meeting report - saisia...the meeting was to engage the resettlement and settlement sectors to...

LessonsLearnedfromtheSyrianRefugeeProject:EngagingtheSaskatchewanSettlementSystem

forBetterOutcomesforallNewcomersMay9th-10th2016

CosmoCivicCentre,3130LaurierDrive,Saskatoon

MEETINGREPORT

OrganizedandFacilitatedby:SaskatchewanAssociationofImmigrantSettlementandIntegrationAgencies

incollaborationwithImmigration,RefugeesandCitizenshipCanada

andTheGovernmentofSaskatchewan,MinistryoftheEconomy

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Contents Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4

SummaryofKeyOutcomes..........................................................................................................................5

DAYONE:TakingstockofhowtheSyrianrefugeemovementworkedinSaskatchewan...........................7

1. BestPractices.......................................................................................................................................7

NationalOverview........................................................................................................................71.1.

ProvincialOverview......................................................................................................................91.2.

MunicipalOverview.....................................................................................................................91.3.

SponsorshipAgreementHolders’(SAHs)Overview...................................................................101.4.

TheSaskatchewanSettlementSector’sOverview.....................................................................111.5.

YWCAPrinceAlbert............................................................................................................111.5.1.

MooseJawMulticulturalCouncil.......................................................................................121.5.2.

ReginaOpenDoorSociety..................................................................................................141.5.3.

SaskatoonOpenDoorSociety............................................................................................151.5.4.

GlobalGatheringPlace.......................................................................................................161.5.5.

LanguageAssessmentandReferralCentre........................................................................171.5.6.

SaskatchewanAssociationofImmigrantSettlementandIntegrationAgencies................181.5.7.

GeneralDiscussiononSuccesses,BestPractices,OpportunitiesandChallenges..............181.5.8.

2. NewPartnershipsDevelopedasaResultoftheSyrianInitiative.......................................................19

ProvincialMinistryoftheEconomy...........................................................................................192.1.

SettlementSector.......................................................................................................................192.2.

YWCA-PrinceAlbert..........................................................................................................192.2.1.

SaskatoonOpenDoorSociety............................................................................................202.2.2.

GlobalGatheringPlace.......................................................................................................202.2.3.

ReginaOpenDoorSociety..................................................................................................202.2.4.

MooseJawMulticulturalCouncil.......................................................................................212.2.5.

PartnershipStrengtheningandSustainability............................................................................212.3.

EngagingEthno-CulturalCommunitiesandGroups...........................................................222.3.1.

ParentingProgramsandSchoolBoards.............................................................................222.3.2.

SummaryonHowtoEngagePartners........................................................................................232.4.

3. ConnectingtheDots–BridgingRelationswithPrivateSponsors......................................................23

4. ResettlementAssistanceProgram.....................................................................................................25

ConferenceCallsandtheDashboard.........................................................................................254.1.

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TheDashboard...........................................................................................................................254.2.

DAYTWO:EngagingtheSaskatchewanSettlementSectorforBetterOutcomesforallNewcomers.......28

5. SpatialAnalysisofImmigrationandSettlementPatternsintheWesternRegion:ImmigrationResearchWestProject...............................................................................................................................28

Potentialuses:............................................................................................................................285.1.

AnOverviewofDataContainedintheDatabase:......................................................................285.2.

IntroductiontotheProduct.......................................................................................................295.3.

NextSteps..................................................................................................................................295.4.

6. TakingStockofOurEnvironment.......................................................................................................29

TheFederalGovernment’sEnvironment...................................................................................296.1.

SaskatchewanProvincialGovernmentEnvironment.................................................................306.2.

MunicipalEnvironment..............................................................................................................316.3.

TheCityofSaskatoon.........................................................................................................316.3.1.

ReginaRegionalLocalImmigrationPartnership(RRLIP)....................................................326.3.2.

SaskatchewanSettlementSectorEnvironment:........................................................................326.4.

SponsorshipAgreementHoldersandPrivateSponsorEnvironment.........................................336.5.

QuestionsandAnswers..............................................................................................................336.6.

7. EngagementofSaskatchewan’sWholeSettlementSectorforBetterOutcomes..............................34

NeedsAssessmentandReferralProcess–Tools,Benefits,QuestionsandAnswers.................347.1.

UpdateonLanguageTraining,Waitlists,andPriorities.............................................................357.2.

8. NextPhases........................................................................................................................................36

Rural/SmallCommunityProviders.............................................................................................368.1.

EmergingIssues..................................................................................................................368.1.1.

AdaptationstoProgramming:............................................................................................378.1.2.

EmergingInitiativesandProjects.......................................................................................388.1.3.

ApproachesorPartnershipstoRespondtoIssues.............................................................388.1.4.

LanguageAssessorsandProviders.............................................................................................388.2.

EmergingIssues..................................................................................................................388.2.1.


ChildrenandYouthProgramming..............................................................................................398.3.

EmergingIssues..................................................................................................................398.3.1.


VulnerablePopulationsandCasemanagement........................................................................408.4.

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EmergingIssues..................................................................................................................408.4.1.



ApproachesorPartnershipstoRespondtoIssues.............................................................418.4.4.

9. HelpingImmigrantsSucceed:ActionPlan..........................................................................................41

10. SAISIA’sProvincialWorkingGroups...............................................................................................42

LanguageTrainingWorkingGroup.........................................................................................4310.1.

EmploymentServicesWorkingGroup....................................................................................4310.2.

SettlementServicesWorkingGroup......................................................................................4410.3.

11. DashboardAreas(LabourMarket,LanguageandSocialConnections)..........................................44

AppendixA-Agenda..................................................................................................................................47

AppendixB:Participantlist........................................................................................................................50

AppendixC:SummaryofActionItems.......................................................................................................52

AppendixD:SummaryofThemes–ThreeYearFocus...............................................................................54

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Introduction

TheFederalGovernment’sSyrianrefugeeinitiativebrought26,140SyrianrefugeestoCanadabetweenNovemberof2015andMarchof2016.Ofthese,over1000weredestinedtoSaskatchewaninadditiontotheregulararrivalsofGovernmentAssistedandPrivatelySponsoredRefugees.Toensureasmoothandseamlessprocess,thethreelevelsofgovernmentsupportedSaskatchewan’sResettlementAssistanceProgram(RAP)centresandSponsorshipAgreementHolders(SAHs)byinitiatingplanningandcollaborationefforts.ThisfosteredstrongpartnershipsbetweentheSAHs,SettlementServiceProviders,andthelargercommunity.

Atwo-daymeetingwasheldonMay9thand10thattheCosmoCivicCentreinSaskatoon.ThepurposeofthemeetingwastoengagetheResettlementandSettlementsectorstodiscusswhatworkedwell,whatdidn’tworkwell,andwhatlessonscouldbeappliedtoimprovethegeneral(re)settlementprocess.

Objectives:

1. TakestockofhowtheSyrianrefugeemovementworkedinSK.2. Examinewhatwecoulddodifferentlyforthe(re)settlementsysteminSKforallcategoriesof

newcomers(Syrianpopulationandallnewcomers).a. Whatdowewanttodomovingforward?b. Whatarethechallengesandopportunities?c. Opportunitiesforregularmeetingstofacilitatebettersettlementoutcomesin

Saskatchewan.Day1discussionsfocusedontheSyrianrefugeeresettlementprocessinSaskatchewanandparticipantsweredrawnfromthoseorganizationsandgovernmentdepartmentsdirectlyinvolvedinSyrianresettlement.Thirty-threeparticipantssharedtheirviewsonbestpractices,opportunities,challengesandcollaborativepartnerships.ThedayendedwithdiscussionsonhowthesectorwouldliketoproceedwiththecoordinationofRAPservicesmovingforward.Day2activitiesfocusedonthesettlementprocess(Objective2)anddrewparticipantsfromsettlementserviceprovidersacrosstheprovince.Therewereabout60participantsinattendance.Thedayincludedvariouspresentations,facilitateddiscussions,andwrappedupwithanopendiscussiononhowtoeffectivelyengagethewholesectorandreportinacoordinatedandconsistentmanner.

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Summary of Key Outcomes

Day 1 1. SaskatchewandidwellinsettlingthelargenumberofSyrianrefugeesinashortperiod.2. Keysuccessfactorsincludebutarenotlimitedto:

a. Effectivecommunication,coordination,communityengagementandcollaborationb. Communityandpublicresponse,whichwasverypositiveandoverwhelmingc. Increasedfocusonprivatesponsorship.d. Partnershipswiththecommunityandprivatesectore. Experiencedandcompetentsettlementstaff,andsupportiveboardsofdirectorsf. Innovationandcreativitye.g.MooseJaw’sAreaLeadModelg. Province-wideconferencecallsandinformationsharingthroughthedashboard.

3. Opportunitiesemergedtocreatenewpartnershipsandstrengthenexistingones.4. IRCCtocontinueworkingwithcommunitiesandsettlementagenciestoensuresuccessfullong-term

integration.5. Challengesinclude:

a. Thehighnumbersandshorttimeframeweredaunting.b. Delaysinstart-upcheques.c. ManagingthespecialtreatmentgiventotheSyrianrefugees–needsfollow-up.d. ManagingexpectationsoftheSyrianrefugees–needsfollow-upe. Managingreligiousandculturalcommunities–needsfollow-upf. Managingthepublicoutpouringofsupport.g. Clarifyingexpectations,rolesandresponsibilitiesofcommunityagencies

Day 2 1. Wealthofspatialinformationtobesoonavailableforsettlementandintegration–Immigration

ResearchWest[IRW]needvolunteerstotesttheGeographicalInformationSystem[GIS]map.2. Federalgovernmentiscommittedtoincreasingimmigrationlevelsrequiringsystemsapproachto

servicedeliveryinordertoensureeffectiveuseofthelimitedfundstowardachievingbetteroutcomesfornewcomers.

3. Evidencebasedfundingwillcontinuetobethenorm,makingitveryimportanttotellingourstoryinacoordinatedandsuccinctmanner.Themorecomprehensivethesystemapproach,thebetterthestrategyforidentifyingnewcomerneedsandensuringproperallocationoffunds.Thereisaneedtofindwaystobettermeasuresuccess.

4. Theperformancebasedimmigrantsettlementandintegrationframeworkbeingdevelopedbytheprovincial,territorialandfederalgovernments,titled,“HelpingImmigrantsSucceed”,alsoshowshowimportantitistobeabletotellourstorieswithevidence.

5. LessonslearnedfromtheSyrianrefugeesettlementtobeappliedtothewholesettlementsector:a. Provincialcoordinationtobeextendedtowholesector,potentiallythroughquarterly

meetingsb. Dashboardtobeadaptedandusedfortellingthestoryofallcategoriesofnewcomersc. Developmentofaprovince-widedatacollectionsystemthatcapturesinformationonall

categoriesofnewcomers.Thistoincludenarrativereportingandneedsassessmenttoolsfor

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employment,languagetrainingsettlement,socialconnection,communityconnections,healthcare,youthfamilyetc.

d. Province-wideWorkingGroupstobeactivelyengagedinworkingonthesetoolstoensurebottom-upinputmodel.

6. Intermsofprogramming,thefollowingcameup:

KeyEmergingIssues ProgrammingEmerginginitiatives/projects

Approaches/partnershipsthatcouldbeuseful

Rural/smallcommunities

• Childcare• Limitedjobopportunities• Weakpublictransportationsystem• Volunteerrecruitmentandretention

challenge• Mentalhealthandfamilyviolence• LimitedEnglishlimitingcommunity

participation

• Partnershipswithlocalagencytoengagekidsinactivities

• Increasedpartnershiptoaddressfamilyviolence

• Communityinclusionthroughcommunitytours

• Partnershipwithschooldivisions,healthregionsandotheragencies

• Additionalstaffingneededtosupportthelargeruralareasservices

• Communityfeedbackmechanismcouldhelp

LanguageAssessment/Training

• Childcare–stringentprovincialandCareforNewcomerChildren[CNC]regulationsprohibitive

• Needforinterpretersincreasingforregistration

• Transportation• Limitedassessors–waittimeincreasing• LowlevelEnglishincludingliteracy• NewCanadianLanguageBenchmarks[CLB]

documentnotaligningwithlanguagetrainingprogram

• Highlevelneedsintheruralarea–moreupperlevelstudentsthanlowerlevel.Needforblendedlearning–IT2TeachModel

• Improvedaccesstopost-secondary

• CLBbootcamp-PBLAforclassroomteachersfromCCLB–2programsforruralteachers

• Remoteassessmentpilotisavailableforruralareas.

• RemoteservicescanbesetupoutofLARC,specifyaday/venuewhenLARCassessorsdoassessment,anotheroptionofsettingofacentrewithinvigilatorsandassessedbyLARC.LARCdoesn’thavealicenceatthistimetosetuparemotecentre.

ChildrenandYouth

• Someschoolslackknowledgeaboutrefugeechildreneligibilityforprogramsandneeds

• NoEnglishasanAdditionalLanguage[EAL]accessinruralcommunities

• Programsforsinglemoms–needforwraparoundapproachtosupportsingleparents

• Mentalhealthissues,dentalissues–lackofattention,adaptation;integrationtakestime

• Somechildrendisplayingsymptomsofviolence:psychologicaltraumafromwarzone

• somechildrenarerunningaway• Youngkidsnotparticipatinginprograms• Needtofocusonpreschoolage,preparing

childrenforschool

• Drop-inkidsprogramandsummerpeacecampforpreschoolers

• Summeryouthprograms• Childrenandyouthprogramtoincludelanguagetrainingsuch

asFrenchandEnglishandmakingvideoabouttheirexperience• Youthemploymentcamp• Francophonecommunityislookingatdoingbilingualsummer

programming• Allprogramsneedtobeculturallysensitive• Preventativeprogramsaddressinghealthcareneedsof

childrenandyouth• LINCDaycare–lookingintohiringstafftodoresearchon

daycarespacesinthecommunityofReginaandtoconnectparents’services.

VulnerablePopulation/CaseManagement

• Health–ongoinghighchronicdisabilities• Domesticviolence–culturaldifference• Language–lowlanguagelevels

parenting/childcare;needforinterpretation• Highexpectationsofclientsfordependency

ofsupportservices• Highchild-mindingneeds–culturally,mixed

genderclassroomsystemisabarrier

• Refugeehealthcollaborativepartnership–RefugeehealthclinicinSaskatoon

• Reginahealthpartnerships• Otherregionsaccessingexistingsupportsforhealthsuchas

ProvidingAccessToHealth[PATH]• TrainingofstaffoncasemanagementinRegina• EnhancedLifeskill• Summerprogrammingforyouth• Pre-arrivalservicestosetrealisticexpectations• Needformoreinterpreters

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DAY ONE: Taking stock of how the Syrian refugee movement worked in Saskatchewan.

1. Best Practices

National Overview 1.1.Presentation by Deborah Tunis, Special Coordinator, Syrian Refugee Resettlement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

“Lessonslearnedisonlytheendofthebeginning,becausethebulkoftheworkcontinueswithcommunitiesandsettlementorganizationsensuringsuccessfullonger-termsettlementandintegrationprocessfortheSyrianrefugees”.

AsofMarch1st,thetotalnumberofSyrianrefugeesresettledinCanadawas26,140.SaskatchewanreceivedandsettledmoreSyrianrefugeesthanManitobaandthoughtheplan,intermsoftimelineandnumbers,wasambitious,thenewgovernment’scommitmentmadeitpossible.Syrianresettlementbecameapriorityandalllevelsofgovernment,localcommunities,thepublic,andtheprivatesectorwerefullyengagedandverysupportive.Eventhemediaattentionwaspositive.

Whenthefederalgovernmentannounceditsplantobringin25,000SyriansbytheendofDecember2015,variousgovernmentoperationsacrossdifferentdepartmentswereactivatedincludinggovernmentoperationcentresandemergencymanagementsystemsallacrossthecountry.Thefederalgovernment’splanforSyrianresettlementwasorganizedintofivephases:

• Phases1and2–Identificationandprocessingoverseas• Phases3,4and5–Welcome,longer-termsettlementandintegration.

Success factors: • Diversificationofprivatesponsorship–Recruitmentofnewsponsors,newprograms,andnew

stakeholders(e.g.Groupsof5(G5),BlendedVisaOfficeReferrals(BVOR),andtheSyrianFamilyLinksProgram).VariousgroupsacrossthecountrybeganactivelyencouragingtheprivatesponsorshipofSyrianrefugeesfromtheonsetoftheSyriancrisis.Thenewgovernment’sfocusonencouragingprivatesponsorswasalsosuccessfulininspiringnewsponsorships.Priortothis,BVORsrepresentedonlyasmallportionofthenumberscomingtoCanada.Inaddition,theoutpouringofcompassionandinterestfromcivilsocietytosponsorandsupportSyrianrefugeesresultedinanincreaseinsponsorshipapplications.CentralprocessinginWinnipegsawaspikeinapplications.Toharnessthisoutpouringofinterestintosustainablefutureprogramming,thedepartmentiscurrentlyinconsultationsondevelopingastrategyonhowtoreachouttoSponsorshipAgreementHolders.

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• Technology-ThedepartmentpartneredwiththeUnitedNationsHighCommissionerfor

Refugees(UNHCR)totransferSyrianfilestothedepartmentwhilemaintainingnecessarysecurityprocessesandprocedures.TheUNHCRsentover60,000textmessagestopotentialapplicants.

• Partnerships-Collaboratingwithinternationalpartnersenabledstreamlinedprocessing.PartnersincludedNationalDefence,PublicHealth,theInternationalOrganizationforMigration(IOM),andtheUNHCRoverseas.Theirsupportservicesweretremendouslyhelpful.

• Security-FullcompletionofmedicalsandsecurityclearanceswerecompletedandensuredbeforetraveltoCanada.Securitywastightenedandthesecurityclearanceswerecompletedoverseas,thusremovingtheneedtoholdpeopleinmilitarybasesupontheirarrivalinCanada.

• Charters-Transportationwasarrangedviaprivatelycharteredaircraftandmilitaryairliftfortheinitialflights.Therewere99Charteredflightsin86days.Thefirstflight,amilitaryairlift,wasdestinedforMontrealandToronto.Theotherairlinesthatparticipatedhadtheircostssubsidized.Thisdrasticallyreducedgovernment’sestimatedtravelcost.

• Communication–Informationaboutarrivalswassharedinatimelymannerthroughthegovernmentwebsiteandmedia.Thecommunicationnetworkputinplacebythedepartmenthasbeenphenomenalandwasmadepossiblebythenewgovernment’scommitmenttotransparencyandopenness.TheFederalMinisterofImmigration,RefugeesandCitizenship,JohnMcCallum,hasdonewellwithmediarelations,interviews,technicalbriefingsandopenconversationswithpeople.

• WelcomeCentres–Theseweretrulyheart-warmingplacesthatwitnessedcollaborationsbetweenseveralgovernmentdepartmentssuchasimmigration,customs,airportauthorities,ServiceCanada,andsoon,allworkingtogethertowardacommongoal.Itrequiredcoordinationofdestinationcentres,theprovinces,andmunicipalities,andeachwasremarkableinhowwellitperformed.Theprovincialgovernments,forexample,didagreatjobprovidingleadershiponeducation,health,andsocialservices.Headquarters’roleinplanningandpreparinghasbeenremarkable.

• ReceptionCapacity–Onwarddestiningofrefugeesatthematchingcentrewasinformedbyreal-timeinformationfromserviceprovidersonreceptioncapacityateachlocation.Themobilizationofindividuals,corporations,andcommunity-basedorganizationsallcontributedtothesuccessoftheinitiative.CommunitysupportandfundsfromorganizationssuchastheUnitedWayandtheRedCrossweresignificantlyhelpful.

Sett lement and integrat ion take t ime and require support: • IRCCResettlementAssistanceandSettlementprogramsaddressacontinuumofneedsand

priorities; • Otherfederaldepartmentsfocusonaffordablehousingstrategies,employment,public

health,andchildandfamilybenefits; • Provincestaketheleadoneducation,health,andsocialservices;and • Municipalgovernmentsdeliverkeyservicesrelatedtohousing,transportation,childcare,

recreation,andpolicing.

Key chal lenges: • Thepaceandscalewasdauntingandexhaustingforeveryone;

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• Thehigh-needsprofileofthisSyrianpopulation—mosthavelittleornoEnglishlanguageability.EnglishlevelslanguagerangefromliteracytoCLBlevel2;and

• Maintainingsupportandengagementwhileworryingaboutapotentialbacklashandlonger-termintegration.

Provincial Overview 1.2.Presentation by Mary Didowycz, Director, Settlement Policy and Programs, Ministry of the Economy

“Itwasanexciting,challengingandrewardingopportunitytoworktogetherwithinternalandexternalstakeholders.Thepassionbroughttotheprojecthasbeenphenomenal”.

TheprovinceofSaskatchewanimplementedavirtualcentre,theRefugeeSettlementCenter,modelledaftertheemergencyoperationcentreusedfortheforestfires.Refugeeresettlementatthisscalewasanewinitiativefortheprovince.ThroughtheEmergencyOperationCentre(EOC),variousministrieswereconsultedviaconferencecallsonhowtogoaboutmeetingneeds.

Themodelisnowbeingevaluatedtoidentifybestpracticesandisbeingusedinothercircumstances.Forinstance,inLaLoche,aschoolshootingrequireddifferentministriestocometogethertodealwiththesituation.TheSyrianrefugeeemergencyoperationmodelbecameaviabletoolandresource.

Oneparticularlygreatsuccesswashowcommunitiesandprovincialministrieslearnedabouttheservicesprovidedbysettlementagenciesacrosstheprovince.ManywereunawareofthesepriortotheSyrianinitiative.Now,theyhavebeguntounderstandthatthisisnotnecessarilyanemergencyoperation,butrathercontinuityofservicesalreadyprovidedbythesettlementagencies.Itwasa‘Resettlement101’thatreallyhelpedtoeducategovernmentofficialsonhowsettlementworks.

• Anopportunityforcoordinationandcollaborationasweworkedtoensurethatthoseinvolvedhadaccesstothesameinformation.

• Anavenueforlearningabouttheworkbeingcarriedoutbythegovernmentandothers,includingtheSaskatchewanAssociationofImmigrantSettlementandIntegrationAgencies(SAISIA),andsettlementagenciesacrosstheprovince.

• Partnershipsbegintodevelopwithinministriesinthegovernmentsectorsi.e.Socialservice,health,employment,education,housingetc.

Overall,thereweremoregoodthingsthatemergedasaresultofthisprocessthantherewerebumpsalongtheway.

Municipal Overview 1.3.Presented by Shannon Hanson, City of Saskatoon Community Development

“Coordinationandcommunicationiskey.”

ItwasimportantfortheCityofSaskatoontodeterminewhenitneededtohelpandwhentostayoutoftheway.TheCitytriedtoallowlocalsettlementagenciesdowhattheydobestwhilemakingsurethattheCitywasprovidinghelpandsupportwhereneededandnotputtinguproadblocks.

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TheSyrianRefugeeprojectalsoprovidedanexcellenteducationalopportunitytocityofficialswhoquicklylearnedthatthesettlementorganizationsareexpertsinthefield.Itwasarelieftorealizethattherewasnoneedtore-inventprocesses.Thecitytookonaroleofcoordinationandensuringclarityofroles;itwasinterestingtowatchthetransitionfromtheinitialuncertaintyofwhattodotoamorestructuredresponse.TheCitywouldliketorecognizethattheintensityandpaceforthefrontlinesettlementstaffwasoverwhelming.Thatsuchintensitywasmaintainedthroughouttheprojectwaslaudable.

Byandlarge,theroleoftheCityofSaskatoonwastosupporttheinitiativeandtodowhatitcouldtohelpcoordinateandassistnewcomersnavigateavailablesystemsinthecity.AnemphasiswasalsoplacedonconnectingnewcomerstotheFirstNationsandAboriginalcommunities.SAISIAwasinvolvedwithsomeofthecommunityconnectioneffortstowardbuildingawelcomingcommunitythroughtheIndigenousWelcomeeventforSyrianRefugeeshostedinSaskatoononWednesdayFebruary24,2016.

TheSyrianinitiativehasbeenagreatprocessfortheCityofSaskatoon,especiallyinregardstoidentifyingareasofsupportandtheroleofthecity.Localpoliticalsupportwasencouragedandstrongback-upandresourceswereallocatedtosupporttheinitiative.

TheCityofSaskatoonperformedmorebackendsupportthanfrontendinvolvement.Involvementincluded:

• Engaginglocalcommunitiesintheareasofcommunication,awareness,andeducation.• Holdinginformationsessionsforprivatesponsorshipgroups.• Facilitatingcommunicationwithinthesectorandparticipatinginconferencecalls.• Providingsupportintheformofleisureandbuspassesfornewcomers.• Coordinatingworkdonebysettlementagencies,SponsorshipAgreementHolders(SAHs),the

HealthRegion,SchoolBoards,andSAHs,andtheCityofSaskatoonCommunityDevelopment,Immigrationoffice.ThisbroughtpeopletogetherfromacrossthecommunityandclarifiedwhatroletheycouldplayintheSyrianrefugeeresettlementprocess.

• Maintaininganongoingconversationregardinglong-termplanforsocialintegration.

Saskatoonisawelcomingcommunitythatcanhelprefugeessettleandaccessnecessaryservicesandsupport.

Sponsorship Agreement Holders’ (SAHs) Overview 1.4.Presentation by Dana Krushel, Mennonite Central Committee, Saskatoon

“Thefederalgovernment’sfocusonprivatesponsorshipandthestrongdesiretohavetheSponsorshipAgreementHoldersatthetablearemuchappreciated.”

TheSyrianrefugeeresettlementprocessdidnotrequireanemergencyresponsefromSponsorshipAgreementHoldersgiventheirsponsorshipstructureandstrategyofonefamilypersponsorshipgroup.PrevioustoSeptember2015,theSponsorshipAgreementHoldersprogramhadessentiallybeenhalted,whichresultedinlargebacklogsandalongwaitinglist.FollowingthemediaattentiontotheSyrianboy’sdrowningdeathinSeptember,numerousphonecallswerereceivedfromgrassrootsindividualslookingforinformationonhowtohelpwithrefugeesponsorships.ItisastrengthoftheSponsorshipAgreement

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Holderstobeabletoquicklyconnectpeopleinresponsetowhatwashappening.SponsorshipAgreementHoldersdidexcellentworkofbringingagreatnumberofSyrianrefugeestoCanadathroughprivatesponsorships.

Sponsorship Agreement Holders’ best pract ices and opportunit ies: • InSaskatchewan,SponsorshipAgreementHoldersaretypicallyethnicassociationsandchurch-

basedgroups.However,becauseofthetrendingeventandlargecommunityinterest,communityinformationnightswerehostedinSaskatoonandRegina,inpartnershipwiththeCityofSaskatoon,CommunityDevelopmentandImmigration.Manypeopleattendedthesecommunityinformationnights.

• Asaresultofthestronglocalinterest,asecondsponsorshipstreamwascreated–theGroupof5(non-traditionalsponsorshipconstituent).Thisprovidedafurtheropportunityforpeopletocometogethertosponsorrefugees.Thishasbeenamoredifficultprocess,butpeoplehavebeengettingintotheprocessquitequickly.FifteencommunitygroupsacrossSaskatchewanareprivatelysponsoringfamiliesinconjunctionwiththeMennoniteCentralCommittee.Presently,30groupsareintheprocessorwaitingfortheirfamilies.

• Trainingisimportanttothelong-termsustainabilityandsettlementfornewcomerfamilies.Adequatetrainingalsopreventssponsorshipgroupburnout.

• TheSyrianinitiativeprovidedopportunitiestoworkwithmanynewpeoplethathadneverbeforebeenengaged.

Key chal lenges: • Sponsorshipgroupsadministereverything(language,employmentandsettlementinrural

areas)andneedtoknowthespecificsofavailableservicesinordertoconnectwiththem.• SponsorshipAgreementHoldersarelargelyrunbyvolunteersandmanagingliabilitycanbea

challengeandalotofmoneyneedstobedirectedtowardvolunteerservices.• Therehavebeendelaysinmanyrefugeesettlementcases.Someapartmentswererentedfor

refugeeswhohavenotshownup.• Refugeesarrivedwithlimitedunderstandingofwhatitmeanttobeprivatelysponsoredand

wantedtobe,forexample,atthehotelwiththegovernmentassistedrefugees.• Processesandwaitingperiodswerecompletelychangedfromhowthingsworkedinthepast,

whichpresentedachallengeintermsofmanagingexpectationsandassumptions.

The Saskatchewan Settlement Sector’s Overview 1.5.

YWCA Prince Albert 1.5.1.Presented by Ashley McLean, Manager, Settlement Services, YWCA Prince Albert

“Weexperiencedtremendouslocalpartnershipswhichledtosuccessfulplanninganddelivery.”

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Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • ApartnershipwiththeTravelodgeandalocalcarrentalcompanymadethearrivalprocess

easier.Thereweremanytripsbackandforthfromtheairport,andthissupportandcollaborationmadetheprocessrunsmoothly.

• TheSyrianinitiativeprovidedanexcellentopportunitytogrowastrongvolunteerbase.Priortotheinitiative,therewerenotmanypeopleinvolvedinthesettlementservicedeliveryinPrinceAlbert.WiththeSyrianinitiative,agreatnumberofpeoplecalledthesettlementofficeandaskedquestionsabouthowtheycouldhelp.Twoback-to-backvolunteerinformationsessionswerehostedresultinginover200volunteerssigningup.Morethanhalfofthesearecurrentlyactivelyengaged.Someofthevolunteershavecommittedtomentoringandsupportingnon-SyrianfamiliesthatmayarriveinPrinceAlbertinthefuture.Thosewhohavenotyetbeenengagedarebeingkeptonholdforfutureneeds.

Key Chal lenges – unique because Pr ince Albert is neither rural nor urban • Thedelayofstart-upchequesdelayedallotherprocessesandmeantthatclientswereinhotels

muchlongerthantheycouldhavebeen.• Theshiftfromvideoorientationstoin-personorientationsaddedhourstothedayandwasa

drainonresources.• TheSyriangroupdynamicwassomethingpreviouslyunknown.Syrianclientstendtocongregate

ingroups,comparenotesasagroupandevenprefertodealwithsettlementcounsellorsasagroup.

• ThedifferenceinservicesavailabletohelpSyriansversusnon-Syriansischallenging.TherehasbeengreatsupportanddonationsforSyrians.However,providingdonationstoonlyonegroupofclientsposesachallenge.Thereisaneedtodiscusshowtoredirectthefocusofdonationstoensureequalityamongclients.

• Thelocationofthedaycarewasfarfromthemainoffice.Asolutionwasfoundforthisproblembyhavingadaycareworkerescortchildrentoandfromthecentrallocationbybus.

• Managingthehighdemandforhealthcareischallenging.Inadditiontoimmunizations,dentalhygiene,anddentalscreening,andregularhealthappointments,healthcarepersonnelareeagertoreferclientstospecialists.

• Alackofengagementwithculturalassociationsandreligiousgroupspresentedchallengesinthebeginning.

Awordofadvice:“Don’ttrynewthingswhenyouhaveatriedandtestedmethodinplace.”

Moose Jaw Multicultural Council 1.5.2. Presented by Stefanie Palmer, Executive Director and Lauren McTaggart, Settlement Services Manager, Moose Jaw Multicultural Council

“Lotsofexistingcommunitypartnershipshavebeenstrengthened.”

Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • DesignationofAreaLeadsearlyintheprojectplanning.Insteadofthetraditionalmethodof

assigningfamiliestoonesettlementworker,withtheAreaLeadmodel,astaffmemberwas

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giventheleadinaserviceareaandsupportteam.Thisapproachhelpedtoavoidduplicationofservices,andallowedforbetterplanning,coordination,communicationandservicedelivery.Settlementteamarealeadsmetregularlytodiscusshowthedaywouldgo,ensuringeveryonegottotheirappointments,identifiedpotentialproblems,andstrategizedonhowtoresolvechallenges.Arealeadsconsistedof:

o Transportationandhousingo Healthandmedicalo Education,includinglanguageassessment,LINC,anddaycareo Donationsmanagemento Formsanddocumentationo Banksandutilitieso Orientationandsocialconnectionso Volunteermanagement

• Introductionofarotationalon-callweekendstaffschedulefortraveltoandfromtheairportinReginapreventedburnoutandguaranteedtimeforstafftofocusontheirfamily.Also,thisprovidedtheopportunityformorestaffmemberstogainexperienceandinvolvementinthesettlementprocessthusfosteringastrongerteam.

• Mobilehomesinsteadofhotelsfortemporaryaccommodationalleviatedstressonclientsastheywerenotconfinedinhotelrooms,andchildrenhadmoreroomtoplay.

• ApartnershipwiththeSalvationArmyandtheIwillHelpMooseJawFacebookpagehelpedwithdonationmanagement.AlldonationswenttotheSalvationArmytosupporttheSyrianfamilies,whichalleviatedstaffresponsibilityinthisareaandnurturedpartnershipswithlocalcommunityorganizationsthatcontinuetoflourish.

• A15-passengervanwasdonatedasaresultofthisinitiative.ThisisthepermanentpropertyofMJMC,andisbrandedwiththeMJMClogo.

Key Chal lenges • Themanagementofmedicalneedswasmorethantheonestaffmemberassignedtothistask

couldhandle.Healthcareneedswereveryhighandinvolvedmorethanoneclinic.• Managingtheroleofpartneragencies.Althougheveryonewantedtohelp,theyeachfeltthat

theiragendawasthemostimportant.Forexample,primaryhealth,publichealth,andnutritioneachhadalistofthingsthey‘needed’todoimmediately.Assigningspecificdaysforclinicvisitsandlaboratoryworkcouldhavehelped.

• Privacyconcernsaroundmedicalspreventedholdinggroupsessions,whichwouldhavehelpedstreamlinethemanyback-to-backtravelsmadebythepublichealthnurse.Meetingswereheldwithhealthofficialstodiscussgapsandculturalsensitivityissues,waystoaddresstheseissues,anddeterminebestpractises.

• Thelogisticsofhowtotransportfamilieswithyoungchildrenwhorequiremanycarseatsforgroceriesandotherneedswasreallydifficult,andtherewasalwayscompetitionforthecarseats.Thegoodnewsisthenewlydonated15-seatvanwasapositiveoutcomeandsolutiontothischallenge!

• Onesinglenon-SyrianindividualarrivedamidstalltheSyrianarrivals.Dealingwiththissituationandensuringtheclientwasnotleftalonewaschallengingasthisclientfeltdifferentfromotherclientswhoallhadfamiliesandsharedthesameculturalvalues.

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• PlanningforclientswhonevershoweduporhavingclientsdestinedforReginashowingupinMooseJawwaschallenging.Intheend,itallworkedout.

Regina Open Door Society 1.5.3.Presented by Getachew Woldeyesus, Settlement and Family Services Manager, Regina Open Door Society

“Specialthankstoallthoseinvolvedintheprojectatdifferentlevels,includingServiceProviderOrganizationstaff,SponsorshipAgreementHolders,Cities,Municipalities,Province,andIRCClocal,regional,andnationalofficers.Ithasbeengreatteamwork!”

Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • Intheearlyplanningprocess,ReginaOpenDoorSocietyofferedtotake800Syrianrefugees.

Fourhundredarrived,whichwasnoproblematall.• Thewebsitewasrevampedtoincludeadvertisingforvolunteersandhousingsupport.Withina

week,about400housingunitsweremadeavailable.Variousorganizations,includingtheairportauthority,offeredtohelp.Over200localsofferedtovolunteer.

• Toharnessthehighmediainterest,amediaemaillistwascreatedspecificallyforpressreleases,technicalbriefingsandmediacorrespondenceregardingtheSyrianinitiative.

• ReginaOpenDoorSocietycoordinateditseffortswithvariousorganizationsandbodies:o CityofRegina:TheCitysupportedeffortswithcitytransitbuses.o TheEmergencyOperationCentre,avirtualsitecreatedbytheProvince:workedtoward

successfulprogramdeliveryontheSyrianinitiative,especiallywithregardstovolunteermanagement,housing,andsecurity.

o DonationswerecoordinatedthroughtheSalvationArmy,exceptforthedonationofsanitarysupplies,whichwerecoordinatedthroughtheFoodBank.

o TheReginaPoliceServicewasactivelyinvolvedaswell.o TheReginaOpenDoorSocietycoordinateddailybriefingsandregularsectormeetings

withtheschoolboardandthecommunity,builtstrongpartnershipswiththecommunity,andfacilitatedhealthassessmentneeds.Theschoolboardisveryengagedinthesettlementprocess.

• ReginaOpenDoorSocietystafffocusedprogramsonSyrianfamiliesandorganizedactivitiesatthehotel.Aclinicwasopenedinthehotelasneeded.

• Summerprogramsarebeingplannedforyouthandfamily.• TheinvolvementoftheprivatesectorandthecommunityhasallowedRODStobuildcapacity

withinitsagency.Forexample,$40,000wasdonatedbytheCo-operatorstoofferemploymentprogrammingforSyrianrefugees.Somehighschoolstudentsraised$60,500insupportofEnglishLanguageclasses.Also,therewasaCommunityFoundationinitiativetosupporthousingtransitionforclientswithseverehealthneeds.

Key Chal lenges • Theextensivemediaattentionmeantalsothatthegeneralpublicwasscrutinizingtheagency.

Therefore,managingpublicrelationsbecameaveryimportanttaskfortheagency.

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• ThereisaneedforadditionaleffortsbeingputintopubliceducationsothatthewiderpublicfeelscomfortablelivinginthesamecommunityandneighbourhoodasSyrianrefugees.

• Needtoexaminehowtosustainpublicinterestinordertocontinuebenefitingfromtheirgoodwillandsupport.Atthesametime,thereisaneedtotrytoshifttheattentionofCanadianstowardhelpingotherrefugees,notonlySyrians.

• Managingtheexpectationsofothersectorsandclarifyingroleswerechallenging:PublicHealthandHealthRegion,forexample,wanttoconducthealthassessmentinthenextthreemonths.Thisistaxingonagencystaffandinterpretersanddifficulttobalancewiththeexistingresources.

• Itischallengingtogrowthecapacityoforganizationsinordertobeabletoprovideongoingsupportsuchassummerprogramsforyouth.ThenumberofSyrianyouthwhowouldbenefitfromsummerprogrammingisveryhigh.Reginaisconfidentthattheywillbeabletooffercomprehensivesummerprograms.Localpartnershavebeenengagedanddiscussionsareunderwayonhowtomakethishappen.

• Dealingwithclients’expectationsis,initself,achallenge!Asaresultofreceivingmanygiftsupontheirarrival,someclientsfeelentitledtocontinuereceivingsuchthings.Thechallengeishowtoshiftthemtowardindependenceandself-reliance.

• Itcanalsobechallengingtoalignnewcomers’needswithaserviceprovider’sviewpointastowhatisintheclient’sbestinterest.Forinstance,anewcomermayfeeltheneedtobeginworkimmediatelywhereastheserviceprovidermayfeelthatlearningEnglishneedstohappenfirst.Findingabalancebetweenemploymentandlanguageisimportant.

Saskatoon Open Door Society 1.5.4. Presented by Ali Abukar, Executive Director, Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS)

“SODSwasconfidentlyabletodeliverservicesbecauseofstaffexpertise,competence,andyearsofexperienceinsettlementservices.”

Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • Strongvolunteermanagementinresponsetothehugeinterestinthecommunitytosupportthe

Syrianrefugeeresettlementprocess.Forthefirsttime,SaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyhadavolunteerwaitlist.Informationandorientationsessionswereheldregularlyforvolunteerengagementinthecommunity.

• Donationsweremanagedbytheagencywithsupportfromcommunityorganizationsandindividuals.Volunteerswerescheduledtoassistwithsortingofdonationitemsandtheprivatesectordonatedstoragespace.

• Theuseofthreehotelsforinitialaccommodationandthedonationofhotelspacefororientationsandservices.

• Asawaytoaddresspressingneedsforyouthprograms,thecommunityconnectionsteamstartedcoordinatingchildrenandyouthactivitieswhilefamilieswerestillatthehotels.OtherprogrammingareassuchasSSWISalsoconductedorientationandinformationsessionsatthehotelthatworkedwell.

• Forpermanentaccommodation,astrongpartnershipwasdevelopedwithsomehousingagenciesinthecitythusfacilitatingquickaccesstopermanenthousing.

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• Theschoolboardassistedwithgroupassessmentandregistration• TheAirportAuthoritywasalsoverysupportiveandallowedSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietystaff

togointotherestrictedareatoprepareSyrianfamiliesforthemedia.• OfficialsfromtheCityofSaskatoonwerealsoinvolvedinmediamanagementandcontrol.Some

werepresentattheairporttomeetthefamiliesinseparateroomsthathadnomediacoverage.• Otherprocessesinplacewithpartnersinthecommunitywereveryhelpfulinfacilitatingthe

Syrianrefugees’settlementprocess.

Key Chal lenges • ManagingthemediaandtheexpectationsoftheSyrianrefugeeswaschallenging.• Managingtheoverwhelmingsupportanddonationsfromthecommunitywasachallenge.The

agencyhadtosaynotosomedonationitemsastheydidnotmeetdonationrequirementcriteria.

• Communitybacklash:staffinthecommunityprogramarebeginningtonoticeanti-immigrantrhetoric,especiallyfrommembersoflow-incomefamiliesinthesamecommunitywhereSyriansreside.ThespecialtreatmentbeinggiventoSyrianrefugeesisstirringuphatredforimmigrantsingeneral.

• Delayintheprocessofprovidingadditionalfundingtofacilitateneedsassessmentandlanguagetrainingasfastaspossible.Ittakestimetogetstaffandteachersforlanguagetraining.Therefore,itisimportantthatfundsaremadeavailableaspromptlyaspossibleforqualityservicedelivery.

• Overkillintermsofreportingrequirementsandfeedbackontopofalltheworkthatwasbeingdone,includingtheweeklyanddailycallsduringtheearlystagesoftheinitiative.

Global Gathering Place 1.5.5.Presented by Lori Steward, Community Relations Manager, Global Gathering Place

“TheGlobalGatheringPlace’ssuccessinthisinitiativestemmedfromaggressivevolunteerrecruitmentandtrainingsessionsinadditiontodevelopingstrongpartnershipsandmaintainingaseparatedatabaseforSyrians.”

Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • Theuseofvolunteers:Allvolunteersreceivedfullorientationsandhadtheircriminalrecords

checked.Volunteerswerematchedtoappropriatesituationsandtasksasneeded.• Manyinterpreterswererecruitedandgivenfullorientationstoensuretheyhadproper

knowledgeofwhatisexpectedofthemandconfidentialityagreements,withemphasisontask-needsalignment.

• HeavyrecruitmentofArabicspeakingstaffandvolunteershelpedinclientservice.Agenciesandindividualsfromhealthsectorscameinandmadepresentations,usingArabicspeakers

• Fordonations:specificlistofneedswassetupandcommunicatedtothecommunity.Thatway,therewasnoneedforstorageorofdiscouragingthecommunityfromdonating.

• LifeSkillsworkerswerecoordinatedthroughdatamanagementandvaluestreammapping–dividingthecityintoareaswhereclientsreside,givingeachlifeskillworkeranareaoffocustomaximiseefficiencyofprogramdeliveryandreducetraveltime.

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• AseparatedatabaseforSyrianrefugeesincludedinformationonhealthinformationandmedicalappointments.Thismadedailyplanningeasier.

• Presentationsweredeliveredingroupsessions,andfollowedupwithone-on-onepresentationsasneeded.

Key Chal lenges • IntermsofProgramming:clientscameinwithlargefamilieswithmanychildren,lowlevelsof

Englishlanguage,andlowliteracylevels.Thispresentedachallenge,andstaffhadtomakeadjustmentsinthewaystheyworkedwiththesenewcomers.Acalloutwasmadeforvolunteersforchild-mindingandinterpretation.Thechurchhall,whichisconnectedtoGlobalGatheringPlacebyapass-through,providedadditionalspaceforsessionsandchild-mindingwithoutadditionalcost.

• Someclientsreceivedtheirsupportpaymentlate.Thisimpactedlifeskillstrainingoutcomes,asmanyclientsdidn’thavemoneyintheirbankaccountstobeabletotakepartinhands-ontrainingongroceryshopping,buyingbuspasses,etc.GlobalGatheringPlacewashoweverflexibleintheirservicedeliveryapproachtomanagethesituation.

• Withthehighnumberofmomsandchildren,GlobalGatheringPlacefeltthatyoungmothersshouldnotbeisolated,somomsandbabies’programswereorganized.

Language Assessment and Referral Centre 1.5.6.Presented by Renata Cosic, Coordinator, Language Assessment and Referral Centre, International Women of Saskatoon

“SettingasideonedayforSyrianrefugeeassessmentworkedverywell.”

Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • Aspecificdayoftheweekwassetasideforclientintake.Child-mindingserviceswereofferedon

thisday.• LanguageassessmentshavebeencompletedforallSyrianrefugees.Sofar,atotalof124

assessmentshavebeencompletedfor2015/2016,andabout85childrenreceivedchild-mindingserviceswhiletheirparentswerebeingassessed.

• Overall,thecoordinationbetweenSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyandtheLanguageAssessmentandReferralCentrewentreallywell.

Key Chal lenges • Challengesincludeclientsnotshowingupforassessmentappointments.

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Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies 1.5.7.Presented by Beulah Gana, Director, SAISIA

“SaskatchewanCares!ThepeopleofSaskatchewanwentaboveandbeyond.”

Best pract ices and opportunit ies: • SaskatchewanCaresisaplatformforinformationsharingandameanstosensitize,mobilize,

educateandengageSaskatchewanpeopleintheSyrianinitiative.Therewasgreatparticipationandsupportfrommemberagencies,211Saskatchewan,UnitedWaySaskatoonandtheCityofSaskatoon.EffortsarebeingmadetoengageotherrefugeereceptioncitiesacrossSaskatchewan.

• Weeklycallshavebeenbeneficialinfosteringengagement,collaborationandinformationsharing.SAISIAwillcontinuetopromotecollaborationandpartnerships.

• AservicemapofeachofthecentreshasbeencreatedanduploadedontheSaskatchewanCareswebsite.TheSyrianSettlementDashboardisalsoanoutcomeofthiscentralcoordinationofsettlementneedsassessmentinSaskatchewan.

General Discussion on Successes, Best Practices, Opportunities and 1.5.8.Challenges

Move-out Reports: What can we do in Saskatchewan to ensure local officers receive timely move-out reports?

• Coordinatewithsettlementofficersandclarifyanymissedcomponentonthemove-outreports.• Makeitapolicytosetacertaintimeframeforprovidingmove-outreports.• Sendaconfirmationthatthemove-outreporthasbeenreceived.• Setaservicestandardastowhenaclient’smove-outchequewillarrive.• IfIRCCsetsastandardforreportsubmission,therealsoshouldbeafollow-upremindertothe

agencies.

New Staff : Was it challenging to train new staff within the short time frame of the project? • Therewasn’tenoughtimetoconductseparatetraining,sonewResettlementAssistance

Programstaffwerepairedwithexperiencedstafftostart.• Thelackofawrittenmanualwasachallenge.Providingnoticeofaboutsixmonthspriorto

projectcommencementwouldhavehelpedagreatdeal,especiallywhentryingtoadjustthelevelofavailablefunds.Practicumsocialworkstudentswereofgreatassistance.

Boards of Directors: What were the reactions of board members to things like the moving funding target or delays? In some jurisdictions, it was reported that board members were uncomfortable with the process of funding and the delays. Was it a challenge at any point?

• Boardmembershavebeenverysupportive.• BoardmembersweresensitivetocriticismonFacebook.• Someboardmembersassistedwithmediarelations.• Ingeneral,thekeytogainingtheboard’sconfidenceisregularbriefing.

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2. New Partnerships Developed as a Result of the Syrian Init iative Discussion facilitated by Getachew Woldeyesus (SAISIA) and Marie Louise Bourdeau (IRCC)

Discussion Questions: • Whatareexamplesofnewlyformedpartnerships?• Whatarethenextstepsneededtosustainthesepartnerships(newandold)?• Howdoweencourageandstrengthenthesepartnerships?• Whatarethepivotalneedsoffrontlineworkersinmaintainingpartnerships?• Sharedclients,sharedconcerns/issues/problems.• Howdoweworktogetherforaclientfocusedandcenteredresult?• Whatistheroleoffunders?

Provincial Ministry of the Economy 2.1.

Provincia l Emergency Operation Centre for Syr ian Resett lement. • Itwasagreatmeansoflinkingwithvariousministries,departments,municipalitiesandsectors.• ItfosteredcommunicationacrosstheprovinceandwithOttawa.• Thereweresomebumpsinthebeginning–regardingclarifyingrolesandresponsibilities,and

timelines.• Communicationsandinformationsharinghappenedatsuchrapidandfastpacefor

Saskatchewan.Overtime,communicationgotbetterwiththefederalgovernmentandapartnershipdevelopedasaresultofthis.

• PartnershipwiththeGovernmentofCanadawasstrengthenedwithadelegationfromtheProvincejoiningtheconversationsinOttawaonoperations.

• Itwouldhavebeengoodifdelegationswerealsosentfromthesettlementsectortoparticipateintheoperationsconversation.

• TheEmergencyOperationModelisbeingusedinmanagingemergingcrisiswithreportedpositiveoutcomes.

Settlement Sector 2.2.

YWCA - Prince Albert 2.2.1.• EstablishedastrongerpartnershipwiththeRedCross,whichisprovidingsomefundingfor

youthsummerprogramming.ThisisfairlynewinPrinceAlbert.• SpaceisachallengeinPrinceAlbert.However,theAnglicandiocesesofPrinceAlbertprovided

churchspaceforeventswhenevertheneedarose.

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Saskatoon Open Door Society 2.2.2.• AvenueLivingHousingAgency:EarlyoninthesettlementprocessforSyrianrefugees,the

AvenueLivingHousingAgencywaseagertoparticipateandwantedtocontributefinanciallyandgaveadonationtosupportprogramming.

• SaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyencounteredachallengewithCIBCbankwithregardstoopeningaccountsforSyrianrefugeesowingtothebank’spolicyonclient’scountryoforigin.Scotiabank,however,steppeduptothechallengebyopeningbankaccountsforclients.Thebankmadepresentationsatthehotelsandofferedgroupservicesforopeningaccounts.PresentationswereofferedinArabic,andArabic-speakingstaffwerefullyengagedinprovidingclientservices.ScotiabankalsomadedonationstosettlementagenciesallacrossCanadainsupportoftheSyrianinitiative.

