Newcomer Programs & Profile Overview

from theYMCA-YWCA of the

National Capital Region

Presented by: Tanya Mendes-Gagnon Senior Director, Newcomer Services

Outline

Overview of Y Services for Newcomer NIC’s Service Model Client Profiles – Imm. Categories, Education, Most Common Needs & Services Referral Sources & Outcomes Learned Challenges & Successes The Way Forward

Overview of Y Newcomer Services

Newcomer Information Centre (2007) First stop for Information and Orientation services

Language Assessment and referral Centre (2000) Language Assessments in English or French for access to all CIC

and MCI funded Language Training Programs

Employment Ontario – Employment Access Centre (2010 previously Job Connect) Employment Services (1of 2 Y centres’ is focused on

Internationally Trained Professionals)

Power of Trades (2010)Pre-Bride to Work Training to help educate, develop training plans for clients to access Trades in Ontario

Newcomer Information Centre (NIC)

NIC’s Service Model: Standardized Needs Assessment Workshop Calendar (variety of relevant topics) Onsite Settlement Workers for the various

Community Agencies (rotational schedule) Permanent Onsite Francophone Settlement

Worker Offsite presentations and active outreach to

“outside” partners i.e. churches, cultural retailers, mainstream agencies, employers

Newcomer Profile

Hamid, 35 years oldHamid is married and has two children. He is originally from Lebanon and has been living in Ottawa for more than a year. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and even though Arabic is his first language, he speaks English fluently.

He came three times to the Newcomer Information Centre to receive assistance with Citizenship and Immigration application forms, and to learn what he can do to eventually become a Canadian Citizen. Source: MDC data from last fiscal year (April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014)

55%11%

19%

3% 10%Permenant Residents

Work & Student Visas

Canadian Citizens (Born Outside of Canada)

Covention Refugees

Refugee Claimant

Client Profile: Immigration Categories

Source: MDC data from last fiscal year (April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014)

Client Profile: Level of Education

14%

33%23%

24%7%

Post Graduate

University Graduate

College Graduate

High School Graduate

Grade 8 or Less

Source: MDC data from last fiscal year (April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014)

29%

18%

8%

7%7% Application Assistance

Acces to On-Site Settlement Worker

Employment Services

Workshops

Computer Access

Most Common Needs & Services

Source: MDC data from last fiscal year (April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014)

52%

18%

7%

6%Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Family/Friend

Other Y Program

Other

Referral Sources

Source: MDC data from last fiscal year (April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014)

Outcome of Referrals

Frequency Percentage Yes 263 70No 89 23Can’t remember 26 7Total 378 100

Were you given a referral?Percentage may not add to 100 due to rounding

Frequency Percentage Yes 193 73No 52 19Can’t remember 18 7Total 263 100

Did you go to the referral?Percentage may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Frequency PercentageVery helpful 148 77Somewhat helpful 43 22Not very helpful 2 1Total 193 100

How helpful was the referral?Percentage may not add to 100 due to rounding.

Source : Survey done by the Carleton University Survey Centre for Y NIC from May to October, 2012, and satisfaction survey data from April 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014. – 15% of clients served.

Learned Challenges & Successes

Successes: Partnering with Community Partners to bring

resources “in-house” Hosting space for the “diverse” menu of services

and programs Services are accessible in a variety of formats to

meet the needs of all newcomers (online, printed, 1-on-1)

Consistent approach to needs assessment and referrals

Challenges: Meeting the changing needs and wants of how services are being requested

by newcomers – technology, resources, materials Capacity to Partner and co-locate Ability to diversify programming (on and off site) Balance contractual obligations and funding vs client needs

The Way Forward Services would be more efficient if delivered in a: “Mixed-Model ” - Why? Newcomers are at different levels of settlement; i.e. Skilled Workers vs TFW, Youth vs Seniors, Newly Arrived vs 5yrs Landed, Main Applicant vs Family Members

“Mixed-Model” Recommendations: Online, in-person, individual, group → services Available in and outside “regular” business hours Printable, consistent and clear language documentation (Gov’t and SPO) Variety of services pathways (service models offering multiple services in one location) Increased partnership in program delivery, specifically employment and

language training/programming On-the-Job training, with language and curriculum Holistic approach to newcomer families – settlement “action plans”

Thank you/Merci

For more information, contact:

Tanya Mendes-GagnonSenior Director, Newcomer ServicesYMCA-YWCA of the National Capital RegionTel: 613-238-5462 ext 20 tanya.mendes-gagnon@ymcaywca.ca