In 2021, Ashleigh co-led the team at Coforma to develop a highly-effective website and registration form to help thousands of individuals reunite with their families after being separated by the Zero Tolerance immigration policy.
The Problem: Family Separation During a Humanitarian Crisis
From 2017 to 2021, the U.S. government’s Zero-Tolerance Policy on immigration unjustly and indefinitely separated thousands of families from various nationalities and backgrounds at the U.S.-Mexico border. This humanitarian crisis left families without the means to find, contact, or reunite with their loved ones.
“The practice of separating families at the southwest border was shameful.”
The Team and Goal: Family Reunification
In February 2021, President Biden established the President’s Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families, comprising members from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice. The Task Force had two primary goals:
“Identify all children who were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021, due to the Zero-Tolerance Policy.”
“Facilitate the reunification of these identified children with their families to the greatest extent possible.”
The Task Force aimed to create comprehensive and compassionate strategies to reunite families and provide necessary services and support. Their vision included creating a clear and accessible process for eligible parents, guardians, and children to register and receive assistance in reuniting with their loved ones.
Coforma, co-owned by Ashleigh Axios, collaborated closely with DHS and the Task Force to develop the Together.gov and Juntos.gov websites, application forms, and various subcomponents, bringing this mission to life.
The Approach
Under Ashleigh’s executive leadership and in collaboration with the Task Force, Coforma developed a user-friendly and impactful website, together.gov, along with an online registration form. This multi-language platform enabled thousands of individuals to begin the process of reconnecting with their families and accessing essential support services.
Coforma built a minimum viable product (MVP) using the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS). The team crafted a comprehensive content strategy, designed user-friendly interfaces, translated content into Spanish and Portuguese, and incorporated audio translations in four indigenous languages to maximize accessibility. Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of families and varying levels of literacy—both digital and otherwise—we addressed these needs throughout the project. Our iterative approach fostered collaboration with Task Force members, key stakeholders, and project partners, ensuring user feedback informed ongoing improvements. We tested prototypes of the site and registration form with real users, leading to enhancements aimed at better assisting families and advocates.
“The site is very friendly, easy to understand and navigate; it even tells you how long it’ll take to hear back after you register. it’s in Spanish even, which is one of the most important things.”
Multi-Language Access
We developed the site content in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, adding audio controls in M'am, K'iche, Q'eqchi', Q'anjob'al, Portuguese, and Spanish. This design ensured maximum accessibility for a broad audience.
Clear and Legally Compliant
Coforma employed plain language best practices to ensure clarity and ease of use while meeting all legal requirements. The registration form accommodated multiple last names, alternative date formats, and approximate dates instead of exact ones to work well across cultures.
Crafted for Approachability
We intentionally designed the system—including illustrations, iconography, colors, and typography—to foster trust between users and the government while keeping the primary purpose—family reunification—at the forefront.
Safe and Secure
We built the website with robust security features, prioritizing accessibility for mobile users with limited or inconsistent bandwidth while ensuring the safety of sensitive personal information. The site achieved an impressive Lighthouse accessibility rating of 98, reflecting our commitment to user accessibility.
Initial Results
“Since the launch of the Task Force websites, Together.gov and Juntos.gov, 768 potentially eligible families have registered with the Task Force. Of those families, approximately 429 separated children have been referred to receive assistance in obtaining reunification support services. ”
COMPANY
Coforma
CLIENT
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Family Reunification Task Force
START
July 2021
LAUNCH
September 2021
TEAM
COFORMA
Ashleigh Axios: executive counsel
Monica Bassi: project manager
Andrew Bergeron: UX designer
Jared Cunha: front-end developer
Angela Hopkins: content strategist
Yoni Knoll: front-end developer
Eduardo Ortiz: executive counsel
Cecilia Ramirez: content translator (spanish)
PARTNERS
Eighty2degrees
Techflow