By 1944, Chinese participation in the Allied war effort changed American attitudes. Policy, as a result, moved in their favor, enabling Chinese who had been living in the United States for years to naturalize. In response, International Institute staff assisted Chinese wives of Americans citizens and Chinese mothers of American citizens to become citizens themselves. Insisting on equitable interpretation of these new derivative citizenship laws, International Institute advocated for family reunion for all people, regardless of their national origin. Furthermore, in 1946, the International Institute began to offer assistance, activities, and a social network for the large number of Japanese war brides who were settling in the area with their American husbands. Many of these women experienced isolation and confusion as they attempted to understand their new roles in a foreign cultural context. The Institute offered a haven for these newcomers, and the group stayed together for over ten years, raising their families and learning about their new land, side-by-side.