Research Library

Syrian refugees resettling in Alberta face complex integration challenges. Social connections are a key foundation to successful integration. The goal of this study was to better understand the nature of social networks, social support and social capital among Syrian refugees arriving in Alberta in 2015 and in 2016. The study also focused on comparing the resettlement experience of refugees from larger centers and small centers in Alberta, differentiating the experience of government assisted refugees (GARs), privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) and blended visa office referred (BVOR) refugees. The study found that social relationships are crucial to settlement and integration. The importance of ethno-cultural communities, sponsors and community organizations in settlement and integration is discussed. Overall, the study found that while newcomers were making friends and building ties, these were still nebulous and largely focused on settlement needs or linking to socio-cultural community. GARs had stronger links to settlement agencies as compared to PSRs who were more closely linked to community networks. Refugees in smaller centers reported a higher level of belonging and reported more engagement with settlement or community organizations, but had lower rates of participation in recreation or religious activities. While most participants experienced a certain sense of belonging to Canada, they simultaneously felt challenged while managing settlement concerns and combatting racism and social exclusion. Syrian refugees resettling in Alberta face complex integration challenges. Social connections are a key foundation to successful integration. The goal of this study was to better understand the nature of social networks, social support and social capital among Syrian refugees arriving in Alberta in 2015 and in 2016. The study also focused on comparing the resettlement experience of refugees from larger centers and small centers in Alberta, differentiating the experience of government assisted refugees (GARs), privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) and blended visa office referred (BVOR) refugees. The study found that social relationships are crucial to settlement and integration. The importance of ethno-cultural communities, sponsors and community organizations in settlement and integration is discussed. Overall, the study found that while newcomers were making friends and building ties, these were still nebulous and largely focused on settlement needs or linking to socio-cultural community. GARs had stronger links to settlement agencies as compared to PSRs who were more closely linked to community networks. Refugees in smaller centers reported a higher level of belonging and reported more engagement with settlement or community organizations, but had lower rates of participation in recreation or religious activities. While most participants experienced a certain sense of belonging to Canada, they simultaneously felt challenged while managing settlement concerns and combatting racism and social exclusion.
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Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers. Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

In Canada, tuberculosis disproportionately affects people who were born abroad. The national tuberculosis medical surveillance programme aims to prevent these cases. These people are referred (referrals) for further in-country surveillance after migration if they have a history of active tuberculosis or have features of old, healed tuberculosis on chest radiograph. Others who are not referred (non-referrals) do not undergo surveillance. In this study we looked at the risk of transmitting TB that comes from referrals and non-referrals. We also compared the transmission rates between the two groups. To make this comparison, we looked at information that Alberta Tuberculosis Registry had about foreign-born migrants (aged 15-64 years). We looked at information about people who came to Alberta between Jan 1, 2002, and Dec 31, 2013. We were interested in cases that had culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. We found that the incidence of culture-positive pulmonary disease was nine times higher in referrals than all non-referrals and five times higher in referrals than non-referrals from high-risk countries. Despite a much higher incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in referrals than non-referrals, referrals were 80% less likely to transmit tuberculosis. But we suggest that instead of focusing only on referrals, Canada could consider screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis in all migrants from high-risk countries. In Canada, tuberculosis disproportionately affects people who were born abroad. The national tuberculosis medical surveillance programme aims to prevent these cases. These people are referred (referrals) for further in-country surveillance after migration if they have a history of active tuberculosis or have features of old, healed tuberculosis on chest radiograph. Others who are not referred (non-referrals) do not undergo surveillance. In this study we looked at the risk of transmitting TB that comes from referrals and non-referrals. We also compared the transmission rates between the two groups. To make this comparison, we looked at information that Alberta Tuberculosis Registry had about foreign-born migrants (aged 15-64 years). We looked at information about people who came to Alberta between Jan 1, 2002, and Dec 31, 2013. We were interested in cases that had culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. We found that the incidence of culture-positive pulmonary disease was nine times higher in referrals than all non-referrals and five times higher in referrals than non-referrals from high-risk countries. Despite a much higher incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in referrals than non-referrals, referrals were 80% less likely to transmit tuberculosis. But we suggest that instead of focusing only on referrals, Canada could consider screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis in all migrants from high-risk countries.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Children of newcomers to Canada are at a moderate to high risk for developing early childhood caries (ECC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral health of preschool children of refugee and immigrant families in Winnipeg. We recruited 211 children. Overall, 45.5% of the children had ECC and 31.8% had severe ECC (S-ECC). Infant dental enucleation was observed in 6 children. Things that we associate with severity of oral health conditions were increasing age, the presence of debris on teeth, parents believing their child has dental problems and the presence of enamel hypoplasia. Overall, ECC is prevalent in children of newcomer families in Manitoba. These data will inform advocacy efforts to improve access to dental care and tailor early childhood oral health promotion and ECC prevention activities for refugees and recent immigrants. Children of newcomers to Canada are at a moderate to high risk for developing early childhood caries (ECC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral health of preschool children of refugee and immigrant families in Winnipeg. We recruited 211 children. Overall, 45.5% of the children had ECC and 31.8% had severe ECC (S-ECC). Infant dental enucleation was observed in 6 children. Things that we associate with severity of oral health conditions were increasing age, the presence of debris on teeth, parents believing their child has dental problems and the presence of enamel hypoplasia. Overall, ECC is prevalent in children of newcomer families in Manitoba. These data will inform advocacy efforts to improve access to dental care and tailor early childhood oral health promotion and ECC prevention activities for refugees and recent immigrants.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The purpose of this paper is to examine support needs of African refugee new parents in Canada. Separated from their traditional family and cultural supports, refugee new parents reported isolation and loneliness. They lacked support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds. Refugees required support to access services and overcome barriers such as language, complex systems, and limited financial resources. Support preferences included emotional and information support from peers from their cultural community and culturally sensitive service providers. The purpose of this paper is to examine support needs of African refugee new parents in Canada. Separated from their traditional family and cultural supports, refugee new parents reported isolation and loneliness. They lacked support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds. Refugees required support to access services and overcome barriers such as language, complex systems, and limited financial resources. Support preferences included emotional and information support from peers from their cultural community and culturally sensitive service providers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Experiences of refugees have rarely been described through the concept of resilience because of them dealing with the challenges of flight, exile, forced migration, and resettlement. Researchers were approached by eight South Sudanese refugee women resettled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who were interested in exploring alternative notions of resilience through reflection, dialogue, and action. Using Photovoice, a technique that employs still photography and text captions, participants of this study used aesthetic expression to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of resilience. Faith and spirituality, circles of support, and the global community were the key overarching themes describing participants’ resilience process which enabled participants to survive their past, foster support in the present and harness hope for the future. At each stage, we also identified supporting factors and threats to resiliency. In conclusion, we suggest that resettlement service providers need to foster the resiliency in their programmes. Experiences of refugees have rarely been described through the concept of resilience because of them dealing with the challenges of flight, exile, forced migration, and resettlement. Researchers were approached by eight South Sudanese refugee women resettled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who were interested in exploring alternative notions of resilience through reflection, dialogue, and action. Using Photovoice, a technique that employs still photography and text captions, participants of this study used aesthetic expression to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of resilience. Faith and spirituality, circles of support, and the global community were the key overarching themes describing participants’ resilience process which enabled participants to survive their past, foster support in the present and harness hope for the future. At each stage, we also identified supporting factors and threats to resiliency. In conclusion, we suggest that resettlement service providers need to foster the resiliency in their programmes.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Given the Canadian government’s focus on refugee resettlement in light of global crises, many schools are receiving increased enrolment of students who have experienced the trauma associated with living in, and fleeing from, regions experiencing armed conflict. The authors assert that given the numbers of such students entering Calgarian classrooms, it is important that educators have at least some knowledge of trauma-informed teaching practice. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in trauma-informed teaching practice, the article encourages a move away from a deficit perspective on children from refugee backgrounds, toward one of hope, befitting the resiliency such children bring to their new country. Given the Canadian government’s focus on refugee resettlement in light of global crises, many schools are receiving increased enrolment of students who have experienced the trauma associated with living in, and fleeing from, regions experiencing armed conflict. The authors assert that given the numbers of such students entering Calgarian classrooms, it is important that educators have at least some knowledge of trauma-informed teaching practice. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in trauma-informed teaching practice, the article encourages a move away from a deficit perspective on children from refugee backgrounds, toward one of hope, befitting the resiliency such children bring to their new country.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Religious groups and churches have always played, and continue to play, vital roles in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada. In the 1980s, several not-for-profit agencies emerged with Catholic and Mennonite roots to respond to the arrival of thousands of refugees to the province from Southeast Asia and Central America. Today, these agencies are particularly interesting as they both challenge prevailing views on secularization and the provision of public services and play an exceptionally active role in providing services to newcomers. This paper explores the interplay between the prevalence of a liberal secular ideology in Canada and the shifting identities of faith-based organizations in Alberta. Based on archival research and interviews, this paper demonstrates that it is the shifting and, often conflicting, views of staff and volunteers that have contributed to the secularization of identities in most of these agencies. Religious groups and churches have always played, and continue to play, vital roles in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada. In the 1980s, several not-for-profit agencies emerged with Catholic and Mennonite roots to respond to the arrival of thousands of refugees to the province from Southeast Asia and Central America. Today, these agencies are particularly interesting as they both challenge prevailing views on secularization and the provision of public services and play an exceptionally active role in providing services to newcomers. This paper explores the interplay between the prevalence of a liberal secular ideology in Canada and the shifting identities of faith-based organizations in Alberta. Based on archival research and interviews, this paper demonstrates that it is the shifting and, often conflicting, views of staff and volunteers that have contributed to the secularization of identities in most of these agencies.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The aim of this study is to assess the oral health of the children of refugees and immigrants (“newcomers”). We also seek to understand the barriers to appropriate oral health care and use of dental services. Finally, we look into clinical and behavioural interventions for this population in North America. In general, children of newcomers exhibit poorer oral health compared with their non-newcomer peers. This population faces language, cultural and financial barriers that, consequently, limit their access to and use of dental services. Intervention programs, such as educational courses and counseling, targeting newcomer parents or their children are helpful in improving the oral health status of immigrant children. The disparity in dental caries between children of newcomers and their peers can be reduced by improving their parents’ literacy in the official language(s) and educating parents regarding good oral health practices. An appropriate oral health policy remains crucial for marginalized populations in general and newcomer children in particular. The aim of this study is to assess the oral health of the children of refugees and immigrants (“newcomers”). We also seek to understand the barriers to appropriate oral health care and use of dental services. Finally, we look into clinical and behavioural interventions for this population in North America. In general, children of newcomers exhibit poorer oral health compared with their non-newcomer peers. This population faces language, cultural and financial barriers that, consequently, limit their access to and use of dental services. Intervention programs, such as educational courses and counseling, targeting newcomer parents or their children are helpful in improving the oral health status of immigrant children. The disparity in dental caries between children of newcomers and their peers can be reduced by improving their parents’ literacy in the official language(s) and educating parents regarding good oral health practices. An appropriate oral health policy remains crucial for marginalized populations in general and newcomer children in particular.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This article documents the impact of recently introduced restrictive family reunification policies on immigrants living in Canada today. Since 2008, Canadian immigration policy has changed dramatically with renewed neoliberal emphasis on economic immigrants and labor-market integration (younger, high-skilled immigrants with strong English or French language skills are prioritized over other groups of newcomers). This led to making the process of reuniting families more difficult and expensive. This article explores the impact of this policy shift on immigrant families and on immigrant women and children in particular. This article argues that there are profound human costs to limiting family reunification; these costs are disproportionately borne by immigrant women (who tend to take addition responsibilities of child care) and ultimately impact immigrant integration and belonging. This article documents the impact of recently introduced restrictive family reunification policies on immigrants living in Canada today. Since 2008, Canadian immigration policy has changed dramatically with renewed neoliberal emphasis on economic immigrants and labor-market integration (younger, high-skilled immigrants with strong English or French language skills are prioritized over other groups of newcomers). This led to making the process of reuniting families more difficult and expensive. This article explores the impact of this policy shift on immigrant families and on immigrant women and children in particular. This article argues that there are profound human costs to limiting family reunification; these costs are disproportionately borne by immigrant women (who tend to take addition responsibilities of child care) and ultimately impact immigrant integration and belonging.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly