Notes
Location
Edmonton, Alberta
Key recommendations
Need for additional funding and supports for models of immigrant settlement that are holistic and culturally informed, such as the cultural brokering model;
Empowering community members in early stages of resettlement so they can navigate integration on their own when the support program is over;
Enhancing community-based resources to provide training of community leaders in facilitating discussions around psychosocial adaptation needs;
Raising awareness of services/supports;
Linking and bridging families to the wider community should be explored further in the Canadian context.
Gaps identified
Gap exists in current systems (i.e., health, social services, education, child services) relating to appropriately responding to the needs of refugee families from Syria, particularly the most vulnerable families with multiple needs and challenges
Key findings
Issues in Syrian refugees’ early adaptation and integration processes:
(1) Syrian refugee families, particularly those with multiple health needs, are struggling with settlement and psychosocial adaptation in the early years, which places them at risk for long-term integration challenges
(2) service providers, like cultural brokers, are vital systems navigators for families in the beginning of resettlement and integration, but they cannot meet all the resettlement needs of the families.
Community organizations
the Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative (MCHB) and the Multicultural Family Resource Society (MFRS)
Key populations
Syrian refugees
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
Each broker supported approximately 15 Syrian families who had been in Canada from 3 months to 2 years
