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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Feasibility of implementing a community-based oral health educational tool for newcomers in Alberta: perspectives of frontline community leaders

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a severe form of tooth decay affecting the primary teeth of preschool children. Canadian surveys have found that children from disadvantaged groups, including recent immigrants, have higher rates of caries and lower rates of dental visits than Canadian-born children and tend to seek dental care for treatment reasons.Oral diseases disproportionally affect immigrant communities. For example, besides financial costs, African new immigrant families face additional barriers, including those related to language and cultural values, which leads to a lower rate of dental care uptake for their children. Therefore, there is a clear need to enhance prevention and treatment of oral diseases among recent immigrant children, especially those from communities with a higher prevalence of dental problems. Dental education for immigrant and refugee families can be accomplished through community leaders with experience in health promotion. These individuals have the potential to reach out to newcomer parents, raise their awareness of oral health and preventive care, and facilitate their children’s access to dental services. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a severe form of tooth decay affecting the primary teeth of preschool children. Canadian surveys have found that children from disadvantaged groups, including recent immigrants, have higher rates of caries and lower rates of dental visits than Canadian-born children and tend to seek dental care for treatment reasons.Oral diseases disproportionally affect immigrant communities. For example, besides financial costs, African new immigrant families face additional barriers, including those related to language and cultural values, which leads to a lower rate of dental care uptake for their children. Therefore, there is a clear need to enhance prevention and treatment of oral diseases among recent immigrant children, especially those from communities with a higher prevalence of dental problems. Dental education for immigrant and refugee families can be accomplished through community leaders with experience in health promotion. These individuals have the potential to reach out to newcomer parents, raise their awareness of oral health and preventive care, and facilitate their children’s access to dental services.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Perceptions of job satisfaction and over-qualification among African immigrants in Alberta, Canada

Guided by human capital theory, this phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of job satisfaction and over-qualification among 11 landed immigrants of African origin in Alberta, Canada. Data were collected using semi structured interviews. Results may be used to enhance socioeconomic integration services and programs run by immigrant-serving organizations in Alberta. Guided by human capital theory, this phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of job satisfaction and over-qualification among 11 landed immigrants of African origin in Alberta, Canada. Data were collected using semi structured interviews. Results may be used to enhance socioeconomic integration services and programs run by immigrant-serving organizations in Alberta.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Alberta: Exploring the Key Determinants of Public Opinion

This research explores public opinion regarding the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program in Canada. It is situated within an important moment in the program’s history, in a province with particularly widespread reliance on it. This analysis is framed with an overview of the expansion of the TFW program over the past several decades, a description of the extensive media coverage given to several prominent examples of misuse of the program in 2013, and the resulting changes to the program. Compared to results from prior nation-wide surveys, the 2013 findings demonstrate that the majority of Albertans believe the TFW program is necessary. Furthermore, the vast majority of Albertans believe TFWs should have the same workplace rights as Canadians, and a majority believe that TFWs should be able to access permanent residency. These findings highlight points where TFW program policy was disconnected from public opinion, particularly with regard to allowing differential pay and permanent residency rights of TFWs. In addition, the 2013 survey findings illustrate some similarities with findings from the broader literature regarding the key determinants of attitudes towards immigration. This research explores public opinion regarding the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program in Canada. It is situated within an important moment in the program’s history, in a province with particularly widespread reliance on it. This analysis is framed with an overview of the expansion of the TFW program over the past several decades, a description of the extensive media coverage given to several prominent examples of misuse of the program in 2013, and the resulting changes to the program. Compared to results from prior nation-wide surveys, the 2013 findings demonstrate that the majority of Albertans believe the TFW program is necessary. Furthermore, the vast majority of Albertans believe TFWs should have the same workplace rights as Canadians, and a majority believe that TFWs should be able to access permanent residency. These findings highlight points where TFW program policy was disconnected from public opinion, particularly with regard to allowing differential pay and permanent residency rights of TFWs. In addition, the 2013 survey findings illustrate some similarities with findings from the broader literature regarding the key determinants of attitudes towards immigration.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Labour market integration project: improving collaboration in Calgary for better employment outcomes for immigrants: final report

With an increasing number of immigrants arriving in Calgary to work and live, there is a need to better understand how social service organizations attempt to create positive and meaningful changes in relation to the labour market integration of immigrants in Calgary. Skilled immigrants continue to arrive in Calgary, bringing with them skills and expertise that could greatly contribute to the economy. The goal of the study is to identify gaps and capacities of the current services working on immigrant labour market integration in Calgary. There are currently 21 members of the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (ISCC), and other social service organizations in the greater Calgary community working with immigrants and refugees, and there is a need to identify what organizations, programs, and services aim to facilitate immigrant labour market integration. The analyses were focused on documenting and comparing the scope, mandates, and activities of the agencies providing labour market programs and services to immigrants. With an increasing number of immigrants arriving in Calgary to work and live, there is a need to better understand how social service organizations attempt to create positive and meaningful changes in relation to the labour market integration of immigrants in Calgary. Skilled immigrants continue to arrive in Calgary, bringing with them skills and expertise that could greatly contribute to the economy. The goal of the study is to identify gaps and capacities of the current services working on immigrant labour market integration in Calgary. There are currently 21 members of the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (ISCC), and other social service organizations in the greater Calgary community working with immigrants and refugees, and there is a need to identify what organizations, programs, and services aim to facilitate immigrant labour market integration. The analyses were focused on documenting and comparing the scope, mandates, and activities of the agencies providing labour market programs and services to immigrants.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Vulnerabilities and strengths in parent-adolescent relationships in Bangladeshi immigrant families in Alberta

This study investigated the challenges and parent-adolescent relationship factors that contribute to resilience and the successful adjustment of Bangladeshi families following immigration to Canada. The systems framework of family resilience (Walsh, 2006) was used to interpret how Bangladeshi immigrant adolescents and parents experienced and navigated immigration challenges. Using a qualitative approach, four adolescent girls and four parents of adolescents were interviewed to inquire into their experience of challenges related to adolescent development, the immigrant experiences, and parent-adolescent relationships influencing their post-immigration adjustment. Immigrant adolescents faced language and cultural barriers, bullying and discrimination in their school environment while rituals, customs and values from their culture of origin diminished. They felt pressured by their parent’s career expectations and felt they suffered gender discrimination in the family. Parents faced economic and career challenges and a difficult parenting experience. Optimism about the future, parental encouragement, mutual empathy of each other’s struggles, sharing feelings, open and clear communication, flexibility in parenting style and anchoring in cultural values and religious beliefs helped parents and adolescents become more resilient in maintaining a positive outlook with a positive view of their immigration. In some cases, the challenges of immigration pulled the families closer together in mutual support. It is hoped that findings from this study will assist in developing effective social programmes to ease adolescents’ and parents’ transitions among immigrants and to promote resiliency in immigrant families. This study investigated the challenges and parent-adolescent relationship factors that contribute to resilience and the successful adjustment of Bangladeshi families following immigration to Canada. The systems framework of family resilience (Walsh, 2006) was used to interpret how Bangladeshi immigrant adolescents and parents experienced and navigated immigration challenges. Using a qualitative approach, four adolescent girls and four parents of adolescents were interviewed to inquire into their experience of challenges related to adolescent development, the immigrant experiences, and parent-adolescent relationships influencing their post-immigration adjustment. Immigrant adolescents faced language and cultural barriers, bullying and discrimination in their school environment while rituals, customs and values from their culture of origin diminished. They felt pressured by their parent’s career expectations and felt they suffered gender discrimination in the family. Parents faced economic and career challenges and a difficult parenting experience. Optimism about the future, parental encouragement, mutual empathy of each other’s struggles, sharing feelings, open and clear communication, flexibility in parenting style and anchoring in cultural values and religious beliefs helped parents and adolescents become more resilient in maintaining a positive outlook with a positive view of their immigration. In some cases, the challenges of immigration pulled the families closer together in mutual support. It is hoped that findings from this study will assist in developing effective social programmes to ease adolescents’ and parents’ transitions among immigrants and to promote resiliency in immigrant families.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly