In 2016, Edmonton’s Vital Signs community report focused on the city’s immigrant and refugee population. The report discusses the value immigrants bring to the city, settlement and integration processes, statistics on newcomer health, employment and wellbeing, as well as true stories from Edmonton newcomers. In 2016, Edmonton’s Vital Signs community report focused on the city’s immigrant and refugee population. The report discusses the value immigrants bring to the city, settlement and integration processes, statistics on newcomer health, employment and wellbeing, as well as true stories from Edmonton newcomers.
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Sport participation is popularly constructed as an effective means for welcoming newcomers into their new country of residence, despite these claims being critiqued by sport scholars. In this study, we critically interrogated Intro to Sport programmes as one approach for welcoming newcomers into the Canadian sport system using Green’s normative theory of sport development to inform our work. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with programme administrators, instructors, and parents of newcomer programme participants representing six Intro to Sport programmes. Using thematic analysis, two overarching themes were determined: (1) toward inclusion: negotiating sport participation; and (2) sustainability. We explored how various sport participation barriers were managed towards promoting inclusion across the programmes as well as the pervasiveness of intersectoral community partnerships. We provided a nuanced discussion of the socio-cultural and contextual considerations surrounding Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers, insights that can inform sport development research and practice moving forward. We also offer suggestions to sport administrators involved in Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers and future research directions. Sport participation is popularly constructed as an effective means for welcoming newcomers into their new country of residence, despite these claims being critiqued by sport scholars. In this study, we critically interrogated Intro to Sport programmes as one approach for welcoming newcomers into the Canadian sport system using Green’s normative theory of sport development to inform our work. Twenty qualitative interviews were conducted with programme administrators, instructors, and parents of newcomer programme participants representing six Intro to Sport programmes. Using thematic analysis, two overarching themes were determined: (1) toward inclusion: negotiating sport participation; and (2) sustainability. We explored how various sport participation barriers were managed towards promoting inclusion across the programmes as well as the pervasiveness of intersectoral community partnerships. We provided a nuanced discussion of the socio-cultural and contextual considerations surrounding Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers, insights that can inform sport development research and practice moving forward. We also offer suggestions to sport administrators involved in Intro to Sport programmes for newcomers and future research directions.
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African immigrant women are underrepresented in health research on maternal mental health. Thus, there is a need to highlight successful recruitment strategies to engage African women in health-oriented research. This study highlights the importance of utilizing multiple recruitment strategies to successfully meet the desired sample size for a survey study. African immigrant women are underrepresented in health research on maternal mental health. Thus, there is a need to highlight successful recruitment strategies to engage African women in health-oriented research. This study highlights the importance of utilizing multiple recruitment strategies to successfully meet the desired sample size for a survey study.
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This paper examines the relationship between parents’ sense of coherence (SOC) and children’s oral health outcomes among newcomers (immigrants to Canada). Immigrant parents with children aged 1-12 years who lived in Canada for 10 years or less were recruited. Findings show that parent’s SOC was relatively low among newcomers and not associated with children’s oral health outcomes. This paper examines the relationship between parents’ sense of coherence (SOC) and children’s oral health outcomes among newcomers (immigrants to Canada). Immigrant parents with children aged 1-12 years who lived in Canada for 10 years or less were recruited. Findings show that parent’s SOC was relatively low among newcomers and not associated with children’s oral health outcomes.
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In this article, we reflect on a comprehensive community-engaged research approach that we undertook to identify the barriers to equitable primary care access among a South Asian (Bangladeshi) immigrant community in Canada. This article summarised the experience of our programme of research and describes our understanding of community-engaged research among an immigrant/racialised community that meaningfully interacts with the community. In this article, we reflect on a comprehensive community-engaged research approach that we undertook to identify the barriers to equitable primary care access among a South Asian (Bangladeshi) immigrant community in Canada. This article summarised the experience of our programme of research and describes our understanding of community-engaged research among an immigrant/racialised community that meaningfully interacts with the community.
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The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth-Family Therapy Evaluation report highlights the positive impact of therapy services provided by CCIS to immigrant and refugee families in Calgary. The report covers the evaluation methods, client demographics, therapy outcomes, perspectives on coordinated family supports, opportunities for improvement, and conclusions and recommendations. The report also includes case examples and an executive summary. The evaluation shows that CCIS has been successful in addressing the trauma-related experiences of newcomer families and provides recommendations for further improvement. The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth-Family Therapy Evaluation report highlights the positive impact of therapy services provided by CCIS to immigrant and refugee families in Calgary. The report covers the evaluation methods, client demographics, therapy outcomes, perspectives on coordinated family supports, opportunities for improvement, and conclusions and recommendations. The report also includes case examples and an executive summary. The evaluation shows that CCIS has been successful in addressing the trauma-related experiences of newcomer families and provides recommendations for further improvement.
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Available evidence in Canada suggests children born to immigrants face a greater risk of poor mental health outcomes. However, these comparisons often mask important ethno-racial differences in mental health risks and outcomes among immigrant populations. Recent evidence suggests African immigrant children have some of the poorest social and mental health outcomes in Canada. Despite this awareness, research has yet to identify community-based strategies for addressing the stressors underpinning such outcomes. This study used data obtained from focus groups with African immigrant parents in Edmonton, AB and surrounding towns to identify child mental health stressors and child mental health promotion strategies in the African immigrant community. Available evidence in Canada suggests children born to immigrants face a greater risk of poor mental health outcomes. However, these comparisons often mask important ethno-racial differences in mental health risks and outcomes among immigrant populations. Recent evidence suggests African immigrant children have some of the poorest social and mental health outcomes in Canada. Despite this awareness, research has yet to identify community-based strategies for addressing the stressors underpinning such outcomes. This study used data obtained from focus groups with African immigrant parents in Edmonton, AB and surrounding towns to identify child mental health stressors and child mental health promotion strategies in the African immigrant community.
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This study sought to examine the challenges encountered by immigrant-serving agencies in meeting the health needs of temporary foreign workers and their families in one Canadian province. Some of the challenges that agencies face in delivering programs and services for temporary foreign workers and their families include the time required to build trust with this population, temporary foreign workers’ reluctance to use services due to fear that it will affect their immigration status, and the emotional labor associated with working with temporary foreign workers. This study sought to examine the challenges encountered by immigrant-serving agencies in meeting the health needs of temporary foreign workers and their families in one Canadian province. Some of the challenges that agencies face in delivering programs and services for temporary foreign workers and their families include the time required to build trust with this population, temporary foreign workers’ reluctance to use services due to fear that it will affect their immigration status, and the emotional labor associated with working with temporary foreign workers.
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This is a study into the early resettlement experiences of Syrian refugees across Alberta. The study explored three broad areas – employment, language and social connections. The majority of participants in the survey sample were either working in part-time jobs, students or looking for work. Employment was a key challenge for these refugees. Their skills and experience did not match job opportunities or their lack of English language skills posed as a critical barrier. The study also found that refugees were making friends and building ties, however these were still nebulous and largely transactional in nature. Male participants were more likely than women to participate in social, cultural and educational activities and smaller centres saw higher rates of participation. While most participants experienced a certain sense of belonging to Canada they simultaneously felt challenged while considering issues such as loss of identity, managing settlement concerns and combatting racism and social exclusion. Language was one of the other key challenges for incoming Syrian refugees. With low levels of English comprehension and speaking skills it was difficult to find jobs and build social relationships. Women in the survey had higher language skills and were more likely to be students or have full-time employment as compared to men. Men were more likely than women to be looking for work and struggled with English language fluency. In terms of location, small centres and large centres saw some critical differences. There were higher rates of employment and survey participants reported greater satisfaction with employment in larger centres as compared to smaller centres. Large centres also saw a higher proportion of individuals who were able to pay bills and save money. The study proposes several specific service strategies and approaches to working with Syrian refugees. These include: creating a peer navigator model; developing a trauma informed framework for practice; developing a strengths-based needs assessment process; and embedding social well-being as a core outcome for all settlement services with Syrian refugees. This is a study into the early resettlement experiences of Syrian refugees across Alberta. The study explored three broad areas – employment, language and social connections. The majority of participants in the survey sample were either working in part-time jobs, students or looking for work. Employment was a key challenge for these refugees. Their skills and experience did not match job opportunities or their lack of English language skills posed as a critical barrier. The study also found that refugees were making friends and building ties, however these were still nebulous and largely transactional in nature. Male participants were more likely than women to participate in social, cultural and educational activities and smaller centres saw higher rates of participation. While most participants experienced a certain sense of belonging to Canada they simultaneously felt challenged while considering issues such as loss of identity, managing settlement concerns and combatting racism and social exclusion. Language was one of the other key challenges for incoming Syrian refugees. With low levels of English comprehension and speaking skills it was difficult to find jobs and build social relationships. Women in the survey had higher language skills and were more likely to be students or have full-time employment as compared to men. Men were more likely than women to be looking for work and struggled with English language fluency. In terms of location, small centres and large centres saw some critical differences. There were higher rates of employment and survey participants reported greater satisfaction with employment in larger centres as compared to smaller centres. Large centres also saw a higher proportion of individuals who were able to pay bills and save money. The study proposes several specific service strategies and approaches to working with Syrian refugees. These include: creating a peer navigator model; developing a trauma informed framework for practice; developing a strengths-based needs assessment process; and embedding social well-being as a core outcome for all settlement services with Syrian refugees.
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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.
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