Regina Open Door Regina Open Door Society (RODS)Society (RODS)

A Collaborative A Collaborative Approach to Group Approach to Group

Processing in Regina, Processing in Regina, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan

Group ProcessingGroup Processing

To share the organization’s To share the organization’s involvement and experiences as a involvement and experiences as a Service Providing Organization-(SPO) Service Providing Organization-(SPO) in the group processing of the Karen in the group processing of the Karen refugee grouprefugee group

To share the successes and To share the successes and challenges through the experiences challenges through the experiences of an SPO in a state of significant of an SPO in a state of significant change change

A Collaborative ApproachA Collaborative Approach

For four years now, cooperative efforts of For four years now, cooperative efforts of the Regina and Area Refugee Support the Regina and Area Refugee Support Group, Regina CIC and the Regina Open Group, Regina CIC and the Regina Open Door Society to promote the plight and the Door Society to promote the plight and the contribution of refugees to our community contribution of refugees to our community has resulted in annual World Refugee Day has resulted in annual World Refugee Day celebrations, the release of a 2007 public celebrations, the release of a 2007 public education calendar “Dispelling the Myths” education calendar “Dispelling the Myths” and increased numbers of Joint Assisted and increased numbers of Joint Assisted Sponsorships and volunteer participation. Sponsorships and volunteer participation.

A Collaborative ApproachA Collaborative Approach

Through the combined efforts of the Through the combined efforts of the Regina Open Door Society, Regina CIC Regina Open Door Society, Regina CIC and the Regina and Area Refugee Support and the Regina and Area Refugee Support Group (RARSG), the community resettled Group (RARSG), the community resettled 220 GARS, 30 over the target of 190. 133 220 GARS, 30 over the target of 190. 133 were Karen refugees. were Karen refugees.

In 2006, Regina truly committed itself to In 2006, Regina truly committed itself to sponsoring by welcoming the Karen sponsoring by welcoming the Karen refugees to our community. refugees to our community. 96 of 133 96 of 133 individuals were sponsored by 17 JAS individuals were sponsored by 17 JAS groupsgroups

Regina Open Door Society-Regina Open Door Society-ChallengesChallenges

• April 2006 – The number of April 2006 – The number of GARs to Regina was reduced GARs to Regina was reduced from 196 to 190, asked to from 196 to 190, asked to wind down LINC Child wind down LINC Child minding and transportation minding and transportation services and a successful life services and a successful life skills pilot could not be skills pilot could not be continued past March 31, due continued past March 31, due to lack of fundsto lack of funds

• To cope with the reductions To cope with the reductions and improve service delivery, and improve service delivery, RODS restructured its human RODS restructured its human resources in June of 2006resources in June of 2006

• Specific to Settlement, the Specific to Settlement, the Settlement and Integration Settlement and Integration Manager and RAP Manager and RAP Coordinator positions were Coordinator positions were eliminated eliminated

• Manager of Family Services Manager of Family Services became Manager of became Manager of Settlement & Family Settlement & Family Services overseeing RAP, Services overseeing RAP, ISAP, Families In Transition ISAP, Families In Transition and KidsFirstand KidsFirst

• Major office renovations Major office renovations began to accommodate the began to accommodate the new structure that affected new structure that affected about half of RODS about half of RODS employees employees

• Preparations were well Preparations were well underway with Regina CIC, underway with Regina CIC, RARSG and RODS RARSG and RODS preparing to resettle a large preparing to resettle a large group of Karen refugees group of Karen refugees

Prior to ArrivalPrior to Arrival• Locating and booking Locating and booking

temporary temporary accommodationsaccommodations

• Locating permanent Locating permanent accommodations (Regina accommodations (Regina Housing Authority and Housing Authority and Landlords)Landlords)

• Locating service providers Locating service providers to offer furniture packagesto offer furniture packages

• Contacting shopping Contacting shopping centers and stores for centers and stores for basic household packagesbasic household packages

• Getting orientation Getting orientation materials/packages materials/packages translated into Karen translated into Karen languageslanguages

• Locating/hiring Karen Locating/hiring Karen interpretersinterpreters

• These items were not done These items were not done in isolation, but in isolation, but collaboratively between collaboratively between RODS S&F staff, RODS S&F staff, Community Services staff, Community Services staff, CIC, RARSG and CIC, RARSG and community community volunteers/agencies/emplovolunteers/agencies/employers, etc.yers, etc.

• Meetings and planning Meetings and planning with CIC & JAS regarding with CIC & JAS regarding Karen arrivalsKaren arrivals

• Karen’s would be arriving Karen’s would be arriving as CR1s, CR5s and VOR as CR1s, CR5s and VOR (Visa office Referrals)(Visa office Referrals)

Some of the ChallengesSome of the Challenges• Affordable, appropriate Affordable, appropriate

housing for large families housing for large families (need to be close to others, (need to be close to others, gender issues) and for those gender issues) and for those with medical and/or with medical and/or accessibility needsaccessibility needs

• Additional funds were provided Additional funds were provided & staff were being interviewed, & staff were being interviewed, hired and trained during and hired and trained during and following the Karen group following the Karen group arriving and as services were arriving and as services were being deliveredbeing delivered

• Delay in travel for various Delay in travel for various medical and other reasons medical and other reasons resulted in the majority of resulted in the majority of Karens arriving in November Karens arriving in November during Regina’s one week during Regina’s one week annual international Agribition annual international Agribition Show affecting reservations Show affecting reservations and length of stay in temporary and length of stay in temporary accommodationsaccommodations

• Within one month we saw Within one month we saw growth within the Settlement growth within the Settlement programs from 3.5 FTEs (front programs from 3.5 FTEs (front line staff) to 8 including line staff) to 8 including interpreter/support interpreter/support caseworkers, life skills trainers caseworkers, life skills trainers and admin support.and admin support.

• Continued to receive and settle Continued to receive and settle non Karen arrivals with special non Karen arrivals with special needs at the same time. Most needs at the same time. Most experienced caseworkers (3) experienced caseworkers (3) were assigned to Karens while were assigned to Karens while others were trained to meet the others were trained to meet the needs of current caseloads.needs of current caseloads.

• Meeting the Health Care NeedsMeeting the Health Care Needs• Protocols for after hours Protocols for after hours

arrivals, emergency healthcare, arrivals, emergency healthcare, lines of communication were lines of communication were established established

First Karen ArrivalsFirst Karen Arrivals

• First family arrived in September (CR1s and VORs) First family arrived in September (CR1s and VORs) Support was provided to all as they belonged to the Support was provided to all as they belonged to the same family and volunteers did not have sufficient same family and volunteers did not have sufficient experience to provide all necessary services.experience to provide all necessary services.

• Experienced settlement caseworker thoroughly Experienced settlement caseworker thoroughly documented services for 6 weeks. RAP and Life documented services for 6 weeks. RAP and Life Skills assistance resulted in 52.5 hours of service Skills assistance resulted in 52.5 hours of service deliverydelivery

• Conjuctivitis and other issues continued to delay Conjuctivitis and other issues continued to delay the majority of arrivals. the majority of arrivals.

• Prior arrangements had to be changed again and Prior arrangements had to be changed again and again again

SuccessesSuccesses• Continuous communication Continuous communication

with CIC, JAS, community with CIC, JAS, community and volunteers regarding and volunteers regarding the needs of arrivals the needs of arrivals

• Excellent support from Excellent support from community, funders and community, funders and volunteersvolunteers

• Karen people are Karen people are extremely cooperative and extremely cooperative and supportive of one another supportive of one another

• Interpreters – Fortunate to Interpreters – Fortunate to eventually hire 2 excellent, eventually hire 2 excellent, caring Karen caring Karen interpreters/support interpreters/support workersworkers

• Orientation materials Orientation materials “Settling in SK translated “Settling in SK translated and provided in orientation and provided in orientation packagespackages

• Bringing JAS groups (CR5s) Bringing JAS groups (CR5s) first and then CR1s. Allowed first and then CR1s. Allowed staff to focus on CR1s while staff to focus on CR1s while collaborating with JAS to collaborating with JAS to ensure the needs of JAS and ensure the needs of JAS and VORs were metVORs were met

• Thanks to the IOM - Needs Thanks to the IOM - Needs assessment questionnaires assessment questionnaires offered guidance, offered guidance, understanding and understanding and appreciation for the Karen appreciation for the Karen families by staff. Staff made families by staff. Staff made adjustments to better meet adjustments to better meet the needs and prepare a the needs and prepare a more culturally welcoming more culturally welcoming experience. experience.

SuccessesSuccesses• Matt’s Furniture out of Fort Matt’s Furniture out of Fort

Qu’Appelle submitted the Qu’Appelle submitted the best quote for furniture. best quote for furniture. (Quality, price, service (Quality, price, service including pictures for clients, including pictures for clients, delivery into the city and set delivery into the city and set up)up)

• Giant Tiger in Regina agreed Giant Tiger in Regina agreed to put together household to put together household packages based on family packages based on family needs for pick up by staffneeds for pick up by staff

• Regina City Police met with Regina City Police met with newcomers to assure them of newcomers to assure them of their safety when immediate their safety when immediate move into permanent move into permanent accommodations was accommodations was required due to Agribition. required due to Agribition.

• Support from Regina Housing Support from Regina Housing Authority, however Authority, however challenges were large challenges were large families, gender make up of families, gender make up of children, accessibility, etc.children, accessibility, etc.

• Wheelchair loans from SK Wheelchair loans from SK Abilities CouncilAbilities Council

• RODS van, mini bus and staff RODS van, mini bus and staff vehicles accommodated the vehicles accommodated the large numberslarge numbers

• Community donations of Community donations of clothing and household itemsclothing and household items

• Royal Bank assigned Royal Bank assigned additional staff members to additional staff members to assist with cashing start up assist with cashing start up cheques and opening cheques and opening accounts accounts

KidsFirst: Families and KidsFirst: Families and ChildrenChildren

Families with children Families with children under the age of two under the age of two were referred to RODS were referred to RODS KidsFirst Regina KidsFirst Regina program for intensive program for intensive home visit supporthome visit supportCollaborating with the Collaborating with the Settlement team, Settlement team, KidsFirst home visitor KidsFirst home visitor offered additional offered additional intensive support that is intensive support that is not offered to families not offered to families under the Settlement under the Settlement programsprograms

Welcome to ReginaWelcome to Regina

Airport ReceptionAirport Reception

Donations from Caring Donations from Caring VolunteersVolunteers

Welcome!Welcome!

Orientation to Temp Orientation to Temp Accommodations Accommodations

RODS BUSRODS BUS

BankingBanking

ShoppingShopping

ShoppingShopping

Life Skills ServicesLife Skills Services

The Past 8 Months at The Past 8 Months at RODSRODS

• Increased from 35 to 51 Increased from 35 to 51 staff members with support staff members with support from CIC and the Provincial from CIC and the Provincial Immigration BranchImmigration Branch

• Opened, renovated and Opened, renovated and moved into a 3moved into a 3rdrd location to location to accommodate growth. accommodate growth. Board/Staff Facilities Board/Staff Facilities Committee continues to Committee continues to develop plans for facility develop plans for facility enhancement.enhancement.

• Approved by province to Approved by province to open new licensed Child open new licensed Child Care Centre. Recently Care Centre. Recently completed major completed major renovations.renovations.

• In cooperation with CIC, In cooperation with CIC, expanded from 6 to 11 LINC expanded from 6 to 11 LINC classes to accommodate over classes to accommodate over 150 learners.150 learners.

• Additional teaching staff, Additional teaching staff, disabilities specialist, admin disabilities specialist, admin support…..support…..

• Newly funded Enhanced Host Newly funded Enhanced Host and Volunteer Training and Volunteer Training project and Health Services project and Health Services EducatorEducator

• Planning for commencement Planning for commencement of new provincially funded of new provincially funded programs and services as SK programs and services as SK expands nominee program. expands nominee program. Working to attract & retain up Working to attract & retain up to 5000 immigrants annually to 5000 immigrants annually by 2008. by 2008.

Thank you team for your Thank you team for your dedication, commitment, dedication, commitment,

compassion & compassion & professionalism!professionalism!