welcomebc annual report 2010/11

8/3/2019 WelcomeBC Annual Report 2010/11

1/43

2010-11 ANNUAL REPORT

WelcomeBC Settlement and Integration Services


2/43

Contents

A Message rom the Minister 3

Introduction 4

Summary o WelcomeBC Results 5

PART A: 2010/11 WelcomeBC Investments 8

PART B: Report on Perormance 10

PART C: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation 36

Conclusion 39

Appendix 1: WelcomeBC Strategic Framework 40

Appendix 2: Detailed Financial Reports 41


3/43

3

A Message rom The Honourable Pat Bell

Pat Bell

Minister o Jobs, Tourism and

Innovation

As the Minister responsible or

immigration in British Columbia, I am

proud o the outstanding achievements

o WelcomeBC in 2010/2011.

Our province welcomed 44,183 new

immigrants rom over 170 countries

in 2010/2011. It is through the great

work o WelcomeBC that newcomers

can gain the knowledge, skills

and experience they need to nd

meaningul jobs and become active

members o society both in theurban centres and rural communities

throughout our province.

Newcomers will play a critical role

in helping to ll the expected job

openings over the next decade.

Through our jobs plan, Canada Starts

Here, were committed to givingimmigrants the tools they need to

enter the work orce.

WelcomeBC provides access to

the necessary tools newcomers

need to be successul, including: ree

English language training, settlement

and labour market services and

specialized programming or vulnerable

immigrants.

More than 100 partners and serviceproviders work with WelcomeBC to

make it an internationally-recognized

success. Thanks to this network, as

well as ederal unding through the

Canada-BC Immigration Agreement,

the number o immigrants who use

WelcomeBC services has increased

rom 90,000 in 2005 to 172,000 in2010/11.

WelcomeBCs commitment to helping

immigrants and their amilies settle in

B.C. will positively impact thousands o

lives or decades to come.


4/434

WelcomeBCs innovative settlement programs andwelcoming communities initiatives continue to garnerinternational attention, bringing delegations rom Germany,Sweden, and Denmark to our province, interested inlearning about our approach. While the attention iswelcome acknowledgement, the more than 100 partnersand service providers, and the 172,000 newcomers theyhave served, are the core o our business. This numberhas almost doubled since 20051, and B.C.s network oservice delivery partners and stakeholders has expandedsignicantly, leading to partnerships with other key sectorsto accelerate the successul settlement and integrationo newcomers.

Under the terms o Annex A o the 2010 Canada-BCImmigration Agreement (Agreement), Citizenship and

Immigration Canada (CIC) transers unds to the Province oBritish Columbia or the design, administration, and deliveryo settlement and integration services or immigrants andreugees. In 2010/11, British Columbia received $114 Mrom CIC which included unding or Settlement Services($109.6 M), Enhanced Language Training ($2.9 M), Anti-Racism programs ($0.6 M), and the Immigration Portal($0.9 M). BC also received $7.3 M or administration.

The Ministry o Jobs, Tourism and Innovation (JTI) is the leadministry responsible or the management o the Agreementand administration o the unds. This Annual Reportaccounts or unding received by B.C. under Annex A othe Agreement.

Federal Funding Allocations

(Millions)

In response to increased ederal unding, in 2007, B.C.

introduced WelcomeBC, the Provinces strategic rameworkor settlement services and welcoming communitiesinitiatives (see Appendix 1 or the WelcomeBC ramework).Under WelcomeBC, British Columbia has enhanced existingprograms and developed new ones to meet the diverseneeds o immigrants and their amilies, receiving nationaland international recognition or B.C.s innovative services2.

Introduction

1Approximately 90,000 newcomers were served in 2005/062Recognition includes: G8 Experts Roundtable on Diversity and Integration, Institute o Public Administration o Canada Innovation Management Award,Accenture Institute or Health and Public Service Value Best Practice in E-Governance, Government o Canadas Treasury Board Secretariat or innovativeexternal service delivery, and B.C. Premiers nominations and awards.

2009/102009/102008/092007/082006/072005/060

30

60

90

120

150

$40

$69$79

$106

$121$114


5/435

Summary oWelcomeBC Results

Federal unding under the Canada/BC ImmigrationAgreement has increased since 2005/06 rom $40 millionto $114 million in 2010/11. As a result, the number onewcomers served in British Columbia has almost doubledsince 2005 rom approximately 90,000 newcomers to

172,000 newcomers served in 2010/113

. B.C.s deliverynetwork has also expanded signicantly to over 100 serviceproviders and partners.

While the numbers o clients accessing services and theexpanded delivery network demonstrate the value othis investment, the outcomes o these services speakspecically to the importance o meeting the settlementneeds o new immigrants and their amilies.

British Columbia is working to improve outcome reportingthrough continued leadership on the Federal/ Provincial/Territorial Settlement Working Group to develop a set onational settlement and integration outcomes, as well asongoing improvements to B.C.s accountability rameworkand perormance measurement strategies. As this nationalset o outcomes is rened, B.C. will align WelcomeBC

program results to demonstrate how WelcomeBCprograms and services contribute to immigrantssettlement experience in Canada, and ultimately, to theirull participation in Canadas society and economy. Theollowing table demonstrates how British Columbia has

contributed, through WelcomeBC in 2010/11, to thesenational settlement outcomes. As integration outcomesare developed, B.C. will also map program results to theselonger term desired outcomes.

Many more examples o achievements, outputs andoutcomes are included in this report. B.C. is committedto ensuring that services continue to lead to intendedand positive outcomes or new immigrants, ortheir communities, employers and the province. Acomprehensive approach to planning, monitoring andevaluation is a priority under WelcomeBC as reected in the2010/11 Annual Report.

In 2010/11 British Columbia

welcomed 44,183 new immigrants

rom over 170 countries speaking

almost 150 languages; one-third o

whom were children and youth.

3These are combined totals o inormation and reerral, settlement workers in schools, community bridging, vulnerable populations, and English LanguageTraining. Some double count is assumed as current data systems do not allow dierentiation between program clients. B.C. is working to improve datasystems to capture unique clients across programs.


6/43

6 7

SETTLEMENT

OUTCOME

2010/11

BC PROGRAM

RESULTS1

GOAL1 As reported in 2010/11 Client Satisaction and Outcome Survey2 As reported in 2010/11 Welcoming and In clusive Communities and Workplaces Program Survey3 Total includes clients o the inormation and reerral program and Settlement Workers in Schools

Newcomersunderstand lie inCanada

Newcomers knowhow to accesspublic services andcommunity resources

Newcomers haveofcial language skillsto unction in Canadiansociety and the economy

Newcomers haveknowledge o theCanadian workenvironment and areaware o local labourmarkets

Newcomers havethe skills to becomeemployed in theirchosen occupation

Newcomers areconnected to socialand economicnetworks as well as thebroader community

People, communitiesand workplacesare welcoming andinclusive o newcomers

Over 80% o clients had abetter understanding othe Canadian way o lie,and over 90% were morecomortable with Canadiancustoms1.

Over 85% o recentimmigrants elt comortableaccessing public servicesand community resourcessuch as libraries, seniorcentres, and culturalcentres2, and 91% o clientselt that the programs verymuchprovided them theinormation and assistancethey needed.1 Over 130,000clients accessed settlementinormation and reerralservices3. Over 8,200vulnerable newcomershave accessed targetedprogramming.

Almost 80% o basic leveland 94% o intermediatelevel English languageclients improved theirEnglish ability. Over20,000 adults accessedEnglish ability1. Over20,000 adults accessedEnglish as a secondlanguage training in58 communities acrossevery region o B.C.

80% o clients knewmore about how toind opportunitiesor job training and/or upgrading skillsand almost 80% knewmore about careerand job optionsavailable to them1. 65%o inormation andreerral clients and 72%o mentoring clientsknew more about theCanadian labour market,

and 80% o mentoringclients gained a betterunderstanding oCanadian workplaceculture1.

70% o clients were ableto conduct a job searchto ind work, and almost70% had attended courses,workshops or seminars toupgrade their skills1. 70%o those who completedthe Skills Connect programwere successully connectedwith employment relatedto their pre-arrivalemployment experienceand qualications incommunities throughoutB.C.