• WestsideCommunityCentreprovidedspaceforallspaceneeds.AlsoQueensHouseofRetreatprovidedworkshopsandspace.SwadeshRestaurantprovidedfoodforallprograms.

Global Gathering Place 2.2.3.• ApartnershipthatincludedGlobalGatheringPlaceaswellasprivatephysiciansand

paediatricians,theSaskatoonCommunityClinic,theSaskatoonHealthRegion,theCollegeofMedicine,PublicHealth,theSaskatoonCommunityClinicandtheSaskatoonHealthRegion(PrimaryHealth,PublicHealth,MentalHealthandAddictions,etc.),CollegeofMedicine,andtheSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyassistedgreatlyinmeetingthehealthcareneedsoftheSyrianrefugeesgiventhehighhealthcareneedsofthispopulation.

• ThePartnershipopenedaRefugeeHealthClinicduringtheperiodthathelpedtoattendtorefugeemedicalneeds.GlobalGatheringPlacecoordinatedwithSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietytogetpeopletotheclinic.

• Allclientsreceivedvaccinations,laboratorywork,healthassessments,andwerematchedtoahomephysicianforfollowup.Itishopedthatthispartnershipcancontinueintothefuture.

• NowthattheSyrianrefugeeinitiativeisover,theagencyislookingforamorepermanentclinicbeyondtheSyrianproject.

• GlobalGatheringPlacecontinuestoworkwithfaithgroups,schools,andcommunity-basedorganizationstoprovideeducationaboutrefugeesandnewcomers.

Regina Open Door Society 2.2.4.• EnjoyedstrongcorporatepartnershipswithcorporationssuchasSaskPower,SaskEnergy,and

SaskTel.Representativesfromthesecorporationswerewillingtomeetandwereflexiblewithformsandassistedwithgroupprocessing.

• Strengthenedcommunitypartnershipswithprimaryhealth,publichealth,refugeeclinic,dentalclinics,andarecurrentlylookingintomentalhealthneeds.

• Regardinghousing,landlordshavebeenverysupportive.• Intermsofcommunityconnectionsandsummerprogramming,educationalinstitutionssuchas

SaskatchewanPolytechnicandtheUniversityofReginaarerunningsummerprogramsforchildrenandyouth.Theyalsoprovidedworkplacementsandpracticums.

• TheCityofReginawasalsoactivelyengagedintheprocessandwouldliketokeepthatup.

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Moose Jaw Multicultural Council 2.2.5.• TheMooseJawHousingAuthoritywasabletoaccommodatelargefamilies.• RedCrossprovidedmoneytoexpandthesummerprogramandbabysittersupport.• SalvationArmyhelpedinthecoordinationofdonations,whichwasbeyondthecapacityofthe

agency.• Byandlarge,regularcommunitypartnershipswererekindledandstrengthened.

Partnership Strengthening and Sustainability 2.3.

• Ensureadequateresources:Resourcesandtimeareimportanttosustainingpartnerships.Forexample,strengtheningpartnershipwiththehealthregion,especiallyinregardstomentalhealthisveryimportant.However,sustainingsuchpartnershipsconsumesresourcesandtime.TheGlobalGatheringPlacehasaprogramcalledPATH(ProvidingAccessToHealthcare)thatiswellpositionedtodothis,butlacksstaffresourcesforeffectiveservicedelivery–only1individualstaffstheprogram.Consideringthevolumeofdirectclientwork,andvariouspartneragenciesinvolved,itbecomesnecessarytohaveadditionalstaffforthisparticularjob.

• RemainFlexible:Itmaximisesresourceswhenthereisflexibilityinregardtothefunders’mandatewhetherprovincialorfederal,especiallyinregardtospacesharingandprogramming.Somepartnersmayhavemoney,justenoughtodoactivitiesbutnotenoughtopaystaff.However,funderswanttheirnameontheproject.Itisimportant,therefore,toaccommodatepartnershipflexibilityinorderthatanagencymayutilizeitsstaffwhoarebeingfundedbyonefundingpartnertoachieveadditionalsuccessinaprogrambeingfundedbyanotherpartner.Suchanapproachsupportsachievingcommongoalsandfacilitatesgettingmoreoutputfromthestaffposition.

• EncourageOpenCommunication:Thereistheneedtohaveongoingconversationwithpartners,consideringthattheprocessofdevelopingrelationshipsrequireslotsofplayersandvariousprocessesofengagement.

• ClarifyExpectations:Itisimportanttohaveclearconversationswithfundersinregardstoexpectationsandobjectives.Forinstance,somefundingpartnersmaywantacertaincontributionfromasettlementagencyinsupportofaparticularprogram.E.g.settlementagencymaybeaskedtocoverthecostofinterpretationforaprogram.Itisnecessarytohaveaclearandwelldefinedprogramscopetoensurethatneedsalignwithavailableresources.

• MaintainFlexibleHours:Findwaystoaccommodateflexiblehoursforsettlementstaffinordertoworkwiththeavailabilitiesandtimingofvolunteers.Facilitatevolunteertrainingandinformationsessionstoavoidmisinformationanddisconnectinservicedelivery.

• MaintainaBalancebetweenServiceDeliveryandClientNeeds:Devisethemeanstobalanceservicedeliveryinconcertwithclientneeds.Someclientspreferinterpretationservicefromaninsider,whilesomedonot;however,itisimportanttomanageclients’expectationbygivingthempriorinformationonwhattoexpect,includinginterpretationsandfamilysupportservices.

• CreateMeansforFeedback:Developafeedbackloopwhererefugeescanprovidefeedbacktotheagency;thiswillhelptoidentifyservicesbeingprovidedbyotheragenciesandavoidrepetition.

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Engaging Ethno-Cultural Communities and Groups 2.3.1.• IdentifyandEngageExistingGroups:Identifyexistinggroupsinvariouscommunities;engage

theminplanningandcoordinationefforts;andengagetheminthecommunicationprocess,especiallyinregardstoplacesofworshipandsocialnetworks.Localimmigrationpartnershipscouldplayanimportantroleinthisregard.

• RecruitVolunteersfromEthno-CulturalGroups:Engagereligiousandethno-culturalgroupsinthevolunteerpool.Engagepeoplefromotherculturesinthewelcomingprocess,notonlythoseofthesameorsimilarculturalbackground,inordertoencourageculturesharing.

Parenting Programs and School Boards 2.3.2.• SaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyrunsaparentingprograminpartnershipwithSaskatoonFamily

Services.TheagencyiscurrentlyindiscussionswiththeMinistryofSocialServicestoexpandtheseprograms.

• OngoingParent-AidProgramsarelinkedtoSchools,MinistryofEducation,MinistryofHealth,andFamilyServices.Programminghascommunityengagementandexpectationmanagementbuiltin.Thereistheneedfortheprovincetosupportthiseffortinlocalcommunities.

• Mentalhealthisahugeconcerninvariouscommunities,andwillrequirecarefulcoordination.• Thereshouldbeaformofpushfromtheprovincialleveltovariouspartners,ontheimportance

ofprovidingservicestomutualclients.• TheSettlementWorkersInSchools[SWIS]programisverystrong,andthereisanongoing

conversationfornewprogramminginsupportoffamilies.• ReginaOpenDoorSocietyrunsprogramssuchasKidsfirst.Theprogramisstructuredsuchthat

thereisachildpsychologist,aspeechpathologistandsocialworkerwhoworkcloselyintermsofprogramdelivery.Nobody’sPerfectisanotherprogrambeingdeliveredinconnectionwiththeMinistryofSocialServices.It’sanalternativetoviolenceprogramdevelopedinconjunctionwithalocaljudge.

• Inregardstotheschoolboard,ReginaOpenDoorSocietyhavemadealotofprogress,especiallyinensuringthattheroleofSettlementWorkersInSchoolsarenotconfusedwiththoseofTeacherAids,astheformerareplacedinschoolstosupportstudentsintheirfamilies.

• Buildandmaintainpartnershipsbyengagingfederalandlocalpoliticians,aswellascitizensandthegeneralpublic,provincialgovernmentsandmunicipalities.

• ThereisanemergingconcernthatalotofpeoplearenotwellinformedthatnewcomersareSaskatchewanresidents.Assuch,somepeopleinvariouscommunitiesacrossSaskatchewanarebeginningtoexpressconcernsaboutcostsassociatedwiththeSyrianrefugees.Thereisaneedtoeducatethegeneralpublicthatnewcomers,includingSyrianrefugees,areSaskatchewanresidentsanddeservesettlementservicesaswellasthefullrangeofservicesavailabletoanyresident(e.g.health,education,socialservices).

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Summary on How to Engage Partners 2.4.• Ensurethatpre-arrivalplanningtakesplace• Educategeneralpublic,mediagovernment,etc.ontheresourcesforrefugeesupportalreadyin

placeandtheexperienceofthesettlementsector• Ensuresufficientresourcesforpartnershipsustainability• Fundersshouldbeflexibleaboutusingresourcestoachievecommongoals• Fundersshouldprovideclearexpectationsandobjectives• Engageinhonestdialogueandopencommunicationamongfundersandsettlementproviders• Engagediverseethno-culturalgroupsinvolunteerrecruitmentcoordinationandplanning• Workwithbanks,post-secondarysector,municipalgovernmentsandcorporatesector,but

defineclearrolesfordifferentorganizations• Createmechanismsforongoingfeedbackandevaluation

3. Connecting the Dots – Bridging Relations with Private Sponsors Discussions facilitated by Susan Coughlan (IRCC) and Dana Krushel (MCC)

Discussion Questions: • Whatarewedoingthatisworkingwell?Whatcanwedotobeproactivelyengaged?• Howcanwemakeitworkforall,includingsmallgroupsandcentres?• Whatdoesitlooklikebeinginclusive?Wayforward-Futureplans?

“Theinformationofprivatesponsorshipdoesnottrickledowntofrontlineworkers.Whenpeopletalktofrontlinestaff,thereisagapineducation;thereisadisconnect.Inessence,educationiskey.Sponsorshipagreementholdersarenotseekingservices,buttheyareseekingarelationshipandknowledgeonbothsides.”

-DanaKrushel

TheSyrianrefugeeprojectpresentedanexcitingopportunityforSponsorshipAgreementHolderstoincreasepublicparticipationandpartnerships.TherehasbeenahugeoutpouringofsponsorshipinterestsfromthepublicattheonsetoftheSyriancrisis,whichpeakedafteraphotographwascirculatedworld-wideinSeptember2015ofa3year-oldSyrianboyfounddeadandwashedashoreonabeach.Privatesponsorshipisbasedstronglyonpartnerships.TheSyrianinitiativehasdeepenedthosepartnershipsandthereisanimprovementinhowoftenSponsorshipAgreementHoldersarebeinginvitedtothediscussiontable.

Mostsettlementagencystaffseemtobeunclearastowhatprivatesponsorshipentails;itisimportanttodefinewhatprivatesponsorshipis.Privatesponsorshipisawholedifferentsystemthatdoesthingsdifferentlyfromsettlementagencies.SponsorshipAgreementHolderswouldliketoprovideeducationtothesettlementsectorastohowitsbusinessisrun.

Private Sponsorship in a Nutshel l : 1) Thefirststageofprivatesponsorshipstartswithpeoplecallingandwantingtosponsorrefugee

families.Therearetwoavailableoptions:

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a) 1stoptioniscalled‘Anamedcase’–individualswantingtosponsorwillberesponsiblefor12months’settlementfinancialsupportforthesponsoredfamily.

b) 2ndoption:Blendedvisaofficereferred–alistofpeoplethatcomesouteverytwoweeksthatsponsorscanrequest.Inthisprogram,theUNHCRidentifiestherefugees,theGovernmentofCanadaprovidesuptosixmonthsofincomesupportthroughtheResettlementAssistanceProgram(RAP),andprivatesponsorsprovideanothersixmonthsoffinancialsupportanduptoayearofsocialandemotionalsupport.

2) SponsorshipAgreementHoldersthenrequirethesponsoringgrouptosignamemorandumofunderstandingwithIRCC,completepolicechecksincludingthevulnerablesectorsearch,andobtainliabilityandvehicleinsurance.Insuranceisalsorequiredfromcommunityandfaithgroups.

3) Sponsorshipgroupthenmustwaitforacase,whichcanbequitelongbecausethereiscompetitionfromgroupsallacrossCanada.

4) Thesponsoringgroupthenstartstopreparefortheirsponsoredfamily.Preparationincludesgettinganapartmentreadyandmakingasettlementplan.

5) SponsorshipAgreementHolderswillholdanorientationpresentation.6) Uponarrival,inSaskatoon,clientsarereferredtoavailableserviceswithinthecommunityandto

settlementagenciessuchasSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyorGlobalGatheringPlace.

Sett lement Services for Pr ivately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs)? • PSRsarenoteligiblefortheResettlementAssistanceProgram–RAP,a6-weekprogramfor

GovernmentAssistedRefugeesonly.RAPincludesairportreceptionandpickups,temporaryaccommodation,start-upcheckassistanceforpermanentaccommodationetc.

• PSRsareeligibleforallothersettlementservicesincludinglanguageservices,employmentservices,needsassessment,aslongastheyhaveavalidPRnumber.However,thisisnotalwayscleartosponsorgroupsorsettlementagencystaff,andcommunitygroupsandGroups-of-5s(G5s)consideritafailureiftheirfamilieshavetoseeksettlementservices.

• Privatesponsorshipagreementholdersneedtohaveaneducationsessionandconversationsabouteligibleservices,howtobridgethegapandworktogether.Suggestionsinclude:

o Clarifyavailableservices;whatPSRsareeligibleandnoteligiblefor.Thereisneedforclarityaboutwhatthesettlementsectorcanoffer.

o MakeschoolsawareofwhatservicesareprovidedatsettlementagenciesthatareavailabletoPSRs.

o StrengthenlinkageswiththeSponsorshipAgreementHoldercommunity.o CreateanopportunitytorekindlepartnershipwithRefugeeSponsorshipTraining

Program.o Providesmootheraccesstoagencyservicesandserviceknowledge.Onepersonateach

agencyshouldbedesignatedtoconnectwithprivatesponsors.o HaveNewcomerGatewayslinkSponsorshipAgreementHolderstoserviceswithinthe

community.o Investresourcessuchastrainingintothesponsorshipagreementholders.

• SAISIAcouldalsoplayaroleinfosteringinteragencyconnectionsbetweenSponsorshipAgreementHoldersandsettlementagenciesattheprovinciallevel,soastoensureinformationsharingandconnectionacrossthenetwork.Thisisveryimportantforsmallercommunitieswherethereisnophysicalpresenceofagatewaycentreorsettlementagency.OutreachcoordinationthroughSAISIAinconjunctionwiththeSaskatchewanCaresplatform.

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4. Resettlement Assistance Program D i s c u s s i o n f a c i l i t a t e d b y J o h n B i l e s , I R C C

ThroughoutthewholeprocessoftheSyrianrefugeeresettlement,alothasbeenlearned.Keypiecesincludingconferencecallsandthedashboardfacilitateongoingconversationwithalltheplayersinsettlementservices,andhelptoensuretherightgovernancestructureisinplaceinSaskatchewangoingforward.

Discussion Questions: • Dowewanttocontinuewiththeconferencecalls?Ifyes,howoften?Whatgovernancestructure

isconsideredappropriate?Whatcommunicationlineispreferred?• Shouldthedashboardcontinue?Ifyes,how?ShoulditbelimitedtotheSyrianrefugeeor

expandedtootherrefugees?Arethereelementsthatneedtoberefined,droppedorcontinued?Determinewhatcouldbeobtainedfromtheuseofthedashboard.

Conference Calls and the Dashboard 4.1.

Conference Cal ls • Consensusthatmonthlyconferencecallsshouldcontinueforthenext4monthsandthen

transitiontoquarterlycalls.• SyrianRAPcallsenableagenciestohavemoreclarityontheprocessandgivevoicetoindividual

agencies.• Callsfosterinter-agencyrelations.However,howoftenthecallsarecoordinatedshouldtake

intoconsiderationeventsandhappeningsinthesettlementworld.• Whenconferencecallseventuallytransitionintoquarterlycalls,informationsharingcangoon

simultaneouslyasnecessary.• ConferencecallswillremainspecifictoSyrianResettlementAssistanceProgramfor

SaskatchewanuntilitbecomesclearwhattheprojectwilllooklikepostSyria.

The Dashboard 4.2.• RecognitionofthevalueoftheDashboardandadesiretoretainit.• TrackingSyriancohortisimportant,butcouldbebroadenedtoincludeallrefugeeslandingin

Saskatchewan.

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The Dashboard

• Thedashboard–amediumforkeepingeveryoneinformedaboutthepopulation,needsassessment.

