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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Supporting the Mental Health of Newcomers in Canada: Key Insights and Recommendations for Programming

This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada. This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Supporting Newcomer Youth in Canada: Key Considerations for Inclusive Programming

This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Supporting Newcomer Seniors in Canada: Key Considerations for Inclusive Programming

This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges faced by newcomer seniors in Canada and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and supportive programming. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges faced by newcomer seniors in Canada and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and supportive programming.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Supporting LGBTQI+ Newcomers in Canada: Considerations for Inclusive Programming

This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges, barriers, and unique needs of 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers in Canada. It identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective program to support the diverse experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges, barriers, and unique needs of 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers in Canada. It identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective program to support the diverse experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Integrating Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in the Development of Inclusive Programming for Newcomers in Canada

This learning note is intended to provide a brief overview of what GBA+ is and how it can be harnessed to create inclusive and effective programming for newcomers in Canada. This learning note is intended to provide a brief overview of what GBA+ is and how it can be harnessed to create inclusive and effective programming for newcomers in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

COVID-19 vaccinations, trust, and vaccination decisions within the refugee community of Calgary, Canada

Refugee decisions to vaccinate for COVID-19 are a complex interplay of factors which include individual perceptions, access barriers, trust, and COVID-19 specific factors, which contribute to lower vaccine uptake. To address this, the WHO calls for localized solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake for refugees and evidence to inform future vaccination efforts. However, limited evidence engages directly with refugees about their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. To address this gap, researchers conducted qualitative interviews (N = 61) with refugees (n = 45), sponsors of refugees (n = 3), and key informants (n = 13) connected to local COVID-19 vaccination efforts for refugees in Calgary. Thematic analysis was conducted to synthesize themes related to vaccine perspectives, vaccination experiences, and patient intersections with policies and systems. Findings reveal that refugees benefit from ample services that are delivered at various stages, that are not solely related to vaccinations, and which create multiple positive touch points with health and immigration systems. This builds trust and vaccine confidence and promotes COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Despite multiple factors affecting vaccination decisions, a key reason for vaccination was timely and credible information delivered through trusted intermediaries and in an environment that addressed refugee needs and concerns. As refugees placed trust and relationships at the core of decision-making and vaccination, it is recommended that healthcare systems work through trust and relationships to reach refugees. This can be targeted through culturally responsive healthcare delivery that meets patients where they are, including barrier reduction measures such as translation and on-site vaccinations, and educational and outreach partnerships with private groups, community organizations and leaders. Refugee decisions to vaccinate for COVID-19 are a complex interplay of factors which include individual perceptions, access barriers, trust, and COVID-19 specific factors, which contribute to lower vaccine uptake. To address this, the WHO calls for localized solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake for refugees and evidence to inform future vaccination efforts. However, limited evidence engages directly with refugees about their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations. To address this gap, researchers conducted qualitative interviews (N = 61) with refugees (n = 45), sponsors of refugees (n = 3), and key informants (n = 13) connected to local COVID-19 vaccination efforts for refugees in Calgary. Thematic analysis was conducted to synthesize themes related to vaccine perspectives, vaccination experiences, and patient intersections with policies and systems. Findings reveal that refugees benefit from ample services that are delivered at various stages, that are not solely related to vaccinations, and which create multiple positive touch points with health and immigration systems. This builds trust and vaccine confidence and promotes COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Despite multiple factors affecting vaccination decisions, a key reason for vaccination was timely and credible information delivered through trusted intermediaries and in an environment that addressed refugee needs and concerns. As refugees placed trust and relationships at the core of decision-making and vaccination, it is recommended that healthcare systems work through trust and relationships to reach refugees. This can be targeted through culturally responsive healthcare delivery that meets patients where they are, including barrier reduction measures such as translation and on-site vaccinations, and educational and outreach partnerships with private groups, community organizations and leaders.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

An exploration of COVID-19 vaccination models for newcomer refugees and immigrants in Calgary, Canada

The World Health Organization stresses the need for tailored COVID-19 models of vaccination to meet the needs of diverse populations and ultimately reach high rates of vaccination. However, little evidence exists on how COVID-19 models of vaccination operated in the novel context of the pandemic, how vulnerable populations, such as refugees, experience COVID-19 vaccination systems in high-income countries, and what lessons may be learned from vaccination efforts with vulnerable populations. To address this gap, this study explored COVID-19 vaccine delivery models available to newcomer refugees and immigrants, and refugee experiences across diferent COVID-19 vaccine delivery models in Calgary, Canada, and surrounding area in 2021 and 2022, to understand the barriers, strengths, and strategies of models to support access to COVID-19 vaccination for newcomer refugees and immigrants. Structured interviews with Government Assisted Refugees (n=39), and semistructured interviews with Privately Sponsored Refugees (n=6), private refugee sponsors (n=3), and stakeholders involved in vaccination systems (n=13) were conducted in 2022. Thematic analysis was conducted to draw out themes related to barriers, strengths, and strategies of vaccine delivery models and the intersections with patient experiences. Newcomer refugee and immigrant focused vaccination models and strategies were explored. They demonstrated how partnerships between organizations, multi-pronged approaches, and culturally responsive services were crucial to navigate ongoing and emergent factors, such as vaccine hesitancy, mandates, and other determinants of under-vaccination. Many vaccination models presented through interviews were not specific to refugees and included immigrants, temporary residents, ethnocultural community members, and other vulnerable populations in their design. Increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake for newcomer refugees and immigrants, is complex and requires trust, ongoing information provision, and local partnerships to address ongoing and emerging factors. Three key policy implications were drawn. The World Health Organization stresses the need for tailored COVID-19 models of vaccination to meet the needs of diverse populations and ultimately reach high rates of vaccination. However, little evidence exists on how COVID-19 models of vaccination operated in the novel context of the pandemic, how vulnerable populations, such as refugees, experience COVID-19 vaccination systems in high-income countries, and what lessons may be learned from vaccination efforts with vulnerable populations. To address this gap, this study explored COVID-19 vaccine delivery models available to newcomer refugees and immigrants, and refugee experiences across diferent COVID-19 vaccine delivery models in Calgary, Canada, and surrounding area in 2021 and 2022, to understand the barriers, strengths, and strategies of models to support access to COVID-19 vaccination for newcomer refugees and immigrants. Structured interviews with Government Assisted Refugees (n=39), and semistructured interviews with Privately Sponsored Refugees (n=6), private refugee sponsors (n=3), and stakeholders involved in vaccination systems (n=13) were conducted in 2022. Thematic analysis was conducted to draw out themes related to barriers, strengths, and strategies of vaccine delivery models and the intersections with patient experiences. Newcomer refugee and immigrant focused vaccination models and strategies were explored. They demonstrated how partnerships between organizations, multi-pronged approaches, and culturally responsive services were crucial to navigate ongoing and emergent factors, such as vaccine hesitancy, mandates, and other determinants of under-vaccination. Many vaccination models presented through interviews were not specific to refugees and included immigrants, temporary residents, ethnocultural community members, and other vulnerable populations in their design. Increasing COVID-19 vaccine uptake for newcomer refugees and immigrants, is complex and requires trust, ongoing information provision, and local partnerships to address ongoing and emerging factors. Three key policy implications were drawn.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Striving for newcomer inclusion: A critical analysis of Canadian Intro to Sport programmes

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Recruitment strategies used in a survey of African immigrant maternal mental health in Alberta, Canada

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Impact of Parents’ Sense of Coherence on Children’s Oral Health-Related Behaviors and Dental Caries Experience among Newcomers

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly