Research Library

It is well documented that immigrant and racialized groups often experience greater access barriers to health and social services in Canada. This occurs because of multiple factors including language, transportation, information, service fees, and discrimination. This report provides a profile of immigrant health in Calgary. Key findings include significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in rates of unmet health care needs, physical health status, mental health status, sense of belonging to the local community, and the number and presence of chronic conditions experienced. The results often differ by immigrants’ length of time in Canada, which is also associated with age. Significant differences between immigrants and the Canadian-born population in the Calgary Zone are also found in rates of racialized identity, having a mother tongue other than English, living arrangements, sexual orientation, employment, and educational attainment—often differing by immigrants’ length of time in Canada. In addition, there are statistically significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in terms of health care access and general health status, some of which may have implications for service provision and, ultimately, health outcomes. In sum, this research demonstrates statistically significant differences in several of the social determinants of health, in health care access and general health status, and in the health outcomes experienced by immigrants as compared to Canadian-born individuals living in the Calgary Zone Community Health Region. It is well documented that immigrant and racialized groups often experience greater access barriers to health and social services in Canada. This occurs because of multiple factors including language, transportation, information, service fees, and discrimination. This report provides a profile of immigrant health in Calgary. Key findings include significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in rates of unmet health care needs, physical health status, mental health status, sense of belonging to the local community, and the number and presence of chronic conditions experienced. The results often differ by immigrants’ length of time in Canada, which is also associated with age. Significant differences between immigrants and the Canadian-born population in the Calgary Zone are also found in rates of racialized identity, having a mother tongue other than English, living arrangements, sexual orientation, employment, and educational attainment—often differing by immigrants’ length of time in Canada. In addition, there are statistically significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in terms of health care access and general health status, some of which may have implications for service provision and, ultimately, health outcomes. In sum, this research demonstrates statistically significant differences in several of the social determinants of health, in health care access and general health status, and in the health outcomes experienced by immigrants as compared to Canadian-born individuals living in the Calgary Zone Community Health Region.
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

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

Canadian immigrant policies have systemically excluded individuals with disabilities from immigrating to Canada due to ‘excessive demand’ and ‘medical inadmissibility’ clauses. Ableism, racism, and colonialism affect all aspects of pre-application, application, settlement and integration. However, a gap in resources and knowledge of working with newcomers with disabilities exists. This reports on the training program requested by Immigrant Services Calgary on supporting newcomers with disabilities. Canadian immigrant policies have systemically excluded individuals with disabilities from immigrating to Canada due to ‘excessive demand’ and ‘medical inadmissibility’ clauses. Ableism, racism, and colonialism affect all aspects of pre-application, application, settlement and integration. However, a gap in resources and knowledge of working with newcomers with disabilities exists. This reports on the training program requested by Immigrant Services Calgary on supporting newcomers with disabilities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Although more Albertan Muslims are entering older age, there is still limited research, evidence and policy focused on older Muslims’ lived experiences and needs in Canada. This community-based participatory study serves to describe the experiences of Muslim seniors and community stakeholders, with regards to healthy aging and related needs in Edmonton, Alberta. 64 Canadian Muslims from multiple ethno-cultural communities in Edmonton participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Muslim seniors defined healthy aging as being financially independent, staying socially connected, and feeling spiritually fulfilled. The article also emphasizes the importance of the Islamic obligation to care for seniors in the community, as well as the increased risks of vulnerable seniors in social isolation. Overall, this study’s findings highlights strong community motivation to support healthy aging, combined with significant barriers to community action. Although more Albertan Muslims are entering older age, there is still limited research, evidence and policy focused on older Muslims’ lived experiences and needs in Canada. This community-based participatory study serves to describe the experiences of Muslim seniors and community stakeholders, with regards to healthy aging and related needs in Edmonton, Alberta. 64 Canadian Muslims from multiple ethno-cultural communities in Edmonton participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Muslim seniors defined healthy aging as being financially independent, staying socially connected, and feeling spiritually fulfilled. The article also emphasizes the importance of the Islamic obligation to care for seniors in the community, as well as the increased risks of vulnerable seniors in social isolation. Overall, this study’s findings highlights strong community motivation to support healthy aging, combined with significant barriers to community action.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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 City of Calgary is working with community partners to create a more welcome and inclusive community for immigrants and newcomers who choose Calgary. The City of Calgary is working with community partners to create a more welcome and inclusive community for immigrants and newcomers who choose Calgary.
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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly