CrossSector Forum and Consultation:

1
Cross-Sector Forum and Consultation Improving
Responsibilities of Services for Immigrant and
Refugee Women Experiencing Violence Sherman
Chan, MSc., RSW Director of Settlement
Services MOSAIC June 2-3, 2008

2
Immigration to B.C.

• Nearly 200,000 immigrants over five years
• In 2007 just under 39,000 new immigrants
• from 182 countries speaking 148 languages
• Economic Class 62 Family 30 Refugee 5
• over one quarter children and youth
• 51 with university or higher
• 63 declared ability in English or French

3
Top Source Countries of Immigrants to BC 2003-2007

• China 27
• India 13
• Philippines 9
• South Korea 6
• USA 5

Data Source CIC Landed Immigrant Database
(LIDS), CIC Facts and Figures 2006
4
Recent Immigrants in Lower Mainland Communities
Population Consisting of Recent Immigrants
(arrived between 2001 and 2006)
Data Source Statistics Canada 2006 Census
5
English not spoken at home
Population who speak no English at home
Data Source Statistics Canada 2006 Census
6
Destinations of Refugees in BC

• 10,123 Refugees arrived in BC between 2003 and
  2007.
• 95 settled in the Lower Mainland, 93 in Metro
  Vancouver.

Data Source CIC Landed Immigrant Database (LIDS)
7
World Source Regions of Refugees to BC
Data Source CIC Landed Immigrant Database (LIDS)
8
Language skills vary by source country
Data Source CIC Landed Immigrant Database (LIDS)
9
Slightly fewer women than men arrive with English
language ability
Immigrants arriving 2003-2007, aged 25 years and
over
Data Source CIC Landed Immigrant Database (LIDS)
10
Levels of Education are slightly lower among
immigrant women
Immigrants aged 25 and over, arriving between
2003 and 2007
Data Source CIC Landed Immigrant Database (LIDS)
11
Labour Force Characteristics of Recent Immigrant
Men and Women and the Canadian-born Population
Data Source 2007 Labour Force Survey.
Population aged 25-64 years. Recent immigrants
in Canada 5 years or fewer
12
Greatest challenges faced four years after
arrival in Canada

• Finding a job
• Learning a new language
• Getting used to the weather
• Missing support from homeland
• Adapting to new culture or values
• Financial constraints
• Recognition of credentials/experience
• Lack of social interaction
• Access to professional help
• Discrimination or racism

Data Source Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to
Canada (LSIC)
13
Secondary Challenges as a Result of Immigration

• Immigration status dictates eligibility
• Labeling disables social participation
• Sponsorship disempowers service access and fear
  of repercussions

14
Settlement Service SectorKey Issues and
Discussions

• Settlement Service Sector is in its developmental
  stage
• Gender based analysis is not the primary
  determinant in program design
• Settlement service is a generic service that
  violence against immigrant and refugee women is
  not the core service delivery
• Victim support public education cross-sector
  training and collaboration are the keys to
  address violence against immigrant and refugee
  women

15
British Columbia Settlement and Adaptation
Program (BCSAP)

• The primary goal is to support the successful
  settlement and adaptation of new immigrants and
  refugees to British Columbia.

16
BCSAP is delivered in five "streams" of service
and service supports

• Information and Support Services (Stream 1)
• Settlement Workers in Schools (Stream 1)
• Community Bridging Services (Stream 2)
• English Language Services for Adults (ELSA)
  (Stream 3)
• Information, Support English Language Services
  for Multi-barriered Adults (Stream 1/3 Blended)
• Sectoral Support and Delivery Assistance (Stream
  4)

17
Settlement Service Sector Historical Development

• After the 1st World War
• -1922 The 1st Settlement Agency Jewish Immigrant
  Aid Society
• After the 2nd World War
• -Settlement Houses in the 19th Century
• -1940s CSAI in Montreal (Thursday suppers)
• Manitoba Interfaith Immigrant
  Council
• -1952 Italian Immigrant Aid Society in Toronto
• -1961 COSTI (largest in Canada)
• -1970s SUCCESS, MOSAIC, ISS of BC, AMSSA
• -1978 Canadian Council for Refugees
• -1996 BC Settlement and Integration Workers
  Association
• -2006 Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector
  Alliance

18
Settlement Service Sector Service Standards and
Training Development

• Federal Government launched programs
• 1974 ISAP
• 1990/1992 LINC
• 1991 HOST
• 1998 Best Settlement Practices
• 1998 Occupational Competencies for BC Settlement
  and Multicultural Services
• 2000 National Settlement Service Standards
  Framework
• 2001 National Settlement Conference (1)
• 2003 National Settlement Conference (2)
• 2005 Working Group on Settlement Standards and
  Professionalization
• 2007 BC Settlement Conference
• 2007 BC Joint Training Committee
• 2008 Occupational Competencies Focus Group
  Review

19
Settlement Service Sector Occupational
Competencies

• Key Purpose Statement
• Values and Principle Statements
• Functions (primary areas of responsibilities)
• Activities (day to day activities)
• Performance Indicators (how do we know when
  someone has performed well)
• Knowledge and Skills Specifications (need to know
  and be able to do successfully)

20
Settlement Service Sector Occupational
Competencies Examples- AAISA Training Modules
for Settlement Practitioners

• Professional Role and Ethics
• Building Understanding of Cultural Communities
• Immigration Processes
• Settlement and Transition Process
• Working with Interpreters
• Basic Counselling Skills in a Cross-Cultural
  Context
• Referral Processes and Community Resources
• Advocacy/Racism
• Needs Assessment and Action Plans
• Facilitating Small Groups
• Career and Job Counselling
• Community Development Processes
• Crisis Intervention/Conflict Resolution
• Organizational Change/Outreach
• Volunteer Management
• Challenges Working with Multi-Barrier Clients

21
Settlement Service Sector Occupational
Competencies Example- Settlement Workers in
School (SWIS) Orientation Program

• Introduction to SWIS
• Settlement and Integration
• Government Policies and Procedures
• Schools and Schooling
• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Social/Emotional Needs of Youth
• Ethics
• SWIS Program
• Health
• Case Management
• Family Dynamics
• Legal Services
• What Weve Learned
• Articles
• Resources

22
Settlement Service Sector Occupational
Competencies Example- OCASI Ontario

• Online Self-Directed Training- Prevention of
  Domestic Violence against Immigrant and Refugee
  Women through Early Intervention
• The Dynamics of Domestic Violence
• Identifying Indicators of Domestic Violence
  against Women
• Cultural Issues and Competences
• Conducting an Assessment, Intervention and Making
  Referral
• Strategies to Improve Services, Case Management,
  Best Practices, Interagency Co-ordination and
  Local Services

23
Settlement Service Sector BC examples to address
Immigrant Women Issues

• 2001 Assisting Immigrant and Refugee Women abused
  by their Sponsor A Guide for Service Providers
• 2001 Refugee Women Access Project- Towards a
  Client-Centred Approach to Service Delivery
• 2002 Symposium 0n Violence Against Women
• 2002 New Immigrant Women in Canada- Ways of
  Being, Ways of Seeing
• 2007 Empowerment of Immigrant and Refugee Women
  Who Are Victims of Violence in Their Intimate
  Relationships
• Information, Resource, Counselling and Support
  Services
• Public Legal Education and Information Resources
• Multi-lingual Legal Information Website
• BC Newcomers Guide
• Agency direct services

24

• Thank you!