SETTLEMENT SERVICES IN CANADA Jennifer York, Senior Manager Settlement Services Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia
AGENDA Introduction to Canadian Immigration and Resettlement of Refugees Introduction to Settlement Services for Permanent Residents Key Learnings, Guiding Principles and Best Practices Challenges Questions
ABOUT ISSOFBC Created in 1968 by volunteers and incorporated in 1972 in direct response to the Ismailis fleeing East Africa First immigrant serving agency in BC and one of the largest multicultural, immigrant serving agencies in Canada o Pioneered settlement services, host program and refugee reception in BC (3 rd refugee resettlement centre in Canada) Serve over 25,000 clients per year in over 45 languages Over 16 primary locations; 20 secondary locations (e.g. staff deployment) 500 staff and over 800 volunteers Both a charity and NGO Board of Directors selected from www.issbc.org broader community
ISSOFBC SERVICES ISSofBC Settlement Services Language and Career Services Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Settlement Services Employment LINC Language and Career College
ISSOFBC SETTLEMENT SERVICES Settlement Services Resettlement Assistance Program Settlement Services and Programs Moving Ahead Program Settlement Others Settlement SOS Employment VAST Community Connections Specialized populations
ISSOFBC EMPLOYMENT AND LANGUAGE SERVICES Language and Career Services Employment LINC LCC ** **social enterprise Pre-arrivals Pre-literacy WorkBC LINC Levels Child minding available at some locations Employment programs eg Job Success LINC for Employment Employer Solutions * * note: works with employers on hiring immigrants and refugees
CANADA S IMMIGRANT PROGRAM Economic Immigrants Business Immigrants Family Sponsorship Caregivers Skills Immigrants Investors Spouse, partner or dependent children Caring for Children Provincial Nominees Start-Up Parents or Grandparents Caring for High Medical Needs Quebec Selected Skilled Workers Self-employed Adopted Children or Other Eligible Relatives Live-in Caregivers http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/eligibility.asp
CANADA S REFUGEE PROGRAM Privately Sponsored Refugee (PSR) Blended Office Referral (BVOR) Government Assisted Refugee (GAR) Refugee Claimant (RCs) Private Sponsor Support (12 months) Federal Government Support (6 months) Federal Government Support (12 months) May be eligible for Provincial Social Assistance Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) / Constituent Group / Community Sponsor / Group of 5 Private Sponsor (6 months) Subcontracted to a Settlement Service Provider Organization via the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Navigates Refugee Determination Process and Settlement simultaneously Eligible for IRCC funded settlement, language or employment services Eligible for IRCC funded settlement, language or employment services Eligible for IRCC funded settlement, language or employment services Eligible for BC funded Settlement and Integration Services Convention refugee status granted overseas Inland Claim
SETTLEMENT PROGRAM FUNDERS IN CANADA The Government of Canada, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has jurisdiction over the national immigration system including refugee resettlement. Quebec is able have its own selection criteria on selecting potential immigrants Some provincial governments provide additional funding and resources for areas that are not covered by IRCC Additional grants and funding to provide services for immigrants and refugees can be applied for with the municipal governments, foundations, charities and private donors With ISSofBC, our Language and Career College is social enterprise and impacts our earning capacity
Low Level of Support High A range of programs offering different levels of support Refugees: Resettlement Assistance Program, Settlement Crisis Support, Vulnerable Populations (MAP) Program Specialized Programs: Women s, Youth, Seniors Settlement Program: Settlement, Employment and Community Connections Broad Client Group Targeted
SETTLEMENT SERVICES FOR NEWCOMERS
NEEDS ASSESSMENT Key tool in all programs Assess client needs, challenges, strengths and goals May take place all at once or over a few sessions, depending on the client www.issbc.org
www.issbc.org PERSONALIZED SETTLEMENT PLAN Occurs after immediate needs have been met Provide individualized support, referrals and case management appropriate to their level of need as identified in the Needs Assessment Outlines a strategy to achieve settlement success based on identified needs and available services / community supports Monitored on subsequent visits to measure client progress, assess the need for additional support/referral, and ensure programs are meeting client needs.
WORKSHOPS Pre-organized and advertised workshops Usually 2 hours in length, offered evenings and weekends Topics identified by front-line staff depending on needs within their community Taxation Rights and Freedoms Housing Health and Insurance Family and Parenting www.issbc.org
SHORT COURSES / PROGRAMS Targeted recruitment and retention May be general or targeted (e.g. age / gender / empl) Length of program varies: 3-6 sessions (e.g. Citizenship Test Preparation, Job Search, Computer Literacy) 10-16 weeks (e.g. Youth, Women s Training and Support Groups) Established curriculum but flexibility to ensure topics are appropriate to client needs Provide information, as well asthe opportunity to enhance skills through group participation and practice www.issbc.org
MENTORING AND PEER SUPPORT Purpose is to match long-term residents with newcomers May be employment/occupational or settlement specific Opportunity to obtain additional support, practice English, expand social / employment network www.issbc.org
FIELD TRIPS Provides opportunity to make connections to Canadian society, increase familiarity with local resources and practice English while participating in social, educational or recreational activities City Hall Hockey Night in Canada Chinese New Years Celebration Canada Day Celebration www.issbc.org
SETTLEMENT SERVICES www.issbc.org
ISSOFBC S APPROACH Programming must be responsive to settlement patterns Services should be near to where clients reside (eg faith based outreach/staff deployment) Culture and Language (provided via first language) Age and stage Gender (including LGTBQ) Our organizational wide service database enables us to tell a more complete story of our collective services & impact Engagement of civil society in our services increases our ability to fulfil our mission
ISSOFBC: GUIDING PRINCIPLES One Stop Shop o Locate services in same office or in close proximity to minimize extent to which clients must travel between offices o An integrated approach to overall service delivery at an organization level ensures client needs are met in a holistic manner Ensure services are accessible o Provide services as close to where newcomers live as possible, in buildings that are accessible and close to transit o Provide supports eg childminding and transportation supports, evenings/weekends) o Services in first language One size does not fit all o Offer a range of services and delivery formats to meet diverse needs o The migration experience (eg immigrant vs refugee) impacts service needs and approaches
ISSOFBC: GUIDING PRINCIPLES Responsive and flexible o Ensure programming is responsive to changing client needs, and able to respond when new needs or communities arise (eg through deployment) Client Centered and Capacity Building o Work to support clients in becoming self-sufficient through doing things with, not for, clients. Avoid unhealthy dependency. o Increased emphasis on settlement and integration as a process o Building capacity of newcomers to understand, adjust and connect to, feel accepted and fully participate in a new society
ISSOFBC: GUIDING PRINCIPLES Collaboration and Partnerships o Avoid duplication of services through partnerships and collaborative relationships o ISSofBC can t do it all alone leveraging other expertise and resources through partnerships and collaborations o Development of long-term strategic relations with media outlets helps to enhance our mission o Development of a comprehensive approach to newcomer labour market attachment necessitates engaging with employers o Collaborative academic research enhances policy and program development Continuous Service Quality Evaluation o For services to be effective there is a need to ensure continuous service quality evaluation o Consultation with the various client groups
CHALLENGES Time consuming data collection Lack of data to better determine funding and service needs Secondary migration Privately Sponsored Refugees Passive policy means some clients fall through the cracks Administration multiple funders Lack of consistency in funding Lack of specialized first language primary and mental health care (eg with the Syrians and other groups)
GOAL: CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP Age Length of stay Language French or English Knowledge of Canada
WELCOME CENTRE (HTTP://ISSBC.ORG/WELCOMECENTRE/) Video on Welcome Centre
www.issbc.org Helping immigrants build a future in Canada Thank you!