local immigration partnerships
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
SETTLEMENT SERVICE SETTLEMENT SERVICE PLANNING IN WEST PLANNING IN WEST
DOWNTOWN TORONTO DOWNTOWN TORONTO
OCASI – November 2009OCASI – November 2009
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“Organic” system of settlement servicesFunded by different levels of government &
ministries
Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) increases investment in Ontario
Competitive application processes
Gentrification of downtown and Priority Neighbourhoods in the suburbs
Downtown seen as over-served
Background & EnvironmentBackground & Environment
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Steering Committee Agencies (Met through OCASI; connection of trust and philosophy of client best interests):
St. Stephen’s Community House St. Christopher House COSTI Immigrant Services Working Women Community Centre South Asian Women`s Centre CultureLink Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Services
Funding partners: United Way Toronto Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration
Participating Agencies: Ultimately, more than 60 organizations participated
PartnershipPartnership
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Project GoalsProject Goals To enhance delivery of settlement services to
vulnerable newcomer populations through the creation and implementation of a local service plan and coordination model
To involve service users, service organizations and other stakeholders in a process to develop a local service plan and coordination model
To share learnings on our local settlement service coordination model with other regions of the city and province
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Start-Up ItemsStart-Up Items Development of Steering Committee Terms
of Reference Hiring of neutral project facilitators Preliminary discussions regarding
development of Statement of Values and Principles
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Statement of Principles & Values: Statement of Principles & Values: BELIEFS BELIEFS
Agencies and newcomers – unique & essential contributions
Diversity of agencies & groups a strength Agencies & groups all have role in planning Honest dialogue & transparency Model anti-racism, anti-oppression, gender
equity & cultural competency principles in our work with each other
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Statement of Principles & Values: Statement of Principles & Values: SYSTEM PRINCIPLESSYSTEM PRINCIPLES
Client-focused Inclusiveness Reflecting cultural differences Valuing cultural differences Service Equity
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Statement of Principles & Values: Statement of Principles & Values: KEY VALUES KEY VALUES
Inherent worth, dignity & unique assets Attention to feeling, spirit & relationships Learning from every interaction Fostering atmosphere of trust Focus on interdependence Holistic, social transformation approach Working with communities based in their
cultural perspectives
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PROJECT PHASE 1PROJECT PHASE 1
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Phase 1 – Research & MappingPhase 1 – Research & Mapping
Research Processes (Jul-Aug2007) Service Provider Questionnaire Interviews with Other Interested Parties Statistical Research
Community Mapping (Jul-Aug2007) Forum #1 (Sep2007)
Presentation of Research and Community Mapping
Creation of Planning Tables
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Phase 1 – Service NeedsPhase 1 – Service Needs
Community Input (Oct2007-Jan2008) Planning Table Phase 1 Sessions (Oct2007-Feb2008)Service Needs Review – Template to identify:
Service StrengthsService Gaps or Areas for ImprovementExisting Collaborations or Collaboration Models
Consultation Session with Reference Group (Mar2008)
Discuss draft Service Needs Reviews
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PROJECT PHASE 2PROJECT PHASE 2
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Phase 2 – ForumPhase 2 – Forum Forum #2 (Apr2008)
Presentation of Service Needs Reviews Preliminary Planning Table Discussions to
Develop Service Delivery Strategies:Service Continuation
Service Expansion
Service Coordination & Planning
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Phase 2 – Service Delivery PlanningPhase 2 – Service Delivery Planning Planning Table Phase 2 Sessions (May-Jul2008)
Service Delivery Planning – Template to identify:Overall Strategy StatementGoals or ObjectivesStrategic Directions (Foundational & Innovative)
Consultation Sessions (Jun-Nov2008) Two Sessions with Executive Directors
Statement of Project Principles & ValuesFeedback on Draft Service Strategy
Interviews with Selection of Reference Group Members
Feedback on Draft Service Strategy
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PROJECT PHASE 3PROJECT PHASE 3
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Phase 3 – ImplementationPhase 3 – Implementation
Forum #3 (Nov2008) Presentation of Draft Consolidated
Settlement Service Strategy Discussion of Next Steps &
Implementation
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Strategy – Newcomer DefinitionStrategy – Newcomer DefinitionAny individual born in another country: (i) who has moved
to Canada, or (ii) who currently lives in another country with the intention of moving to Canada in the near future.
Includes (but not limited to): Sponsored family members Internationally trained professionals Internationally trained skilled workers Convention refugees Refugee claimants Temporary workers Live-in caregivers Business immigrants Provincial nominees Protected persons Foreign students who intend to stay in Canada Any other individual with or seeking permanent residence in Canada Immigrants after having become Canadian citizens
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Settlement Service Strategy: Settlement Service Strategy: Part 1Part 1
STRATEGY STATEMENTSSTRATEGY STATEMENTS
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EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYMENT
To foster, promote and build an effective and coordinated service delivery system in downtown west Toronto to assist newcomers in gaining and maintaining meaningful employment and career advancements
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAININGTRAINING
To facilitate newcomers’ access to quality, no cost English language training services in downtown west Toronto to support their access to employment and their settlement and inclusion
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HEALTH, EMOTIONAL & HEALTH, EMOTIONAL & SOCIAL SUPPORTSOCIAL SUPPORT
To improve access to high quality, no-cost, culturally appropriate health services and programs for newcomers in downtown west Toronto with the intention of supporting their overall health and facilitating their ongoing, long-term settlement and inclusion
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INFORMATION & REFERRAL INFORMATION & REFERRAL
To support a seamless, flexible and coordinated service delivery system in downtown west Toronto for newcomers:
- by recognizing that settlement services are the primary entry point for newcomers in downtown west Toronto from immediate arrival through to full participation in Canadian economic, social and civic life; and
- by promoting strong linkages in downtown west Toronto among agencies offering settlement services, community-based services, and mainstream social, health and labour market services to ensure a clear and timely progression for newcomers to full inclusion in the local community and in our overall Canadian society
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SOCIAL INCLUSION SOCIAL INCLUSION
To advance Social Inclusion as a crucial component of newcomer settlement, and to create a collective commitment for settlement service agencies in downtown west Toronto to collaborate with each other and engage in social inclusion practices, programming, and activities
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SOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’nSOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’n
Making sure that all children and adults can participate as valued, respected and contributing community members
Reflects proactive, human development approach to social wellbeing
- calls for more than removal of barriers or risks
- requires investments and action to bring about inclusion
“Immigrant Settlement and Social Inclusion in Canada,” Laidlaw Foundation Working Paper.
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SOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’nSOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’n
More than simply recognizing importance of difference & diversity
- calls for validation and recognition of diversity & recognition of the commonality of lived experiences and shared aspirations among people
Beyond bringing the ‘outsiders’ in- closes physical, social and economic distances separating people
- not just eliminating boundaries or barriers between us and them
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PART 1 – KEY GOALSPART 1 – KEY GOALS
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KEY GOALS - COORDINATIONKEY GOALS - COORDINATION Coordinated newcomer access to
settlement services and mainstream services in downtown west Toronto through partnerships, satellite locations, co-location, joint training, staff sharing and/or reciprocal staff secondments
Information & Referral Services Employment Support Services Language Training Income Support and Housing Health Services Social Inclusion
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KEY GOALS - SERVICESKEY GOALS - SERVICES Sufficient, appropriate and effective services
and programs for newcomers in downtown west Toronto
Sufficiency & SuitabilityCultural AppropriatenessTimelinessVarietyResponsiveness
Suitable services for newcomers regardless of immigration status
people without immigration status immigrants after they become Canadian citizens
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KEY GOALS - ACCESSKEY GOALS - ACCESS Work experience, employment, and
workplace support Supports to facilitate learner access to
English language training childminding, transportation, etc.
Health Services, including: Mental health and emotional support Family needs (children, youth, seniors, parents, caregivers) Newcomers with disabilities (barrier-free access to settlement
services and disability services) Dental care People without immigration status / non-insured
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GOALS - RESPONSIVENESSGOALS - RESPONSIVENESS
Expanded agency capacity to address and continually respond to existing and emerging newcomer service needs in light of changing immigration, landing and internal migration trends
Annually review and address current service gaps and emerging clients needs
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KEY GOALS - LANGUAGESKEY GOALS - LANGUAGES
Expand agency capacity to serve newcomer communities in current and emerging newcomer languages
Eliminate or reduce language as a barrier to accessing health services
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KEY GOALS – KEY GOALS – EDUCATION & ADVOCACYEDUCATION & ADVOCACY
Funding of existing and new / innovative services and programs for newcomers .
Including social inclusion practices, programming, and activities
Understanding of social inclusion among newcomers, as well as on the part of community leaders, elected officials, the broader community, and other key stakeholders
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Settlement Service Strategy: Settlement Service Strategy: Part 2Part 2
COORDINATIONCOORDINATION
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SERVICE PLAN – PART 2 SERVICE PLAN – PART 2
A. Information Sharing
B. Linkages
C. Partnership Best Practices
D. Referrals & Service Navigation
E. Staff Training & Community Education
F. Funding
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PROJECT LEARNINGSPROJECT LEARNINGS
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Project LearningsProject Learnings Importance of engaging service
providers early in process Importance of developing Statement of
Project Principles & Values Challenges of community mapping
process Preliminary community maps limited in scope Developing comprehensive maps a challenge Keeping maps up-to-date a challenge
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Project LearningsProject Learnings Challenge of fitting the nine CIC need areas
into our five Planning Tables ‘Health’ fit well with ‘Emotional Supports,’ but ‘Housing’
and ‘Income Supports’ fit less well with ‘Information & Orientation’
Challenge of keeping decision-makers involved in process
Agencies sending different representatives (frontline and managerial) to participate in Forums, Planning Table discussions, etc.
Challenge of maintaining continuity in participants
Agencies sending different individuals to each event, meeting, or Forum
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Project LearningsProject Learnings Managing the fear of change and
addressing the agency concerns Highlighting a client-centred, “no one left behind”
approach and importance of different areas of expertise or uniqueness
Challenge of getting the participation of key mainstream institutions
Challenge of getting the participation of key non-service provider agencies
Challenge of maintaining participation of Reference Group members (I.e., social planners, research departments, coalitions, etc.)
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Project LearningsProject Learnings Importance of guiding the Planning
Table discussions with Templates Otherwise, can have great discussions with
little “hard product” to show for it External facilitation can be beneficial
Importance of highly committed Steering Committee members and clear Terms of Reference
Importance of maintaining ongoing communication with participants (e.g., newsletters)