vancouver island settlement regional meeting · syrian refugee arrivals in bc – nov 4, 2015 to...
TRANSCRIPT
VANCOUVER ISLAND
SETTLEMENT REGIONAL MEETING
October 4, 2016
Welcome
Tracy Wideman
AMSSA
LIVESTREAM
• Welcome to settlement & language
training organizations watching online
• 9:00 – 12:00 pm
• 2:45 – 3:30 pm
• Tech issues:
604 718-4221
Introductions
Tracy Wideman
AMSSA
Objectives for the Day
• Discuss and learn how IRCC priorities will impact and
influence settlement and integration within the
Vancouver Island region.
• Discuss and share settlement and integration including
best practices from a regional perspective.
• Learn about new resources and tools to better serve
clients.
• Cultivate an environment of networking, sharing and
collaboration
Overview of the Day Morning Agenda
Welcome Remarks from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Canada
Welcome Remarks from the Province of BC
AMSSA Presentations
Language Supports
Accessing AMSSA Resources
Research and the Settlement Sector
Supporting Refugees – Presentations & Panel Discussion
Afternoon Agenda
Breakout Discussions
Housekeeping
• Cell phones – turn off ringer / turn on vibrate, take calls
outside.
• Expense claim / evaluation – Please complete both
forms and leave them with AMSSA staff.
• All meeting documents will be sent out electronically
after the meeting.
Remarks from Immigration, Refugees,
and Citizenship Canada
Tiana Solares
Manager, Integration – Western Region IRCC
IRCC Update
October 2016
Classification (if any)
• HR Updates
• Organizational Changes
• Syrian Refugee Update
• CFP Update
• Language Waitlists Update
Overview of Updates
Classification (if any)
• 42 Full time Staff – 1 x Director, 2 x Managers, 1 x Senior Program Policy
Advisor, 4 Supervisors, Integration Program Officers, RAP Officers and Assistants
– Employees on assignment/secondment have created temporary vacancies within the unit.
– A number of staff have joined the team this fiscal year
– Recently completed file redistribution within the unit
• 7 term/co-op/casual employees have been hired in anticipation for Phase II of Operation Syrian Refugees
HR Update
Classification (if any)
• Previously Operations sector operated under separate regions: Eastern, Ontario, Western
• As of September 12, 2016, new network structures have been implemented: Domestic Network, Settlement Network, International Network
• Limited impact on day-to-day work below the director level
• Changes facilitate work as a single, integrated network, bringing more consistency to how we do our work
Organizational Changes
Syrian Refugee Arrivals in BC
• 2 RAP Centres – Vancouver
– Victoria
• 5 Spoke communities – Abbotsford
– Nanaimo
– Prince George
– Kelowna
– Vernon
Syrian Refugee Arrivals in BC – Nov 4, 2015 to Mar 1, 2016
• Between Nov 4, 2015 and Sep 11, 2016, 30,647 Syrians arrived in Canada
• Up to Mar 01, 2016, BC received 2,346 Syrian refugees – 71% GARs
– 16% PSRs
– 13% BVORs Data Source: Open Data Source: Canada - Admissions of Syrian Refugees by Province/Territory and Census Metropolitan Area of Intended Destination, November 4, 2015 - March 1, 2016
• Destining Centre Breakdown • 88% of Syrian GARs destined to Vancouver & spoke communities
• 12% of Syrian GARs destined to Victoria
• 31 communities outside of Metro Vancouver, Victoria and Spokes have welcomed Syrian refugees
• Cities where majority of permanent accommodation is secured: Surrey, Coquitlam, Burnaby, Vancouver, Victoria, Delta
Syrian Refugee Arrivals - Trends
• Anticipate similar number of refugees to arrive between September to December 2016 as earlier in the year. – Includes regular refugee arrivals
• Service Providers in five communities across BC to receive GARs directly destined by Matching Centre.
• Housing search workers secured and actively engaged to search for permanent accommodations; expectations established surrounding housing options and acceptance
Operation Syrian Refugees – Phase II
• Applicants informed of status of proposal end of September. Officers should have reached out to successful applicants to begin the process of negotiations.
• Priorities may have shifted since CFP 2015 submission; Officers will be working with you to outline shift in priorities and organizations will have opportunity to shift programming to address these priorities
CFP Update
• New National Waitlist Management Strategy and Guidelines implemented on May 2, 2016 in an effort to manage and reduce waitlist numbers.
• BC: 7,490 clients on a waitlist during initial request in April 2016
• Subsequent request in August 2016 still to be determined. Preliminary numbers indicate clients may have decreased but will need to factor in new clients that have been added to waitlist
• BC allocated $2.9 M additional funding in 2016-2017 to create approximately 69 additional classes and 1,242 seats, CLB 1-4 to priority areas in Surrey, Tri-Cities, Burnaby/New Westminster and Victoria.
Language Waitlists
Remarks from the Province of
British Columbia
Dominic Fung – Program Advisor
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Labour Market and Immigration Division
BC Government: Immigrant Integration Unit Update
AMSSA Regional Meetings Oct 2016
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and
Skills Training
Workforce Development &
Immigration Division
1. JTST Immigrant Integration Program Updates
2. JTST/IRCC Partnership
3. Immigration Programs and Policy Staff
4. Looking Forward
5. Questions
Table of Contents
23
• BC Settlement and Integration (BC SIS) - next steps re: program renewal.
• Program Update Bulletins
• Eligibility for language services
• Open Work Permit initiative
• Other initiatives
Program Updates – BC SIS
24
• Skills Connect extended to end on March 31, 2017 pending launch of Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants.
• The plan is for a 3-month overlap with the new program.
• Working with Skills Connect providers to create a client transition plan
Program Updates – Skills Connect
25
• Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants is currently in final stages of procurement.
• Anticipate contracts to be in place in December for a January 2nd program start date.
• Career Paths will be delivered with combined funding from both JTST and IRCC.
Program Updates – Career Paths
26
• Customized case management for 1,000-1,200 Skilled Immigrants per year.
Career Paths Service Model
27
Intake & Eligibility Career Assessment &
Individual Action Plans
Skill Enhancement Services (subsidy for
training etc.)
Job Search, Workplace Orientation, Mentorship
Stream 1
BC Priority Occupations
Includes OSLT
Stream 2
Regulated
Stream 3
Unregulated Occupations
• PR or protected person
• Minimum of 1 years experience for Youth, 3 years for other
Career Paths Service Model – Client Eligibility
28
Stream 1 – BC Priority Occupations
• Program available
• Meets EL benchmarks
• Underemployed, 20 hrs +/week OR non-EI, non-BCEA needing longer term training &/or practicum
• Meets other criteria
Stream 2 – Regulated Occupations
• Regulated occupation
• CLB 6 or higher
• Underemployed, 20 hrs +/week OR non-EI, non-BCEA needing longer term training &/or practicum
Stream 3 – Unregulated Occupations
• Unregulated Occupation
• CLB 5 or higher
• Underemployed, 20 hrs +/week
• Refugee Readiness HUB – robust portal, 1-800 clinician line, resources in place and RRT training complete.
• Refugee Response Teams – action plans in implementation stage.
• RRT Network – meet monthly, information & best practice sharing, issue identification.
• One time funding concludes March 31, 2017.
Program Updates – Refugee Readiness Fund
29
• Transition Settlement Agreement (TSA) in place for two fiscal years 14/15 and 15/16, now concluded.
• TSA succeeded by the Canada-BC Settlement Arrangement as of April 1, 2016.
• Areas of collaboration include: BC SIS, Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants, Employment Collaboration Project, the Syrian Refugee initiative.
JTST/IRCC Partnership
30
Erin Seeley, ED Immigration Programs
Lucy Swib,
Director, Immigrant Integration
Vicki Chiu
Senior Program Advisor
RRF, BC SIS
Joni Rose
Senior Program Advisor
Skills Connect/Career Paths
Dominic Fung
Program Advisor
All programs
Karina Lai
Contract Officer
All programs
Cloe Nichols, ED Immigration Policy
Carling Helander Director
Robyn Uhl
Senior Policy Advisor
Immigration Programs and Policy Staff
31
Looking Forward 2016
32
OCTOBER
Career Paths Procurement, BC SIS Review
NOVEMBER
Career Paths & BC SIS
Notification of Awards
DECEMBER
Career Paths & BC SIS contract
negotiations
Looking Forward 2017
33
JANUARY
Career Paths Launch
MARCH
Skills Connect & RRF conclude
APRIL Renewed
BC SIS
QUESTIONS??????
34
AMSSA Presentations
Jennifer Cummins, Sabrina Ziegler & Lucy Buchanan-Parker
AMSSA
Language Resources
Language Supports
1. Services
2. Representation
3. Resources
Language Services
• Support LINC providers at the
administrative level
• Organize language-specific online events
• Co-organize integrated online events
• Organize in-person events
• Contact key stakeholders
Representation
• Chair the Settlement Language Working
Group (SLWG)
• Sit on the National Language Advisory
Body (NLAB)
• Membership in the Vancouver Immigration
Partnership
Resources
• LINC Exit & Progress Tests – Moodle Saeedeh Foghani – [email protected]
• Language Specific Settlement Net
Resources
• Language Resource Page
Contact
Jennifer Cummins
Settlement Language Coordinator
604-718-2779
Accessing AMSSA Resources
Sabrina Ziegler
Settlement Coordinator
AMSSA’s Resources
• Settlement Net
• Migration Matters
• Quick links & resources
• Videos, Webinars, and E-symposia
• Cultures West Magazine
Settlement Net
What is Settlement Net?
• Web database of news & resources for the
settlement and language sector
• Updated daily, with weekly newsletter
Who is it for?
• Settlement staff and all levels of management
• Password protected
Accessing Settlement Net Accessing Settlement Net
• Register for a username & password
• www.amssa.org/settlementnet
• Click on the links in the Weekly Update
Resources available
• Media clippings
• Reports, research, and resources
• Professional development opportunities
• Events
Migration Matters
• 2-page summary of important settlement
issues
• Statistics, trends and policy updates
• Suggestions for further reading &
resources
• Topics are based on feedback from
service providers
Quick Links & Resources
• Compilations of guides, toolkits, research
and other relevant info arranged by topic
• Targeted for all levels of staff
• Topics are based on feedback from
settlement service providers
Live events online • E-Symposia
– 2 hour, interactive, learning events with a
panel of expert speakers
• Webinars
– 1.5 hour, interactive, online training events
with expert presenters
Next Virtual Training Event: November 2
Media Relations
Videos
• Online videos
– Short, informational videos
• Recordings of online events
– E-Symposia
– Webinars
Cultures West magazine
• Magazine published quarterly
• Available online or in print (free)
• Topics in the area of migration,
immigrant settlement and integration,
or diversity
• Includes features, articles and stories.
AMSSA resource topics
Immigration
to smaller
centres
Newcomer
mental
health
LGBTQ
Immigrants
& Refugees
Syrian
refugee
crisis
Specific
policy
changes
Immigrant
youth and
children
Facilitation &
curriculum
development
Immigrant
research and
data
Funding
proposals &
contribution
agreements
Technology
Employment
Self
care
Newcomer
health
Staying Up-to-Date
• Want to know what’s happening?
Settlement Net!
– Register to receive updates or to request
login information
• Join AMSSA’s Mailing Lists
Your input, please!
(Blue Handout)
• Info Sheets
• Topic suggestions?
• Webinars, Online Videos & E-Symposia
• Topic suggestions?
• Quick Links and Resources
• Suggested improvements, specific resources?
Contact
Sabrina Ziegler
Settlement Coordinator
604-718-4220
Research and the
Settlement Sector
Overview
• Major research bodies and initiatives
• Collaborations between researchers and
settlement organizations
• AMSSA support
• Upcoming conferences
• Ongoing research
Research bodies and initiatives
• Immigration Research West
• Pathways to Prosperity (P2P)
• Metropolis Conference
• Canadian Refugee Child, Youth, and
Families Research Coalition
Collaborations
• Researchers offer:
– Evidence on newcomer needs
– Evidence on program efficacy
• Settlement organizations offer:
– Access to clients
– “On the ground” knowledge
• Both parties need to benefit
AMSSA support
• Community-University Research Principles
• Representation on the Western Region
Research Advisory Committee
• Settlement Sector Research Agenda
• Knowledge mobilization
Upcoming conferences
Pathways to Prosperity December 1-2, 2016
Ottawa
Metropolis Conference March 16-17, 2017
Montreal
Ongoing research
• AMSSA-ISANS: Settlement Online Pre-
Arrival (SOPA) in the settlement
landscape
– Survey for frontline settlement workers and
managers
Networking and Coffee Break
30 minutes
Supporting Refugees
David Lau, Lynn Weaver and Winnie Lee
Supporting Refugees – Panel Discussion
Lunch
1 hour
Overview of the Day Morning Agenda
Welcome Remarks from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Canada
Welcome Remarks from the Province of BC
AMSSA Presentations
Language Supports
Accessing AMSSA Resources
Research and the Settlement Sector
Networking & Coffee Break
Supporting Refugees – Presentations and Panel Discussion
Afternoon Agenda
Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session
Each participant will have the opportunity to join all
of the following breakout sessions.
Please refer to the handout in your packages for
Discussion Questions.
1. IRCC Priorities
2. The Mechanics of your Contribution Agreements
3. Collaborations and Connections across the
Province
Breakout Session – Report Back
Tracy Wideman
AMSSA
Closing Remarks
• Expense Claim Form (pink)
– Short Deadline
• Evaluations (yellow)
• Name Tags
Thank you!