vancouver island settlement regional meeting · syrian refugee arrivals in bc – nov 4, 2015 to...

VANCOUVER ISLAND

SETTLEMENT REGIONAL MEETING

October 4, 2016

Welcome

Tracy Wideman

AMSSA

LIVESTREAM

• Welcome to settlement & language

training organizations watching online

• 9:00 – 12:00 pm

• 2:45 – 3:30 pm

• Tech issues:

communications@amssa.org

604 718-4221

LIVESTREAM

Please email your questions to:

events@amssa.org

Introductions

Tracy Wideman

AMSSA

Objectives for the Day

• Discuss and learn how IRCC priorities will impact and

influence settlement and integration within the

Vancouver Island region.

• Discuss and share settlement and integration including

best practices from a regional perspective.

• Learn about new resources and tools to better serve

clients.

• Cultivate an environment of networking, sharing and

collaboration

Overview of the Day Morning Agenda

Welcome Remarks from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Canada

Welcome Remarks from the Province of BC

AMSSA Presentations

Language Supports

Accessing AMSSA Resources

Research and the Settlement Sector

Supporting Refugees – Presentations & Panel Discussion

Afternoon Agenda

Breakout Discussions

Housekeeping

• Cell phones – turn off ringer / turn on vibrate, take calls

outside.

• Expense claim / evaluation – Please complete both

forms and leave them with AMSSA staff.

• All meeting documents will be sent out electronically

after the meeting.

Remarks from Immigration, Refugees,

and Citizenship Canada

Tiana Solares

Manager, Integration – Western Region IRCC

IRCC Update

October 2016

Classification (if any)

• HR Updates

• Organizational Changes

• Syrian Refugee Update

• CFP Update

• Language Waitlists Update

Overview of Updates

Classification (if any)

• 42 Full time Staff – 1 x Director, 2 x Managers, 1 x Senior Program Policy

Advisor, 4 Supervisors, Integration Program Officers, RAP Officers and Assistants

– Employees on assignment/secondment have created temporary vacancies within the unit.

– A number of staff have joined the team this fiscal year

– Recently completed file redistribution within the unit

• 7 term/co-op/casual employees have been hired in anticipation for Phase II of Operation Syrian Refugees

HR Update

Classification (if any)

• Previously Operations sector operated under separate regions: Eastern, Ontario, Western

• As of September 12, 2016, new network structures have been implemented: Domestic Network, Settlement Network, International Network

• Limited impact on day-to-day work below the director level

• Changes facilitate work as a single, integrated network, bringing more consistency to how we do our work

Organizational Changes

Syrian Refugee Arrivals in BC

• 2 RAP Centres – Vancouver

– Victoria

• 5 Spoke communities – Abbotsford

– Nanaimo

– Prince George

– Kelowna

– Vernon

Syrian Refugee Arrivals in BC – Nov 4, 2015 to Mar 1, 2016

• Between Nov 4, 2015 and Sep 11, 2016, 30,647 Syrians arrived in Canada

• Up to Mar 01, 2016, BC received 2,346 Syrian refugees – 71% GARs

– 16% PSRs

– 13% BVORs Data Source: Open Data Source: Canada - Admissions of Syrian Refugees by Province/Territory and Census Metropolitan Area of Intended Destination, November 4, 2015 - March 1, 2016

• Destining Centre Breakdown • 88% of Syrian GARs destined to Vancouver & spoke communities

• 12% of Syrian GARs destined to Victoria

• 31 communities outside of Metro Vancouver, Victoria and Spokes have welcomed Syrian refugees

• Cities where majority of permanent accommodation is secured: Surrey, Coquitlam, Burnaby, Vancouver, Victoria, Delta

Syrian Refugee Arrivals - Trends

• Anticipate similar number of refugees to arrive between September to December 2016 as earlier in the year. – Includes regular refugee arrivals

• Service Providers in five communities across BC to receive GARs directly destined by Matching Centre.

• Housing search workers secured and actively engaged to search for permanent accommodations; expectations established surrounding housing options and acceptance

Operation Syrian Refugees – Phase II

• Applicants informed of status of proposal end of September. Officers should have reached out to successful applicants to begin the process of negotiations.

• Priorities may have shifted since CFP 2015 submission; Officers will be working with you to outline shift in priorities and organizations will have opportunity to shift programming to address these priorities

CFP Update

• New National Waitlist Management Strategy and Guidelines implemented on May 2, 2016 in an effort to manage and reduce waitlist numbers.

• BC: 7,490 clients on a waitlist during initial request in April 2016

• Subsequent request in August 2016 still to be determined. Preliminary numbers indicate clients may have decreased but will need to factor in new clients that have been added to waitlist

• BC allocated $2.9 M additional funding in 2016-2017 to create approximately 69 additional classes and 1,242 seats, CLB 1-4 to priority areas in Surrey, Tri-Cities, Burnaby/New Westminster and Victoria.

Language Waitlists

Remarks from the Province of

British Columbia

Dominic Fung – Program Advisor

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Labour Market and Immigration Division

BC Government: Immigrant Integration Unit Update

AMSSA Regional Meetings Oct 2016

Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and

Skills Training

Workforce Development &

Immigration Division

1. JTST Immigrant Integration Program Updates

2. JTST/IRCC Partnership

3. Immigration Programs and Policy Staff

4. Looking Forward

5. Questions

Table of Contents

23

• BC Settlement and Integration (BC SIS) - next steps re: program renewal.

• Program Update Bulletins

• Eligibility for language services

• Open Work Permit initiative

• Other initiatives

Program Updates – BC SIS

24

• Skills Connect extended to end on March 31, 2017 pending launch of Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants.

• The plan is for a 3-month overlap with the new program.

• Working with Skills Connect providers to create a client transition plan

Program Updates – Skills Connect

25

• Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants is currently in final stages of procurement.

• Anticipate contracts to be in place in December for a January 2nd program start date.

• Career Paths will be delivered with combined funding from both JTST and IRCC.

Program Updates – Career Paths

26

• Customized case management for 1,000-1,200 Skilled Immigrants per year.

Career Paths Service Model

27

Intake & Eligibility Career Assessment &

Individual Action Plans

Skill Enhancement Services (subsidy for

training etc.)

Job Search, Workplace Orientation, Mentorship

Stream 1

BC Priority Occupations

Includes OSLT

Stream 2

Regulated

Stream 3

Unregulated Occupations

• PR or protected person

• Minimum of 1 years experience for Youth, 3 years for other

Career Paths Service Model – Client Eligibility

28

Stream 1 – BC Priority Occupations

• Program available

• Meets EL benchmarks

• Underemployed, 20 hrs +/week OR non-EI, non-BCEA needing longer term training &/or practicum

• Meets other criteria

Stream 2 – Regulated Occupations

• Regulated occupation

• CLB 6 or higher

• Underemployed, 20 hrs +/week OR non-EI, non-BCEA needing longer term training &/or practicum

Stream 3 – Unregulated Occupations

• Unregulated Occupation

• CLB 5 or higher

• Underemployed, 20 hrs +/week

• Refugee Readiness HUB – robust portal, 1-800 clinician line, resources in place and RRT training complete.

• Refugee Response Teams – action plans in implementation stage.

• RRT Network – meet monthly, information & best practice sharing, issue identification.

• One time funding concludes March 31, 2017.

Program Updates – Refugee Readiness Fund

29

• Transition Settlement Agreement (TSA) in place for two fiscal years 14/15 and 15/16, now concluded.

• TSA succeeded by the Canada-BC Settlement Arrangement as of April 1, 2016.

• Areas of collaboration include: BC SIS, Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants, Employment Collaboration Project, the Syrian Refugee initiative.

JTST/IRCC Partnership

30

Erin Seeley, ED Immigration Programs

Lucy Swib,

Director, Immigrant Integration

Vicki Chiu

Senior Program Advisor

RRF, BC SIS

Joni Rose

Senior Program Advisor

Skills Connect/Career Paths

Dominic Fung

Program Advisor

All programs

Karina Lai

Contract Officer

All programs

Cloe Nichols, ED Immigration Policy

Carling Helander Director

Robyn Uhl

Senior Policy Advisor

Immigration Programs and Policy Staff

31

Looking Forward 2016

32

OCTOBER

Career Paths Procurement, BC SIS Review

NOVEMBER

Career Paths & BC SIS

Notification of Awards

DECEMBER

Career Paths & BC SIS contract

negotiations

Looking Forward 2017

33

JANUARY

Career Paths Launch

MARCH

Skills Connect & RRF conclude

APRIL Renewed

BC SIS

QUESTIONS??????

34

AMSSA Presentations

Jennifer Cummins, Sabrina Ziegler & Lucy Buchanan-Parker

AMSSA

Language Resources

Language Supports

1. Services

2. Representation

3. Resources

Language Services

• Support LINC providers at the

administrative level

• Organize language-specific online events

• Co-organize integrated online events

• Organize in-person events

• Contact key stakeholders

Representation

• Chair the Settlement Language Working

Group (SLWG)

• Sit on the National Language Advisory

Body (NLAB)

• Membership in the Vancouver Immigration

Partnership

Resources

• LINC Exit & Progress Tests – Moodle Saeedeh Foghani – sfoghani@amssa.org

• Language Specific Settlement Net

Resources

• Language Resource Page

Contact

Jennifer Cummins

Settlement Language Coordinator

jcummins@amssa.org

604-718-2779

Accessing AMSSA Resources

Sabrina Ziegler

Settlement Coordinator

AMSSA’s Resources

• Settlement Net

• Migration Matters

• Quick links & resources

• Videos, Webinars, and E-symposia

• Cultures West Magazine

Settlement Net

What is Settlement Net?

• Web database of news & resources for the

settlement and language sector

• Updated daily, with weekly newsletter

Who is it for?

• Settlement staff and all levels of management

• Password protected

Accessing Settlement Net Accessing Settlement Net

• Register for a username & password

• www.amssa.org/settlementnet

• Click on the links in the Weekly Update

Resources available

• Media clippings

• Reports, research, and resources

• Professional development opportunities

• Events

Migration Matters

• 2-page summary of important settlement

issues

• Statistics, trends and policy updates

• Suggestions for further reading &

resources

• Topics are based on feedback from

service providers

Quick Links & Resources

• Compilations of guides, toolkits, research

and other relevant info arranged by topic

• Targeted for all levels of staff

• Topics are based on feedback from

settlement service providers

Live events online • E-Symposia

– 2 hour, interactive, learning events with a

panel of expert speakers

• Webinars

– 1.5 hour, interactive, online training events

with expert presenters

Next Virtual Training Event: November 2

Media Relations

Videos

• Online videos

– Short, informational videos

• Recordings of online events

– E-Symposia

– Webinars

Cultures West magazine

• Magazine published quarterly

• Available online or in print (free)

• Topics in the area of migration,

immigrant settlement and integration,

or diversity

• Includes features, articles and stories.

AMSSA resource topics

Immigration

to smaller

centres

Newcomer

mental

health

LGBTQ

Immigrants

& Refugees

Syrian

refugee

crisis

Specific

policy

changes

Immigrant

youth and

children

Facilitation &

curriculum

development

Immigrant

research and

data

Funding

proposals &

contribution

agreements

Technology

Employment

Self

care

Newcomer

health

Staying Up-to-Date

• Want to know what’s happening?

Settlement Net!

– Register to receive updates or to request

login information

• Join AMSSA’s Mailing Lists

Your input, please!

(Blue Handout)

• Info Sheets

• Topic suggestions?

• Webinars, Online Videos & E-Symposia

• Topic suggestions?

• Quick Links and Resources

• Suggested improvements, specific resources?

Contact

Sabrina Ziegler

Settlement Coordinator

sziegler@amssa.org

604-718-4220

Research and the

Settlement Sector

Overview

• Major research bodies and initiatives

• Collaborations between researchers and

settlement organizations

• AMSSA support

• Upcoming conferences

• Ongoing research

Research bodies and initiatives

• Immigration Research West

• Pathways to Prosperity (P2P)

• Metropolis Conference

• Canadian Refugee Child, Youth, and

Families Research Coalition

Collaborations

• Researchers offer:

– Evidence on newcomer needs

– Evidence on program efficacy

• Settlement organizations offer:

– Access to clients

– “On the ground” knowledge

• Both parties need to benefit

AMSSA support

• Community-University Research Principles

• Representation on the Western Region

Research Advisory Committee

• Settlement Sector Research Agenda

• Knowledge mobilization

Upcoming conferences

Pathways to Prosperity December 1-2, 2016

Ottawa

Metropolis Conference March 16-17, 2017

Montreal

Ongoing research

• AMSSA-ISANS: Settlement Online Pre-

Arrival (SOPA) in the settlement

landscape

– Survey for frontline settlement workers and

managers

Contact

Lucy Buchanan-Parker

Research and Information Coordinator

lbuchanan@amssa.org

604-718-2784

Networking and Coffee Break

30 minutes

Supporting Refugees

David Lau, Lynn Weaver and Winnie Lee

Supporting Refugees – Panel Discussion

Lunch

1 hour

Overview of the Day Morning Agenda

Welcome Remarks from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Canada

Welcome Remarks from the Province of BC

AMSSA Presentations

Language Supports

Accessing AMSSA Resources

Research and the Settlement Sector

Networking & Coffee Break

Supporting Refugees – Presentations and Panel Discussion

Afternoon Agenda

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session

Each participant will have the opportunity to join all

of the following breakout sessions.

Please refer to the handout in your packages for

Discussion Questions.

1. IRCC Priorities

2. The Mechanics of your Contribution Agreements

3. Collaborations and Connections across the

Province

Breakout Session – Report Back

Tracy Wideman

AMSSA

Closing Remarks

• Expense Claim Form (pink)

– Short Deadline

• Evaluations (yellow)

• Name Tags

Thank you!