Please note, this is not an open access database or repository. We have focused on creating simple summaries of reports and articles that we have accessed through websites and academic journals, with a focus on key findings, so that even if a full report is not free to access you can reference it. When possible, we include a link to wherever the original document is hosted (which may or may not be open-access). If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it. There are also some reports that will have been submitted directly to the project. In this case, these reports are uploaded directly with permission from the author or publisher. Any original documents found on this site are stored in Canada on our secure servers

Anti-Racism Strategy Proposal for the City of Edmonton City Council

In this report, Edmonton City Council is being asked to approve the Anti-Racism Strategy to support the equity of racialized communities in Edmonton, structural changes within the City of Edmonton Administration, as well as the development of an implementation and financing plan to activate the Strategy. This work will be prioritized in Administration’s work for the long-term City Plan alignment. The proposed anti-racism strategy outlines 3 elements to advance anti-racism in Edmonton, and is asking Council for both approval of the strategy as well as an increase in operating expenditure budget. In this report, Edmonton City Council is being asked to approve the Anti-Racism Strategy to support the equity of racialized communities in Edmonton, structural changes within the City of Edmonton Administration, as well as the development of an implementation and financing plan to activate the Strategy. This work will be prioritized in Administration’s work for the long-term City Plan alignment. The proposed anti-racism strategy outlines 3 elements to advance anti-racism in Edmonton, and is asking Council for both approval of the strategy as well as an increase in operating expenditure budget.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Municipal Approaches and Settlement System Development in Small Communities: Report

This report explores the municipal approaches to settlement system development in small communities in Alberta. It provides insights into the factors that shape municipal approaches to settlement systems in small communities, including economic immigration, collaborative networks, and service systems. The report presents a typology of municipal roles and applies it to specific municipalities, highlighting the constraints, advantages, and emergent issues associated with each role. The report concludes with recommendations for municipalities seeking to develop effective settlement systems in small communities. This report explores the municipal approaches to settlement system development in small communities in Alberta. It provides insights into the factors that shape municipal approaches to settlement systems in small communities, including economic immigration, collaborative networks, and service systems. The report presents a typology of municipal roles and applies it to specific municipalities, highlighting the constraints, advantages, and emergent issues associated with each role. The report concludes with recommendations for municipalities seeking to develop effective settlement systems in small communities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Community readiness for building newcomer belonging: City of Chestermere, AB

The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging. The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Community readiness for building newcomer belonging: town of Hanna, AB

The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging. The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

A narrative inquiry into the experiences of Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities

Children with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite this high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. We conducted a narrative inquiry on the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon. In order to understand the complexities of the experience as a refugee with a child living with disabilities, attending to the lived and told stories is essential. In hearing the narration of these experiences across time, place, and social contexts various narrative threads emerged. The narrative threads that resonated across the experiences of two families included waiting and a struggle for agency, as well as disruption and continuity. Children with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite this high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. We conducted a narrative inquiry on the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon. In order to understand the complexities of the experience as a refugee with a child living with disabilities, attending to the lived and told stories is essential. In hearing the narration of these experiences across time, place, and social contexts various narrative threads emerged. The narrative threads that resonated across the experiences of two families included waiting and a struggle for agency, as well as disruption and continuity.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Assessing the experiences of immigrants receiving primary care during COVID-19: A mixed-methods study

The entire healthcare system, including primary healthcare (PHC) services, has been disrupted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis threatens all citizens significantly, further barriers to accessing care exist for those who are most vulnerable, experience marginalization, and have pre-existing challenges. We aimed to explore immigrants’ lived experiences in accessing and receiving PHC services during the pandemic. A multiphase mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design was employed. The first study includes a systematic review that synthesizes the evidence on the experiences that immigrant patients have receiving PHC. Study two provides insights from a recently employed “COVID-19 Experiences and Impacts Survey” data and compares the experiences of Albertans that were born in and outside Canada. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed, using STATA. The third study is a qualitative inquiry that aims to gain a deeper understanding of the newcomers’ (living in Canada ≤5 years) and providers’ experiences in PHC during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was applied, using NVivo software. Immigrants reported many challenges in accessing and receiving PHC, and these challenges have been increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this thesis yielded six recommendations that can inform PHC quality improvement initiatives and PHC policy. The entire healthcare system, including primary healthcare (PHC) services, has been disrupted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis threatens all citizens significantly, further barriers to accessing care exist for those who are most vulnerable, experience marginalization, and have pre-existing challenges. We aimed to explore immigrants’ lived experiences in accessing and receiving PHC services during the pandemic. A multiphase mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design was employed. The first study includes a systematic review that synthesizes the evidence on the experiences that immigrant patients have receiving PHC. Study two provides insights from a recently employed “COVID-19 Experiences and Impacts Survey” data and compares the experiences of Albertans that were born in and outside Canada. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed, using STATA. The third study is a qualitative inquiry that aims to gain a deeper understanding of the newcomers’ (living in Canada ≤5 years) and providers’ experiences in PHC during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was applied, using NVivo software. Immigrants reported many challenges in accessing and receiving PHC, and these challenges have been increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this thesis yielded six recommendations that can inform PHC quality improvement initiatives and PHC policy.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience: Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation

The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation is a report that highlights the positive impact of the Youth Therapy Program on immigrant and refugee children and their families. The report provides an overview of the mental health services offered by the program, including individual and group therapy, as well as the use of interpreters to ensure multilingual accessibility. The report also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the program and provides data on the success of the program in helping children heal from trauma. The report concludes with a list of resources consulted in the evaluation, including academic studies and government reports. Overall, the report demonstrates the effectiveness of the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy program in supporting the mental health and well-being of immigrant and refugee children. The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation is a report that highlights the positive impact of the Youth Therapy Program on immigrant and refugee children and their families. The report provides an overview of the mental health services offered by the program, including individual and group therapy, as well as the use of interpreters to ensure multilingual accessibility. The report also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the program and provides data on the success of the program in helping children heal from trauma. The report concludes with a list of resources consulted in the evaluation, including academic studies and government reports. Overall, the report demonstrates the effectiveness of the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy program in supporting the mental health and well-being of immigrant and refugee children.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Exploring beneficial practices of mental health professionals working with 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. 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

Understanding newcomers’ experiences of inclusion

The research project Understanding Newcomers’ Experiences of Inclusion (UNEOI) examines newcomers’ experiences of settlement, integration, inclusion or exclusion and how these impact newcomer well-being. The research project Understanding Newcomers’ Experiences of Inclusion (UNEOI) examines newcomers’ experiences of settlement, integration, inclusion or exclusion and how these impact newcomer well-being.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) Annual Report 2020-2021

The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) based in Red Deer, AB, provides a variety of services for refugees in the area. In the 2020-2021 year, 350 students from 49 countries participated in ESL classes and training. 320 students received translation support, such as during Parent Teacher Interviews for their children. C.A.R.E additionally created online resources for the pandemic that reached 686 participants. Regarding the Red Deer region, 65 clients were assisted with settlement. The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) based in Red Deer, AB, provides a variety of services for refugees in the area. In the 2020-2021 year, 350 students from 49 countries participated in ESL classes and training. 320 students received translation support, such as during Parent Teacher Interviews for their children. C.A.R.E additionally created online resources for the pandemic that reached 686 participants. Regarding the Red Deer region, 65 clients were assisted with settlement.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly