Research Library

ECELC sought to consult with newcomer communities in Edmonton, specifically in regard to planning a centralized system of early learning and care that honours the realities of marginalized families and works to mitigate and remove institutional and/or systemic disadvantage for these families. The information from these consultations will be used to ensure ECELC’s activities take into account the lived experiences of newcomer families and that it considers an inclusion/equity lens in its work as it moves forward. Multicultural Family Resource Society (MFRS), one of the ECELC members, was approached to conduct this work on behalf of the Council through MFRS Coaching, Advisory, and Research Services. The consultations involved meeting with key groups of people to learn about what is already known about this topic and to identify who some of the ‘knowledge keepers’ are on this topic. MFRS consulted with Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative; Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Centre; Intercultural Child and Family Centre; University of Alberta, Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP); MacEwan University, Human Services and Early Learning and Care; and Muslim Community of Edmonton (MCE) Child Care Centre to assess what work has already been done recently on the topic of newcomer families and early learning and care and to identify existing groups of practitioners and community members that would be good candidates for further consultation. The consultations also sought to identify facilitators for future conversations as community consultation often generates the richest data when the facilitators are known to participants and this would be an important aspect to future ECELC work. ECELC sought to consult with newcomer communities in Edmonton, specifically in regard to planning a centralized system of early learning and care that honours the realities of marginalized families and works to mitigate and remove institutional and/or systemic disadvantage for these families. The information from these consultations will be used to ensure ECELC’s activities take into account the lived experiences of newcomer families and that it considers an inclusion/equity lens in its work as it moves forward. Multicultural Family Resource Society (MFRS), one of the ECELC members, was approached to conduct this work on behalf of the Council through MFRS Coaching, Advisory, and Research Services. The consultations involved meeting with key groups of people to learn about what is already known about this topic and to identify who some of the ‘knowledge keepers’ are on this topic. MFRS consulted with Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative; Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Centre; Intercultural Child and Family Centre; University of Alberta, Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children, Youth, and Families (CUP); MacEwan University, Human Services and Early Learning and Care; and Muslim Community of Edmonton (MCE) Child Care Centre to assess what work has already been done recently on the topic of newcomer families and early learning and care and to identify existing groups of practitioners and community members that would be good candidates for further consultation. The consultations also sought to identify facilitators for future conversations as community consultation often generates the richest data when the facilitators are known to participants and this would be an important aspect to future ECELC work.
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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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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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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.
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The backgrounder on referral in Alberta’s settlement and integration sector provides insights into the challenges faced by the referral system and offers suggestions for improvement. The document draws on interviews with agencies and identifies three categories of suggestions that could benefit referral processes: fostering information availability and dialogue between agencies, standardizing tools and processes, and building relationships. The backgrounder also highlights issues related to confidentiality in referral processes and the variation in how agencies approach this. Suggestions for sharing informational resources and the need for a directory of services are also discussed. The document concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance existing processes, tools, and relationships in the short-term. The backgrounder on referral in Alberta’s settlement and integration sector provides insights into the challenges faced by the referral system and offers suggestions for improvement. The document draws on interviews with agencies and identifies three categories of suggestions that could benefit referral processes: fostering information availability and dialogue between agencies, standardizing tools and processes, and building relationships. The backgrounder also highlights issues related to confidentiality in referral processes and the variation in how agencies approach this. Suggestions for sharing informational resources and the need for a directory of services are also discussed. The document concludes by emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to enhance existing processes, tools, and relationships in the short-term.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The home language environment and language abilities were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development, both from newcomer families in Edmonton. Children were in elementary school, mostly 6 and 7 year olds. The goal was to understand if there were differences in bilingual development between children with ASD and children with typical development at the same age. Specifically, we wanted to understand if children with ASD have the capacity to become bilingual and whether this is supported by their communities, clinicians and educators. We conclude that children with ASD are more at risk than children with typical development for losing their heritage language. In other words, children with ASD have the capacity to be bilingual, but have limited opportunities to develop their heritage language. The home language environment and language abilities were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development, both from newcomer families in Edmonton. Children were in elementary school, mostly 6 and 7 year olds. The goal was to understand if there were differences in bilingual development between children with ASD and children with typical development at the same age. Specifically, we wanted to understand if children with ASD have the capacity to become bilingual and whether this is supported by their communities, clinicians and educators. We conclude that children with ASD are more at risk than children with typical development for losing their heritage language. In other words, children with ASD have the capacity to be bilingual, but have limited opportunities to develop their heritage language.
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The purpose of this survey was to better understand why Calgarians who were born outside of Canada do or do not access Canadian settlement services during their migration process. Many people advocated for more relevant, accurate information to be provided pre-arrival. They really wanted to know more about living in Canada and the realities of daily life in Calgary. This related to different social and economic systems in Canada—banking, housing, childcare, children’s education, health care, transit, and how to dress for Calgary’s weather—as well as social norms about environmental protection and recycling. Respondents also recommended various way to advertise settlement services and to help newcomers to effectively navigate the local service system upon arrival in Calgary. Helping newcomers find the programs that exist to help them is critical. More widespread, however, is the disconnection between the attraction of skilled workers and professionals to Canada and the realities of the job market in Calgary. Respondents lamented that they arrived with hope and optimism, only to find they had little chance of working in their chosen field upon arrival. Moreover, they found few if any appropriate supports to help them transition quickly or easily into the work they were trained to do. What this survey has shown is that better advertising of existing programs and services is essential. In addition, different kinds of services and supports are needed for professional and non-skilled migrants. The purpose of this survey was to better understand why Calgarians who were born outside of Canada do or do not access Canadian settlement services during their migration process. Many people advocated for more relevant, accurate information to be provided pre-arrival. They really wanted to know more about living in Canada and the realities of daily life in Calgary. This related to different social and economic systems in Canada—banking, housing, childcare, children’s education, health care, transit, and how to dress for Calgary’s weather—as well as social norms about environmental protection and recycling. Respondents also recommended various way to advertise settlement services and to help newcomers to effectively navigate the local service system upon arrival in Calgary. Helping newcomers find the programs that exist to help them is critical. More widespread, however, is the disconnection between the attraction of skilled workers and professionals to Canada and the realities of the job market in Calgary. Respondents lamented that they arrived with hope and optimism, only to find they had little chance of working in their chosen field upon arrival. Moreover, they found few if any appropriate supports to help them transition quickly or easily into the work they were trained to do. What this survey has shown is that better advertising of existing programs and services is essential. In addition, different kinds of services and supports are needed for professional and non-skilled migrants.
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This report documents the settlement experiences of recently arrived Syrian refugees in Albertan cities. It then compares them across the three streams of sponsorship to better understand the perspectives of the refugees, the sponsors, and the social agencies that work with them. This report documents the settlement experiences of recently arrived Syrian refugees in Albertan cities. It then compares them across the three streams of sponsorship to better understand the perspectives of the refugees, the sponsors, and the social agencies that work with them.
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This study assesses the services provided in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in response to the Syrian refugee crisis in terms of housing needs, language training, and job search experiences. Upon arrival, the vast majority of the refugees are provided short-term accommodation in hotels. Only one third, however, is satisfied with the response to their housing needs. Women are not facing as much difficulty as men. Compared to PSRs, the GARs are face greater difficulty finding work in Alberta. This study assesses the services provided in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in response to the Syrian refugee crisis in terms of housing needs, language training, and job search experiences. Upon arrival, the vast majority of the refugees are provided short-term accommodation in hotels. Only one third, however, is satisfied with the response to their housing needs. Women are not facing as much difficulty as men. Compared to PSRs, the GARs are face greater difficulty finding work in Alberta.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly