Research Library

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Difficult migration journeys and challenges in leaving one country and adapting to another are detrimental to immigrants’ mental health. Often these life stressors are coupled with a lack of adequate support which makes the adaptation process even more challenging. One area of support is access to and use of mental health services to prevent and address mental health concerns. Immigrant service providers in Canada support the integration and overall well-being of newcomers. This study focuses on immigrant service providers’ perceptions of access to and use of mental health services for immigrants and refugees in Alberta. Barriers to access and use of mental health services include language barriers, cultural interpretations of mental health, stigma around mental illness, and fear of negative repercussions when living with a mental illness. Strategies to improve mental health service delivery include developing community-based services, attending to financial barriers, training immigrant service providers on mental health, enhancing collaboration across sectors in mental health service delivery, and advancing the role of interpreters and cultural brokers. Overall, immigrant service providers present a nuanced view of the complex and inter-related barriers immigrants and refugees experience and identify potential approaches to enhancing mental health service delivery. Difficult migration journeys and challenges in leaving one country and adapting to another are detrimental to immigrants’ mental health. Often these life stressors are coupled with a lack of adequate support which makes the adaptation process even more challenging. One area of support is access to and use of mental health services to prevent and address mental health concerns. Immigrant service providers in Canada support the integration and overall well-being of newcomers. This study focuses on immigrant service providers’ perceptions of access to and use of mental health services for immigrants and refugees in Alberta. Barriers to access and use of mental health services include language barriers, cultural interpretations of mental health, stigma around mental illness, and fear of negative repercussions when living with a mental illness. Strategies to improve mental health service delivery include developing community-based services, attending to financial barriers, training immigrant service providers on mental health, enhancing collaboration across sectors in mental health service delivery, and advancing the role of interpreters and cultural brokers. Overall, immigrant service providers present a nuanced view of the complex and inter-related barriers immigrants and refugees experience and identify potential approaches to enhancing mental health service delivery.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Immigrant destinations other than Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are often overlooked in Canadian immigration and settlement debates and discussions. Between 2011 and 2016, such destinations received over 40% of all immigrants arriving in Canada. This study endeavors to systematize the classification of communities where immigrants are destined to settle. It also explores the issue of spatial segmentation in two such places in Alberta—Edmonton and Calgary. In both metropolitan areas, ethnic spatial segmentation exists, but not at the same scale as in a large metropolis like Toronto. Both metropolitan areas still have a substantial population of established white Canadians who identify as Germans or Ukrainians, although most of them reside in rural parts of these two areas. However, the rest of the urban landscapes is a mix of the white Canadians and recently arrived visible minorities. Immigrant destinations other than Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are often overlooked in Canadian immigration and settlement debates and discussions. Between 2011 and 2016, such destinations received over 40% of all immigrants arriving in Canada. This study endeavors to systematize the classification of communities where immigrants are destined to settle. It also explores the issue of spatial segmentation in two such places in Alberta—Edmonton and Calgary. In both metropolitan areas, ethnic spatial segmentation exists, but not at the same scale as in a large metropolis like Toronto. Both metropolitan areas still have a substantial population of established white Canadians who identify as Germans or Ukrainians, although most of them reside in rural parts of these two areas. However, the rest of the urban landscapes is a mix of the white Canadians and recently arrived visible minorities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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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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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Surveys and focus groups were conducted with immigrants and service providers in Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) in Alberta. The population of immigrants in these areas has increased greatly over the years, and these communities hold mixed attitudes towards immigrants. Service needs and gaps, as well as future recommendations in a 10 year timeline, are also identified. Surveys and focus groups were conducted with immigrants and service providers in Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) in Alberta. The population of immigrants in these areas has increased greatly over the years, and these communities hold mixed attitudes towards immigrants. Service needs and gaps, as well as future recommendations in a 10 year timeline, are also identified.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This research is purposed for an assessment of needs so as to identify the barriers to successful on-line language learning for new immigrants, especially those with language proficiency at CLB 3. This research is purposed for an assessment of needs so as to identify the barriers to successful on-line language learning for new immigrants, especially those with language proficiency at CLB 3.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. This research used a qualitative naturalistic approach with ten Ghanaian adult immigrants. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. This research used a qualitative naturalistic approach with ten Ghanaian adult immigrants. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The settlement and integration of immigrants is a common policy focus for governments and researchers across the world. In Canada, these policies have become more relevant over the last twenty years. Still, most of the conversations about integration processes in Canada occur in the context of Canada’s largest and most diverse cities. In this thesis, I examine the settlement experiences of recent landed immigrants in Lethbridge—a small Albertan city. My analyses especially highlight the crucial roles that community support, length of residence, and admission class play in determining settlement outcomes of recent immigrants in Lethbridge, Alberta. Based on the data, it is safe to say that integration is promoted in Lethbridge, but immigrants still do not fare as well as the general population. The outcomes of integration process also varies depending on the lived experience of newcomers. For example, refugees are more susceptible to poorer outcomes of integration processes, while highly educated immigrants tend to perform relatively well. To increase the efficiency of integration programmes in Lethbridge, I propose to hire more immigrants to have their perspectives at the table in decision-making; increase access to and availability of relevant settlement information to immigrants; provide more mental health support; provide specific employment supports for economic immigrants; offer services to people without PR status. The settlement and integration of immigrants is a common policy focus for governments and researchers across the world. In Canada, these policies have become more relevant over the last twenty years. Still, most of the conversations about integration processes in Canada occur in the context of Canada’s largest and most diverse cities. In this thesis, I examine the settlement experiences of recent landed immigrants in Lethbridge—a small Albertan city. My analyses especially highlight the crucial roles that community support, length of residence, and admission class play in determining settlement outcomes of recent immigrants in Lethbridge, Alberta. Based on the data, it is safe to say that integration is promoted in Lethbridge, but immigrants still do not fare as well as the general population. The outcomes of integration process also varies depending on the lived experience of newcomers. For example, refugees are more susceptible to poorer outcomes of integration processes, while highly educated immigrants tend to perform relatively well. To increase the efficiency of integration programmes in Lethbridge, I propose to hire more immigrants to have their perspectives at the table in decision-making; increase access to and availability of relevant settlement information to immigrants; provide more mental health support; provide specific employment supports for economic immigrants; offer services to people without PR status.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) is a non-profit organization with expertise in providing settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees. The Family and Children’s Services (FCS) Division of CCIS has specific expertise in facilitating the integration of families and children into the community, enhancing the provision of services to newcomers by community resources, and promoting the healthy development of children using a holistic strengths-based approach. The Cultural Brokerage Program designed and facilitated through the FCS Division of CCIS provides direct supports, services and referrals to newcomer families involved with Children’s Services with the aim of ensuring newcomer children are safe and families are able to flourish in Canada. Since its inception, evaluation of the Cultural Brokerage Program has revealed that the most prevalent concern leading to Children’s Services involvement amongst newcomer families is family violence. At the same time, research and experience have shown that newcomer families experience significant barriers to accessing the mainstream family violence support services available in the community. In response to the specific challenges faced by newcomer families with family violence concerns and Children’s Services involvement, in 2017 and 2018 CCIS began implementing practice-based innovative programming as an extension of the proven Cultural Brokerage Program. The Family Violence (FV) Specialist is a resource for the Cultural Brokerage Program team to access when families are facing issues related to family violence. This new team member supports families in understanding the impacts of family violence, responses to family violence, expectations around family violence in Canada, and community resources available. Recognizing that families often face hardship when a period of family separation is needed to address family violence, and in an effort to decrease the burden placed on victims of family violence who are often encouraged to flee violent situations and stay in a women’s shelter, the Apartment 1310 Program offers temporary accommodation, counselling, referrals and supports for perpetrators of family violence from newcomer families involved with Children’s Services. This innovative approach to supporting newcomer families with family violence issues supports the unique goals and desires of newcomer families and provides an opportunity to work directly with perpetrators to create long-term behaviour change. The addition of an FV Specialist to the Cultural Brokerage Program team in 2017 and the establishment of the Apartment 1310 Program in 2018 has advanced CCIS’ responsiveness to family violence concerns amongst newcomer families and is contributing to innovation in the family violence response sector. Given that the FV Specialist and the Apartment 1310 Program are new approaches to addressing family violence amongst newcomer families, CCIS has engaged external evaluation experts at Constellation Consulting Group to evaluate the implementation and impacts of this programming. Using a developmental evaluation approach to capture emergent learnings and provide a continuous feedback loop alongside program innovation, important learnings have been garnered. Since the establishment of FV Specialist role in the spring of 2017, key output statistics have been tracked through the evaluation to ensure the mandate of supporting newcomer families with education, referrals and supports to address violence in the home is being met. Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) is a non-profit organization with expertise in providing settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees. The Family and Children’s Services (FCS) Division of CCIS has specific expertise in facilitating the integration of families and children into the community, enhancing the provision of services to newcomers by community resources, and promoting the healthy development of children using a holistic strengths-based approach. The Cultural Brokerage Program designed and facilitated through the FCS Division of CCIS provides direct supports, services and referrals to newcomer families involved with Children’s Services with the aim of ensuring newcomer children are safe and families are able to flourish in Canada. Since its inception, evaluation of the Cultural Brokerage Program has revealed that the most prevalent concern leading to Children’s Services involvement amongst newcomer families is family violence. At the same time, research and experience have shown that newcomer families experience significant barriers to accessing the mainstream family violence support services available in the community. In response to the specific challenges faced by newcomer families with family violence concerns and Children’s Services involvement, in 2017 and 2018 CCIS began implementing practice-based innovative programming as an extension of the proven Cultural Brokerage Program. The Family Violence (FV) Specialist is a resource for the Cultural Brokerage Program team to access when families are facing issues related to family violence. This new team member supports families in understanding the impacts of family violence, responses to family violence, expectations around family violence in Canada, and community resources available. Recognizing that families often face hardship when a period of family separation is needed to address family violence, and in an effort to decrease the burden placed on victims of family violence who are often encouraged to flee violent situations and stay in a women’s shelter, the Apartment 1310 Program offers temporary accommodation, counselling, referrals and supports for perpetrators of family violence from newcomer families involved with Children’s Services. This innovative approach to supporting newcomer families with family violence issues supports the unique goals and desires of newcomer families and provides an opportunity to work directly with perpetrators to create long-term behaviour change. The addition of an FV Specialist to the Cultural Brokerage Program team in 2017 and the establishment of the Apartment 1310 Program in 2018 has advanced CCIS’ responsiveness to family violence concerns amongst newcomer families and is contributing to innovation in the family violence response sector. Given that the FV Specialist and the Apartment 1310 Program are new approaches to addressing family violence amongst newcomer families, CCIS has engaged external evaluation experts at Constellation Consulting Group to evaluate the implementation and impacts of this programming. Using a developmental evaluation approach to capture emergent learnings and provide a continuous feedback loop alongside program innovation, important learnings have been garnered. Since the establishment of FV Specialist role in the spring of 2017, key output statistics have been tracked through the evaluation to ensure the mandate of supporting newcomer families with education, referrals and supports to address violence in the home is being met.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly