A mdel-based framewrk fr measurement f resettlement utcmes in Ontari 1
CONTEXT Ontari has been a Canadian leader at the frefrnt f natinal effrts t resettle the Syrian refugee chrt. Between Nvember 2015 and March 2017, Ontari cmmunities welcmed refugees at an unprecedented level. Apprximately 26,400 refugees frm all areas f the wrld resettled in Ontari. T ensure that refugees and vulnerable newcmers have the right supprts fr effective integratin and prsper in Ontari, the gvernment has: Cmmitted t cntinue t supprt refugees and vulnerable newcmers with a new investment t help them settle and get the supprt they need, t successfully integrate int their new lives in Ontari. Created the Refugee Resettlement Secretariat (RRS) with a tw-year mandate t wrk with partner ministries t address identified barriers linked with scial determinants and beynd.
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SECRETARIAT: MANDATE Remve Barriers Engagement Strategic Cmmunicatin Perfrmance Management Implement directin frm Cabinet t address lessns learned frm the large scale resettlement f Syrian refugees. Explre pprtunities t expand refugee resettlement and integratin in ther cmmunities. Chart imprved, transparent and repeatable pathways fr refugees t access gvernment benefits and services. Develp sustainable mdel fr cmmunity vlunteers t wrk with refugees. Cntinue inter-/intra-gvernmental and sectr engagement t ensure effective cllabratin and alignment f service delivery fr refugees. Cnsult directly with refugees, advcacy grups, services prviders, academia and thers stakehlders acrss diverse cmmunities t imprve speed and quality f resettlement and integratin. Develp a cmprehensive Cmmunicatin Strategy that includes: Ontari s effrts in resettlement and integratin Ontarians engagement in refugee resettlement and integratin Refugee s enrichment f ur scial fabric, ecnmic prsperity, and civic life Implement an evaluatin framewrk t measure utcmes and infrm plicy and prgram design decisins fr refugees and ther newcmers.
THE CASE FOR GOOD MEASUREMENT There is a need fr a rigrus evidence-based apprach t resettlement measurement t enable gvernment t make the mst infrmed decisins, lead change in critical services and select, fund, and perate resettlement prgrams mre strategically. Lking at ne indicatr at a time can als unintentinally hide r distrt what is really happening We need data that can tell us what makes resettlement mre effective fr sme peple than thers 4
CURRENT CHALLENGES TO MEASURING RESETTLEMENT OUTCOMES Current data and metrics t understand refugee utcmes is limited and cannt effectively prvide infrmatin beynd prgram reprting. There is a need fr a rigrus evidence-based apprach t resettlement measurement t: Enable gvernment t make the mst infrmed decisins Lead change in critical services; and Select, fund, and perate resettlement prgrams mre strategically. If we nly use currently available data, we will have an extremely limited snapsht f Syrian refugees first year here and we will have n evidence f the lng term paths t resettlement.
CURRENT CHALLENGES TO MEASURING RESETTLEMENT OUTCOMES Current and traditinal data ptins d nt supprt this need Apprach Benefits Limitatins One utcme at a time using lcal administrative data Depicts refugees in their hme cmmunities Pr data quality Dn t get a hlistic view f resettlement Can t track trends ver time Prvincial prgram data Nuances unique t lcal cmmunity Biased set f respnses Nt cllected ver time Limited accuracy Fcus n utputs nt utcmes One utcme at a time using prvincial ministry administrative data Prvince wide. Standardized. Included full ppulatin Much missing data Privacy limitatins Qualitative inquiry using fcus grups f refugees Detailed stries and ethngraphy High respndent burden Limited in breadth Mixed methds explratin using fcus grups f service prviders Frnt line infrmatin that might nt make it int databases Cnfirmatin bias Nn-independent sample New prvincial data cllectin effrts Custm lngitudinal ppulatin-wide evidence Public perceptin f increased tracking Expensive Federal survey data Detailed and linkable lngitudinal data Nt always representative at small gegraphies Time delay in access 6
THE APPROACH If we nly use currently available data, we will have an extremely limited snapsht f refugee resettlement utcmes n evidence f the lng term paths t resettlement. T address this issue, ur the Refugee Resettlement Measurement Framewrk is based n an innvative three-cmpnent apprach t building an evidence base: Cmpnent 1: Qualitative Evidence frm Refugees Cmpnent 2: Qualitative Evidence frm Service Prviders Cmpnent 3: Quantitative Evidence at Individual and Ppulatin Level 7
ALIGNMENT ALONG 3 DIMENSIONS 1 2 3 Alignment with principles f best practices Based n indicatr selectin guidance frm UNHCR OECD Statistics Canada Ontari Gvernment Strategic Measurement Plans and Lessns Learned: Pverty Reductin Strategy, Stepping Up, Yuth Vilence, Pst-Secndary Educatin, Public Health Alignment with what ther key Ontari Ministries, OPS initiatives and rganizatins are ding Strategic alignment with internatinal, natinal, and lcal measurement framewrk The Ontari Human Rights Cmmissin (OHRC) Ministry f Educatin: Unlcking Student Ptential thrugh Data Ontari Yuth Actin Plan (MCYS) Pverty Reductin Strategy (TBS) Pst-Secndary Educatin Strategic Plan Cre Indicatrs fr Public Health Ontari Data Integratin Table Alignment with key subject matter experts 8
ALIGNMENT CONSULTATIONS Cnsultatin with input frm: Within Ontari Public Service Centre fr Excellence in Evidence-based Plicy Deputy Ministers Scial Plicy Table Institute fr Clinical Evaluative Services Interministerial Cmmittee n Research and Evaluatin Ministry f Children and Yuth Services Ministry f Citizenship and Immigratin Ministry f Cmmunity and Scial Services Ministry f Cmmunity and Scial Services Data Integratin Prject Ministry f Ecnmic Develpment and Grwth Ministry f Educatin Ministry f Finance Ministry f Health and Lng-term Care Ontari Pverty Reductin Cmmittee Special Advisry Table n Refugees Treasury Bard Secretariat Anti-Racism Secretariat External t Ontari Public Service CAMH Canadian Institute fr Health Infrmatin City f Hamiltn Regin f Waterl City f Trnt CMHC Federal Gvernment: IRCC, Service Canada, Statistics Canada Peel Children s Centre Queen s University RAP Service Prviders, including COSTI, Wesley Ministries Regin f Peel Ryersn University University f Trnt Yrk University Wellesley Institute 9
OUTCOME DOMAINS Based n ur alignment cnsultatin we develped: 4 KEY OUTCOME DOMAINS INTEGRATION HEALTH EDUCATION ECONOMICS 10
OUTCOMES WITHIN DOMAINS BROAD OUTCOMES within dmains DOMAIN Settlement and Integratin Health Educatin Ecnmics OUTCOME Refugees live in suitable husing and feel scially cnnected t their cmmunities and Canada. Refugees have high levels f physical and mental health and have access t health care services at rates similar t ther Canadians. Refugees have access t educatin and training at an equitable rate that supprts their persnal ptential. Refugees enjy levels f incme n par with ther Canadians ver time and d nt rely n scial assistance fr lng term ecnmic security. 11
INDICATORS WITHIN DOMAINS INDICATORS within dmains. DOMAIN Settlement and Integratin Health Educatin Ecnmics INDICATORS 1. Strng sense f belnging t lcal cmmunity 2. Living in cre husing need 3. Gd physical health 4. Gd mental health 5. Rate f access health care services 6. Language (English/French) at cnversatinal level 7. Prgressing thrugh pst-secndary and apprenticeship 8. Emplyment r self-emplyment (that matches educatin) 9. Incme (ther than scial assistance) 10. Receipt f scial assistance 12
10 INDICATORS TO MEASURE SUCCESS INDICATORS DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE % with ability t use language at cnversatinal level EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INCLUSION HOUSING % (eligible) wh are prgressing thrugh pst-secndary and apprenticeship % with emplyment r self-emplyment (that matches educatin) Level f annual incme (ther than scial assistance) % receiving scial assistance % reprting strng sense f belnging t lcal cmmunity % living with cre husing needs unmet cre husing need % with gd r very gd physical health HEALTH % with gd r very gd mental health Rate f access health care services
FOR MORE INFORMATION Alexander Lvell Senir Plicy and Prgram Advisr Refugee Resettlement Secretariat Email: alex.lvell@ntari.ca 14