Presented by: Courtney Anne Brewer Nipissing University cbrewer353@nipissingu 07/11/12

1. Using English Language Support to Reach Immigrant Families Preparing for School in a New CountryPresented toSocial Work and Development 2012 Presented by: Courtney Anne Brewer Nipissing University cbrewer353@nipissingu.ca 07/11/12

2. Related Literature • Current ideas of school readiness • (Janus and Duku, 2007) (The US National Education Goals Panel, 1997 as cited in Dockett & Perry, 2009) • Importance of parents • (Englund, Luckner, Whaley, and Egeland, 2004) (Chazan-Cohen et al.,2009). (Anderson and Minke, 2007) (Piotrkowski et al., 2000; Zhang et al., 2008) • Issues facing immigrant parents • (Turney and Kao, 2009) (Brooks-Gunn & Markman, 2005) (Levine-Rasky, 2009).

3. Parental engagement in school was used as an indicator of school readiness -Why did you join Parenting in a New Society? -Why did you refrain from joining other groups or becoming involved in the school in other ways?

4. Study Background: Location • Study took place in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada • Kitchener is ranked 7th overall in Canadian urban centres with a proportion of 23.1% immigration population (as of 2006) • (Region of Waterloo Public Health, 2009)

5. Study Background: The Program • Joint program called Parenting in a New Society • Partnership between Our Place Ontario Early Years Centre and Focus for Ethnic Women • Program delivery site is a local elementary school

6. Methodology • One-on-one interviews with participants • 6 women who are classified as recent immigrants • Countries of origin: United Arab Emirates, Jordan/ Syria, Iraq, Morocco, Romania, and Kurdistan

7. Parental engagement in school was used as an indicator of school readiness -Why did you join Parenting in a New Society? -Why did you refrain from joining other groups or becoming involved in the school in other ways? • Barriers exist which prevent involvement and engagement (employment, lack of child care, unfamiliar with opportunities, language) • A catalyst barrier also exists, which can be helpful! (language)

8. Involvement and associated subthemes

9. Themes: Involvement / Engagement • Catalyst Barrier (Language) • When we were starting this program on Tuesday, I think [the program facilitator] told us there is another program for language in the community centre . . . . She told us about sharing day, from the community centre, and she told us about the Leisure card from City Hall. (Claudette) • It’s good to be in this program to improve my English through conversations (Halah).

10. Conclusions • Use catalyst barriers like English language practice as a way to gain a captive audience in order to provide further essential information and connections to assistive resources.

11. Discussion / Questions

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