Reviewofthedashboardcomponents–whattokeep,whattoremove

Slide Title Comments:(Keep,RemoveorOther)1 Refugeesarrivals Keep2 Saskatchewanrefugeedestination–

basedonlanding.keepIncludenon-Syrianinformationforcomparison

3 Transitionintopermanentaccommodations

keep-Musttrackmoveout!-Figureoutwhenmoveoutreportsaredue;therewillbeareassessmentofresettlement.

4 Syrianagecategories. Needtobreakdowntheagecategories.-Agecategorybreakdownisimportantandrelevanteventotheschoolsystemandforemploymentprograms.-AgenciestocommunicatewithSAISIAinregardstoagebracketconsistency,andSAISIAwillcommunicatethisinformationwithIRCC

5 Familysizeofarrivals Keepveryvaluable,includethepercentages

6 Languageassessmentsummary. Keep-Itwouldbeappropriatetoincludeinformationonwhethercertainlanguagelearnersneedspecialaccommodationduetodisability.Thisiswouldbeaneasyfeedintothedashboard.-Ensuretogetlanguageassessmentsasfastaspossibleintemporaryaccommodation,orshortlythereafter.

7 LocationSpecificLanguageassessmentresults

Keep-Refugeestatusisalsoimportant

8 Saskatchewanlanguagewaitlists Keep-Thereistheneedforabenchmarkinrespectoftrendanalysis.-Reporttobebrokendownintocommunitiesthatdeliverlanguageservices,andtoincluderefugeestatus.

9 Saskatchewanneedsassessments Keep10 Saskatchewanaggregateneeds

assessmentskeep

11 NarrativeUpdates -Thisslidehastoomuchinformation.-Thereisaneedtodomoreworkonactualneeds-WorkingGroupstoreviewslideandproposewhatshouldbeorshouldn’tbeontheslide.

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12 Casemanagement

-Needsmorework-WorkingGroupswillworktodeterminehowtopopulatethisslide

13 Communityconnections -Needsmorework-WorkingGroupswillworktodeterminehowtopopulatethisslide-Thispieceisimportantintermsofenablingemploymentandlanguage.

Familyissues(slide13) Remove

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DAY TWO: Engaging the Saskatchewan Settlement Sector for Better Outcomes for all Newcomers

5. Spatial Analysis of Immigration and Settlement Patterns in the Western Region: Immigration Research West Project

Demonstration by Jason Disano, University of Saskatchewan

TheGeographicalInformationSystem(GIS)mapsimmigrationandsettlementpatternsacrossManitoba,Saskatchewan,AlbertaandBritishColumbia.TheonlineportalcontainsuseabledataforWesternprovincesandcouldeasilybeexpandedtocovertherestofCanada.Itprovideseasyaccesstoonlinedatathatcanbeusedfordifferentpurposes.

Potential uses: 5.1.• Orientation:educatestaffandothersonimportantimmigrationandsettlementpatterns• Presentations:produceandpreparepresentationsinsupportoffunding• Reports:producereports,includingreportsforfundingagencies

An Overview of Data Contained in the Database: 5.2.• DatacomesfromanumberofdifferentsourcesincludingIRCC,immigrationreportsfrom

WesternCanadianprovinces,andStatisticsCanada.• Thedatawasusedtocreateavarietyofscalesfortheportal.Thereareanumberofdatasets

availableatdifferentscales.• Thereisdatafromtheyears2002to2014.Themostrecentdataisfrom2012to2014.• Thereare8categoriesofavailabledata

o language,o employment,o education,o ageandgender,o entranceclass,o ethnicity,o countryoforigin,ando communityofdestination.

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Introduction to the Product 5.3.• Systemcurrentlycontains50censusvariablesfromtheeightdatacategoriespreviously

identified• Dataiscapableofproducingmorethan2500uniquemapsincludingheatmaps,dotmaps,bar

chartmaps,piechartmaps.Mapscanbeconvertedtopdf.• ThetoolworkswithmajorwebbrowserssuchasFirefox,Chrome,Safari,andExplorer.• Avarietyofbuilt-infeaturesgiveusersasenseofwhatdifferentthingsdoonthescreen.

Bookmarkscanbeusedtoselectdifferentcommunities.Itisaveryintuitiveplatform.• Thetooliscustomizableandcanquicklychangevisualsfromapiecharttobarchartaswellas

provideahighoverviewlevelofdatawhichgivesasenseofalldatathatyoucanbeproducedonline.Userscanalsoclickonlinkstobringupdatabasedonlists.

• Ifworkingwithaparticularvariable,itispossibletonarrowinonthatvariable.Itisalsoeasytoadddataaccordingtoadesiredyear,sodatacanbebuiltandmaintained.

• Additionalvariablesandsubsequentyearsofdatawillbeincorporatedasavailable.

Next Steps 5.4.Someminorbugfixesandupdatesareinprogress.Theprojectteamhopestoincorporatesupportforvariouswebbrowsersandmobiledevices.Peopleareencouragedtotestthetoolandmakesuggestionsforimprovements.Thereisaneedforadditionaldatacollection,whichwillrequirepartneringwithIRCC.

6. Taking Stock of Our Environment Panel Presentation

Panelists:

1. FederalGovernment-JohnBiles,Immigration,Refugees,andCitizenshipCanada2. ProvincialGovernment-MaryDidowycz,MinistryoftheEconomy3. MunicipalLevel-AprilSora,CityofSaskatoonandCarolBrouwers,ReginaLocalImmigration

Partnerships4. SaskatchewanSettlementSector-AliAbukar,SaskatoonOpenDoorSociety5. PrivateSponsorshipAgreementHolders-DanaKrushel,MennoniteCentralCommittee

The Federal Government’s Environment 6.1.J o h n B i l e s , Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada

ThreekeyareasareimportantwhenconsideringsettlementservicesinSaskatchewan.Theseare:

1. Levels2. Systemapproach3. Money

• Fromthelevelsperspective,thedepartmentrecentlymadeanannouncementofits

commitmenttobring300,000newcomerstoCanada,whichisthehighestsincetheFirstWorld

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War.Thereareahighpercentageofrefugeesinthemix.AlthoughthefocushasrecentlybeenonSyrians,thedepartmentisequallycommittedtobringinginpeoplefromotherpartsoftheworldincludingTurkey,Colombia,Eritrea,etc.

• Thesehighnumbersrequireasystemsapproachastheneedsare,andwillcontinuetobe,morethanthedollarsavailable.ThroughtheSyrianrefugeeresettlementproject,certainlessonshavebeenlearnedfromtrackingthislargegroupthatcameinoveraveryshortperiodoftime.Thereisamuchgreaterneedforsettlementservicedeliverythroughacomprehensivesystemapproachtoidentifynewcomerneedsandproperallocationoffunds.

• Thesystemsapproachisdrivenbyneed.Henceitisimportanttocaptureneedsinalignmentwithnewcomerrequirements.Thedepartmentisworkinghardwithpartnersintheresearchcommunitytocaptureaggregateneedsbeyondthisspecificgroupofnewcomers.Studiesrevealthat60percentofnewcomersneverseetheinsideofsettlementagencies.Thismeanscertainindividualsindireneedofservices,unfortunately,areprobablyleftoutofsettlementservices.

• Thesectormustworktogethertoensure:o Earlyneedsassessments.o Client-focusedinvestments.o Betteroutcomesarerecordedforthosewhoseekservicesearlieron.

• Thedepartment’sabilitytorequestmorefundsdirectlydependsonitsabilitytodemonstratehowpreviousstrategieshaveworkedandwhattheoutcomesofservicedeliveryare.IRCCspent$600milliononsettlementservicesoutsideQuebec.Anybusinesscaseforincrementalfundswouldrequire:1)evidenceofneed;2)goodstewardshipoffunds;and3)demonstratedoutcomes.

• Programevaluationisgoingtobecriticalinfundingdecisionmaking.ThereisaRAPevaluationunderwaywithaSettlementevaluationsetfornextyear,withalarge-scaleclientsurvey.

• Everythreeyears,thereisaninternalauditofsettlement.Componentsaredrivenbybasicdataentryasthereistheneedtoidentifyhowmanyclientsaccessavailableservices.Focusingonoutcomesiscriticaltofunding.Thequestionis:Howcansuccessbemeasured,inregardstowhetherornoteachagencyisreachingexpectedsuccess?

• Thedepartmentintendstorevisitcallforproposalssubmissions,usingwhatwasreceivedin2015.ThereisaneedtogetiCAREup-to-date,asthisinformationwillbeusedtomeasureorganizations’performanceanddeterminewhetherornotthereisjustificationforadditionalfunding.

• “Facetoface”meetingswillbecriticalforIRCC’sworkwiththesector.Thedepartmentwillpulltogetherallsettlementserviceproviderorganizationsineachprairiejurisdictionfora“facetoface”conversation,andthroughtheumbrellaorganizations,agenciesaretocommunicateagendaitemstheywillliketoseeatsuchmeetings.

Saskatchewan Provincial Government Environment 6.2.M a r y D i d o w y c z , Ministry of the Economy

• Historicallyfrom1996to2005,immigrationinSaskatchewanwasstable,andhasincreasedsubstantially,by256percent,between2007and2015.

• ImmigrationisthekeydriverofpopulationgrowthinSaskatchewan.

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• Withinallimmigrationcategories,Saskatchewan’s5-yearretentionratesareimprovingasaresultofthegreatworkbeingrenderedbysettlementagenciesandjobplacementsfornewcomers.

• Saskatchewanperformedbestintheeconomicclassofimmigrantswitharetentionof92%,refugeeclass83%,familyclass82%.MoreandmorerefugeesarestayinginSaskatchewanascomparedtopreviousyears.

• FromJanuary2016toFebruary2016,Saskatchewanreceived881refugees–mostlySyrians.Thereisanongoingplantoresettleanother398refugeesbetweenMarch-December2016,tobringthetotalto1,279GARsasopposedtotheannualaverageof400.

• Saskatchewan’scommitmentforadmissionsthroughtheSaskatchewanImmigrationNomineeProgram(SINP)remainedunchangedfor2016.TheProvinceisconsidering5,500nominations(numberincludesonlyprincipalapplicants):

o 4725tocomethroughthevariouscategoriesofprovincialnominationo 775viathefederalExpressEntrysystem

• TheOutcomeBasedContractManagementModelintroducedlastyearcontinuestobethefocusoftheprovince.Inthismodel,outcomesaremoreimportantthanoutputs.

• Saskatchewaniscurrentlydevelopingapre-arrivalframeworktoensurethenewcomershaveaccurateinformationaboutavailablesettlementservicesevenbeforetheyarrive.

• AvailabledataindicatesthatmoreandmoreimmigrantsarecomingwithanEnglishlanguageproficiencyatalevelsuitabletoaccesswork.In2013,fewerrecentlylandedprovincialnomineesrequiredlanguagetraining.

• Noinformationwasavailableregardingtheprovincialbudget.Thiswillbemadeavailableastheprocesscontinues.

Municipal Environment 6.3.A p r i l S o r a , City of Saskatoon and C a r o l B r o u w e r s , Regina Local Immigration Partnership

The City of Saskatoon 6.3.1.• Communication–educationandawarenessthatinvolvedworkinginpartnershipwiththe

SaskatoonRefugeeCoalitiongroup,includingsettlementagencies.Thecoalitiongrewfrom6-7toabout30peopleatthetable–agoodwaytofostercommunitypartnershipsandefficientinformationdissemination.Asubcommitteewasformedtoprovidesupporttosettlementandintegrationagenciesintermsofeducationandawareness.

• Transportation-buspassesweregiventorefugees,includingprivatelysponsoredrefugees.• Anti-Racism-TheCityofSaskatoonhasbeenworkingonanti-racismpubliceducationin

conjunctionwiththeCulturalDiversityandRaceRelationsdepartmenttoaddressthisissue.• TruthandReconciliation-TheCommunityDevelopmentDepartment’sTruthandReconciliation

StrategyincludesworkingwithnewcomerstounderstandIndigenouspeopleandtheirhistory.• LocalImmigrationPartnerships(LIP)-ThereisanapplicationinplaceforaLIPandIRCChas

contributedfundingtowardgettingtheworkstartedthisyear.

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Regina Regional Local Immigration Partnership (RRLIP) 6.3.2.TheRRLIPaimstoimproveintegrationfornewcomers,guidedbythevisionofReginaasa‘welcomingandinclusivecommunity.’Italsoaimstoprovideopportunitiesforimmigrantstobenefitfromandcontributetotheculturalandsocio-economicfabricofthecityofRegina.Ahighlevelcommunityscanandcommunityforumconsultationswereconductedandfindingsincluded:

• Housingwasparticularlyimportant.Alsoimportantareeducation,healthcare,employment,transportation,foodsecurity,andnewcomerservices.

• Challengesexpressedbylowerliteracynewcomers,includingwaittimetoaccessclasses,waittimeforchildcare,difficultyoftransitiontoworkplace,andtheunaffordabilityofhighereducation.

• Socialbelonging:itisimportanttobepartofcommunitygroups,childrenbeingreceivedintoneighbourhood,schoolsandfaithgroups.

RRLIPwilldelvedeeperintotheeducationandemploymentprioritiesintheyear2016.Otherreportsandconcernsregardingnewcomersettlementandintegrationwillbelookedatasthecentredoesmoreresearchintolocalpriorities:

• problemswithjobfitandpreviousrelatedexperience• previouscredentialsnotbeingrecognized• lackofsoftskillsintheworkplace• lackofchildcaresupport

ThenextstepsforRRLIPwillbetoconductadditionalresearchandconsultationtoensurethatissuesofpriorityareaddressedandwelldefined,developaplaninalignmentwithlocalpriorities,andimplementaplan.Also,RRLIPwillcontinuetoengagewithlocalcommunitiestobetterunderstandtheneedsofnewcomers,especiallybyinvolvingandengaginglocalfocusgroups,workinggroups,sittingattheimmigrantadvisorytable,andsupportingcommunity-basedresearch.

Saskatchewan Settlement Sector Environment: 6.4.A l i A b u k a r , Saskatoon Open Door Society

On-goingconcernsofthesectorinclude:

• ThespecialtreatmentreceivedbySyrians.o Thereisaneedtofocusattentiononhowtoaddressthisissueasasectorwhile

engagingcommunitysupport.o AsthesectorexiststoserveallrefugeesandimmigrantsandnotjustSyrians,targeted

donationstotheSyrianinitiativeposeschallenges.o ThespecialtreatmentalsoseemedtohaveresultedinhighexpectationsfromtheSyrian

refugees.o SectorhopesforflexibilityoffundersandfundingbeyondaidingonlySyrianrefugees.

• Availabilityofmentalhealthprogramming,youthandchildren’sprogramming,andsummercampsforchildrenwhenschoolsareclosedforsummerbreak.

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• Collaborativepartnershipsareessentialforeffectiveanddesirableprogramdelivery.TheIndigenousWelcomeEventforSyrianRefugeeswasagoodexampleofacollaborativepartnershipthatshouldbebuiltonbyusingavailableresourcesinthecommunitytosupportimmigrantsgoingforward.

• Wheneveranyareaofgapisidentified,thereistheneedforcollaborativesupport,whichincludesfundersinordertomeetneeds.

Sponsorship Agreement Holders and Private Sponsor Environment 6.5.D a n a K r u s h e l , Mennonite Central Committee

• Currently,thereare7SponsorshipAgreementHoldersandoneNationalSponsorshipAgreementHolderworkinginSaskatchewan,includingtheMennoniteCentralCommittee.

• SinceSeptember2015,privatesponsorshipshavesoaredtoalevelneverbeforeexperiencedinthehistoryoftheprogram,whichposesbothopportunitiesandchallenges.

• Therearenowruralsponsorshipsinadditiontothemorecommonlyseenurbansponsorships.Manysmallercommunitiesfeeltheyhavethesponsorshipcapacityforprivatesponsorships,althoughtheremaynotbesettlementagencieswithinsuchcommunities.

• Partnershipshavehelpedsponsorshipsgrowandfosterresourcesharingandnetworking.

Questions and Answers 6.6.Q.Whatwillthenumberslooklikefor2017?A.Thereisacommitmenttoamultiyearplan.Thereisanextensiveconsultationplanunderwaywithpartnersandawiderangeofkeystakeholders.IRCCishopefulthatbeforethe3-yearcontributionagreementisfinalized,thisinformationwillbemadeavailable.Q.Howwillthesettlementsectorknowwhoiscoming,andwheretheyareheaded?A.Itiseasytoprovidethatinformationforrefugees,butforothercategoriesitisnoteasytoprovideinatimelymanner.Asasector,weshouldworkonhowtoinformrefugeesaboutavailablesettlementservices,includingthoseavailabletoprivatelysponsoredrefugeesi.e.allsettlementservices,excludingresettlementwhichistheResettlementAssistanceProgramdesignatedforGovernmentAssistedRefugeesonly,inthefirst6weeksofarrival.Q.Inwhatwayscanpartnersandsettlementagenciesfosteranefficientcommunicationnetwork,andmanagetoolsforefficientservicedelivery?A.ThiscouldbedonethroughSAISIA,sinceitistheumbrellaorganizationthatworkswithallproviders.Playersatthediscussiontableshouldensuretheyarespeakingfor,andonbehalfof,allsettlementagenciesacrossSaskatchewan.TocommunicatethegreatworkbeingdoneinSaskatchewanatthenationaltable,IRCCfeelsbringingeveryonetogetheronceayearisawaytofosterthisconnection.

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7. Engagement of Saskatchewan’s Whole Settlement Sector for Better Outcomes

Needs Assessment and Referral Process – Tools, Benefits, Questions and 7.1.Answers

B e u l a h G a n a , SAISIA and G e t a c h e w W o l d e y e s u s , Regina Open Door Society

• Foraconsistentandcentrallycoordinatedapproachtodatacollection,SAISIAfacilitatedthe

developmentofastandardizedsettlementneedsassessmentformandneedsassessmenttrackingtools.Thesefacilitatedconsistentinformationcollectiontofeedthedashboard.Thedevelopmentprocesswascollaborativeandparticipatory.TheexistingtoolsarebeingusedbytheSaskatoonOpenDoorSociety,ReginaOpenDoorSociety,YWCA–PrinceAlbert,andtheMooseJawMulticulturalCounciltodevelopatableofcommonalitiesasdiscussedwiththeResettlementAssistanceProgramproviderstoagreeonsomekeyelementsiniCARE,andthetypesofinformationneededtopopulatethedashboard.InputfromaReginaOpenDoorSocietysocialworkerandtheSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietysettlementservicesmanagerwereveryuseful.

• Thesetoolsarecurrentlyawork-in-progress.SAISIArequiresfeedbackandsupportfromServiceProviderOrganizationstorefinethesetoolsinordertomeettheneedofgatheringaccurateandconsistentdatafordecisionmakingandtoensurebetteroutcomesfornewcomers.Thereisaneedtohaveaconversationonthebestwaytocollectdataforallcategoriesofnewcomersandtellourstory.

• Syrianrefugeesettlementhasfosteredcollaborativerelationshipsacrossthesettlementserviceprovideragencies.PriortotheSyrianinitiative,needsassessmentswereconductedbyagenciesforinternaluseonly.However,agenciesarenowabletocomparebestpractisesandhavedevelopedacommonapproachtoneedsassessments.

• Thedashboardalsofosterscommunicationsbeyondtheprovinceuptoregionalandnationalheadquartersandhasreceivedcomplimentsfromthenationaloffice,especiallyintermsofbeingabletocommunicatenewcomerneeds.

• Needsassessmentreportssimplifytheprocessofidentifyingcommontrendsandchallengesacrossthesectorthatrequireimmediateattention.Forinstance,thereisacommontrendasreportedbysettlementagenciesacrosstheprovincethatthemajorityofclientfamiliesconsistofmanychildren,youth,andyoungparents.Itbecameapparent,therefore,thatthereisaneedtolookintotheSettlementWorkersinSchoolsprogramandstrategizewaystoaccommodatethisneed.Atthesametime,summerprograms,childcare,andwomen’ssupportprogrammingwillbeinhighdemand.

• Reportinghasmadepossibleanavenueforaprovincialvoice,andhasprovidedanopportunitytotellthestoryinregardstosettlementservices.Inturn,itcanhelpwithdecision-making,especiallyinrespecttofunding.Needsassessmenttoolshavealsoallowedformulti-sectoralparticipationinSaskatchewan.

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Q.Shouldthesectorcontinueusingtheneedsassessmenttools?Also,isthereanyfeaturethatshouldbeaddedto,orremovedfromthecurrenttools?Inwhatwaycanthesuccessstorybetold?

• Itisimportanttomoveinthedirectionwherethereisanarrativewithregardstotheemploymentexperienceandskillsnewcomersbringtotheprovince.

• SAISIAshouldworkwiththesectorandMinistryofEconomytodevelopanemploymentneedsassessment.

• Individualsandorganizations,includingtheChamberofCommerceandotherbusinessesareinterestedinworkingwiththeSyrianpopulation.However,itisimportanttobegintheconversationofhowtoextendtheseopportunitiestootherrefugeesbeyondtheSyrians.

• Needsassessmenttoolsareagreatwaytotellsuccessstoriesaswellaschallengeswithregardstorefugeesandimmigrantneedsacrosstheprovince.

Update on Language Training, Waitlists, and Priorities 7.2.J a r e d S o a n e s , IRCC-Saskatchewan

• iCAREdatareportingisimportanttoinformspendingdecisions.• Importanttokeepwaitlistsuptodate.Amostrecentlanguagewaitlist,basedondatacollected

asofApril2016waspresentedwithduplicatesremoved.• Languageisanimportantpriorityandverynecessaryforjobplacement.• Informationregardingchildcare,andthenumberofrequiredcarseatsshouldberecorded.• 59%oftherecentarrivalsarechildrenwhoneedsomesortofchildcaresupport.Itisimportant

tokeepinmindthatmotherswithyoungchildrenmayhesitateforculturalreasonstobegintheformallanguagelearningprocess.

• Currently,waitlistsdonotreflectchildcareelementsinslides.However,thereisageneralacknowledgmentthatthereisaneedthereaswell.

• Individualserviceprovideragenciesthathavelargenumbersofineligibleclientsareencouragedtocreateavalidationprocessinplace.ServiceProviderOrganizationscouldfacilitatethisinconsultationwiththeirImmigration,RefugeeandCitizenshipCanadaprogramofficer.

• Intermsofthelanguagetrainingwaitlist,thereisaneedtohaveaconversationineachoftheSaskatchewancommunitiesonthemosteffectivewaytoconnectwithoneanotherinregardstotherequiredtraininghoursandseatsavailableincommunities.Also,onhowlongitwilltaketomoveclientsuptothedesiredfunctionalEnglishlevel.Presently,itwilltake3monthsformostclientstogetintoaclassroom.

Q.IsthereanyotherinformationIRCCwouldliketobeincludedontheiCAREwaitlists?

A.Thereisaplanunderwaytoinaugurateacommitteeoflanguageproviderstodiscusswhatkindsofinformationwillbecollected,includingwhetherthespreadsheetornotitcapturesallnecessaryandneededinformationregardinglanguage.

Q.Giventheoutcomes,howlongwilltheselanguagecoursesbe,sothatwethelanguageproviderscanstarttoplan?

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A.Thereisneedtoreopenconversationsincludingrequiredinstructionalhours,andhowtomoveclientsuptodesiredfunctionallevel

8. Next Phases

Breakout Sessions: • Rural/smallcommunityproviders• LanguageAssessorsandproviders• ChildrenandYouthProgramming• VulnerablePopulations/CaseManagement

Discussion Questions: • Whataretheemergingissues?• Howhaveyouadaptedprogrammingtoaddresstheseissues?• Whatinitiatives/projectshaveyouseenemergeinyourcommunity?• Whatapproaches/partnershipscouldbeusefultorespondtotheseissues?

**NOTE**:Notallbreakoutsessiongroupshadtheopportunitytodiscussandanswerallquestionsduetotimelimitations;somequestionspromptedmorediscussionthananticipated.

Rural/Small Community Providers 8.1.

Emerging Issues 8.1.1.• Childcare/Parenting:healthcare,immunizations,familiesandchildren.• Limitedaccesstothejobmarket:Ittakesupto3-5weekstogetajob.Largeregionalemployers

arelayingoffstaff.ThereiscompetitionfromTemporaryForeignWorkersandSecondaryMigrationfromAlbertaandBritishColumbia.Thescareinmanufacturingindustryiscausingfearamongworkers.

• FamilyViolence/MentalHealth:Seeingadditionalstressduetochallengesinthelabourmarket(lossofemployment),notingthetrustclientshaveinothercommunityorganizations.Thisalsoaffectsthosewhoaretheleastconnectedandintegrated—whoaremostisolated.

• WeakPublicTransportationInfrastructure.• Volunteers:RecruitingandRetainingVolunteersposesachallenge.• English:LimitedEnglishlanguageisaproblemandmakesinvolvementinthecommunitya

challenge.• SchoolSystemandHealthcarepressures:limitedpressureontheschoolandhealthsystemin

ruralareasduetolimitednumberofSyriansinsmallercommunitiesacrossSaskatchewan.Privatesponsorshavereallysteppeduptofillintheintegrationgaps.

o PrinceAlbert:MostSyrianshavebeenlocalizedinonequadrantofthecityofPrinceAlbert.However,theschoolsresponsibleforthequadranthavemanagedwell.

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o MooseJaw:LotsofSyrianchildren–MooseJawMulticulturalCouncilislookingintoexpandingservices.Communitypartnershipshavebeencriticalincoordinatingservicesandincreasingthelikelihoodofsuccessfulintegration.

o SwiftCurrent:ThereisnoEnglishlanguageprogramforchildren.

Adaptations to Programming: 8.1.2.• Significantvaluehascomefrompreviouslybuiltpartnerships.However,transportationand

housingremaincommonissues.

Prince Albert: • StrongpartnershipwiththeschooldivisionhasmadetheSyrianprojectwork.YWCA–PA

approachedalocalagencytohelpengagechildrentherebyreducingisolationandincreasingparentingcompetenciesandcapacity.

• Twolocalemployment-focusedagenciesarealsopresent.Agencyrunprogramsfocusedonresumebuildingandjobpreparationanddirectlylinkclientstoemployers.Thereisapossibilityofexpandingservicetoincludemockjobinterviews.

• PrinceAlbertGateway:focusonincreasingacceptanceofdifferentcultures;suchasImmigrants-FirstNationscommunities’relationshipbuildingproject(BRIDGES).Collaboratedtodevelopaculturallyappropriate/sensitivechildren’sbook.CanbemadeavailabletocommunityorganizationsacrossSaskatchewanwhomaybeinterestedinit.

Swift Current: • Peoplefearlossofjobs,whichhasresultedinclientsseekingmorepart-timeworkto

supplementtheirincome.Ithasalsoresultedinincreasedentrepreneurship,particularlyinhomebusinesseslikecleaning.

• ItischallengingtocopewithincreasednumbersofsecondarymigrantsfromAlbertaandBritishColombiawhoarenotpermanentresidents;temporaryworkersareineligibleforprogrammingfundedbyIRCC.

• GatewaysaredoingmorethantypicalGatewayworkastheyareseentoprovideasafeenvironmentinwhichmentalhealthissuesareaddressed(clientavoidstigmawithincommunityofgoingtoahospital/doctorformentalhealthinterventions).

• Partneredwithcommunityinclusionservicesandlaunchedtheprogram“DressforSuccess”inwhichclientswillbeoutfittedinbusinessappropriateattire.

Batt leford Immigrant Resources Centre: • Workingonoutreach,buildingpartnerships,andincreasingvisibilityandaccessibility.

Tisdale: • IncreasedpartnershipsandcoordinationwithHealthRegionandSchools.Healthregionhas

providedtrainingtoschoolstaffspecifictodealingwithmentalhealthissues.

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Moose Jaw: • StrongpartnershipswiththeProvincehaveincreasedconnectionstoaddressfamilyviolence,

driving(throughSaskatchewanGovernmentInsurance),andinformationonproperuseofcarseats.

• Therehasbeenanincreaseincommunityawarenessandanincreaseinthenumberofvolunteersservingtheimmigrationsector.

• Delivering“CommunityCafé”programming(conversationssimilartoHOST).

Emerging Initiatives and Projects 8.1.3.

Estevan: • Connectionwithincreasednumberofvolunteers.FireChiefhastaughtfireprevention,which

waswell-receivedbycommunity.

Yorkton: • Ageappropriateprogramming.Seniorprogrammingonhowtoblog,developedpartnershipwith

GameHaventoreduceseniorisolation.• Thrivingbasketballleaguesforyouth.

Approaches or Partnerships to Respond to Issues 8.1.4.• Yorkton:Increasedcapacity.Forexample,onesocialworkerforentireregionresultsin2week

cyclesforcommunityservicedelivery.Itisthereforechallenginganddifficulttoconnectwithvulnerablegroups.Moreservicesrequired.

• SwiftCurrent:Transportation.Makesoutreachverychallenging(drivingtosmaller/moreremotecommunitiessurroundingSwiftCurrent).Howtoreachremote/isolatedclients?

• PrinceAlbert:TemporaryForeignWorkersinPrinceAlbert.Notviabletosendstaffoutaslimitedcapacityforoutreach.

• MooseJaw:Limitedstaffavailabletomeetneedinsmallercommunities.UnderservedsmallercommunitiessurroundingMooseJaw.

• Battleford:Communityfeedbackisaviablemechanismtoidentifyclientsinsmallercommunities.ItisamethodbywhichBattlefordImmigrationResourcesCentrecanlearnfromvulnerablegroupswhoarenotyetconnectedtotheorganization.

Language Assessors and Providers 8.2.

Emerging Issues 8.2.1.• Child-minding:FederalregulationsarestrictandthiscreatesdifficultyinsettingupaCarefor

NewcomerChildrenfacilityforclientswhowanttoattendlanguageclasses.Thereisaneedtoadoptpracticalsolutionsotherthanjustaddingmoremoney.

• Interpretation:LanguageprovidersneedthisservicewhiledoingintakeprocessfortheSyrianrefugeeswhentheycometoregister.MostServiceProviderOrganizationsdonothave

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interpretationservicesavailableonsite.Fundsarelimitedtocoverover-the-phoneinterpretationservicescosts.

• Transportation:coordinationwithotherServiceProviderOrganizationstoprovideinterpreterstocomewithclients.Organizationsdotheirbest,ortaketheclientstothesite.SometimesinvolveArabicspeakingstaff.

• Assessors–Only2assessorsinRegina,1abouttoretire.Thisisresultinginassessmentwaitlist,withawaittimeof3-4weeks.

o Needtohiremoreassessorslocally.o IRCCisawareofthissituationandhaveidentifieditasapriority.IRCCwouldwelcome

proposalsregardingassessors.ThereisnoindependentassessmentagencyinReginaandnoproposalintheCallForProposalscamefromReginaforassessors.

o Transparencyissues:LanguageInstructionforNewcomerstoCanada(LINC)serviceproviderscan’tbecomeAssessmentCentresiftheywanttokeeptheirlanguageclasses.

o Remoteassessmentpilotisavailableforruralareas.o RemoteservicescanbesetupoutofLanguageAssessmentandReferralCentre,and

specifyadayandvenuewhenLARCassessorswilldoassessment,anotheroptionistosetupacentrewithinvigilatorsandassessmentbyLanguageAssessmentandReferralCentre.However,theLanguageAssessmentandReferralCentredoesnothavealicenceatthistimetosetuparemotecentre.

• LiteracyplacementissuesareemergingwithSyrianclients.LanguageTrainingProgramsdonotmatchthenewCanadianLanguageBenchmarksdocumentdeveloped2yearsago.

• CulturalissuesandmanagingexpectationswithSyrianrefugeesposesachallenge.Needfororientationonexpectationsbeforearrival.

• RuralIssueso Therearemoreupperlevelstudentsthanlowerlevelstudentso NeedforablendedlearningIT2TeachModel(OnlineCLBLearning)

Emerging Initiatives and Projects 8.2.2.• Highlevelneedsintheruralarea–moreupperlevelstudentsthanlowerlevel.Needfor

blendedlearning–IT2TeachModel(OnlineCLBLearning)• Improvedaccesstopost-secondaryeducation• CanadianLanguageBenchmarksbootcamp• Portfolio-BasedLanguageAssessment(PBLA)forclassroomteachersfromCentreforCanadian

LanguageBenchmarksCCLB–2programsforruralteachers

Children and Youth Programming 8.3.

Emerging Issues 8.3.1.• FromtheSponsorshipAgreementHoldersperspective,thereislackofknowledgefromschools

aboutrefugeechildren• NoEnglishasanAdditionalLanguageaccessinruralcommunities

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• Programsforsinglemoms–needforwraparoundapproachtosupportsingleparents• Mentalhealthissues,dentalissues–lackofattention,adaptation;integrationtakestime• Assessingresources–somechildrendisplayingsymptomsofviolence:psychologicaltrauma

fromwarzone• Daycareagetohighschool–somechildrenarerunningawayfromschool• Engagingchildren,giventheirpopulationintheSyrianfamilies–manyfeeltheydonotfitin–

challengeswithself-esteemandconfidence• Youngchildrennotparticipatinginprograms• Needtofocusonpreschoolage,preparingchildrenforschool

Adaptations to Programming: 8.3.2.• Preschoolageprograms-Wednesdaydrop-inchildren’sprogramandsummerPeaceCamp• Preventativeprogramsaddressinghealthcareneedsofchildrenandyouth• SummeryouthprogramsatInternationalWomenofSaskatoonandtheSaskatchewan

InterculturalAssociation• Preparingstaffforeveningneeds• Assistyouthinaddressingissuessuchasself-esteem,includingpublicspeakingandlifeskills• Storytellingforyouth,gender-specificactivities,homeworkhelpandsupport• Children’sandyouthprogrammingtoincludelanguagetrainingsuchasFrenchandEnglish,and

makingavideoabouttheirexperience• MostcentresarelookingtoexpandprogramcapacitytoaccommodateSyrianyouthpopulation.

Ongoingpartnershipwithcommunityorganizations• Youthemploymentcamp–partnershipwithSettlementSupportWorkersinSchoolsforchildren

tooyoungforemploymentcamp• Francophonecommunityislookingatdoingbilingualsummerprogramming• GlobalGatheringPlaceiscurrentlylookingatincreasingfundingforsummerprogrammingand

expandingitspartnershipwithelementaryschools• LanguageInstructionforNewcomerstoCanadaDaycare–lookingintohiringstafftodo

researchondaycarespacesinthecommunityofReginaandtoconnectparents’services.• Allprogramsneedtobeculturallysensitive

Vulnerable Populations and Case management 8.4.

Emerging Issues 8.4.1.• Health–ongoinghighchronicdisabilities• Domesticviolence–culturaldifferences• Language–lowlanguagelevelsparenting/childcare;needforinterpretation• Highexpectationsofclientsresultingindependencyonsupportservices• Highchild-mindingneeds–culturally,mixedgenderclassroomsystemisabarrier

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Adaptations to Programming: 8.4.2.• Needforin-personRAPorientations• Newcomerinformationtotargetidentifiedissues• Pre-arrivalservicessetunrealisticexpectations.Needtodevelopspecificmaterialfor

ResettlementAssistanceProgram• Designprogramswithfocusonaddressingidentifiedbarriers.Needformoreinterpreters• AdoptArabiccounsellingservices

Emerging Initiatives and Projects 8.4.3.• Refugeehealthcollaborativepartnership–RefugeehealthclinicinSaskatoon• Reginahealthpartnerships• OtherregionsaccessingexistingsupportsforhealthsuchasPATH–ProvidingAccessTo

Healthcare• TrainingofstaffoncasemanagementinRegina

Approaches or Partnerships to Respond to Issues 8.4.4.• Settlementagenciestodistributeaccurateinformationquickly,includingviasocialmedia• Communityconnections• Enhancedlifeskillsprogram• Momsprograms–addressingdomesticviolenceandcoordinatingoutreachtogetmomsoutof

thehouse.Encouragewomentodiscussprogrambenefitsanddiscusswiththeirhusbandsonhowmuchtheyareenjoyingaparticularprogramsotheycancontinueattending.

• Groupsessions,asopposedtoindividualmeetingworkwellwiththisgroup• Partnershipwiththepoliceservice–holdinginformationsessionsfornewcomersandtaking

questions.SamefortheFiredepartment• PartnershipwithHealthservice–buildonexistingrelationships,whiledevelopingnewones• Summerprogrammingforchildrenandyouth,inpartnershipwiththeRedCross

9. Helping Immigrants Succeed: Action Plan Joint presentation by the Ministry of Economy and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

HelpingImmigrantsSucceed(HIS)isapartnershipofthefourteenfederal,provincialandterritorialgovernmentsdevelopedtoaddressneedsidentifiedinalarge-scalepan-CanadiansurveyofnewcomerstoCanada.In2012,over20,000immigrantswereaskedabouttheirexperienceaboutsettlinginCanada.Feedbackfromthisexerciseledtothedevelopmentofaroadmaptoaddressissuesrevealedinthissurvey.Theareasneedingtobeaddressedare:

• socialconnections• officiallanguagesfornewcomersoutsideofthelabourforce

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• employmentfitandaccesstolabourmarketatappropriatelevel

Intergovernmentalengagementisimportantindealingwithsettlement.TheMinistryoftheEconomyiscurrentlyworkingwithdifferentgroupstotacklesomeoftheidentifiedareas.Ithasreceivedstrongsupportfromalllevelsofthegovernment,whichisextraordinary!Thereisanexpectationthatgovernmentdepartmentswillbetalkingaboutsettlementinthefuture.Thereisaneedtocontinuallyengagevariousgovernmentsectors,academicinstitutions,andothersformorestructuredcoordinationandavoidsteppingoneachother’stoes.

ASub-committeehasbeendeveloped:

• Phase1:toscanandseewhatisavailable,andexaminewhatotherpeoplearedoingintheseareas

• Phase2:toreviewallscans• Phase3:tolookatrecommendations

Findingtherightnarrativehasbeenchallenging.IRCCsentscansbacktothesectorandhasaskedforvalidationandfeedbackongapsbyendoftheweekofMay9,2016.HelpingImmigrantsSucceed(HIS)isaperformancemeasurementframeworkforcollectiveactiontowardsbetterresultsfornewcomers.

• Timelines–Scanhappeningnow,nextyear’sfocuswillbeonmovingintobilateralandmultilateralinitiatives.Perhapssomepilotsorotheractions

• Hopefullythiswillinformtherelationshipbetweentwolevelsofgovernment.

10. SAISIA’s Provincial Working Groups Tofostereffectiveprovince-wideengagementandcoordination,theBoardofDirectors,atitsmeetingonJune29th2015,approvedamotiontoestablishprovincialworkinggroupsalongthesubjectlinesofLanguageTraining;EmploymentServicesandSettlementServices.

FollowingtheapprovaloftheTermsofReferenceattheboardmeetingonSeptember17th2015,acallformembershipwassentout.(Seebelowformembershipofthe3workinggroups).

• Throughregularmeetings,emergingtrends,servicegaps,andbestpracticeswithintheprovincewillbereadilyidentifiedandaddressed/shared.

• Astrongconnectionwillbeestablishedwithavarietyoforganizationsandcommunitiesacrosstheprovince.

• SAISIAwillbeaninclusiveprovincialbodylinkingserviceproviders,stakeholdersandfundersacrosstheprovinceforconsultationandbettersupporttonewcomers.

• Thiswillresultincontinuousqualityimprovementforprogramsandservices,ensuringthatsettlementservicesinSaskatchewanareproactiveinanticipatingtrendsandchallengesandfindingsolutions,ratherthanbeingreactiveandstrugglingtoplay'catchup'.

WorkingGroupsareresponsiblefor:• Developingandmonitoringaworkplanforthesubjectarea;• Identifyingemergingtrends,servicegapsandpotentialsolutions;• Identifyingandsharingbestpractices;

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• Planning,evaluatingandprovidingfeedbackonactivitiesrelatingtothesubjectarea;• Creatingtaskforcesforspecificprojectssuchaslearningevents,researchandresource

developmentetc.whenneeded

Membership:Participantsmaybedrawnfromserviceproviders,fundersandkeystakeholderssuchasemployers,researchers,sectorcouncilsandthefrancophonecommunity.Regionalrepresentationshallbeensured.SizeoftheWorkingGroups:Forefficiency,themaximumnumberofmembersshallbe12.Thesizewilldependontherangeanddiversityofactivities.Meetings:Thereshallbeatleasttwo(2)meetingsinayear.Meetingsmaybeheldinperson,orbyelectronicmeanssuchastelephone,videoconferenceorbyemail.Atitsfirstmeeting,aworkplan,agenda,anddatesforsubsequentmeetingsshallbedetermined.Record-KeepingofDecisions:TheChairshallensurethatarecordofalldecisionsandrecommendationsoftheWorkingGroupismaintained.Theco-chairsmayappointarecordingsecretaryasappropriate.

AnnualReviewandReport:Toimprovetheeffectiveness,theworkinggroupshallreviewandevaluateitsactivitiesonanannualbasistodeterminehowobjectivesarebeingmet.TheSAISIADirectorshallprepareanddistributeanannualreportoutliningtheactivitiesofthegroupandfuturedirections.

Language Training Working Group 10.1.Region ServiceProviders WorkingGroupmembersSaskatoon GlobalGatheringPlace,Saskatoon

InternationalWomenofSaskatoonSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyInc.SaskatchewanInterculturalAssociation,SaskatoonSask.Polytechnic,SaskatoonCampusUkrainianCongressofCanada-SK

AzaleaBarriries(GGP)HenrideLaGarde(SODS)GabrielleBouchard(SIA)MariaZalesak(SaskPolytechnic)

Regina BethJacobsSynagogueReginaImmigrantWomenCentreReginaOpenDoorSocietySask.Polytechnic,ReginaCampus

TatianaZotova(RODS)

South GreatPlainsCollege,SwiftCurrentMooseJawMulticulturalCouncilInc.SouthEastRegionalCollege,EstevanParklandRegionalCollege,Yorkton

KatieBurham(SERegionalCollege)

North CarltonTrailRegionalCollege,HumboldtCumberlandRegionalCollege,NipawinNWRegionalCollege,NorthBattlefordPrinceAlbertMulticulturalCouncilPrinceAlbertYWCA

Employment Services Working Group 10.2.Region ServiceProviders WorkingGroupmembersSaskatoon InternationalWomenofSaskatoon

SaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyInc.SaskatchewanInterculturalAssociation,Saskatoon

KatieNyandwi(IWS)AshrafMinontahai(SODS)BenBodnaryk(SIA)

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Regina ReginaImmigrantWomenCentreReginaOpenDoorSociety

MargaretHnidy(RODS)

South MooseJawMulticulturalCouncilInc.

RobynWatson-Flegel(MJMC)

North PrinceAlbertYWCA KwameBoateng(YWCA-PA)

Settlement Services Working Group 10.3.Region ServiceProviders WorkingGroupmembersSaskatoon GlobalGatheringPlace,Saskatoon

InternationalWomenofSaskatoonSaskatoonOpenDoorSocietyInc.SaskatchewanInterculturalAssociation,SaskatoonNewcomerInformationCentreUkrainianCongressofCanada-SK

AftonTolley(GGP)AnahitFalihi(SODS)

Regina AssembléeCommunautaireFransaskoisReginaImmigrantWomenCentreReginaOpenDoorSociety

GetachewWoldeysus(RODS)

South MooseJawMulticulturalCouncilInc.MooseJawWelcomeCentreSENewcomerCentre,EstevanPartnersinSettlement,Yorkton

LaurenMcTaggart(MJMC)ElainePopovaAttn:ED,DebbieHagel(SEWC)

North PrinceAlbertYWCAPrinceAlbertMulticulturalCouncilPrinceAlbertRegionalNewcomerCentreNorthEastNewcomerService,TisdaleHumboldtRegionalNewcomerCentreBattlefordImmigrationResourcesCentreLloydminsterRegionalNewcomerCentre

JesseKindrachukJanineHart(HRNC)AnnetteMcGovern(BIRC)

11. Dashboard Areas (Labour Market, Language and Social Connections)

Facilitated by Susan Coughlan

Thedashboardisaconvenient,information-sharingresource,inspiredbytheneedtotellthestoryaboutwhatishappeninginvariouscommunities—thechallengesandamazingsuccessesbeingaccomplishedbyServiceProviderOrganizationsacrossSaskatchewan.Thedashboardprovidesawaytoorganizethechaos,usinggraphicstotellthestoryofwhatishappeninginthecommunities.Itisalsoawaytogetaquicksnapshotofthechallengesandtheamazingthingsthatserviceprovidersaredoing.Saskatchewanledinthisregardacrossthecountry!

Tokeepthemomentumgoingandtocontinuetotellourstory,thedepartmentisnowconsideringmovingbeyondthenarrativesoninitial(re)settlementservicestoincludelabourmarket,language,andsocialconnections.ItisalsoimportanttonotethatinSaskatchewan,forthefirsttimeinalongtime,fundingwilllikelydeclineinsteadofgrow1,henceallthemorereasontohaveaveryrobuststrategyfor

1AnnuallyIRCCcalculatesthesettlementallocationforeachjurisdictionbasedonarollingaverageofthelastthreeyearsoflandings,andatopupfornumberofGARS.Theprincipleisclear–settlementdollarsfollowwherenewcomersland.

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reportingandtellingourstory.Bearinginmindtheimportanceofthenarrativesasausefultoolfordecision-makingregardingfuturefunding,thefollowingquestionswereposedtotheparticipants:

o Whatinformationshouldbeincludedinthedashboardotherthannumbers?o Whatinformationisconsideredbeneficialbyserviceprovideragenciesforplanning

purposes?o HowoftenareServiceProviderOrganizationsabletosharethisinformationwith

Immigration,RefugeesandCitizenshipCanada?o HowoftendoServiceProviderOrganizationswanttogettogethertohavea

conversationaboutit?o Whatwouldworkbestfromthesectortothefunder,andnotfromtop-down?

• Therewasunanimousagreementabouttheneedtocoordinateservicereportsthroughthe

dashboard• Standardizedneedsassessmentneedstobeusedacrosstheboardforallcategoriesof

newcomersinordertofeedthedashboard.Needtogettoaneconomyofscalesothatthereisnoduplicating

• Forlanguagetraining,therateofprogressionofstudentsfromoneleveltothenextmayneedtobecapturedaswellasnumberofstudentsenrolled,andcumulativetotalovertime.

• WithregardstoEmployment,currentlythereisnomethodinplaceforreportingclients’accesstothelabourmarket.Howcanthisimportantdatabecaptured?

o Collectinformationaboutclients’skillssetsanddevisemeanstoreportthisinthedashboardforpotentialemployers.

o Obtaininginformationonclients’transitionalphasescouldalsobeincorporatedtothedashboard.

o Workinggroupcouldalsobeastartingpointtoaddressthisissue.Provideclarityonwhatlabourmarketmeans.

o Thereisaneedtofindawaytomeetneedsofworkers,andoftheprovince.o Needtohaveaconversationaboutouremploymentprograms.o Needtochangethequestionasking:“aretheyreadyornot?”o Needforsomekindofmeasurethatanswersthequestions“Didtheyintendtobe

employed?”“Didtheygetemployed?”o ServiceProviderOrganizationstotrackclientsaftertheyhaveleftsettlementservices.o Abilitytocaptureemploymentinterestsandprovidepaidorunpaidinternshipswould

facilitateconnections.o Alookatwhattheprovinciallabourprogramsaremandatedtodo,incomparisonwith

ServiceProviderOrganizations’programs,couldbeusefulindeterminingthenumberofclientsrequiringsupplementaryincome.

Social Connections • Earlychildhooddevelopment• Connectingwithotherservices:thepubliclibraryservices(lifeskillsandothersofferedatthe

library)• Volunteerism:connectingwithfoodbank:learningaboutpoverty

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• SettlementSupportWorkersinSchoolSSWIS,andtheeducationsystem• Broaderculturalcommunityandfrancophonecommunity• Needtoconnectnewcomerstosomesocietalinstitutionsandseniorprogramming• Inclusion:measureintegrationintermsofabilitytofeelasenseofbelonging

Orientation • Therewasunanimousagreementthatthevastmajorityofnewcomersshouldhavean

orientationtoSaskatchewan.However,thereisaneedforastructuredapproachtotheorientationpiece.

Health • Healthfitsincommunityconnections.Itisnotjustreferral,butconnectingandsupportingthe

connectiontoensurerefugeeshave100%accesstohealthcare.

Referrals • Aspartofastrategy,anyFrenchspeakingnewcomergetsareferraltothebroaderFrench

community.However,itisuptotheindividualtochoosewhereinthecommunitytheydesiretoconnect.

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Appendix A - Agenda

LessonsLearnedMeeting-May9th&10th2016CosmoCivicCentre,3130LaurierDrive,SaskatoonAgendaObjectives:- TotakestockofhowtheSyrianrefugeemovementworkedinSaskatchewan- Toexaminewhatwecoulddodifferentlyfor(re)settlementinSaskatchewanforallcategoriesof

newcomers.Day1–May9th2016

Time Activity9:00-9:15

Welcome/Introduction:GoalfortheDayBy:BeulahGana(SAISIA)&NitaJolly(IRCC)

9:15-10:45 Openingremarks.Thingswearemostproudofthatwethinkworkedwellandshouldbeconsideredbestpractices.Thingswewishwehadknown/doneandthingswewoulddodifferently.DeborahTunis–45minsPaneldiscussion/presentationonlocalbestpracticesfacilitatedbyDeborahTunis-45mins(5minseach)Panelparticipants:1repfromeach-5SPOs,SAHs;Municipalities;

Note:Eachparticipantwillprovideanexampleofanewopportunity,bestpractice,initiative,anddifferentapproachtoservicedeliverythatwasdevelopedasadirectresultoftheSyrianinitiative.

10:45-11:00 HealthBreak11:00-Noon Paneldiscussions/presentationcontinued….

Paneldiscussion/presentationonlocalchallengesandoropportunities.FacilitatedbyDeborahTunisPanelparticipants:1repfromeach-5SPOs,SAHs;Municipalities.

Note:EachparticipantwillsharenewopportunitiesthataroseorachallengetheyfacedtoservicedeliverythatwasasadirectresultoftheSyrianinitiative.–45mins(5minseach).

Q&A–15mins

Noon-13:00 Lunch13:00-15:00

FacilitatedDiscussions- WhatNewPartnershipshavebeendevelopedasaresultoftheSyrianInitiative?

FacilitatedbyGetachewWoldeysus(SAISIA)&DonnaWall(IRCC)Note:Participants(RAP–SPOs,SAHs&Municipal&ProvincialGov.)willprovideexamplesofnewpartnershipsthatweredevelopedasadirectresultoftheSyrianinitiative.Howthesepartnershipscanbesustainedorstrengthen,anychallengesandopportunities.PotentialDiscussionQuestions:

- Whatarethenextstepsneededtosustainthesepartnerships?

- Howdoweencourageandstrengthenthesepartnerships?

- Sharedclients,sharedconcerns/issues/problems.Howdoweworktogetherforaclientfocusedandcenteredresult?

- Whatistheroleoffunders?

- ConnectingtheDots–BridgingtheRelationswithPrivateSponsorsFacilitatedbySusanCoughlan(IRCC)andDanaKrushel(MCC)PotentialDiscussionQuestions:

- Whatarewedoingthatisworkingwell?Whatcanwedotoproactivelyengage?

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- Howcanwemakeitworkforallincludingsmallgroupsandcentres?

- Whatdoesitlooklikebeinginclusive?Wayforward-Futureplans?

15:00-15:15 HealthBreak15:15-16:30 RAPDiscussion-FacilitatedbyJohnBiles(IRCC)

- Dashboard- Saskatchewancontext

Day2–May10th2016

Time Activity9:00–9:15 Welcome/Introduction:GoalfortheDayby:BeulahGana(SAISIA)&NitaJolly(IRCC)

9:15-10:15 Presentations• ImmigrationResearchWestProject-MappingRefugeeandImmigrantDatain

GISbyJoeGarcea

• TakingStockofOurEnvironment-PanelpresentationPanelist:

-IRCC–JohnBiles-MinistryoftheEconomy–MaryDidowycz(MinofECON)-Municipal–CarolBrouwers(ReginaLIP)andAprilSora(CityofSaskatoon)-SettlementSector–AliAbukar(SectorRepresentative)-SponsorshipAgreementHolders–DanaKrushel(MCC)

10:15-10:30 HealthBreak10:30-11:00 EngagingtheSKSettlementSystemintheSettlementofSyrianRefugees

-NeedsAssessmentReferralprocess–GetachewWoldeysus&BeulahGana(Sectorrepresentatives)-Updatelanguagetraining,waitlists,andpriorities.–JaredSoanes(IRCC-SK)

11:00-12:00 NextPhases-Breakoutgroupsfor:IRCCFacilitators&Notetakers1)Rural/smallcommunityprovidersSandraStrachan(F)StefanKanele(N)2)LanguageAssessorsandprovidersMarieBourdeau(F)JamesMcCullough(N)3)ChildrenandYouthProgrammingDonnaWall(F)DonnaParker(N)4)VulnerablePopulations/CaseManagementJaredSoanes(F)MarkPacker(N)PotentialDiscussionQuestions:- Whataretheemergingissues?- Howhaveyouadaptedprogrammingtoaddresstheseissues?- Whatinitiatives/projectshaveyouseenemergeinyourcommunity- Whatapproaches/partnershipscouldbeusefultorespondtothisissues

12:00–13:00 Lunch13:00-13:30 HelpingImmigrantsSucceed–Introduction–JointpresentationbyIRCC&Minof

ECON

13:30-15:00 ProvincialWorkingGroups/DashboardAreas(LaborMarket,Language&SocialConnections)- IntroductionbySusanCoughlan(IRCC)- PresentationbySAISIAontheSKLanguageProvidersWorkingGroup.

49

- Facilitateddiscussion–leadbySusanCoughlan(IRCC)

PotentialDiscussionQuestions:– Howwereportoneacharea.Mechanism,tools,timelinesetc.…– Howissuccessmeasured/defined?– Whoidentifiesdesiredoutcomes(clientorsociety?)vsfundersexpectedoutcomesandresults.– Settingclearandrealisticexpectationsforsuccess.

15:00–15:15 HealthBreak15:15-15:30 ProvincialDashboard-FacilitatedbyJohnBilesIRCC

-CurrentDashboardandNeedforEnhancements-Democracywillleadtoestablishmentofworkinggroups(e.g.everyonewillgetto"vote"with3dotsforareastheyconsiderimportantonthedashboard.

15:30-15:45 WrapUp/NextStepsbyJohnBiles&BeulahGanaAOBbyJohnBiles

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Appendix B: Participant list Organization Name Day1 Day2MooseJawMulticulturalCouncil StefaniePalmer ü ü LaurenMcTaggart ü ü YWCA-PrinceAlbert AshleyMclean ü ü DonnaBrooks ü ü ReginaOpenDoorSociety GetachewWoldeysus ü ü OudalaySenevonghachack ü ü SaskatoonOpenDoorSociety MechileneVeszi ü ü HenridelaGarde ü AliAbukar ü ü GlobalGatheringPlace BelmaPodrug ü LoriSteward ü ü SolBarrones ü AzaleaBarrieses ü InternationalWomenofSaskatoon RenataCosic ü ü SheriaMyrie ü ü SaskatchewanInterculturalAssociation TehreemZafar AssembléeCommunautaireFransaskoise RonaldLabreque ü SSWIS(SaskatchewanSettlementWorkersinSchools)-RegionalCoordinator

MaryamKarimi ü

Réseauenimmigrationfrancophone(RIF-SK) FantaTraore ü ReginaLocalImmigrationPartnerships(RLIP) CarolBrouwers ü SAISIAOffice AnthonyOlusola ü ü ChristinaBeauregard ü ü BeulahGana ü ü SaskatchewanPolytechnic BrendaSherring ü SaskatchewanPolytechnic MariaZalesak ü ParklandRegionalCollege,Yorkton KatherineSpringford ü CumberlandRegionalCollege LyndaMcPhee ü SoutheastNewcomerServices,Estevan DebbieHagel ü ü HumboldtRegionalNewcomerCentre, JanineHart ü MooseJawRegionalNewcomerGateway,MJ DaliseHector ü BattlefordImmigrationResourceCentre,NBF AnnetteMcGovern ü NewcomerWelcomeCentre,Regina GrattaNimbeshaho ü NewcomerInformationCentre,Saskatoon AngelaDaigneault ü SoutheastNewcomerCentre,SwiftCurrent IcasianaDeGala ü YorktonNewcomerWelcomeCentre,Yorkton EdithMontesclaros ü NortheastNewcomerServices,Tisdale RuthHowes ü MennoniteCentralCommittee DanaKrushel ü ü IRCCNationalCoordinatorofSyrianProject DeborahTunis ü IRCCDirector,Integration NitaJolly ü ü IRCCAssistantDirector,Integration JohnBiles ü ü IRCCSupervisor,Integration CarolOliver ü ü IRCCSyrianProjectCoordinator SusanCoughlan ü ü IRCCIntegrationProgramOfficer MarieLouiseBourdeau ü ü

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Organization Name Day1 Day2IRCCFacilitatorsandNotetakers SandraStrachan ü ü StefanKanele ü MarieBourdeau ü ü JamesMcCullough ü ü DonnaWall ü ü DonnaParker ü JaredSoanes ü ü MarkPacker ü ü ServiceCanada KarenBechtel ü ü SaskatchewanMinistryoftheEconomy TimHelfrich ü ü MaryDidowycz ü ü CityofSaskatoon AprilSora ü ü ShannonHanson ü

Appendix C: Summary of Action Items

ActionItem Responsibility&Plan OriginalTimeline November2016UpdateContinuewithmonthlySyrianRAPconferencecallsfor4months,andthentransitionsintoquarterlycalls

SAISIAEDensurescontinuation&coordination

ofcallswithIRCC,Sector,ProvinceandMunicipalities Ongoing

MonthlycallswerehelduntilOct.andwilltransitiontoquarterlycallsinJanuary2017;willalsoexpandcontentfromSyrianto

globalrefugees.SAISIAeventuallytousedatatocreateinfographics

todemonstrateSKrealityContinuewithdevelopinganddistributingSyrianRAPdashboard IRCCwithinputfromservice

providersandaggregationofdatafromSPOsbySAISIA Ongoing

Monthlydatacollectionhasbeenongoingandwillcontinue,but

dashboardswillswitchtoquarterlybasisinJanuary2017

Gatherfeedbackandmakeongoingrevisionstonarrativeanddatatoolstoimproveeffectivenessandtocapturedatamoreaccurately

SAISIAEDwithstaffsupporttoensureallworkinggroupsreviewthisactionitemandreportbacktoSAISIAwithrecommendationsthatwill

bepresentedtolargergroup

Recommendationstobepresentedtolargergroupby:

October31,2016

Informationgatheringcompletedandlanguageandemployment

toolsinfinalrevisionsfordistributionNov.24.

Implementation&trainingNov30–Dec.2.Willbeusedto

gatherOctoberdataandongoing.Socialconnectionstoolplanned

fordistributionDec.7withtrainingDec.12to14.

Adecisiontobemadeofwhenmoveoutreportsaredue(servicestandard)toRAPofficersfromsettlementagencieswhenclientstransitionfromtemporarytopermanentaccommodations

IRCCtosetservicestandardthatRAPproviderswillneed

tocomplywith

TobecompletedandcommunicatedtoRAPproviders

bySeptember30,2016

Completed.ButnolongerrequiredbySPOs.

AgenciestocommunicatewithSAISIAinregardstoRAPagebracket RAPProviders/SAISIA

ServiceproviderstoprovideSAISIAwithinputbySeptember

Completed,usingServiceCanadaagebracketsandbeingreported

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consistency,SAISIAwillinturncommunicatethisinformationtoIRCC

15,2016.SAISIAtoprovidefeedbacktoIRCCbySeptember19,2016

toIRCCmonthlywithdataaggregationfromSAISIA.One

SPOnotprovidingemploymentdatatodate.

Dashboardtoincludeinformationonwhethercertainlanguagelearnersneedspecialaccommodationduetodisability

Languagetrainingworkinggrouptodiscussandmakerecommendationshowthisinformationcanbefedintoreportingforthedashboard

Workinggrouptomakerecommendationtolargergroup

fortheOctober13,2016Call

ForfirstiterationsSPOswillbeaskedtoreportthisinthe

Narrative.Ifnumbersappearlargewewillrevisetooltocollectquantitatively.Maybeaneedtodistinguishlearningfromother

disabilitiesNarrativeslideondashboardtoberevamped

All3workinggroupstoreviewtheslide(s)and

proposewhatshouldbeincludedontheslide

RecommendationstobemadeatOctober13,2016call

Completed&incorporatedintothetools.Revisedtoolstobesent

outNov.24andDec.7.

Casemanagementandcommunityconnectionsslidesondashboardneedstobedeveloped

Settlementservicesworkinggroupwillworktodeterminehowtopopulatetheseslides

RecommendationstobemadeatOctober13,2016call

ToolbeingdevelopedfordistributionDec.7withoutcase

management.Lackofclarityaboutwhatiswanted;needs

furtherclarification:WGcoordinatorworkingon

comparativeanalysisofcaseloadmanagementbestpractices

SAISIAtohostannualinpersonmeetingofthesectoranditsmainpartnersisveryvaluableandrecommended

SAISIAtoensurewithsupportofIRCCandSector Annually(April/May)

SAISIAstartingtoassessneedsofSPOSrecontentofmeeting.PlanningtobegininJan.for

April/Mayeventin2017.Workinggroupmeetingstotakeplaceandbeginworkonidentifiedactionitems

SAISIAtotakeleadtoensureworkingisbeingcompleted Ongoing

WorkingGroupcoordinatorhiredinSept.;allgroupsactive;termsofreference,workplans&toolsarecompleted.EachWGhasmet

twice.

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Appendix D: Summary of Themes – Three Year Focus

OverallPriorityIdentified ActionItems/Themes Timeline OutcomesCapacityBuildingandStrengtheningtheSector

1.SAISIAwillcontinuetoengagethesectorbyexpandingmembershipandrepresentationwithinSAISIAatadecision-makinglevel.

Withinoneyear SAISIAismorethoroughlyrepresentativeofsettlementstakeholders.

2.AsaprovincialumbrellaorganizationintheWesternRegion,SAISIAwillcontinuetoevaluateworkloadandproposeadditionalstafftofundingorganizationsproportionaltotheworkplanoftheorganizationandtofosterorganizationalstabilityandsustainability.

Ongoingthroughoutthe3-yearperiod.

SAISIAiscapableoffacilitatingtheactionpointsdescribedwithinthischart,aswellasthoseidentifiedinitsoverallstrategicplan(asitisdeveloped),andgrowingtomeettheneedsofthesector.

3.SAISIAwillparticipateintheformulationofservicestandards,forexample:

• Definingappropriatemoveoutreporttimelines(AppendixC)

• Definingappropriatecaseloadsforsettlementserviceworkers

ATaskForcethatincludesawidebaseofstakeholdersanddrawsontheexperiencebothwithinandoutsideSaskatchewanwilldevelopclearstandards.

Ongoingthroughoutthe3-yearperiod

SAISIA’smembership,partners,andfundersbenefitfromclearguidelinesforservicestandards,suchasastandardunderstandingoncaseloads.

CommunicationwithintheLargerSector,andamongKeyStakeholders

4.WorkingGroupswillcontinuetoworktowardsHelpingImmigrantsSucceed(HIS)outcomes,communicatingtrendsandmeasuringtangibleoutcomesthroughdatatoolsandnarrativesdevelopedwithinworkinggroupsforEmployment,Language,andSocialConnections.

Fall–Winter2016,thenongoingreviewand

consolidation.

Thesector,funders,andpartnershaveaccesstodatathatbesttellsthestoryofsettlementoutcomesforclients.

5.Informationwillcontinuetobecollected Fall–Winter2016,then Thesectorhasactionable

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andsharedwiththelargersettlementcommunity,funders,andpartnersaboutoverallimmigrantandrefugeeoutcomesthroughtheexpandedSettlementdashboards.

ongoingreviewandconsolidation.

informationonsettlementneedsandoutcomes

6.SAISIAwillworkwithRAPproviderstocoordinatethedevelopmentandimplementationofstandardneedsassessmentsforGARSatthreepointsintime:initialarrival;afterplacementinpermanentaccommodations;andimmediatelybeforetheendoftheoneyearincomesupportperiod.ThesetoolswillalsobesharedwithSAHsandotherprivatesponsorssotheymayfeedintotheresettlementdashboardsiftheywishtodoso.OverthenextyearSAISIAwillworkwiththebroadersettlementsectortoassessthefeasibilityofastandardneedsassessmentforsettlement.

Ongoing,quarterly,throughoutthe3-year

period

SPOshaveaccesstoconsistentlyusefulinformationprovidedthroughformalizedneedsassessment.

7.SAISIAwillservetoimprovefederalandprovincialcommunicationonserviceprovisionthrough:• workinggroups,• ongoingRAPandSettlementSector

conversations,• participationintheWesternRegion

workinggroup(WRWG),WesternRegionResearchAdvisoryCommittee(WRRAC)andtheNationalSettlementCouncil(NSC)

• reviseddataandnarrativetoolstotellthestory,and

• annualin-personmeetings.

Ongoing,quarterly,throughoutthe3-year

periodIn-persongatheringsto

happenannuallythroughoutthe3-year

period

BothlevelsofgovernmentworkinpartnershipandwithSAISIAtoensureseamlessdeliveryofservices.Bothareinformedofclient-centeredneedsandprogramminggapsconsistently.

8.SAISIAwillcontinuetoengageSponsorship Ongoingthroughoutthe3- • SPOsdesignandalign

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AgreementHolders(SAHs)andworktostrengthentheirtieswithotherstakeholderswithinthesettlementsectortosupporttheunderstanding,promotion,andfacilitationofthevarioustypesofrefugeesponsorshipandmigration

yearperiod programsandservicestoalignmorecloselywithclientneeds,enactingamoreclient-centredapproach

• SAHshavegreateraccesstoprogramsandservices

Research 9.InadditiontocontinuingtocollectthedataidentifiedthroughtheWorkingGroupsandbuildingareservoirofmeasurements,SAISIAwilllooktosupporttheresearchconductedbyreputablecommunityinstitutions,andwillallywithstakeholdersconductingresearchthatbenefitstheunderstandingofthesettlementsector.

Ongoingthroughoutthe3-yearperiod

SAISIA,andindeedthemanydiversestakeholders,communities,andorganizationsthroughouttheprovince,ispositionedtogainvaluableinformationfromnewresearchonnewcomersandrefugeesconductedbycommunityorganizationsandinstitutions.

StrategicPlanningandOngoingReview

10.TakingintoaccountthetrendsandthemesidentifiedthroughtheLessonsLearnedprojectaswellasthestateofsettlementoverthepastyearsandthemorerecentlyanddramaticallyalteredsettlementlandscape,andbearinginmindthewiderprioritiesofthesettlementsector,SAISIAwillcompletedetailedstrategicplanningforthecomingyears.Thisstrategicplanwillbereviewedannually.

ByQuarter42016-7,thenongoing.

SAISIAhasastrongstrategicframeworkthataccountsforbothlongtermandrecenttrendsandcompetentlyaddressestheneedsofthesettlementsectorinSaskatchewan.

meeting report - saisia...the meeting was to engage the resettlement and settlement sectors to...

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