Supporting Newcomers in Need An Opening Doors Workshop February 4, 2010 Aurora Public Library Presented by: Lisa McBride, Coordinator, Tiziana Knox and Shereen Mir, Outreach Specialists, Immigrant Information Services Job Skills

Agenda About Job Skills Learning Outcomes Newcomers in York Region Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Services Available to Newcomers Questions & Answers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Job Skills’ Overview Job Skills has 12 sites throughout York, Dufferin, Halton, Peel and Toronto Services are available to all unemployed residents Currently serves more than 25,000 individuals annually Job Skills receives funding from the Government of Canada, provincial and municipal governments and the United Way of York Region Supporting Newcomers in Need

Summary of Programs & Services Employment Services & Programs Employment Assessment Centres Youth Outreach & Employment Services Job Finding Club Newcomer Employment Services Practice Firms Immigrant Information Services Welcome Centre Immigrant Services  Job Search Workshops  Employment Settlement Supports Supporting Newcomers in Need

Summary of Programs & Services Self-Employment Services & Programs Self-Employment Benefits Program (SEB) Opportunities Fund - SEB Program Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) Special initiatives are also developed to address local labour market needs Employment Services provided since 1988, Business Services since 1995, Newcomer Employment Services since 2003 Supporting Newcomers in Need

Job Skills' Mission Statement Job Skills is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing people’s capacity to participate in the labour market, thereby contributing to the economic and social viability of our community. For more information visit: Supporting Newcomers in Need

Learning Outcomes A.Learn more about the services and support available to newcomers B.Assist newcomers by providing an appropriate and timely referral C.Enhance your knowledge of the social service support network in York Region including “hidden” service providers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Approximately 900,000 people live in York Region. About 45% of people in this region were born outside of Canada. Immigrants, especially those who have been in the country for five years or less, are the fastest growing segment of York Region’s population. Since 1981, there has been a shift in the main place of origin of York Region’s recent immigrant population from Southern Europe to Asia and Eastern Europe. Newcomers in York Region Supporting Newcomers in Need

Between 1991 and 2001, 69% of Canada’s population growth was a result of people immigrating to Canada. Between 1991 and 2001, the number of recent immigrants increased by 132 per cent, while non-immigrants increased by only 31 per cent. Immigrant population accounted for about 60% of the growth between 2001 and By 2011, immigration will account for 100% of Canada’s net labour force growth. Newcomers in York Region Supporting Newcomers in Need

Languages Spoken In 2006, York Region had the second highest percentage of residents who could not speak English or French in the GTA, which has increased since In 2006, York Region was one of the only municipalities in the GTA that had Russian and Farsi among the top five non-official languages most commonly spoken at home. Supporting Newcomers in Need

The top five languages spoken at home in 2006: Chinese Italian Russian Farsi Tamil BUT: In 2006, the most commonly used language in the workplace in York Region was English. WHAT THIS MEANS: Helping immigrants improve their English is important to their success in the workplace. Languages Spoken Supporting Newcomers in Need

York Region’s recent immigrants have a higher rate of enrolment in courses that lead to post-secondary accreditation than the total population. York Region’s recent immigrants are generally highly educated. They have a higher or equal level of education than non- immigrants. Education Supporting Newcomers in Need

BUT: York Region’s recent immigrants generally earn significantly less than non-immigrants who have the same level of education. For example, a recent immigrant with a university education earns an average of $38,400, compared to $63,800 for a non-immigrant. WHAT THIS MEANS: Education levels of recent immigrants need to be more appropriately recognized. Education Supporting Newcomers in Need

Recent immigrants to York Region are almost twice as likely to be living with relatives, as part of an extended family, than the total population. Like the general population, most recent immigrant families (87%) are home owners. This compares with 90% of the general population. Housing Supporting Newcomers in Need

BUT: In York Region, residents spend a higher level of their income on housing than families in other parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Recent immigrant families, perhaps due to lower income, are even more likely to spend more of their household income on housing than the total population, regardless of whether they are owners or renters. WHAT THIS MEANS: There is a need for more affordable housing options in York Region. Housing Supporting Newcomers in Need

Despite having generally higher education, recent immigrants regardless of ethnicity are almost three times more likely to be low income earners than are non-immigrants. The average median employment income for recent immigrants is about two-thirds of the employment income for non-immigrants. They are three times as likely to be within the low income cut-off. Employment and Income Supporting Newcomers in Need

WHAT THIS MEANS: They are economically and socially vulnerable during the first years after their arrival. More emphasis needs to be placed on matching recent immigrants with suitable employment and settlement services. –These services are more critical in the first few years after immigration. Employment and Income Supporting Newcomers in Need

Need a Break? Supporting Newcomers in Need

Activity One Supporting Newcomers in Need

Needs: Food Housing, including Social Assistance Employment (SIN card, accreditation, labour market information, job search strategies, training, “Canadian Experience”, Rights and Employment Standards, etc.) Child care (care, schools, etc) Health care (hospitals, medical, dental, therapy) Citizenship/Permanent Residence Legal services Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Barriers faced trying to meet needs: Isolation, lack of social supports Language / Communication Cultural shock (including stress) and cultural adaptation (attitude and length of time) Lack of information (rights, standards, etc.) Access to services: Lack of information, misinformation and “falling through the cracks” Low income: Need job to get food, need transportation to get job, need money to get transportation Child care, no social supports, cannot afford Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Key Findings: Newcomers report their early years in Canada as characterized by isolation, vulnerability, and a lack of civic engagement. Employment is an immigrant's primary need — once employed, many other barriers can more easily be overcome. Communication barriers impede access to key services (health, education, legal) for many. Current language training and translation services fail to help immigrants overcome barriers to accessing services. Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Culture Shock... Is an emotional rollercoaster that someone experiences when living in a new country; Will be experienced in some way by anyone that has worked and lived in a foreign country; Grows out of the difficulties in trying to assimilate in the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not. Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Stages of Culture Shock: Experts agree that culture shock has stages, and once people get beyond the initial and most difficult stages, life in a new country becomes a lot better. There are four distinct phases (or stages) of culture shock: –Excitement –Withdrawal –Adjustment –Enthusiasm Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Adaptation and Adjustment Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Stage 1: Excitement The individual experiences a holiday or 'honeymoon' period with their new surroundings. They: Feel very positive about the culture Are overwhelmed with impressions Find the new culture exotic and are fascinated Are passive, meaning they have little experience of the culture Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Stage 2: Withdrawal The individual now has some more face to face experiences of the culture and starts to find things different, strange and frustrating. They: Find the behaviour of the people unusual and unpredictable, Begin to dislike the culture and react negatively to the behaviour, Feel anxious, Start to withdraw, Begin to criticize, mock or show animosity to the people. Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Stage 3: Adjustment The individual now has a routine, feels more settled and is more confident in dealing with the new culture. They: Understand and accept the behaviour of the people, Feel less isolated, Regain their sense of humour. Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Stage 4: Enthusiasm The individual now feels 'at home'. They: Enjoy being in the culture, Function well in the culture, begin to feel comfortable and take steps to become more familiar with the culture, Prefer certain cultural traits of the new culture rather than their own, Adopt certain behaviours from the new culture. Cultural Barriers and Adaptation Supporting Newcomers in Need

Activity Two Supporting Newcomers in Need

Timely and Appropriate Referrals

Services Available to Newcomers Settlement Services Family Support Services Local Library Local Food Banks Early Years Centres Schools and School Boards Community Legal Clinic of York Region Women’s Shelters Ontario Works Inn from the Cold Housing/Childcare Supporting Newcomers in Need

Services Available to Newcomers Healthcare Settlement Services Community General Health Organizations Community Health-Specific Organizations Walk-in Clinics Hospitals Supporting Newcomers in Need

Food Settlement Services Local Food Banks Community Organizations Community Run Programs Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Education Settlement Services Schools, School Boards Accreditation Centres Universities/Colleges Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need Some Ontario school boards have newcomer reception centres which may assess language skills of students and help them find schools with specialized language training support.

Banking Settlement Services Settlement.org Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Transportation Settlement Services Driving and Vehicle Licensing Offices Local Library Malls (Service Ontario Kiosks) Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Citizenship Settlement Services Local Library Any York Region Member of Parliament’s office ( Settlement.org Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Employment Accreditation Centres Local Service Canada Centre Employment Assessment Centres Employment Resource Centres Community Legal Clinic of York Region (Employment Laws) Ontario Works Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Language (ESL/LINC) Language Assessment Centres (i.e. A-LINC) Local Library School Board Colleges Services Available to Newcomers Supporting Newcomers in Need

Questions & Answers Supporting Newcomers in Need