Research Library

This is a provincial survey from January to February 2018. The survey aimed to examine and understand the priorities, systems-level issues and areas of improvement in settlement and integration, to identify any current systems-level issues that are affecting service provider organizations (SPOs), and to highlight areas of improvement for the next fiscal year. The survey findings indicate that the main challenge affecting newcomers is access to Language Programs. When the survey asked participants what the most common barrier that affected individuals’ ability to attend language training the most, over 70% of respondents indicated Childcare Provision and Availability. The findings also show that lack of childcare provision affects newcomers’ ability to access not only education (language programs), but also employment and social activities. Service providers indicated that they experience challenges with data collection which prevents sharing data between organizations. This in turn affects the quality of service delivery. Service providers also expressed a desire for increased sector engagement meaning that they were interested in large-scale events such as summits and seminars. The survey results also indicate that AAISA’s research and policy resources are not being used to a large extent for settlement practices, policy change and funding models. AAISA is committed to increase efforts into changing this tendency and establishing more meaningful connections with the government and policy stakeholders. This is a provincial survey from January to February 2018. The survey aimed to examine and understand the priorities, systems-level issues and areas of improvement in settlement and integration, to identify any current systems-level issues that are affecting service provider organizations (SPOs), and to highlight areas of improvement for the next fiscal year. The survey findings indicate that the main challenge affecting newcomers is access to Language Programs. When the survey asked participants what the most common barrier that affected individuals’ ability to attend language training the most, over 70% of respondents indicated Childcare Provision and Availability. The findings also show that lack of childcare provision affects newcomers’ ability to access not only education (language programs), but also employment and social activities. Service providers indicated that they experience challenges with data collection which prevents sharing data between organizations. This in turn affects the quality of service delivery. Service providers also expressed a desire for increased sector engagement meaning that they were interested in large-scale events such as summits and seminars. The survey results also indicate that AAISA’s research and policy resources are not being used to a large extent for settlement practices, policy change and funding models. AAISA is committed to increase efforts into changing this tendency and establishing more meaningful connections with the government and policy stakeholders.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the timing of the first prenatal ultrasound in Canada. 68.4% of Canadian women received an optimally timed first prenatal ultrasound, 27.4% received early ultrasounds and 4.3% received late ultrasound. Only 68% of Canadian women received an optimally timed prenatal ultrasound which was influenced by several factors including province of prenatal care, maternal age and country of birth, and an interaction effect between prenatal care provider and history of miscarriage. These findings establish a baseline of factors influencing the timing of prenatal ultrasound in Canada, which can be built upon by future studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with the timing of the first prenatal ultrasound in Canada. 68.4% of Canadian women received an optimally timed first prenatal ultrasound, 27.4% received early ultrasounds and 4.3% received late ultrasound. Only 68% of Canadian women received an optimally timed prenatal ultrasound which was influenced by several factors including province of prenatal care, maternal age and country of birth, and an interaction effect between prenatal care provider and history of miscarriage. These findings establish a baseline of factors influencing the timing of prenatal ultrasound in Canada, which can be built upon by future studies.
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The Brooks Local Immigration Partnership (Brooks LIP) is a collaborative community effort to support the settlement and integration of newcomers in Brooks and area. After completing a literature review, needs assessment and community consultations, Brooks LIP has identified 3 priority areas to address to further support newcomers. This document presents a brief overview of the reasoning behind these priority areas. The Brooks Local Immigration Partnership (Brooks LIP) is a collaborative community effort to support the settlement and integration of newcomers in Brooks and area. After completing a literature review, needs assessment and community consultations, Brooks LIP has identified 3 priority areas to address to further support newcomers. This document presents a brief overview of the reasoning behind these priority areas.
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Over the past years, more newcomers have moved to Lloydminster, particularly when the economy was strong and there were numerous opportunities for employment. The Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership (LLIP) was tasked with determining the experiences of newcomers in Lloydminster and their settlement needs. A survey, community engagement sessions and interviews were conducted to determine what was working well and what areas need to be enhanced to better assist newcomers in resettlement. Additionally, recommendations were created from this information to provide avenues for LLIP to move forwards and enhance the newcomer experience in Lloydminster. Over the past years, more newcomers have moved to Lloydminster, particularly when the economy was strong and there were numerous opportunities for employment. The Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership (LLIP) was tasked with determining the experiences of newcomers in Lloydminster and their settlement needs. A survey, community engagement sessions and interviews were conducted to determine what was working well and what areas need to be enhanced to better assist newcomers in resettlement. Additionally, recommendations were created from this information to provide avenues for LLIP to move forwards and enhance the newcomer experience in Lloydminster.
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With the arrival of a large number of Syrian families to Canada, educators and other service providers are reflecting on best practices to support the psychosocial adaption of refugees from conflict settings. This article draws on a study and model that examined the psychosocial adaptation of Syrian refugee families with young children in Western Canada. The name of the model is RAISED between Cultures. The acronym stands for Reveal culture, Acknowledge pre-migration experiences, Identify post-migration systemic barriers, Support family and community strengths, Establish connections between environments, and Determine child outcomes together with families. Study focused on the role of cultural brokers in facilitating the adaptation of Syrian refugee families, our results provide evidence for the application of the model for educators and other school personnel. As key figures in refugee children and families’ adaptation to their host country, educators can draw on these findings to identify families’ and children’s’ strengths and challenges during early resettlement to ensure positive child outcomes. With the arrival of a large number of Syrian families to Canada, educators and other service providers are reflecting on best practices to support the psychosocial adaption of refugees from conflict settings. This article draws on a study and model that examined the psychosocial adaptation of Syrian refugee families with young children in Western Canada. The name of the model is RAISED between Cultures. The acronym stands for Reveal culture, Acknowledge pre-migration experiences, Identify post-migration systemic barriers, Support family and community strengths, Establish connections between environments, and Determine child outcomes together with families. Study focused on the role of cultural brokers in facilitating the adaptation of Syrian refugee families, our results provide evidence for the application of the model for educators and other school personnel. As key figures in refugee children and families’ adaptation to their host country, educators can draw on these findings to identify families’ and children’s’ strengths and challenges during early resettlement to ensure positive child outcomes.
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This research focused on understanding the integration and settlement of Syrian children and youth in Winnipeg and Calgary. The goals were to understand how communities and schools might better support integration, the unique psychosocial and academic needs of Syrian refugees, and how schools can support reciprocal learning among refugee, immigrant, and Canadian-born students. Findings revealedthatmany refugees experience triple trauma as a result of forced migration, having experienced trauma in their country of origin, during transition, and again upon resettlement in Canada. Further challenges includeddifficulties in acquiring a new language, interrupted schooling, lack of resources for teachers who felt unprepared for the complexities of student needs, and racism and discrimination experienced by youth trying to integrate with their Canadian peers. The project reveals many gaps in programs and services and highlights the need for a coordinated approach among the different stakeholders in the refugee settlement and integration process. This research focused on understanding the integration and settlement of Syrian children and youth in Winnipeg and Calgary. The goals were to understand how communities and schools might better support integration, the unique psychosocial and academic needs of Syrian refugees, and how schools can support reciprocal learning among refugee, immigrant, and Canadian-born students. Findings revealedthatmany refugees experience triple trauma as a result of forced migration, having experienced trauma in their country of origin, during transition, and again upon resettlement in Canada. Further challenges includeddifficulties in acquiring a new language, interrupted schooling, lack of resources for teachers who felt unprepared for the complexities of student needs, and racism and discrimination experienced by youth trying to integrate with their Canadian peers. The project reveals many gaps in programs and services and highlights the need for a coordinated approach among the different stakeholders in the refugee settlement and integration process.
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Alberta has seen a significant increase in refugees in recent years, however, Immigrant and Refugee Board (IRB) hearings are backlogged and refugee claimants have limited access to services in the interim. AAISA is asking the Ministry of Labour to update Alberta Labour and Immigration’s strategic framework for newcomers, as well as increase funding for service provider organizations (SPOs) to provide services to refugees and refugee claimants. Alberta has seen a significant increase in refugees in recent years, however, Immigrant and Refugee Board (IRB) hearings are backlogged and refugee claimants have limited access to services in the interim. AAISA is asking the Ministry of Labour to update Alberta Labour and Immigration’s strategic framework for newcomers, as well as increase funding for service provider organizations (SPOs) to provide services to refugees and refugee claimants.
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Health is a basic human right for all. The Ministry of Health needs to increase health providers’ awareness of the Interim Federal Healthcare Benefit (IFHB), provide immediate coverage from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to refugees, and include refugees as eligible beneficiaries under Alberta Labour funding accessibility. Health is a basic human right for all. The Ministry of Health needs to increase health providers’ awareness of the Interim Federal Healthcare Benefit (IFHB), provide immediate coverage from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to refugees, and include refugees as eligible beneficiaries under Alberta Labour funding accessibility.
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This study examined the barriers and facilitators to community belonging for immigrants in Alberta, Canada. Participants discuss two forms of community belonging in this study: (a) belonging to an ethnocultural group; and (b) belonging within mainstream Canadian society. Barriers to mainstream community belonging for immigrants include employment barriers, language barriers, and discrimination. Recent immigrants often experience a sense of belonging to their ethnic group within the host country before feeling connected to others in their local geographic community. A major factor contributing to this trend is the lack of ethnocultural diversity in local community organizations in the areas where immigrants live. Immigrant service agencies and religious institutions compensate for this deficiency through creating avenues for social connection within and across ethnocultural groups and to mainstream Canadian society. Thus local community organizations should address issues of ethnocultural diversity and discrimination to improve the mental health of immigrants by fostering community belonging. Supporting programs in immigrant service agencies and religious institutions to increase social participation and engagement would, also, help strengthen community belonging and improve immigrant mental health. This study examined the barriers and facilitators to community belonging for immigrants in Alberta, Canada. Participants discuss two forms of community belonging in this study: (a) belonging to an ethnocultural group; and (b) belonging within mainstream Canadian society. Barriers to mainstream community belonging for immigrants include employment barriers, language barriers, and discrimination. Recent immigrants often experience a sense of belonging to their ethnic group within the host country before feeling connected to others in their local geographic community. A major factor contributing to this trend is the lack of ethnocultural diversity in local community organizations in the areas where immigrants live. Immigrant service agencies and religious institutions compensate for this deficiency through creating avenues for social connection within and across ethnocultural groups and to mainstream Canadian society. Thus local community organizations should address issues of ethnocultural diversity and discrimination to improve the mental health of immigrants by fostering community belonging. Supporting programs in immigrant service agencies and religious institutions to increase social participation and engagement would, also, help strengthen community belonging and improve immigrant mental health.
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It is imperative that the Ministry of Justice improves the capacity and accessibility of Legal Aid, particularly when Alberta has seen a large increase in refugees in recent years. This will mitigate a significant barrier in the settlement sector, as well as strengthen Alberta’s social and economic fabric. It is imperative that the Ministry of Justice improves the capacity and accessibility of Legal Aid, particularly when Alberta has seen a large increase in refugees in recent years. This will mitigate a significant barrier in the settlement sector, as well as strengthen Alberta’s social and economic fabric.
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