New York officials on Friday launched an effort to help immigrants transition to life in the United States with help for furthering their education and joining the workforce. 

The New York State Institute for Immigrant Integration Research & Policy will be housed within the Rockefeller Institute of Government, a think tank for the State University of New York. 

At the same time, an advisory board of community leaders will help set policy for aiding immigrants who come to the U.S. 

"New York is built on the hard work and determination of generations of immigrants, and this Institute will work to improve the lives of those who are trying to build better lives for themselves and their families," Gov. Kathy Hochul said. "By clearing the boundaries for new New Yorkers, we can help to better integrate them into the New York community and access the New York Dream."

The leaders of the new institute will study ways of helping newly arrived residents learn English, help their kids at a new school and find affordable housing as well as employment. 

"I am proud to have led the effort to create this institute, which will focus on helping better shape policies that will improve the social, economic, and political integration of our state's large and growing immigrant communities," said state Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz. "SUNY's vast resources of talent and experts in related fields is a promise of excellent research and policy recommendations that will improve the lives of all New Yorkers."

Hochul last year approved legislation that was meant to boost protections for immigrants, making threats to report a person's immigration status part of extortion or coercion under state law. 

New York's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance previously settled 900 refugees last year from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Afghanistan and Burma.