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Settlement and Integration Services, Resources and Supports for Newcomers

Settlement and Integration Services, Resources and Supports for Newcomers. Carla Johnson and Geralyn St. Louis Alberta Human Services November 29 , 2013. Setting Context. A Provincial System. Immigration: A Shared Responsibility. Primary federal role: Determining who may immigrate.

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Settlement and Integration Services, Resources and Supports for Newcomers

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  1. Settlement and Integration Services, Resources and Supports for Newcomers Carla Johnson and Geralyn St. Louis Alberta Human Services November 29, 2013

  2. Setting Context A Provincial System

  3. Immigration: A Shared Responsibility • Primary federal role: • Determining who may immigrate. • Collaborating with provinces to offer services. • Primary provincial role: • Attracting, supporting and retaining immigrants through programs and services.

  4. Newcomers to Canada Permanent Residents/Immigrants: • Family Class – spouses, dependent children, other relatives • Economic Class – Federal Skilled Workers, Skilled Trades, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Self-Employed, Live-In Caregivers, Canadian Experience, Provincial Nominees • Refugees – selected by federal government or privately sponsored Temporary Residents: • Temporary Foreign Workers • Refugee Claimants • International Students • Visitor visas – tourist, business, parents and grandparents

  5. Immigration to Alberta: Facts and Trends • In 2007, 20,860 immigrants came to Alberta • 8.8% of total immigrants to Canada • In 2012, 36,092 immigrants came to Alberta • 14.0% of total immigrants to Canada • 2012 regional breakdown of immigration: • Calgary: 16,813 • Edmonton: 11,986 • Other urban locations: 2,751 • Rural locations in Alberta: 4,542 Source: Facts and Figures, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

  6. Permanent Residents to Alberta 2012

  7. Birth Country of Immigrants in Alberta (2007-2011) Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada:  Permanent Resident Dataset Release 2012 Q2

  8. The Landscape Programs and Services for Newcomers

  9. Resource Guide • Provides information and links for available programs and services in Alberta. • Will be circulated via email to participants.

  10. Are there settlement servicesin your community? Language Assessment Centers Settlement Services Alberta Works Language Training ALIS.alberta.ca

  11. Settlement Services • Delivered through the Canada-Alberta Integrated Service Program (ISP) • ISP is a collaborative effort between Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Government of Alberta • There are 17 Immigrant Serving Agencies in 9 Alberta communities • Find out more from the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies – www.aaisa.ca

  12. Who is eligible for settlement services? • Permanent residents of Canada including: • Family Class • Economic Immigrants • Refugees (excluding refugee claimants) • Foreign caregivers currently participating in the Live-In Caregiver Program • Foreign born Canadian citizens with significant cultural and linguistic barriers

  13. Integrated Service Program (ISP):Main Service Areas Newcomer Outreach • Information about services, programs and workshops; presentations at community organizations and meetings. Orientation, Information and Referral • Skill-building workshops for everyday living and cross-cultural facilitation. • Information on living, studying and working in Canada, accreditation, community resources, cultural and religious institutions, roles and responsibilities of Canadian residents. • Referrals to community resources/services (e.g. banks, shops, housing, etc.)

  14. Integrated Service Program (ISP):Main Service Areas Interpretation services • Trained settlement practitioners provide interpretation for day-to-day living in the community and may accompany immigrants to school or doctor appointments for interpretation as necessary. Translation of documents • Translation services are limited to documents related to employment, health, education and legal matters that are necessary for immediate settlement. • Trained volunteers provide translation services and a certified notary public.

  15. Integrated Service Program (ISP):Main Service Areas Supportive Counselling • Helps newcomers identify options and develop and implement strategies for adjusting to life in Canada. • Helps newcomers to identify needs, determine how these needs should be addressed, and assists newcomers in connecting to mainstream and/or specialized services. • This includes social and personal support, but not in depth social or psychological counselling normally provided by professional counselors. • Referrals are made to therapeutic counsellingas needed.

  16. Integrated Service Program (ISP):Main Service Areas Employment Readiness • Employment assessment, orientation to the Canadian workplace, information on rights and legal obligations, and job search assistance. • Pre-employment preparation is offered that includes life skills, assertiveness training, effective communication, job finding clubs (job search strategies, resume writing, interview techniques, follow-up with potential employers), and placement into employment. • Referrals to appropriate resources for obtaining trade/professional certification and/or recognition of foreign academic credentials.

  17. Integrated Service Program (ISP):Main Service Areas Ethno-Cultural Collaboration • Build and maintain partnerships and collaborations with ethno-cultural communities. • Settlement agencies work closely with ethno-cultural groups to understand the settlement needs of specific groups and to support the development and growth of ethno-cultural associations. • Agencies are able to use their connections to ethno-cultural groups to deliver settlement information to a larger population.

  18. Integrated Service Program (ISP):Main Service Areas Enhancing Supportive Communities • Public education/awareness around issues affecting newcomers in the community and sharing of resources around building welcoming and inclusive communities. • Contributes to the community-based delivery of services to immigrants by supporting mainstream organizations to develop and expand services for newcomer accessibility. • Supports the recruitment, training, and recognition of volunteers. • Assists with building and maintaining partnerships and collaborations with mainstream service providers.

  19. Welcoming and Inclusive Communities • The Government of Alberta supports communities in becoming welcoming and inclusive of immigrants and their families so that immigrants have the opportunity to participate fully in the social, cultural and economic life of the province, without discrimination. • Attracting & Retaining Immigrants, A Tool Box of Ideas for Smaller Centresprovides help for municipalities to support the development of welcoming communities. • The toolbox includes information and recommendations on community development, strategies for building supports and reducing barriers, and attracting immigrants. http://www.icavictoria.org/services/resources/toolbox-ideas

  20. What types of language training are available in your community? Language Assessment Centers Settlement Services Alberta Works Language Training ALIS.alberta.ca

  21. Language Assessment Centres Language Assessment Centers Settlement Services Alberta Works Language Training ALIS.alberta.ca

  22. Language Assessment Centres • Assess newcomers’ English language skills and refer to training. • Assessment Centres are in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat • Services include: • Job search and occupational planning and referrals • Language assessment and referral to ESL programs • Referrals to other needed health, social, financial, legal and settlement services.

  23. Adult ESL Learning in Alberta: LINC • Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) • Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) provides free basic English language courses to permanent residents • Full or part-time instruction at no cost to learners

  24. Additional ESL Learning in Alberta • Drop-in ESL – Edmonton, Calgary and Taber • Community Adult Learning Program • Other community-based providers • Post-secondary institutions • Private providers • Industry / workplace training providers • On-line learning opportunities

  25. Community Adult Learning Program (CALP) • EAE provides funding to 103 community organizations to offer part-time, non-credit learning opportunities for adults in Alberta. • Two funding streams support ESL programming: • Community Adult Learning Council (CALC) Base Grants (received by 81 organizations). • Volunteer Tutor Adult Literacy Services (VTALS) Program Grants (received by 70 organizations).

  26. Language Learning Tools & Supports • Resources to support language training • Best Practices document • Curriculum Framework • Roots and Connections • Access through the ATESL Resource Database www.atesl.ca/Resources/ • ELN (ESL Literacy Network) • www.esl-literacy.com

  27. More Language Learning Tools & Supports • Learning English with CBC • www.breakthewall.alberta.ca • Rural Routes Initiative • ESL specialists provide professional development and consulting support and resources in smaller communities

  28. Is there an Alberta Works Centre in your community? Language Assessment Centers Settlement Services Alberta Works Language Training ALIS.alberta.ca

  29. Check out the Career Info Hotline on ALIS.alberta.ca Language Assessment Centers Settlement Services Alberta Works Language Training ALIS.alberta.ca

  30. ALIS.alberta.ca • Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) Career Info Hotline provides: • Education options and funding availability • Career planning • Resume support and job search skills • http://alis.alberta.ca/ep/eps/hotline/abouthot.html • ALIS Publications – view catalogue and place orders e.g. Welcome to Alberta: Information for Newcomers • http://alis.alberta.ca/ep/careershop/listproducts.html?EntityCode=MEDIA_TO_SHOP

  31. Other Supports and Financial Assistance • Foreign Qualification Recognition (FQR) • One form of assessment is through International Qualifications Assessment Services (IQAS) • Assesses international education credentials and compares to Canadian credentials www.immigration.alberta.ca/iqas • Paying for a post-secondary program: Student Aid • http://studentaid.alberta.ca/ • Eligible newcomers can receive financial assistance from Human Services to participate in language and skills training programs • Tuition and fees • Possibly living allowance

  32. Temporary Foreign Worker Program • A federal government program • Allows employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis to fill critical labour shortages. • To learn more, visit: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/

  33. Temporary Foreign Worker Support Services • Eligible clients include temporary foreign workers and their spouses and children • Support Services include: • Information sessions (group and one-on-one) • Orientation workshops • Referrals • Outreach and information sessions for employers • Support Services are provided at offices in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Banff, Brooks and Lethbridge (see Resource Guide)

  34. Contact Information Carla Johnson CarlaJeanne.Johnson@gov.ab.ca Geralyn St. Louis Geralyn.stlouis@gov.ab.ca Settlement and Community Supports Community Partnerships Early Childhood and Community Supports Alberta Human Services Thank you!

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