Ed Local Immigration Partnerships A3

SETTLEMENT SERVICE SETTLEMENT SERVICE PLANNING IN WEST PLANNING IN WEST

DOWNTOWN TORONTO DOWNTOWN TORONTO

OCASI – November 2009OCASI – November 2009

WiseSolution Consulting2

“Organic” system of settlement servicesFunded by different levels of government &

ministries

Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) increases investment in Ontario

Competitive application processes

Gentrification of downtown and Priority Neighbourhoods in the suburbs

Downtown seen as over-served

Background & EnvironmentBackground & Environment


Steering Committee Agencies (Met through OCASI; connection of trust and philosophy of client best interests):

St. Stephen’s Community House St. Christopher House COSTI Immigrant Services Working Women Community Centre South Asian Women`s Centre CultureLink Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Services

Funding partners: United Way Toronto Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration

Participating Agencies: Ultimately, more than 60 organizations participated

PartnershipPartnership


Project GoalsProject Goals To enhance delivery of settlement services to

vulnerable newcomer populations through the creation and implementation of a local service plan and coordination model

To involve service users, service organizations and other stakeholders in a process to develop a local service plan and coordination model

To share learnings on our local settlement service coordination model with other regions of the city and province


Start-Up ItemsStart-Up Items Development of Steering Committee Terms

of Reference Hiring of neutral project facilitators Preliminary discussions regarding

development of Statement of Values and Principles


Statement of Principles & Values: Statement of Principles & Values: BELIEFS BELIEFS

Agencies and newcomers – unique & essential contributions

Diversity of agencies & groups a strength Agencies & groups all have role in planning Honest dialogue & transparency Model anti-racism, anti-oppression, gender

equity & cultural competency principles in our work with each other


Statement of Principles & Values: Statement of Principles & Values: SYSTEM PRINCIPLESSYSTEM PRINCIPLES

Client-focused Inclusiveness Reflecting cultural differences Valuing cultural differences Service Equity


Statement of Principles & Values: Statement of Principles & Values: KEY VALUES KEY VALUES

Inherent worth, dignity & unique assets Attention to feeling, spirit & relationships Learning from every interaction Fostering atmosphere of trust Focus on interdependence Holistic, social transformation approach Working with communities based in their

cultural perspectives


PROJECT PHASE 1PROJECT PHASE 1


Phase 1 – Research & MappingPhase 1 – Research & Mapping

Research Processes (Jul-Aug2007) Service Provider Questionnaire Interviews with Other Interested Parties Statistical Research

Community Mapping (Jul-Aug2007) Forum #1 (Sep2007)

Presentation of Research and Community Mapping

Creation of Planning Tables


Phase 1 – Service NeedsPhase 1 – Service Needs

Community Input (Oct2007-Jan2008) Planning Table Phase 1 Sessions (Oct2007-Feb2008)Service Needs Review – Template to identify:

Service StrengthsService Gaps or Areas for ImprovementExisting Collaborations or Collaboration Models

Consultation Session with Reference Group (Mar2008)

Discuss draft Service Needs Reviews


Phase 2 – ForumPhase 2 – Forum Forum #2 (Apr2008)

Presentation of Service Needs Reviews Preliminary Planning Table Discussions to

Develop Service Delivery Strategies:Service Continuation

Service Expansion

Service Coordination & Planning


Phase 2 – Service Delivery PlanningPhase 2 – Service Delivery Planning Planning Table Phase 2 Sessions (May-Jul2008)

Service Delivery Planning – Template to identify:Overall Strategy StatementGoals or ObjectivesStrategic Directions (Foundational & Innovative)

Consultation Sessions (Jun-Nov2008) Two Sessions with Executive Directors

Statement of Project Principles & ValuesFeedback on Draft Service Strategy

Interviews with Selection of Reference Group Members

Feedback on Draft Service Strategy


Phase 3 – ImplementationPhase 3 – Implementation

Forum #3 (Nov2008) Presentation of Draft Consolidated

Settlement Service Strategy Discussion of Next Steps &

Implementation


Strategy – Newcomer DefinitionStrategy – Newcomer DefinitionAny individual born in another country: (i) who has moved

to Canada, or (ii) who currently lives in another country with the intention of moving to Canada in the near future.

Includes (but not limited to): Sponsored family members Internationally trained professionals Internationally trained skilled workers Convention refugees Refugee claimants Temporary workers Live-in caregivers Business immigrants Provincial nominees Protected persons Foreign students who intend to stay in Canada Any other individual with or seeking permanent residence in Canada Immigrants after having become Canadian citizens


Settlement Service Strategy: Settlement Service Strategy: Part 1Part 1

STRATEGY STATEMENTSSTRATEGY STATEMENTS


EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYMENT

To foster, promote and build an effective and coordinated service delivery system in downtown west Toronto to assist newcomers in gaining and maintaining meaningful employment and career advancements


ENGLISH LANGUAGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAININGTRAINING

To facilitate newcomers’ access to quality, no cost English language training services in downtown west Toronto to support their access to employment and their settlement and inclusion


HEALTH, EMOTIONAL & HEALTH, EMOTIONAL & SOCIAL SUPPORTSOCIAL SUPPORT

To improve access to high quality, no-cost, culturally appropriate health services and programs for newcomers in downtown west Toronto with the intention of supporting their overall health and facilitating their ongoing, long-term settlement and inclusion


INFORMATION & REFERRAL INFORMATION & REFERRAL

To support a seamless, flexible and coordinated service delivery system in downtown west Toronto for newcomers:

- by recognizing that settlement services are the primary entry point for newcomers in downtown west Toronto from immediate arrival through to full participation in Canadian economic, social and civic life; and

- by promoting strong linkages in downtown west Toronto among agencies offering settlement services, community-based services, and mainstream social, health and labour market services to ensure a clear and timely progression for newcomers to full inclusion in the local community and in our overall Canadian society


SOCIAL INCLUSION SOCIAL INCLUSION

To advance Social Inclusion as a crucial component of newcomer settlement, and to create a collective commitment for settlement service agencies in downtown west Toronto to collaborate with each other and engage in social inclusion practices, programming, and activities


SOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’nSOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’n

Making sure that all children and adults can participate as valued, respected and contributing community members

Reflects proactive, human development approach to social wellbeing

- calls for more than removal of barriers or risks

- requires investments and action to bring about inclusion

“Immigrant Settlement and Social Inclusion in Canada,” Laidlaw Foundation Working Paper.


SOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’nSOCIAL INCLUSION – Def’n

More than simply recognizing importance of difference & diversity

- calls for validation and recognition of diversity & recognition of the commonality of lived experiences and shared aspirations among people

Beyond bringing the ‘outsiders’ in- closes physical, social and economic distances separating people

- not just eliminating boundaries or barriers between us and them


PART 1 – KEY GOALSPART 1 – KEY GOALS


KEY GOALS - COORDINATIONKEY GOALS - COORDINATION Coordinated newcomer access to

settlement services and mainstream services in downtown west Toronto through partnerships, satellite locations, co-location, joint training, staff sharing and/or reciprocal staff secondments

Information & Referral Services Employment Support Services Language Training Income Support and Housing Health Services Social Inclusion


KEY GOALS - SERVICESKEY GOALS - SERVICES Sufficient, appropriate and effective services

and programs for newcomers in downtown west Toronto

Sufficiency & SuitabilityCultural AppropriatenessTimelinessVarietyResponsiveness

Suitable services for newcomers regardless of immigration status

people without immigration status immigrants after they become Canadian citizens


KEY GOALS - ACCESSKEY GOALS - ACCESS Work experience, employment, and

workplace support Supports to facilitate learner access to

English language training childminding, transportation, etc.

Health Services, including: Mental health and emotional support Family needs (children, youth, seniors, parents, caregivers) Newcomers with disabilities (barrier-free access to settlement

services and disability services) Dental care People without immigration status / non-insured


GOALS - RESPONSIVENESSGOALS - RESPONSIVENESS

Expanded agency capacity to address and continually respond to existing and emerging newcomer service needs in light of changing immigration, landing and internal migration trends

Annually review and address current service gaps and emerging clients needs


KEY GOALS - LANGUAGESKEY GOALS - LANGUAGES

Expand agency capacity to serve newcomer communities in current and emerging newcomer languages

Eliminate or reduce language as a barrier to accessing health services


KEY GOALS – KEY GOALS – EDUCATION & ADVOCACYEDUCATION & ADVOCACY

Funding of existing and new / innovative services and programs for newcomers .

Including social inclusion practices, programming, and activities

Understanding of social inclusion among newcomers, as well as on the part of community leaders, elected officials, the broader community, and other key stakeholders


Settlement Service Strategy: Settlement Service Strategy: Part 2Part 2

COORDINATIONCOORDINATION


SERVICE PLAN – PART 2 SERVICE PLAN – PART 2

A. Information Sharing

B. Linkages

C. Partnership Best Practices

D. Referrals & Service Navigation

E. Staff Training & Community Education

F. Funding


PROJECT LEARNINGSPROJECT LEARNINGS


Project LearningsProject Learnings Importance of engaging service

providers early in process Importance of developing Statement of

Project Principles & Values Challenges of community mapping

process Preliminary community maps limited in scope Developing comprehensive maps a challenge Keeping maps up-to-date a challenge


Project LearningsProject Learnings Challenge of fitting the nine CIC need areas

into our five Planning Tables ‘Health’ fit well with ‘Emotional Supports,’ but ‘Housing’

and ‘Income Supports’ fit less well with ‘Information & Orientation’

Challenge of keeping decision-makers involved in process

Agencies sending different representatives (frontline and managerial) to participate in Forums, Planning Table discussions, etc.

Challenge of maintaining continuity in participants

Agencies sending different individuals to each event, meeting, or Forum


Project LearningsProject Learnings Managing the fear of change and

addressing the agency concerns Highlighting a client-centred, “no one left behind”

approach and importance of different areas of expertise or uniqueness

Challenge of getting the participation of key mainstream institutions

Challenge of getting the participation of key non-service provider agencies

Challenge of maintaining participation of Reference Group members (I.e., social planners, research departments, coalitions, etc.)


Project LearningsProject Learnings Importance of guiding the Planning

Table discussions with Templates Otherwise, can have great discussions with

little “hard product” to show for it External facilitation can be beneficial

Importance of highly committed Steering Committee members and clear Terms of Reference

Importance of maintaining ongoing communication with participants (e.g., newsletters)

Ed Local Immigration Partnerships A3

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