Almost 60% o clientshad attended a social/community event, meetingor class where most peoplespoke English1. Newcomersand their children werebetter connected acrossthe province throughsettlement workers in over1,000 schools. Over 500newcomers rom French-speaking countries weredirected to organizations tomeet their specic needs asFrancophone.

Over 79% o recentimmigrants elt welcomedin their community.2Local and Aboriginalgovernments have beenengaged in 85% o projects,and over 35 communitiesacross the province h avebeen engaged in welcomingcommunity initiatives, aimedat building the capacityo communit ies andworkplaces to welcomeand include newcomers.

Newcomers acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to be able to fullyparticipate in Canadas society and economy, and Canada welcomes and

includes newcomers.


7/438

In 2010/11, a total o $120.29 million in provincial andederal unding was invested in WelcomeBC services andinitiatives, including $8.35 million in provincial unding5.These investments have allowed the Province to meetthe objectives set in the 2010/11 service plan and arepositioning B.C. to achieve WelcomeBC targets or 2012/13.This investment included:

$57.19 million or English Language Development; $47.05 million or Settlement and Inclusive

Communities; and $16.05 million or Labour Market Participation.

5 Total includes clients o the inormation and reerral program and Settlement Workers in Schools

Labour

MarketParticipation

Settlement and

Inclusive

Communities

English

LanguageDevelopment

13%

39% 48%

2010/11 WelcomeBC Expenditures: $120.29M

05 0 100 150 200 250

English

LanguageDevelopment

Settlementand Inclusive

Communities

LabourMarket

Participation

Total Federal/Provincial Investments rom 2006/07

to 2010/11: $451 M

Investments in English language development haveincreased almost 70 per cent since 2005/06 rom$34 million to $57 million in 2010/11. Settlementand Inclusive Communities include a broad arrayo programming. Investments in settlementinormation and reerral services alone haveincreased almost tenold since 2005/06 rom $3million to $26 million in 2010/11. In addition, newsettlement programming has been developed overthe past two years, with $25 million being investedin programming or vulnerable populations ($12million in 2010/11), and $15 million to supportwelcoming and inclusive communities andworkplaces and anti-racism initiatives ($8 million in2010/11). Labour market programming increasedrom $3 million in 2005/06 to $16 million in 2010/11.

PART A: 2010/11 WelcomeBC Investments


8/43

Total Federal/Provincial Settlement Program Investment by

Line o Business

Initiative 2010/11

(Millions)ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

English Language Training or Adults 54.91

Alternative Service Delivery 0.42

Regional Access 1.86

SETTLEMENT AND INCLUSIVE

COMMUNITIESSettlement Inormation and Reerral 26.41

Vulnerable Populations 12.23

Welcoming and Inclusive Communities 5.88

EmbraceBC 1.37

WelcomeBC.ca Portal 1.16

LABOUR MARKET PARTICIPATION

Workplace Focused English LanguageTraining

2.95

Connecting Immigrants to Employment 13.10

TOTAL PROGRAM INVESTMENT 120.29

TOTAL ADMINISTRATION (Federal and

Provincial)

8.34

See Appendix 2 or Detailed Financial Reports


9/4310

PART B: Report on Perormance

English Language Development

English language ability is the most important skillor immigrants to advance their social and economicsuccess. O over 130,000 working-age immigrantscoming to B.C. between 2006 and 2010, approximately35,000 (26%) arrived without speaking either English orFrench. Although most immigrants are highly skilled andeducated, a lack o English language skills prevents their ullintegration in workplaces and communities.

English Language Development

Investment 2010/11: 57.19 M

RegionalAccess

Alternative

ServiceDelivery

ESL Training

in PPSI

EnglishLanguage

Services orAdults (ELSA)

66%

30%

1%3%

English Language Training or Adults

English Language Training or Adults includes EnglishLanguage Services or Adults (ELSA) and English as a SecondLanguage (ESL) delivered through public post-secondaryinstitutions (PPSIs).

English Language Services or Adults

In 2010/11, the English Language Services or Adultsprogram (ELSA) was delivered through 39 service providersacross the province to approximately 18,500 immigrants.

Since 2005/06, the number o ELSA

clients has increased over 54%, rom

approximately 12,000 to 18,500 in2010/11, with more than 80,000

immigrants receiving services over

the past ve years.

In 2010/11, 96% o Level 4/5

workplace clients and 94% o Level

4/5 regular clients improved their

English ability; 77% o Literacy

to Level 3 clients improved their

English ability.


10/43

11

ELSA oers ree basic and intermediate level (Literacy toCanadian Language Benchmarks 6), general and labourmarket ocused English language training or adults. TheELSA or Francophones oered by Educacentre College,

a leading provider o educational and training services inFrench in Vancouver, delivers ELSA Literacy to level 5 toFrancophone learners.

ELSA Pre-literacy level classes which began as a pilot in 2009became part o the regular ELSA oering in 2010/11, withsix service providers mainly in the Metro Vancouver area.These classes provide 250 hours o instruction to immigrantswith little or no ormal education. ELSA Youth classes were

developed in 2010 to address the learning needs andstyles o immigrants between the ages o 18 and 24 yearsthrough content and class instructional models that aremore dynamic and appealing to young learners.

A successul Learn English campaign was undertaken romSeptember 2010 to March 2011 to increase awarenessand uptake o ELSA services among new immigrants. TheWelcomeBC.ca website experienced an increase in trafcduring the campaign, with 30% o ELSA students indicatingexposure to campaign advertisements as the reason theyvisited the site.

The 2010/11 Learn English: Social Marketing Campaign resulted in an increase

in the number o clients being assessed or ELSA services in Vancouver by 15%

compared to the same six month period last year.


11/43

12

ESL delivered through Public Post-Secondary Institutions

WelcomeBC continues to support 17 public post-secondaryinstitutions (PPSIs) in providing basic to advanced Englishlanguage classes or approximately 4,500 immigrants peryear. In 2010/11, over 1 million contact hours in Englishlanguage training were provided to permanent residents inBritish Columbia through institutions.

A 2010 survey o ormer students

rom English as a Second

Language programs in PPSIs

showed that 94% were satised or

very satised with their ESL courses

and over 80% said their courses

helped them develop

their reading and

writing skills.

Alternative Service Delivery

WelcomeBC recognizes that a multi-aceted, communityocused approach to English language development isessential to supporting the needs o all amily members.Three alternative service delivery models were rst pilotedin 2008 to pre-school aged, elementary school aged andadult learners.

iPALS began as a three-year pilot project helping immigrant

and reugee amilies support their pre-school andkindergarten-aged childrens early literacy developmentwhile improving the English language ability o their adultcaregivers (parents and grandparents). The pilot was across-ministry partnership with the Ministry o Educationand iPALS is now an ongoing WelcomeBC program.

Friends o Simon (FoS) provides aterschool tutoring to

immigrant and reugee students in grades 4-7 to assistthem with their adaptation to lie in British Columbia.Tutors are university students, recruited and trained bythe Simon Fraser University Faculty o Education, to tutorand mentor groups o 25 children. While the tutors assistthe children, they also gain a better understanding oimmigrant children and their amilies. Equal unding orthe program is provided by United Way. FoS received the2011 Community Spirit Award rom Scotiabank and theUnited Way in recognition o a United Way unded programocussed on prevention and early intervention inchildhood development.

WelcomeBC has provided unding to SHARE Family &Community Services or English Practice Groups since 2008in the Tri-Cities area o Metro Vancouver (Coquitlam, PortMoody, Port Coquitlam). In 2010/11, the program or adults

has expanded to include 18 English Practice groups anddelivery sites, 34 volunteer acilitators, and 303 participants.


12/43

13

Regional Access

To continue to attract and retain immigrants in smallercentres, access to supports such as English languagetraining is a key component. In communities wheresmaller numbers o immigrants limit the ability to oerormal English language classes, WelcomeBC introduced anew approach in 2007 with the ESL Settlement AssistanceProgram (ESLSAP). Service providers have establishedimpressive networks o community collaboration with

a ocus on newcomers in their communities, leadingto increased service linking and bridging. ESLSAP wasdeveloped through a cross-ministry partnership with theMinistry o Advanced Education and is now an ongoingWelcomeBC program.

In 2010/11, through the volunteer-based tutoring servicesdelivered by ESLSAP, 45 communities across the province

were able to welcome 850 newcomers. The over 700ESLSAP volunteers all relay how much they are learningabout diversity and the contributions o immigrants totheir own community. This program ensures that everyimmigrant has an opportunity to learn English, regardlesso their destination in B.C.

A Story o Success Learning English

Working with her, I realized how dicult it would be to not be able to communicate with others in your

community. She could not read the labels on products, so was not sure o what she was purchasing. She

could not communicate with the doctor when her child was ill. She could not do banking, speak on the

phone, or even communicate with her childs teacher to know i the child was doing well in school. As her

abilities to communicate in English grew, her sel-condence grew, and the world around her once again

was opened to her. Seeing her now, at work, in the community, volunteering, and contributing so much, I

have been abundantly rewarded or the time I spent helping.- Anita, ESLSAP Volunteer Tutor in Smithers


13/43

14

Settlement and Inclusive Communities

With immigrants coming rom many source countries,changes in ederal legislation, and the current economicclimate, settlement services have had to become moreresponsive than ever to meet a range o diverse needs tohelp newcomers adapt. There are oten specic settlementand integration requirements or amilies, children andyouth, seniors and reugees, which have led to enhancedand expanded programming supports. Integration is a

two-way process, which involves commitment on the parto newcomers to adapt to lie in B.C., and on the part ocommunities to welcome and adapt to new peoples andcultures. Communities need to adapt to become morewelcoming and inclusive, thereby attracting and retainingimmigrants. Capacity building at the community, provincialand regional levels, and developing broad, long-termpartnerships across sectors and stakeholder groups serve as

catalysts or systemic change.

Friends o Simon has been tutoring

200 or more students per weekwith over 70 tutors in 14 schools

in Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey.

In 2010/11, 88% o participants

indicated that as a result o the

program they elt part o their

community.

Settlement and Inclusive Communities Investment

2010/11: $47.05M

WelcomeBC

Portal

EmbraceBC

Welcoming

and InclusiveCommunities

VulnerablePopulations

Settlement

Inormation

and Reerral

56%

26%

13%

3%2%

Settlement Inormation and Reerral

Settlement Inormation and Reerral includes servicesaimed at assisting immigrants to become oriented andconnected to their new communities, the labour market

and B.C.s systems, e.g. public education and other socialservices. Since the introduction o WelcomeBC, serviceshave been expanded with enhanced labour marketsupports and new programming such as the SettlementWorkers in Schools (SWIS).

In 2010/11, WelcomeBC continued to provide unding tomore than 30 service providers to support early settlement

and integration o the approximately 40,000 permanentresidents a year who come to B.C. communities andworkplaces. Details o these services are providedas ollows.


14/43

15

Enhanced Labour Market Inormation and Support

Since 2007, labour market inormation and support hasbeen enhanced through a combination o settlementsta providing generalized labour market inormation andsupport and specialized employment acilitators. Theseexpanded services have provided outreach to newcomerclients who have not traditionally accessed settlementservices in the past, such as Filipino newcomers.

In 2010/11, 53 specialized

employment acilitators assisted

almost 11,000 immigrants in theirjob search.

2010 Satisaction and Outcomes

Survey: 70% o clients surveyed

indicated that they eel like they are

able to conduct a job search tond work.

A Story o Labour Market Success

I arrived in Canada in 2004 under the Live-in Caregiver Program

(LCP), and worked or a amily with ve children all under the

age o ve, including two-year- old triplets! I stepped into the roleand just gave my best. While working as a caregiver, I accessed the

employment resources. Through reerrals to Mentoring Connections

I was matched to a Physical Therapist. My mentor provided excellent

motivation and proessional support. Last June 2009, I landed my

rst job as a part time Physical Rehabilitation Assistant. At the same time I got my job, I also received

my Permanent Resident status and my husband was granted his visa in the Philippines to come

to Canada.


15/43

16

Community Bridging

Community Bridging services match newcomer individualsor amilies with established resident volunteers to helpthem better understand Canadian lie and the labourmarket, develop riendships and a sense o connectednessto their new community, and nd employment relatedto their training and expertise. Host volunteers and theircommunities also benet rom building new relationshipsand developing an understanding o diering cultures

and the immigration experience. In 2010/11, eightservice providers in ve communities served over 3,500immigrants, including 700 who accessed labourmarket mentoring.

Community Bridging has assisted

almost 12,000 newcomers settle

and integrate in their communitiesover the past ve years through

expanded service in regional

communities, and targeted services

to youth, amilies and adults

destined or the labour market.


Survey: 91% o clients surveyed

reported being more comortable

with Canadian customs ater

receiving labour market mentoring.

A Story o Building a Sense o Belonging:More Confdent to Be a Citizen o Canada

I have been in Canada or nearly two years.

For me Canada is still new and strange. I elt

very bored because there was nothing to do

ater school. Every day was the same. But this

year is totally dierent. I was introduced tothe Cultural Buddy Program. I learned many

things but most importantly I improved my

English a lot. I also became more involved

in the community by joining Youth Skills (a

youth leadership program), the Youth Asset

Mapping Project and the Race Around the

World (R.A.W) Youth Week kick-o event.All o these experiences have made me eel

more condent to be a citizen o Canada.

It has really helped me make more riends,

volunteer and give me more activities to

participate in.

Jennis, participant in the Cultural BuddyProgram


16/43

17

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS)

The Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program, whichbegan in 2007 in 11 school districts and has expandedto 21 in 2010/11, has signicantly increased outreach tonewly-arrived immigrant amilies as schools are oten theirrst point o contact in the community. This has resultedin an enhanced capacity o the public school system toassist immigrant students and integrate their amiliesinto the school community. Services include: providing

inormation and orientation about Canadian culture andservice systems, particularly about school policies andexpectations, and the B.C. education system; workshopsand group activities on settlement related issues; andclient/school liaison to acilitate culturally sensitivecommunication between school sta, students and amiliesto oster cross-cultural understanding between all parties.

SWIS and the Immigrant Youth In-Schools (IYIS) pilot(described below under Vulnerable Populations) wereevaluated in 2010/11, and a proposed modied servicemodel to combine both into one model will be developedin 2011/12. These two programs have strengthened cross-ministry collaboration with the Ministry o Education andestablished new partnerships with Boards o Education.SWIS was recognized as a nalist in the Lower Mainland or

the 2010/11 B.C. Premiers Award or Partnerships.

Watch the 2010/11 Premiers AwardRegional Finalist video on the SettlementWorkers in School Program on YouTube:http://youtu.be/TQniPmKb6zw

A Story o Success Finding Dream Job

My name is Zukhra, and I came to Canada as reugees rom Uzbekistan with

my husband, and our three children in May 2006. I was a school teacher back

home. The beginning o our lie in Canada was very dicult we did not speak

English, did not have work, were homesick and our children were very young.

In 2008 I had a phone call rom our Settlement Worker at my daughtersschool. She asked me how my daughters adjusting in the school. Then we met

to discuss my other settlement issues. She listened careully and helped us with housing, orms, and

explained to me how schools work here. In the beginning o 2009 I lost my job. I was shocked. I went to

talk to Settlement Worker. She helped me apply or EI, booked me an appointment with an employment

counsellor at a settlement agency, and helped me to nd a college to train in Early Childhood Education

(ECE). In August 2010 I ound my dream job- I started working as ECE at Morley Daycare or Burnaby

Family Lie and I am still working there.


17/43

18

Public Legal Education and Inormation (PLEI)

The Public Legal Education and Inormation (PLEI) orimmigrants three-year pilot with the Ministry o AttorneyGeneral began in 2008. The three projects under this pilotwere evaluated in 2010/11 and demonstratepositive results.

The Law-Related ELSA Project provides legal expertsto ELSA classrooms or students to gain a better

understanding o the law in B.C. and Canada. Studentsdemonstrated signicant knowledge gains (beore andater quiz scores) about the legal rights and responsibilitieso Canadians, the justice system and laws as a result othe program.

The Court Inormation Project or Immigrants (CIPI)assists new immigrants who will be appearing in courtto understand laws and court processes, usually in thecourthouse and oten in their rst language, throughindividual and group orientations and workshops. TheProject also supports networks with immigrant servingagencies, and oers workshops or judges and court sta.The CIPI website provides videos in a variety o languageson topics in Canadian law.

The PLEI Collaborative Consortium project brings together

settlement service and PLEI providers to better addressthe settlement-related legal inormation and educationneeds o immigrants. Initiatives have included training orservice providers, client workshops, media campaigns, anddevelopment o various tools and resources, includingweb-based.

577 ELSA classes have included

the provision o legal inormationand education (PLEI) to over

8,000 students since 2008; 6,000

immigrants per year were oriented

to the BC courts system; and over

90% o immigrants who attended

PLEI workshops indicated they were

more aware o their legal rights,

knew where to get legal help, and

were

more

likely toseek it as

a result.


18/43

19

Vulnerable Populations

WelcomeBC recognizes that some immigrants andreugees arrive with more challenging settlement needs,such as limited literacy skills in their own language. Thesevulnerable populations, including reugee amilies andtheir children, at-risk youth and young adults, womenand seniors, require unique services to accelerate theircommunity and labour market participation. Fiveprojects have been piloted to address these needs: Step

Ahead, Early Years Reugee, Older Immigrant Youth andYoung Adults, Immigrant Youth In-Schools, and SeniorsDemonstration Projects. The Blended Settlement Services/ELSA program and trauma inormation and counsellingservices have also been expanded. All programs and pilotservices were reviewed and extended in 2010/11 as a newservice model is developed.

Vulnerable Populations programming involves workingclosely with many service networks including amilyand early childhood development, youth, senior, health,and post-secondary institutions. Funding has alsobeen leveraged rom partners such as the United Wayo the Lower Mainland, Ministry o Children and FamilyDevelopment, Health Authorities, and Boards o Education.

In 2010/11, almost 8,200 vulnerable

immigrants and reugees, including

multi-barriered amilies, at-risk

youth, seniors, and reugee children,

accessed targeted programming.

Blended Language and Settlement Services

This program combines language and settlement servicesinto a model that supports the unique needs o multi-barriered individuals and their amilies. In 2010/11, morethan 1,300 newcomers were provided services inseven communities.


Survey: 97% o clients reported theagencys blended services helped

improve their English.


19/43

20

Step Ahead Settlement Enhancement Project

(Step Ahead)

Step Ahead, introduced in 2007, provides services to multi-barriered clients in Metro Vancouver using a delivery modelin clients homes and rst languages. This pilot servicestarted in our communities and has since expanded tosix communities. Target clients are primarily government-assisted reugees who are more isolated rom communityservices and social networks. The unique model, using

mobile teams o settlement counsellors rom vesettlement agencies, has been successully reaching andconnecting high needs individuals and amilies to muchneeded services. The model is a good example o a multi-agency consortium that shares and distributes resources tocover needs in numerous communities across theLower Mainland.

The Step Ahead evaluation, completed in 2010/11, utilizeda unique approach that compared two groups o clientamilies: those who received the ull Step Ahead Servicesand a similarly matched group who had minimal contactwith Step Ahead Settlement Counsellors. Because o thecomparison group, the impact o the program on multi-barriered amilies could be better understood. Familieswho received the ull Step Ahead services were signicantlymore knowledgeable about Canadian lie, were using

services in the community, and elt that their knowledgehad improved over time. The delivery o services in rstlanguage and client homes, and the breadth o assistanceprovided, contribute to Step Ahead being viewed ascomplementing, and not duplicating, other services inBritish Columbia.

...reugees are ordinary people who were

orced to fee their homes. They survived

adversity, and they possess individualstrengths and the capacity or resilience

which existed beore and exist ater

migration. Step Ahead is well positioned to

help activate these strengths and clients

potential to bounce back.

Marc Larrivee, Manager,Step Ahead, Vancouver

In 2010/11, Step Ahead assisted

120 immigrant amilies and 560individuals in six communities.

2010/11 Step Ahead Evaluation:

85% o amilies had gained

knowledge and skills in areas that

infuence success in settlement and

quality o lie.


20/43

21

In 2010/11, over 800 immigrants,the majority o whom were

Government Assisted Reugees

(87%), participated in ve Early

Years centres and one outreach

program in six reugee-receiving

communities. More than 1,400

clients have been served since 2008.

Early Years Reugee Pilot

The Early Years Reugee Pilot Initiative is a bridge servicethat was started in 2008 to outreach and graduallytransition isolated reugee amilies to amily programssuch as StrongStart BC, early learning centres, supportgroups or resources, and to acilitate childrens successulentry to school and uture academic success. This initiativehas brought diverse players rom settlement and earlychildhood development sectors as well as multiple unders

around the table.

An evaluation o the project completed in 2010/11ound that reugee amilies are becoming increasinglycomortable in their new communities and eel that theyare better able to support their childrens development in aCanadian context.

In 2010/11, more than 600 immigrant youthand young adults were involved in projects,

with over 1,000 clients served since 2009.

Beore the Youth-Can program was

implemented, the services or this target

group were very general and limited. For this

client group, isolation and identity crisis are

main issues but these youth are oten hiddenand do not usually access services.

Connie Hong, Manager,

Options, Surrey

Older Immigrant Youth and Young Adult Demonstration

Projects (OIYA)

The OIYA Demonstration Projects pilot was started in 2009or vulnerable youth. Target clients are immigrants andreugees who arrive in their late teens or early adulthoodwith little education, English language or job experience.The initiative uses an inter-agency and cross-sector support

system in eight communities to outreach, prepare andtransition clients into educational, vocational or workopportunities. Partnerships engage immigrant serving

agencies and others with a mission to serve youth.

An evaluation o the OIYA pilots showed that youthperceived the program to be very helpul and useul ortheir integration into Canada. Participants reported thattheir day-to-day living skills have improved in a variety oways, and they were more optimistic about their uture.One o the youth demonstration projects is the

Youth-Can program.


21/43

22

Immigrant Youth In-Schools Pilot (IYIS)

The IYIS was started in 2009 in schools or at-risk immigrantyouth, in collaboration with the Ministry o Education andBoards o Education. It provides specialized settlementservices within the school system to secondary studentswho arrive with literacy or education gaps as well as otherimmigrant students who have minimal success in ESLclasses. The program complements the out-o-schoolprojects to enhance settlement outcomes or vulnerable

youth. With a gradual start in 2009, the program has nowreached 300 immigrant youth in 11 communities.

Seniors Demonstration Projects

The Seniors Demonstration Projects were developedin 2008, in partnership with the Seniors Healthy LivingSecretariat, Ministry o Health, to pilot models thatwould address the needs o immigrant seniors in B.C.

communities, enhance immigrant and senior servicepartnerships, and enhance the capacity o senior servicesto be responsive to community demographics. In 2010/11,services were provided in eight communities to over 2,300immigrant seniors, with almost 3,900 clients servedsince 2008.

Trauma Inormation and Counselling Services

Reugees and immigrants may have experienced traumain their homeland prior to coming to Canada. In 2008,Welcome BC partnered with Ministry o Children and Family

Development and Health Authorities to implement theReugee Trauma Support Project (RTS) to better meet thetrauma needs o immigrants through existing services.This project delivers training that addresses the issues omental health or reugees who are newly arrived and whoexperienced trauma prior to arrival in Canada. Serviceshave been expanded since 2008 rom the Vancouver/Burnaby area to include Surrey and to provide more

services to amilies. An evaluation ramework has beendeveloped and the project will be evaluated in 2012/13.

Enhanced Victim Services Project

The Enhanced Victim Services or immigrant women andchildren who have experienced violence, which ended in2010/11, was a three year capacity building project with theMinistry o Public Saety and Solicitor General to increase

the ability o the ministry to meet the needs o immigrantwomen and their children. The project delivered victimservices to targeted clients, and included outreach, reerraland coordination activities to improve service response.The evaluation ound that newcomer immigrants elt theservices they received met their needs, were delivered withcultural sensitivity, and increased their comort with seekingassistance rom other community services.

Almost 2,200 reugees and immigrants

accessed trauma services in 2010/11,

and more than 4,300 clients have been

served since 2008.

Since 2008, 652 clients accessed services.In the 2010 evaluation, all clients

indicated that the services provided

had a very positive or some positive

impact on their lives, including an

improved sense o empowerment and a

better understanding o their rights.


22/43

23

85% o WICWP project steering

committees have included local

government participation o elected

ocials and/or sta. Aboriginal leaders,

elders and organizations are active in

30% o projects.

Welcoming and Inclusive Communities

WelcomeBC recognizes that a multi-aceted, communityocused approach to English language development isessential to supporting the needs o all amily members.Three alternative service delivery models were rst pilotedin 2008 to pre-school aged, elementary school aged andadult learners.

Communities have an active role to play in supportingthe settlement and integration o newcomers and theiramilies. Fostering welcoming and inclusive communitiesrequires the engagement and cooperation o diverse

sectors and key stakeholder groups to orm partnershipsand collaborations.

Cross-Government Engagement

B.C. has engaged local and Aboriginal governments onimmigrant integration issues more signicantly since 2007.Local governments have been particularly involved in B.C.s

Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and WorkplacesProgram (WICWP). Leaders rom several B.C. First Nationshave noted they appreciate being recognized or the rolethey have played in welcoming newcomers to Canadathroughout Canadian history and that their inclusion inthese initiatives has contributed positively to broaderreconciliation eorts.


23/43

24

to support communities and workplaces to build theircapacity to be welcoming and inclusive. WICWP brought150 community, research, and municipal leaders togetherto develop ormal partnerships to build their capacityto become welcoming and inclusive, and engage localgovernments in the Lower Mainland and the regionsto build capacity to respond to key immigration andsettlement issues.

In 2010/11, WICWP supported an additional 28 projectsin 19 communities. Demonstration projects that startedin 2009/10 were completed. Activities have includedworkplace diversity training, employer engagement andnetworking, community cultural events, public art displaysand youth leadership programs. In addition to activities, awide range o creative and high quality tools and resourceshave been developed that will be showcased and sharedon the WelcomeBC website.

Project leaders and partners came together in June 2010at Regional Forums held in Vancouver, Kelowna and PrinceGeorge to examine current research and demographics,learn about the evaluation model, and share projectinnovations and promising practices.

Individual evaluations were completed or each WICWPproject in 2010/11. An overall program evaluation is beingundertaken in 2011/12.

A Welcoming and Inclusive Communities

Intergovernmental Steering Committee was struck in 2008,with representation rom both the ederal and provincialgovernment, municipalities in the Lower Mainland, andthe Union o BC Municipalities. The group continues tomeet and is committed to working collaboratively tostrengthen knowledge, understanding and priorities orwelcoming communities in the context o multiculturalismand immigration. The Committee has been involved in a

number o dialogues to share knowledge and resourceswith communities within and outside the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley.

The Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and

Workplaces Program

The award-winning Welcoming and Inclusive Communitiesand Workplaces Program (WICWP) was introduced in 2008

WICWP was recognized as a next

best practice at the Second G8

Experts Roundtable on Diversity and

Integration in October 2008.

From 2008 to 2010, WICWP has

supported 89 locally led projects in

32 communities. All o the projects

were planned and supported by

community based partnershipcommittees.

Watch the 2010/11 Premiers AwardRegional Finalist video on the Settlement

Workers in School Program on YouTube:http://youtu.be/TQniPmKb6zw


24/43

25

The Saanich Police recognize that we live and

serve in a culturally diverse community. We

work hard to break down any perceived barriers

between this diverse community and thepolice. We have partnered with the Community

Partnership Network and the Inter-Cultural

Association to urther enhance and strengthen

our commitment to the community by utilizing

the tools, training and resources oered through

the CPN.

Doug Newman,Saanich Police and active member o the CPN

Other Welcoming and Inclusive Communities projects

Three additional projects which also take a partnershipapproach have operated since 2008/09 Diversity HealthFairs, Building Welcoming and Inclusive Neighbourhoods,and Sae Harbour. Fairs have been held in nine

communities across the province each year, connectingnew immigrants to health services and inormationon healthy living. Building Welcoming and InclusiveNeighbourhoods involves the coordination and deliveryo welcoming activities through 14 NeighbourhoodHouses serving Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and NorthVancouver. Sae Harbour has created opportunities or 1,000businesses, institutions, agencies, and municipalities in 31

communities to create respectul, welcoming workplacesand communities, oering a place o reuge to immigrantsand others rom racism and discrimination. These include:Vancity, Royal Bank o Canada, Canada Saeway, RONA,Service Canada and Service BC centres, the City o Burnaby,Royal Roads University, the Comox Valley Airport, the RCMP,and many small businesses.

B.C.s welcoming and inclusive communities initiatives,

including EmbraceBC, were recognized by winning theB.C. Premiers Award or the Lower Mainland Region in thecategory o Innovation.

communitypartnershipnetwork.caBECOME A MEMBER

WE BUILD WELCOMING ANDINCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES

The Community Partnership Network (CPN)

is a group of local agencies, businesses and

institutions committed to building diverse,welcoming and inclusive communities in

Greater Victoria. CPN members work to

develop their capacity by sharing resources

and information aimed at promoting and

supporting our increasingly diverse region.

Community Partnership Network Member - Saanich Police Department

i r j ct i i t r f i fr t r t f t r i c f riti i


25/43

26

Surrey Neighbouring Faiths Program (SNFP) and HimarProductions Ltd., DIVERSEcity Community Resources Societydeveloped a Toolkit or individuals, organizations andinstitutions in the community to explore the signicance odiverse aith belie systems in our society.

The website BC People (http://www.bcpeople.ca/)launched in February 2011, is a unique storytelling projectthat showcases British Columbias cultural, racial and ethnicdiversity. Through the website, people o B.C. are proledin a series o podcasts and short multimedia lms. AnEmbraceBC website also includes program inormation,a blog, and resources or communities trying to addressracism. Tools available include Make A Case Against Racism,a music CD and a toolkit or teachers interested in activitiesto eliminate racism ( http://www.embracebc.ca).

These resources encourage grade 4 to 7 students totake personal responsibility or preventing racism, whilecelebrating the provinces cultural diversity through musicand art.

Since the launch in 2009/10,

WelcomeBC has unded 85

EmbraceBC projects, engagingover 12,000 participants.

EmbraceBC

Recently transerred to the Ministry o Jobs, Tourism andInnovation rom the Ministry o Social Development,EmbraceBC works to deepen cross-cultural understandingin all B.C. communities through models o communityengagement, capacity building and public education.EmbraceBC supports innovative community basedinterventions with diverse players and partners romyouth to arts organizations to aith communities.EmbraceBC is unded with provincial and ederal anti-racism unding.

The Community Engagement and Dialogue initiativebrings diverse sectors together to explore issues omulticulturalism and racism in a setting that is uniqueto each community and responsive to local needs. TheInteraith Bridging initiative is designed to support aithorganizations and institutions to engage in relationship

building. B.C. is the rst jurisdiction in Canada with aninitiative that ocuses on aith and spiritual diversity.

In 2010/11, the Early Explorer Tour Series was oeredto parents and their children in nine aith communitiesin Surrey. A video documentary was produced whichincludes participants in the Tour Series and interviews withother community leaders who work in various sectors. The

video, Honouring Diverse Belies in Our Communities, canviewed at: http://himarproductions.ca. In partnership with

Music BC has been involved in

the Make a Case Against Racism

project or the past ew years

and we have seen the project

grow and prosper. Combating racism with

positive energy is very powerul. Having this

energy come rom our children and our artists is

transormative.

Bob DEith,

Executive Director o Music BC Industry

Association


26/43

27

WelcomeBC.ca Portal

WelcomeBC.ca is a one-stopwebsite or newcomers,immigrant serving agenciesand welcoming communities. Itprovides one-stop, multilingualinormation on moving, living,working, investing or studyingin B.C., including new tools orcommunities to welcome othercultures and nationalities andor service providers to supportthe integration o newcomers.It includes a multilingualtask wizard in ve languages,including French, and anonline training guide on theEnquiryBC phone lines and at

59 ServiceBC ofces to providecomprehensive inormation about settlement services andEnglish language training to newcomers.Visit www.welcomebc.ca.

In 2010/11, the ministry developed ve micro-sites, therst o their kind in Canada, targeting immigration/pre-arrival inormation or China, South Korea, Belgium/France,Mexico and India and the rst ully-integrated Governmento B.C. mobile website. Over 26,000 visitors accessedinormation on WelcomeBCs oreign-language micro-sites since the launch o the rst site in September 2010.Additional eatures implemented in 2010/11 include aninteractive settlement services (Google) map, a multilingualNewcomers Guide video series (eaturing a player andlanguage access unmatched in Canada), an Ask the Experteature allowing or direct client engagement, and an

online assessment tool that directly assisted more than15,000 newcomers through the Learn Englishadvertising campaign.

Since its launch on April 7, 2008,

WelcomeBC.ca has received

recognition rom two Public

Sector IT awards, two Premiers

Awards, and an Institute o Public

Administration o Canada (IPAC)Management Innovation award.

In the rst year 300,000 clients,

newcomers and communitiesaccessed the WelcomeBC.ca

portal or services and this number

has increased to over 550,000 in

2010/11, a 83 percent increase.


27/43

28

Labour Market Participation

British Columbias economic recovery and the uture

strength o the economy are directly linked to a strongworkorce, and B.C.s workorce growth is dependent onimmigration. However, in addition to English languagebarriers, many immigrants continue to experience lacko recognition o their international education, skills, andexperience. As such, many recently-arrived newcomerswho are highly educated and skilled continue to besignicantly underemployed. B.C. is aggressively addressing

this challenge to attract and retain skilled immigrants andto ensure the improvement o career opportunities orunderemployed and unemployed immigrants in B.C.

Labout Market Participation

Investment 2010/11: $16.05 M

ConnectingImmigrantsto Employment

Workplace-ocusedEnglish LanguageTraining

18%

82%

Areas o ocus under Labour Market Participation areworkplace-ocused language training, connectingimmigrants to employment, oreign qualicationsrecognition, and employer engagement. This report doesnot capture all o the Provinces actions to support thelabour market participation o immigrants - it ocuses on

those that use ederal settlement unding transerred underthe Agreement. Funding is also leveraged rom otherederal and provincial sources.

O the more than 130,000 working

age immigrants who arrived rom

2006 to 2010, over 50% had a

university degree.


28/43

29

Workplace-Focused English

Language Training

One o the greatest barriers or skilled immigrants inutilizing their international training and experience isthe high level o workplace literacy required or manyoccupations. Services to address this need have beensignicantly expanded with increased ederal investment.

Intermediate level (CLB 4-6) English Language Servicesor Adults (ELSA) or the Workplace training, which was

introduced in 2007, was provided to 1,700 immigrants in2010/11. In 2010/11, the development o higher level ELSAor the Workplace services (CLB 6-8) was explored, andservices will commence in the all.

The development o industry specic curriculum supportsimmigrant access to priority industries. Through the use oa partnership model with industry representatives, thesesectors are better able to engage an immigrant workorce,

adjust to the global marketplace, and be prepared oruture labour orce challenges. Three projects are currentlyunderway: E-Work, an on-line general curriculum;industry specic curricula in our sectors; and English orCommunications in health proessions.

E-Work provides on-line ESL training with a ocus onworkplace language and content and has been piloted

or use by proessionals overseas prior to their arrival inCanada. Revisions to the curriculum will be completedthis all. Four occupation specic pilot projects will resultin the development and testing o curricula or priorityindustry sectors targeting oreign trained proessionals inarchitecture, construction, accounting and engineering.Partnering with the Ministry o Health, the English orCommunications program or internationally educatedhealth proessionals has been successully implemented.

With the introduction o these services, new partners haveincluded more public post secondary institutions, localemployers, community service providers, industry experts,and proessional associations.

Approximately 70% o those whocompleted the program have

been successully connected with

employment related to their pre-

arrival employment experience

and qualications in communities

throughout B.C.


29/43

30

Visit the WelcomeBC YouTube Channel

to watch success story videos: www.youtube.com/user/welcomebcca

7Starting In 2008, the Government o Canada has provided unding to support B.C. labour market programs under the Labour Market Agreement (LMA). ThisLMA unding supports new investment in labour market programs and services or those who are unemployed but not eligible or Employment Insurance (EI)benets or programs, and those who are employed and low-skilled, that is lacking high school diploma, lacking certication or essential skills. This undingagreement is in place or six years.

From 783 clients in its rst year to

more than 2,600 clients in 2010/11,

nearly 10,000 clients have accessed

services through the Skills Connect

program, provided province-wide

through ve organizations.

Connecting Immigrants to Employment

Skills Connect General Program

The Skills Connect General pilot began in 2006 and becamea regular program in 2009. The ocus o the Skills Connectprogram is to assist job-ready clients into proessions whichalign with their pre-arrival education and experience. As

a regular program, Skills Connect broadened its clientbase in 2009 to provide assistance to lesser skilled workers(leveraging unding rom the Labour Market Agreement7

(http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketagreement/).Lesser skilled workers have non-specic education andtraining, advanced intermediate level English (CLB5) and arejob ready but may be unemployed or underemployed. Thisyear, Live-in-Caregivers were permitted to access servicesunder the program. The program exceeded its client targetor 2010/11 by almost 20%. An ongoing post-programevaluation survey was launched to measure outcomesand client satisaction, and Skills Connect Success Storiesvideos are now on the WelcomeBC.ca website.


30/43

31

Approximately 70% o those who

completed the program have

been successully connected with

employment related to their pre-

arrival employment experience

and qualications in communitiesthroughout B.C.

Skills Connect Health Program

In 2007, the Skills Connect Health pilot program waslaunched. Twelve priority medical proessions wereidentied through a health consortium involving severalministries and various sector stakeholders. In 2010/11,almost 700 clients accessed the program, 16% over target.

An evaluation o the Health Skills Connect program in2010/11 ound that at the end o the program, o those thatare now working, 65% are in positions that are completely

or somewhat related to their international health educationand experience. Those interviewed also indicated thatthe pilot program has contributed in a positive way toaddressing the need or human resources in the healthcaresystem, as well as raising awareness o the contributionsthat can be made by internationally educatedhealth proessionals.

Since 2005/06, the Province has

unded more than 50 projects and

initiatives with B.C. regulatory bodies

that license occupations and other

key partners to eliminate systemic

barriers, leveraging resources toachieve these results.

Foreign Qualications Recognition (FQR)

Foreign Qualications Recognition (FQR) is oten anobstacle to immigrants ull economic participation. Theimplementation o the Foreign Qualications Framework, incollaboration with provincial regulators and other partnersto accelerate the assessment o international credentialsand recognition o qualications, will continue to increaseimmigrants labour market participation and success. B.C. isully engaged in the implementation o the Framework andhas undertaken a number o actions to support this area o

work. This report, however, ocuses only on projects thathave been unded with the ederal Enhanced LanguageTraining unding. In 2010/11, in collaboration with theMinistry o Health, the Internationally Educated HealthProessionals Initiatives proposal was developed orHealth Canada.


31/43

32

B.C. Employer Engagement

Employers play a critical role in providing welcoming andinclusive workplaces to attract and retain immigrants.Working in partnership with the Immigrant EmploymentCouncil o BC, WelcomeBC supported employers to builddiverse workplaces, enabling greater success in recruitingand retaining top talent. Employers were provided with

accurate and current inormation on attracting, hiring, andretaining immigrants, as well as the tools and resourcesrequired to successully integrate immigrants intoB.C. workplaces.

The Immigrant Employment Council o BC

The Immigrant Employment Council o BC (IECBC) waslaunched in 2009. IECBC supports B.C.s connection toinitiatives, networks and resources o other establishedImmigrant Employment Councils such as the TorontoRegion Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC).

In 2010/11, IECBC introduced B.C.s tap-into-talent website(http://www.iecbc.ca/) which connects employers toqualied immigrant workers and employment mentorshipservices. IECBC also aciliated a our-month mentoring

pilot with the City o Vancouver and settlement agencies,which involves city employees participating as mentors toskilled immigrants one o the rst projects o its kind inWestern Canada.

The Vancouver Public Library Ino Centre

The Vancouver Public Library Ino Centre project began in2008. The Vancouver Public Library provides a site or skilledimmigrants to access resources and support to pursue theiremployment goals. The expertise developed through theIno Centre supports sta in other libraries in B.C. to provideinormation and support to immigrants. The Ino Centre

accommodates up to 1,200 in person and 27,000 web visitsper year. Growing collaboration with current mainstreamnetworks, such as libraries, has allowed the settlementunding to provide a greater scope o community basedservice networks.

In addition to the above initiatives, WelcomeBC issupporting the development o a provincial immigrantlabour market strategy or completion in 2011/12.

The Ino Centre has assisted

approximately 3,600 immigrants in

person and over 60,000 web visitssince its inception. Over 70 Pathways

to Occupations guides have been

developed which has proven a

valuable resource or individuals

and service providers throughout

the province.


32/43

33

Partnership Development with B.C. Ministries

Under WelcomeBC, a number o partnerships with B.C.ministries exist to maximize service delivery to newcomers.Partnerships with ministries help build capacity andknowledge to better respond to the settlement andintegration needs o newcomers. JTI has undertakennine projects with other ministries through Memoranda

o Understanding (MOUs). These MOUs ocus on EnglishLanguage Development and Settlement and InclusiveCommunities lines o business and transerred a total o$3.74 million in 2010/11 to support the development,implementation and evaluation o initiatives (details on2010/11 projects are throughout the body o this report).

C.C.F.I.-A.F.A.I. did not exist until 2008

when unding became available

to provide support and programsor Francophone immigrants. The

C.C.F.I. has been or them the rst

step toward a successul integration.

Cecile Barbier, Coordonnatrice,

A.F.A.I.


33/43

34

In accordance with signicant

demand guidelines developed

in 2007, B.C. has developed an

array o services

or rancophone

newcomers,including the

Settlement Workers

in Schools Program

in French-

language schools.The number o

French-speaking

settlement

workers has ar

exceeded the

2007 guidelines.

Ofcial Languages

In 2010/11, British Columbia continued to participateas a member o the National Francophone MinorityCommunities Steering Committee and participated in theMetropolis Pre-Conerence on Francophone Immigration,supported by the Ministerial Conerence on the CanadianFrancophonie. The Province implemented several projects

related to the promotion and acilitation o rancophoneimmigration in 2010/11, including promotion andrecruitment activities, as well as programs to acilitatesettlement and integration o rancophone newcomers.The Province continued to manage the BC FrancophoneImmigration Steering Committee with representationrom key rancophone and immigration partners such asthe Fdration Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique,College Educacentre, Societ de Dvelopment Economiquede la Colombie Britannique, Citizenship and ImmigrationCanada, and the Francophone Aairs Program (B.C.), withthe mandate to oster rancophone immigration to theprovince through promotional activities.8

The Connection Centre or Francophone Immigrants

(CCFI) was established as a reerral service to WelcomeBCprograms and rancophone cultural organizations orFrench-speaking newcomers. Thirteen French-speakingsettlement workers provide services at ve agenciesin Greater Vancouver and Victoria. The Centre assistedover 500 newcomers rom French-speaking countriesby directing them to organizations to meet their specicneeds in 2010/11.

ELSA classes were delivered by rancophone instructorsat the Collge Educacentre in Vancouver. Collge

Educacentre delivers Literacy to Level 3 classes orrancophone newcomers. As part o the WelcomeBCprogram redesign, the Province will be conducting anevaluation o the Connection Centre and consulting withkey stakeholders on rancophone services, in order toensure that settlement services in B.C. continue to meet theneeds o rancophone immigrants arriving in the province.

8Funding or promotion and recruitment initiatives is received rom CIC under a separateMemorandum o Understanding.


34/43

35

Regional Programming

Migration both international and interprovincial oskilled workers and entrepreneurs is key to the economicuture o all regions in the province. The Province has longacknowledged an interest in working with communitypartners to jointly develop mechanisms to more evenlydistribute the benets immigration can bring to B.C.s

regions. Many communities have become involved in theWelcoming and Inclusive Communities and WorkplacesProgram because they recognize the need or immigrationto build and sustain their communities, and that creating awelcoming and inclusive community can attract and retainimmigrants to their region.

Funding or WelcomeBC in 2010/11 was provided to allregions in the province: Vancouver and the Lower Mainland,

Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Okanagan, the Interior, andNorthern BC. 88% o unding was allocated to supportservices and initiatives in the Lower Mainland-FraserValley, given that most (89%) o B.C.s new immigrantsand reugees settle in that region. Though the otherregions receive ewer immigrants, adjustments weremade to support the capacity o regional communities byaccounting or higher average costs and higher service/

client ratios in regions outside o the Lower Mainland-FraserValley. B.C. also encourages immigration to regions outsidethe Lower Mainland-Fraser Valley through the ProvincialNominee Program with 22% o Provincial Nominees settlingin other regions.

Where communities have lower numbers o immigrantsthat do not support ormal programming, alternativeservice delivery models have been, and are beingdeveloped to ensure all newcomers can nd the assistancethey need to help them settle and integrate into their newcommunities. One model is the successul ESL Settlement

Assistance Program which meets both the English languagedevelopment and settlement needs o newcomers.

WelcomeBC Funding Allocation by Region 2010/11

North

Interior

Vancouver Island

Fraser Valley

Lower Mainland

84%

2%4%

4% 6%

PART C: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation


35/43

36

PART C: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

Consultation and Planning Process

British Columbia has a long history o engaging partnersand acilitating mechanisms to seek input on policies andprograms or B.C. immigrants and reugees. Consultationis a cornerstone in program design, development,implementation, and evaluation. In 2010/11, B.C. consultedwith a broad and diverse network o partners, including

service providers, academia, local governments, communityorganizations, clients, and other sectors on WelcomeBCdirection and specic programs and initiatives. The Provinceconvened and participated in sectoral, cross-governmentand cross-sectoral meetings, working groups and advisorycommittees to seek input on the design, delivery andevaluation o programs and initiatives.

The non-prot sector plays the primary and most critical

role in settling immigrants through the delivery osettlement services; however, increased ederal unding hasenabled B.C. to involve partners rom other key sectors inthe design, delivery and evaluation o services to accelerateimmigrants integration. School districts and Boards oEducation, or example, are now playing a more prominentrole in the delivery o services in B.C. to immigrant amilieswith children. Their engagement has improved British

Columbias ability to outreach to newcomer clients whomay not have accessed settlement services in the past.Their involvement in service delivery has also brought newperspectives and insights on promising practices and hasincreased collaboration opportunities between new andtraditional service providers to the benet o clients. Thesuccessul settlement and integration o immigrants andtheir amilies depends on these connections rom thesettlement sector to the broader systems.

Two key partners are AMSSA and ELSA Net. Increasednancial support has enabled these two organizationsto play a more prominent role in program design, sectordevelopment, and service coordination. Both organizationswere unded in 2010/11 to host regional networking andinormation sharing events to assist service providers instrengthening their delivery models.

Summary o 2010/11 Activities:

Two public inormation sessions were held to provideinormation, answer questions, and solicit eedbackin advance o Requests or Proposals or ELSA and theredesigned Settlement and Integration program.

Two reerence group meetings o key service providerswere held to discuss: the efcacy o current service

activities in supporting newcomer clients to achievepositive outcomes, including potential modications toservices to improve client outcomes; and the deliveryo pilot projects and traditional services targetingvulnerable clients to review pilot evaluation results anddiscuss uture potential service delivery models or thisclient group.

A two-day consultation brought together morethan 80 representatives rom the three orders ogovernment, settlement agencies, other communitypartners and the Francophone community, ocusingon developing a common understanding o desirednewcomer outcomes, soliciting eedback on a newclient outcomes-ocused delivery model (GuidedPathways), and opportunities or urther partnershipsand collaboration to build a wider system o support

or newcomers.


36/43

37

B.C. participated in ten regional meetings, six boardmeetings and one Annual General Meeting during thecourse o the year which were coordinated by ELSANet (a society o service providers o English LanguageServices or Adults) to support inormation sharingamong ELSA providers, the dissemination o tools andresources, and issues/trends identication.

B.C. worked with ELSA Net to coordinate advisorycommittees in the ollowing areas: Pre-Literacy, ELSAYoung Adults, Labour Market Services, ELSA Levels 6/7and Early Childhood Education EvaluationAdvisory Group.

B.C. participated in eight regional learning exchangeand engagement meetings coordinated by AMSSA(Afliation o Multicultural Societies and Service

Agencies), as well as three inormation sharing

meetings between specic sub-groups o AMSSAmembers ( NGO Directors Committee, SettlementWorkers in Schools Coordinators Committee and theSettlement Reerence Group).

B.C. worked with AMSSA to coordinate an advisorycommittee on Labour Market Services and alsoincluded AMSSA in planning committees orconsultations related to Vulnerable Populations andthe Settlement and Integration Program.

AMSSA (Aliation o Multicultural

Societies and Service Agencies o BC)

is a province-wide association with

80+ member agencies who serve

immigrants and build culturallyinclusive communities.

ELSA Net is a society o service

providers who deliver the English

Language Services or Adults

program (ELSA).


37/43

38

The MOU has enabled ministry

sta to become more aware o the

unique needs and preerences o

newcomers to B.C.

Ministry o Labour, CitizensServices and Open Government

Monitoring and Evaluation

The branch monitors all service contracts using varioustools including site visits, and evaluates programs andinitiatives against established perormance measures andtargets. In 2010/11, this involved:

Increasing ace-to-ace monitoring meetings over theprevious year by approximately 30% identied byservice providers as the preerred method to enhancetrust and collaboration between the ministry andthe sector;

Focusing on a signicant reduction in reportingrequirements and streamlining reporting to be morerelevant and appropriate, as well as reducing theadministrative burden o unnecessary reporting on

service providers;

Developing a new and improved contract perormancetracking database system;

Increasing and improving monitoring practices andperormance measurement tools; and,

Launching an ongoing post-program evaluation surveyto measure program outcomes and client satisaction.

Five program evaluations were conducted (highlightsintegrated into body o this report):

Health Skills Connect

Step Ahead

Early Years Reugee

Older Immigrant Youth and Young Adult

Friends o Simon

Cross-ministry Partnerships

To ensure higher levels o nancial accountability orproviding settlement services that are not directlycontracted through the ministry, Memoranda oUnderstanding (MOUs) have been developed with otherprovincial ministries, divisions and branches. Each MOUarticulates WelcomeBCs goals, objectives, strategies,

perormance measures and targets as well as budgetallocations. MOUs also set out monitoring, evaluationand reporting requirements to ensure a high level oaccountability or ederal unding is in place. The ministryworks with cross-ministry partners to ensure compliancewith the terms and conditions o ederal unding under theAgreement, and to strengthen the delivery and evaluationo services and initiatives.

Conclusion


38/43

39

Since the launch o WelcomeBC in 2007, services andprograms delivered to newcomers in British Columbiahave continued to be expanded and enhanced. Manypilots have become part o the regular service oeringsin 2010/11, and new pilots continue to be developed andevaluated to meet the needs o immigrants and reugees.

WelcomeBC has been implemented through theengagement o many partners immigrant settlementagencies, communities, employers and industryassociations, other immigrant serving organizations andmunicipal governments - strengthening the ability othe province to accelerate immigrants settlement andintegration into B.C.s communities and the labour market.

The role o the ederal government as partner and asunder is critical to the success o these programs, as is

the continued learning that occurs through the nationalsettlement table. British Columbia is pleased to beco-leading the ground breaking work with CIC on theestablishment o national settlement outcomes. This work,together with our respective experiences in administeringthese programs, will continue to support positivesettlement and integration or new immigrants andtheir communities.

Appendix 1: WelcomeBC Strategic Framework


39/43

40

GOAL:

British Columbias immigrants ully contribute to the social

and economic prosperity o the province

Strategic Lines o Business

English Language

Development

Settlement & Inclusive

Communities

Labour Market Participation

Partnership and Sector Development

Research and Innovation

Accountability and Return on Investment

FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS

Partnerships and Sector Development

The engagement o multiple sectors and anetwork o partners and service providers iscritical to achieve success throughout theimmigration pathway (rom pre-arrival tolonger-term integration).


Policies and programs are based on bestpractice, academic research, sector and expertconsultation, and piloting new innovations.Accountability and Return on InvestmentInvestment decisions are based on resultsachieved and a strong perormancemanagement ramework tied to outputsand outcomes.

FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS

Partnerships and Sector Development

The engagement o multiple sectors and anetwork o partners and service providers is criticalto achieve success throughout the immigrationpathway (rom pre-arrival to longer-term integration).


Policies and programs are based on best practice,academic research, sector and expert consultation,and piloting new innovations.Accountability and Return on InvestmentInvestment decisions are based on resultsachieved and a strong perormance managementramework tied to outputs and outcomes.

Appendix 2: Detailed Financial Reports


40/43

41

1. English Language Training (Federal/Provincial Settlement Program Funding

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

DEVELOPMENT

2010/11

(Millions)English Language Training or Adults

Adult ESL Training in Public Post-Secondary Institutions 17.12

English Language Services or Adults (ELSA) Levels 1 - 5 37.28

ELSA Sectoral Support 0.44

MCFD Child Care Subsidy 0.07

Alternative Service Delivery

Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (iPALS) 0.22

Friends o Simon 0.10

SHARE Program 0.10

Regional Access

ESL Settlement Assistance Program (ESLSAP) 1.86

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT TOTAL 57.19

2. Settlement and Inclusive Communities (Federal/Provincial Settlement Program Funding)


41/43

42

Settlement and Inclusive Communities 2010/11

(Millions)Settlement Inormation and Reerral

Inormation and Support Services 12.56

Francophone services 0.14

Settlement Workers in Schools 9.13

Community Bridging 2.49

Sectoral Support - Delivery Assistance, Proessional Training & Development 0.52

Public Legal Education and Inormation (PLEI) 1.57

Vulnerable Populations

Trauma Services 0.70

Reugee Trauma Project 0.07

Multi-Barriered Adults 0.93

Victim Supports or Newcomers to Canada (Domestic Violence) Pilot 0.44

Step Ahead Pilot 1.25

Early Years Reugee Pilots 2.52

In-school Youth and Middle Years Pilots 0.76

Older Immigrant Youth and Young Adults Pilots 4.78

Immigrant Seniors Demonstration Pilots 0.78

Welcoming and Inclusive Communities

Welcoming & Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program 4.44

BC Sae Harbour Initiative 0.25Building Welcoming and Inclusive Neighbourhoods Project 0.89

AMSSA Health Fairs 0.30

EmbraceBC 1.37

WelcomeBC.ca Portal 1.16

SETTLEMENT AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES TOTAL 47.05

3. Labour Market Training (Federal/Provincial Settlement Program Funding)


42/43

43

Labour Market Participation 2010/11

(Millions)Workplace-ocused English Language Training

ELSA Levels 4 and 5 or the Workplace 2.95

Enhanced Language Training - Occupational/SectorSpecic

1.17

Connecting Immigrants to Employment (Federal ELT

unding)

Skills Connect or Immigrants Program 10.46

Labour Market Mentorship 1.11

Vancouver Public Library Ino Centre 0.14

Foreign Qualications Recognition9 0.22

BC Employment Engagement

Immigrant Employment Council o BC (IEC BC) -

Sectoral Support100.00

LABOUR MARKET PARTICIPATION TOTAL 16.05

BC Ministry Partners Funding11

Partner Funding - MINISTRY 2010/11

(Millions)

Education Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (iPALS) 0.22Attorney General Public Legal Education and Inormation 1.57

Solicitor General Victim Services 0.44

Children & Family Development Child Care Subsidy 0.07

Children & Family Development Reugee Trauma Project 0.07

Social Development EmbraceBC 1.37

PARTNERSHIPS TOTAL 3.74

9Signicant unding is also leveraged rom other ederal and provincial partners to support this area. This unding is not included here.10In 2010/11, this partnership was unded with Labour Market Partnership unding. In 2011/12, will be unded through WelcomeBC.11These amounts are already reected in tables above under each line o business


43/43

welcomebc annual report 2010/11

Documents