articulation of needs and the development and management of community resources; and the maintenance of ties and connections to the countries and communities of origin.
