Research Library

This study explored the support and service experiences of resettled Syrian refugee parents of autistic children in terms of their pre- and post-migration. These lived experiences were investigated with participants (n = 3) through semi-structured interviews using interpretive phenomenological analysis. This study identified the supports and services parents received, their experiences with those services, their overall experiences with resettlement having an autistic child(ren), the implications of culture in support/service provision, and their perceived areas of service need during and after their resettlement in Alberta, Canada. Parents all had unique experiences that were delineated through clustered emergent themes and subsequently organized into a superordinate conceptual structure. The results of the study are discussed in the context of theory and relevant literature to elucidate and make findings applicable. Practical implications and future directions are discussed. This study explored the support and service experiences of resettled Syrian refugee parents of autistic children in terms of their pre- and post-migration. These lived experiences were investigated with participants (n = 3) through semi-structured interviews using interpretive phenomenological analysis. This study identified the supports and services parents received, their experiences with those services, their overall experiences with resettlement having an autistic child(ren), the implications of culture in support/service provision, and their perceived areas of service need during and after their resettlement in Alberta, Canada. Parents all had unique experiences that were delineated through clustered emergent themes and subsequently organized into a superordinate conceptual structure. The results of the study are discussed in the context of theory and relevant literature to elucidate and make findings applicable. Practical implications and future directions are discussed.
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Evidence suggests that despite growing numbers of refugees entering Alberta each year, there may not be enough counsellors equipped to provide helping services. Within the counselling context, refugees are identified as at risk for developing complex psychological challenges, requiring culturally sensitive counselling that incorporates diverse culture and language differences. This case study explored how three Alberta-based mental health professionals provide helpful counselling services to refugees and how they prepared to attain competencies and relevant experiences required for providing appropriate, culturally sensitive interventions to refugees. Evidence suggests that despite growing numbers of refugees entering Alberta each year, there may not be enough counsellors equipped to provide helping services. Within the counselling context, refugees are identified as at risk for developing complex psychological challenges, requiring culturally sensitive counselling that incorporates diverse culture and language differences. This case study explored how three Alberta-based mental health professionals provide helpful counselling services to refugees and how they prepared to attain competencies and relevant experiences required for providing appropriate, culturally sensitive interventions to refugees.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Research is lacking on the intersection between being trans or non-binary and a racialized immigrant in Canada. Alberta, in particular, is one of the top 4 provinces where the most trans or non-binary immigrants reside. Racialized trans or non-binary participants reported alarmingly high levels of discrimination, violence, assault, fear, and negative experiences with the police and legal system. Findings from this research apply to Canada in general. Research is lacking on the intersection between being trans or non-binary and a racialized immigrant in Canada. Alberta, in particular, is one of the top 4 provinces where the most trans or non-binary immigrants reside. Racialized trans or non-binary participants reported alarmingly high levels of discrimination, violence, assault, fear, and negative experiences with the police and legal system. Findings from this research apply to Canada in general.
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Following migration from Schistosoma and Strongyloides endemic to non-endemic regions (i.e. Canada), people remain at high risk for complications from these chronic infections. HIV co-infected persons are particularly vulnerable to the serious and potentially fatal consequences of untreated helminth infection. While general screening guidelines exist for parasitic infection screening in immigrant populations, they remain silent on HIV positive populations. This study assessed the seroprevalence, epidemiology and laboratory characteristics of these two parasitic infections in a non-endemic setting in an immigrant/refugee HIV positive community. We argue that routine parasite screening should be included as part of standard HIV care in non-endemic areas. Following migration from Schistosoma and Strongyloides endemic to non-endemic regions (i.e. Canada), people remain at high risk for complications from these chronic infections. HIV co-infected persons are particularly vulnerable to the serious and potentially fatal consequences of untreated helminth infection. While general screening guidelines exist for parasitic infection screening in immigrant populations, they remain silent on HIV positive populations. This study assessed the seroprevalence, epidemiology and laboratory characteristics of these two parasitic infections in a non-endemic setting in an immigrant/refugee HIV positive community. We argue that routine parasite screening should be included as part of standard HIV care in non-endemic areas.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Beginning in April, 2020, The Immigrant Education Society conducted an internal study on staff and student reactions to the transition to remote services delivery precipitated by the COVID19 Pandemic. This consists of a preliminary survey deployed by the Research and Program Development Department, and the compilation of independently developed surveys deployed in June by the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) department and the Human Resources department. The analysis of the raw survey data was conducted by the Research and Program Development department. This document encompasses results from the Human Resources and LINC surveys. Beginning in April, 2020, The Immigrant Education Society conducted an internal study on staff and student reactions to the transition to remote services delivery precipitated by the COVID19 Pandemic. This consists of a preliminary survey deployed by the Research and Program Development Department, and the compilation of independently developed surveys deployed in June by the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) department and the Human Resources department. The analysis of the raw survey data was conducted by the Research and Program Development department. This document encompasses results from the Human Resources and LINC surveys.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Using PhotoVoice, this research explored the settlement experiences of refugee youth who have exited high school and are in a program designed by an Albertan school board to support their language and academic needs. Newcomer youth encounter profound academic and social stresses as they attempt to create a new identity and sense of belonging in their new home. This project examined what it means for refugee youth to recuperate a place of belonging. By focusing on the notion of belonging rather than barriers to settlement, the findings revealed that at the core of the youth’s efforts, connecting to people, especially in school, in addition to connecting to the natural world, fostered feelings of well-being and belonging. Educational implications include recommendations for schools and teachers supporting newcomer youth. Using PhotoVoice, this research explored the settlement experiences of refugee youth who have exited high school and are in a program designed by an Albertan school board to support their language and academic needs. Newcomer youth encounter profound academic and social stresses as they attempt to create a new identity and sense of belonging in their new home. This project examined what it means for refugee youth to recuperate a place of belonging. By focusing on the notion of belonging rather than barriers to settlement, the findings revealed that at the core of the youth’s efforts, connecting to people, especially in school, in addition to connecting to the natural world, fostered feelings of well-being and belonging. Educational implications include recommendations for schools and teachers supporting newcomer youth.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study in Calgary, AB explored how dual-language books (DLBs) can foster literacy instruction and learner engagement through language awareness. Canada’s changing demographics have resulted in mother tongue diversity and many urban schools identifying at least 25% of students as being English language learners, making it crucial to include a mix of languages in classroom interactions to engage all learners. The case study combined prereading linguistic prompts with a reading of 10 DLBs, one each week, by guest readers in Urdu, Tagalog, and Spanish, alongside the teacher reading in English. Video recordings and surveys collected data on the teacher’s, guest readers’, and learners’ reflections on the experience. Findings indicate that regardless of the learners’ linguistic heritage or English language competence, the DLBs offered a unique support for literacy engagement while fostering a focus on language awareness, reading strategies, and higher order engagement with text. This study in Calgary, AB explored how dual-language books (DLBs) can foster literacy instruction and learner engagement through language awareness. Canada’s changing demographics have resulted in mother tongue diversity and many urban schools identifying at least 25% of students as being English language learners, making it crucial to include a mix of languages in classroom interactions to engage all learners. The case study combined prereading linguistic prompts with a reading of 10 DLBs, one each week, by guest readers in Urdu, Tagalog, and Spanish, alongside the teacher reading in English. Video recordings and surveys collected data on the teacher’s, guest readers’, and learners’ reflections on the experience. Findings indicate that regardless of the learners’ linguistic heritage or English language competence, the DLBs offered a unique support for literacy engagement while fostering a focus on language awareness, reading strategies, and higher order engagement with text.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The inflow of refugees to Calgary fluctuates widely over time, and varies considerably by country of origin. Social agencies must adapt to a continuously shifting kaleidoscope of people, cultures, languages and needs. The inflow of refugees to Calgary fluctuates widely over time, and varies considerably by country of origin. Social agencies must adapt to a continuously shifting kaleidoscope of people, cultures, languages and needs.
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This article looks at strategies of resistance that Sub-Saharan Africans employ while adapting to Canadian environment. We assert that the refugees engage in numerous economic, sociopolitical and cultural transnational activities. Their initiatives benefit the refugees themselves and the sending and receiving countries. They serve as anti-racism and development tools against the backdrop of racism that they endure in Canada, the trauma of war and displacement, as well as war-related destruction in the sending country. They also strengthen awareness and better understanding of multiculturalism among Canadians. In the process, the subjects drew on scarce resources and overcame atrocious difficulties in order to improve their lives and create uplifting stories and actions. Though transnational migration also generates problematic impacts, these barriers could be overcome if the benefits of transnational migration are extended. Thus, we draw on the subjects’ resilience to expand conceptions about transnational migration in order to turn it into a most fruitful avenue in the twenty-first century. This article looks at strategies of resistance that Sub-Saharan Africans employ while adapting to Canadian environment. We assert that the refugees engage in numerous economic, sociopolitical and cultural transnational activities. Their initiatives benefit the refugees themselves and the sending and receiving countries. They serve as anti-racism and development tools against the backdrop of racism that they endure in Canada, the trauma of war and displacement, as well as war-related destruction in the sending country. They also strengthen awareness and better understanding of multiculturalism among Canadians. In the process, the subjects drew on scarce resources and overcame atrocious difficulties in order to improve their lives and create uplifting stories and actions. Though transnational migration also generates problematic impacts, these barriers could be overcome if the benefits of transnational migration are extended. Thus, we draw on the subjects’ resilience to expand conceptions about transnational migration in order to turn it into a most fruitful avenue in the twenty-first century.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE) refugees face discriminatory and harsh experiences in the refugee claimant and hearing process in Canada. Additionally, SOGIE refugees face higher risks, barriers and vulnerability than some other refugee groups. After Bill C-31 (Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act) was passed in 2012, the Immigrant and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) was responsible for determining which SOGIE refugee claims were ‘authentic’ or not, despite little knowledge on the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The IRB recently released guidelines to improve this practice. This policy brief describes the state of SOGIE refugees in Alberta and Canada, challenges the group faces, and the efficacy of the new guidelines for the SOGIE refugee claim process. Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE) refugees face discriminatory and harsh experiences in the refugee claimant and hearing process in Canada. Additionally, SOGIE refugees face higher risks, barriers and vulnerability than some other refugee groups. After Bill C-31 (Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act) was passed in 2012, the Immigrant and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) was responsible for determining which SOGIE refugee claims were ‘authentic’ or not, despite little knowledge on the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The IRB recently released guidelines to improve this practice. This policy brief describes the state of SOGIE refugees in Alberta and Canada, challenges the group faces, and the efficacy of the new guidelines for the SOGIE refugee claim process.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly