Research Library

The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging. The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging.
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The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation is a report that highlights the positive impact of the Youth Therapy Program on immigrant and refugee children and their families. The report provides an overview of the mental health services offered by the program, including individual and group therapy, as well as the use of interpreters to ensure multilingual accessibility. The report also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the program and provides data on the success of the program in helping children heal from trauma. The report concludes with a list of resources consulted in the evaluation, including academic studies and government reports. Overall, the report demonstrates the effectiveness of the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy program in supporting the mental health and well-being of immigrant and refugee children. The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation is a report that highlights the positive impact of the Youth Therapy Program on immigrant and refugee children and their families. The report provides an overview of the mental health services offered by the program, including individual and group therapy, as well as the use of interpreters to ensure multilingual accessibility. The report also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the program and provides data on the success of the program in helping children heal from trauma. The report concludes with a list of resources consulted in the evaluation, including academic studies and government reports. Overall, the report demonstrates the effectiveness of the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy program in supporting the mental health and well-being of immigrant and refugee children.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The research project Understanding Newcomers’ Experiences of Inclusion (UNEOI) examines newcomers’ experiences of settlement, integration, inclusion or exclusion and how these impact newcomer well-being. The research project Understanding Newcomers’ Experiences of Inclusion (UNEOI) examines newcomers’ experiences of settlement, integration, inclusion or exclusion and how these impact newcomer well-being.
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The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) based in Red Deer, AB, provides a variety of services for refugees in the area. In the 2020-2021 year, 350 students from 49 countries participated in ESL classes and training. 320 students received translation support, such as during Parent Teacher Interviews for their children. C.A.R.E additionally created online resources for the pandemic that reached 686 participants. Regarding the Red Deer region, 65 clients were assisted with settlement. The Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E) based in Red Deer, AB, provides a variety of services for refugees in the area. In the 2020-2021 year, 350 students from 49 countries participated in ESL classes and training. 320 students received translation support, such as during Parent Teacher Interviews for their children. C.A.R.E additionally created online resources for the pandemic that reached 686 participants. Regarding the Red Deer region, 65 clients were assisted with settlement.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Edmonton Immigrant Services Association (EISA) adapted to virtual services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlighted online service inequities and increased demand. In 2020-2021, EISA supported 5689 clients and had a end of year net assets of $1002532. Edmonton Immigrant Services Association (EISA) adapted to virtual services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlighted online service inequities and increased demand. In 2020-2021, EISA supported 5689 clients and had a end of year net assets of $1002532.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

People who experience houselessness in Edmonton are disproportionately from racialized populations. 1 in 5 racialized families in Canada will experience houselessness, compared to 1 in 20 White families. The need to improve affordable housing in Edmonton is imminent. This article describes strengths and weaknesses of the Final Report of the Alberta Affordable Housing Review Panel (2020) as it relates to racialized individuals in Edmonton. People who experience houselessness in Edmonton are disproportionately from racialized populations. 1 in 5 racialized families in Canada will experience houselessness, compared to 1 in 20 White families. The need to improve affordable housing in Edmonton is imminent. This article describes strengths and weaknesses of the Final Report of the Alberta Affordable Housing Review Panel (2020) as it relates to racialized individuals in Edmonton.
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This report sheds light on the housing challenges, experiences, strengths and resiliency of newcomers in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Survey respondents were clients who accessed services from four immigrant and refugee serving agencies in the city with clients from 54 different countries speaking 58 different languages. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, service providers, and community members interested in understanding and addressing the housing needs of newcomers in the city. This report sheds light on the housing challenges, experiences, strengths and resiliency of newcomers in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Survey respondents were clients who accessed services from four immigrant and refugee serving agencies in the city with clients from 54 different countries speaking 58 different languages. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, service providers, and community members interested in understanding and addressing the housing needs of newcomers in the city.
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Through focus groups with educators working with newcomer children, this study asked: 1) For newcomer families, what are indicators of quality in early learning and child care?, and 2) What are the essential dispositions child care educators demonstrate that meet the needs of newcomer children and families? 5 key themes were identified, including language barriers and tensions, the need for flexibility, and how educators can grow, seek and co-learn with newcomer families. Through focus groups with educators working with newcomer children, this study asked: 1) For newcomer families, what are indicators of quality in early learning and child care?, and 2) What are the essential dispositions child care educators demonstrate that meet the needs of newcomer children and families? 5 key themes were identified, including language barriers and tensions, the need for flexibility, and how educators can grow, seek and co-learn with newcomer families.
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The Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) conducted a survey of Edmonton’s Muslim community to understand their specific needs and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just under 20% of the community had partial knowledge, no knowledge, or an uncertain amount of knowledge about COVID-19, where the two most popular information sources were the government and social media. A third of respondents did not have adequate resources for physical distancing. Mental health was the highest reported concern for the community, and the IFSSA proposes recommendations for improving mental healthcare access and information sharing. The Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) conducted a survey of Edmonton’s Muslim community to understand their specific needs and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just under 20% of the community had partial knowledge, no knowledge, or an uncertain amount of knowledge about COVID-19, where the two most popular information sources were the government and social media. A third of respondents did not have adequate resources for physical distancing. Mental health was the highest reported concern for the community, and the IFSSA proposes recommendations for improving mental healthcare access and information sharing.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The increasing population of working immigrant women in Canada demands special considerations surrounding their mental health. This exploratory-descriptive qualitative research has investigated the influences on the mental well-being of 14 working immigrant women in Calgary. Participants were interviewed to describe their unique experiences at the intersections of race, gender, religion, work, and social class, and to discuss useful interventions that support their mental wellbeing. The findings demonstrated that migration to Canada had provided participants with high awareness about mental health; however, stigma, religious beliefs, financial concerns, and discriminatory behavior in healthcare services were barriers to pursue mental health care. Racism, microaggressions, intersectional discrimination, language barriers, and employment difficulties had adversely affected their mental well-being. Conversely, freedom, security, and multiculturalism were some of the advantages of living in Canada. Ultimately, working immigrant women’s needs were discussed as individual/micro-, meso-, and macro-level interventions based on ecological model. The increasing population of working immigrant women in Canada demands special considerations surrounding their mental health. This exploratory-descriptive qualitative research has investigated the influences on the mental well-being of 14 working immigrant women in Calgary. Participants were interviewed to describe their unique experiences at the intersections of race, gender, religion, work, and social class, and to discuss useful interventions that support their mental wellbeing. The findings demonstrated that migration to Canada had provided participants with high awareness about mental health; however, stigma, religious beliefs, financial concerns, and discriminatory behavior in healthcare services were barriers to pursue mental health care. Racism, microaggressions, intersectional discrimination, language barriers, and employment difficulties had adversely affected their mental well-being. Conversely, freedom, security, and multiculturalism were some of the advantages of living in Canada. Ultimately, working immigrant women’s needs were discussed as individual/micro-, meso-, and macro-level interventions based on ecological model.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly