Research Library

Canadian refugee healthcare has been impacted by periodic upheavals including federal funding cuts, Syrian and Yazidi resettlement programs, and COVID-19. These upheavals will have undoubtedly led to changes in clinic use, shifts in clinic demographics, or clinic policy. Refugees are a vulnerable population with specific physical health, mental health, and social needs. One model of care that can address these needs is a specialized refugee health clinic. Understanding the impacts of recent upheavals on a specialized refugee health clinic’s utilization, its staff and clinicians is critical for future planning. We studied a specialized refugee health clinic in Calgary, AB from 2011 to 2020, across five time periods: Pre-Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Cuts (January 2011 – June 2012), IFHP Cuts (July 2012 – October 2015), Syrian Surge (November 2015- January 2017), Yazidi Period (February 2017 – February 2020), and COVID-19 (March 2020 – December 2020). We analyzed quantitative changes as well as conducted semi-structured interviews with clinic leadership. Utilization increased greatly over different policy changes and a pandemic, at a specialized refugee clinic over ten years. These upheavals challenged clinic leadership and providers to adapt. The stress of these upheavals negatively impacted staff wellness and patient care. Understanding how health and immigration policy changes affect care, especially at specialized refugee clinics, is critical for being able to anticipate and thrive through future upheavals as turmoil globally seems to continue. Canadian refugee healthcare has been impacted by periodic upheavals including federal funding cuts, Syrian and Yazidi resettlement programs, and COVID-19. These upheavals will have undoubtedly led to changes in clinic use, shifts in clinic demographics, or clinic policy. Refugees are a vulnerable population with specific physical health, mental health, and social needs. One model of care that can address these needs is a specialized refugee health clinic. Understanding the impacts of recent upheavals on a specialized refugee health clinic’s utilization, its staff and clinicians is critical for future planning. We studied a specialized refugee health clinic in Calgary, AB from 2011 to 2020, across five time periods: Pre-Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Cuts (January 2011 – June 2012), IFHP Cuts (July 2012 – October 2015), Syrian Surge (November 2015- January 2017), Yazidi Period (February 2017 – February 2020), and COVID-19 (March 2020 – December 2020). We analyzed quantitative changes as well as conducted semi-structured interviews with clinic leadership. Utilization increased greatly over different policy changes and a pandemic, at a specialized refugee clinic over ten years. These upheavals challenged clinic leadership and providers to adapt. The stress of these upheavals negatively impacted staff wellness and patient care. Understanding how health and immigration policy changes affect care, especially at specialized refugee clinics, is critical for being able to anticipate and thrive through future upheavals as turmoil globally seems to continue.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This qualitative study used basic interpretive inquiry to explore experiences of vicarious resilience among racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners who have worked with resilient attempted genocide survivor clients within a counselling setting. Five self-identified racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners participated in semistructured interviews regarding their experiences. This qualitative study used basic interpretive inquiry to explore experiences of vicarious resilience among racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners who have worked with resilient attempted genocide survivor clients within a counselling setting. Five self-identified racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners participated in semistructured interviews regarding their experiences.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Composing lives that have a sense of coherence is part of the identity making of refugee families and shapes their attempts for social inclusion. Their struggles for narrative coherence are shaped by the bumping places and tensions that they experience as their lives bump against dominant narratives that structure the policies and practices of many institutions including schools. Using narrative inquiry, we inquired into the experiences of three Syrian refugee families as they bumped against institutional policies and practices. Composing lives that have a sense of coherence is part of the identity making of refugee families and shapes their attempts for social inclusion. Their struggles for narrative coherence are shaped by the bumping places and tensions that they experience as their lives bump against dominant narratives that structure the policies and practices of many institutions including schools. Using narrative inquiry, we inquired into the experiences of three Syrian refugee families as they bumped against institutional policies and practices.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Pediatric refugees face diverse health issues, including growth abnormalities, that can have serious long-term adverse health consequences for cognition, bone health, blood pressure, and more. In 2014, the terrorist group Daesh committed genocide against Yazidis, an ethnic and religious minority group in Iraq and Syria, displacing an estimated 200 000 people. The Canadian government resettled approximately 1500 Yazidi refugees between 2016 and 2017, prioritizing previously enslaved women and children. Many Yazidi children endured violence and prolonged starvation, yet the prevalence of growth abnormalities among them is unknown. We assessed growth indicators for resettled Yazidi and non–Yazidi pediatric refugees from Syria and Iraq. Pediatric refugees face diverse health issues, including growth abnormalities, that can have serious long-term adverse health consequences for cognition, bone health, blood pressure, and more. In 2014, the terrorist group Daesh committed genocide against Yazidis, an ethnic and religious minority group in Iraq and Syria, displacing an estimated 200 000 people. The Canadian government resettled approximately 1500 Yazidi refugees between 2016 and 2017, prioritizing previously enslaved women and children. Many Yazidi children endured violence and prolonged starvation, yet the prevalence of growth abnormalities among them is unknown. We assessed growth indicators for resettled Yazidi and non–Yazidi pediatric refugees from Syria and Iraq.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study explored refugee experiences with COVID-19 vaccination in Calgary and area in 2021-2022 by interviewing refugees, sponsors of refugees and COVID-19 vaccination system stakeholders This study explored refugee experiences with COVID-19 vaccination in Calgary and area in 2021-2022 by interviewing refugees, sponsors of refugees and COVID-19 vaccination system stakeholders
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The City of Calgary Public Safety Anti-Racism Action Strategy aims to prevent and mitigate systemic racism and racialization in public safety and City programs and services. The strategy highlights the need to examine policies, bylaws, and legislation that regulate behaviors, statements, or decisions that cause or sustain racism and racialization. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in supporting The City’s efforts to become anti-racist. This Action Strategy is instrumental in the development of The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which provides an overview of strategic actions to create equitable and fair protection, treatment, and outcomes for all Calgarians by enhancing public safety, dignity, order, and peace. The City of Calgary Public Safety Anti-Racism Action Strategy aims to prevent and mitigate systemic racism and racialization in public safety and City programs and services. The strategy highlights the need to examine policies, bylaws, and legislation that regulate behaviors, statements, or decisions that cause or sustain racism and racialization. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in supporting The City’s efforts to become anti-racist. This Action Strategy is instrumental in the development of The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which provides an overview of strategic actions to create equitable and fair protection, treatment, and outcomes for all Calgarians by enhancing public safety, dignity, order, and peace.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This strategy outlines the City of Calgary’s commitment to creating a racially-just community. It emphasizes the importance of collective anti-racism work, organizational stamina, anti-racist leadership, and intentional centering of the lived experiences of Indigenous, Black, and diverse Racialized employees. The strategy also highlights the need for a focused approach to address the root causes of systemic racism and oppression. It emphasizes accountability as a public service organization and aims to embed it into the change process. Overall, this strategy serves as a roadmap for the City of Calgary’s efforts towards creating an inclusive and equitable community for all its residents. This strategy outlines the City of Calgary’s commitment to creating a racially-just community. It emphasizes the importance of collective anti-racism work, organizational stamina, anti-racist leadership, and intentional centering of the lived experiences of Indigenous, Black, and diverse Racialized employees. The strategy also highlights the need for a focused approach to address the root causes of systemic racism and oppression. It emphasizes accountability as a public service organization and aims to embed it into the change process. Overall, this strategy serves as a roadmap for the City of Calgary’s efforts towards creating an inclusive and equitable community for all its residents.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This learning note identifies provides a brief overview of the how compounding vulnerabilities and responisbilities shape the experiences of newcomer women throughout the settlement journey. It offers key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomer women in Canada. This learning note identifies provides a brief overview of the how compounding vulnerabilities and responisbilities shape the experiences of newcomer women throughout the settlement journey. It offers key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomer women in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada. This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly