1. What We Heard: NSC Plus June 14-15, 2018
Second Annual Integration Summit
September 2018

2. National Settlement Council “Plus” Meeting
Purpose of Meeting:
Collect insight and obtain input from participants on recommended priorities for the National Call for Proposals for the Settlement and Resettlement Programs at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Build engagement and support for a shared vision for settlement and integration of newcomers, that can then be realized through the Settlement Program and setting of Program priorities.
The results of this consultation not only help to inform priority-setting for CFP 2019, but also provide insight for policy development for the next several years.

3. National Settlement Council “Plus” Meeting
Held in Ottawa, June 14-15th
Comprised of regular National Settlement Council members as well as:
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs)
Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs)
Settlement service providers from smaller centres
Employment sector council representatives
National-level community organizations
Representatives from marginalized/vulnerable groups
National-level Indigenous organizations were invited, but were unable to attend.

4. Meeting Structure
Reviewing the Shared Vision for Settlement and Integration
Small Group Discussions on key areas of focus
Client-Centred: Meeting the specific needs of women, youth, LGBTQ2+, refugees, francophone newcomers, mental health of newcomers
Outcomes-driven: Data collection, Getting from outputs to outcomes, Measuring Successful Integration
Responsive to needs: Addressing Systemic Barriers, Involving Employers, Creating Welcoming Communities
Effective use of resources: Dealing with Economies of Scale, Harnessing Volunteers, Consortia and Other Partnerships
Turning identified issues/ideas into priorities, using outcomes as the driver

5. Input on Shared Vision for Settlement and Integration
Overall support for the vision and its components
Shifting the language to make the newcomer the subject, not the object
Meaningfully reflect the role of Indigenous people
Need to take it beyond the bureaucratic into the real world
Could be MORE visionary: “Diversity and inclusion benefits everyone.”

6. CORE Settlement Services
CLIENT-CENTERED
Programming that is tailored to meet specific clients’ profiles. This includes ensuring Francophone services for those who want to live and work in French, and a focus on clients who are vulnerable, marginalized or face barriers.
RESPONSIVE TO NEED
Programming that meets the needs of not only the client, but of society itself, to best integrate newcomers and achieve the shared vision for Settlement and Integration.
OUTCOMES-DRIVEN
Programming that is driven by evidence, ensuring the best outcomes, both short and long term, for the client.
EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES
Programming that uses the most effective means of reaching best outcomes, including the use of innovative approaches and pilot testing.

7. Theme 1: The Client Pathway

8. The Client Pathway: Major themes
Newcomers are empowered through tailored settlement and integration plans anchored in:
Their needs, as well as assets and competencies
Targeted interventions
Measures of success are client-specific, individual
Changing the way we think about vulnerability: vulnerABILITY
Women, LGBQT, youth, high-skilled and Francophone immigrants all have unique needs AND unique competencies
Successful programming needs to be anchored in their voices, their perspectives: FOR and BY approach
Voices of newcomers integral to shaping policy and programming for settlement and integration
Specific programming improvements to: language training, refugee supports, employment service needs of small centres etc.
Shifting the language to make the newcomer the subject, not the object
Newcomers as stakeholders, or actors with agency, not as “clients”
Newcomers as central part of decision making on policy: policy and programming must be grounded in newcomers voices
Newcomers also key to how we define and measure success
Tailored client learning plans and assessments identifying needs, strengths, linking to appropriate services and facilitating measurement of client outcomes
Focus on vulnerable groups: women, youth, refugees, LGBQT etc.
Specific set of services for youth, as well as wraparound service offerings for their families
Improve service accessibility by extending hours for core and support services (e.g. childcare, translation)
Language training: placement tests not reflective of competences; need for classes above the CLB 4/5 level
Mentorship: cost-effective model, highly modifiable to client needs

9. The Client Pathway: Key Takeaways
Client Pathway approach:
Programming that is tailored to specific needs and assets, targeted interventions
Measures of success are client-specific
Built-in flexibility to address changing needs
Strong role for newcomers to shape their own journey:
Giving newcomers a stronger voice in their trajectory through settlement services
Programming “for and by” specific client groups
Incorporating newcomer voices in policy and programming decisions at all levels
Viewing assets and strengths as much as needs:
Provide more opportunities for newcomers to share their assets and contribute meaningfully to their community

10. Theme 2: Integrated and Intersectional Approach to Services

11. Integrated and Intersectional Services: Major Themes
Systemic barriers need to be addressed in an intersectional, collaborative approach
Investment in FCR, mental health etc. to provide support at several points in newcomer’s journey
Bolster community connections through better guidelines, more targeted approach
Harness the power of volunteers (e.g. through LIPs)
Social networks built through community connections assist with language and soft-skills acquisition
Mental health capacity building and services that are accessible and culturally appropriate
Improving accessibility to services: in rural areas, by using technology and social media, by providing more/better support services
Need to recognize and address systemic barriers
Systemic issues require an intersectional approach- which involves greater resources and capacity
Mental health capacity building to front-line workers
Targeted, language and culture appropriate, trauma-informed care
Integration of health, mental health and settlement
Needs Assessments and Referrals need to capture “Assets” as well
Require consistent and systematic implementation
Community connections
Include social connections as measurement in NARS
Need more guidance/direction from IRCC
Systematized approach to volunteers/matching to target specific needs
LIPs can be used as conveners for volunteers
Specific needs of small centres/rural areas:
May benefit from a more coordinated LIPs network
Require specialized policies and services
Better/greater leveraging of technology and social media to improve accessibility
Specialized, bi-disciplinary services focused on language and employment
FCR: pre-arrival information, clear pathway post-arrival
More funding to support services (translation, interpretation etc.)

12. Integrated and Intersectional Services: Key Takeaways
Collaborative, intersectional and holistic approach needed to address systemic issues:
Mental health challenges
Meaningful employment
Language skills acquisition etc.
Increased coordination of indirect actors (volunteers, community connections programs and LIPs/RIFs) at the national level to mobilize social supports and facilitate integration at the local level
Make better use of technology to assist with accessibility issues, particularly in rural areas

13. Theme 3: Expanding Roles and Capacity

14. Expanding Roles and Capacity: Major themes
Whole of society approach (everyone playing a part) leads to wider improvement across all of society
Breakdown silos, promote partnerships and collaboration (employers, foundations, ethno-cultural orgs, in small centres etc.)
Umbrella organizations well-placed to promote collaboration
Including greater collaboration between government departments and levels of government
Communities working at the grassroots level to promote welcoming, inclusive environments
As advocates and connectors for marginalized groups and newcomers
As mobilisers of newcomers for volunteering and civic engagement
Importance of community-level research, experimentation, information sharing
LIPs well-placed to leverage expertise in local research
Multi-pronged approach to interacting with employers, bringing them in at various programming stages
Whole of society approach stakeholder wise, but also in terms of improvements: should benefit all of society
Long-term planning needs to involve all major stakeholders in community
Whole of government approach: working with other OGDs, collaboration between levels of government, greater involvement of municipalities
Promote partnerships and collaboration across the board
Employers as clients (learn about settlement services available, how to hire newcomers) as well as partners
Employers’ role needs to be explicitly stated in settlement’s logic model
Strengthening community relations between vulnerable groups (e.g. Indigenous) and newcomers; encouraging community institutions to play more active role
Setting up centres of excellence to promote knowledge sharing and spearhead research
Increase presence of LIPs nationally through National LIP organization secretariat
Marketing materials enabling SPOs to promote their services in the community and also to key stakeholders (e.g. employers)
Tapping into newcomers’ willingness to participate in civic life/volunteerism
Unique nature of smaller centres, rural areas need stronger networks for practitioners
Building sector capacity: professional development, training, pay equity and benefits

15. Expanding Roles and Capacity: Key Takeaways
Engage and expand roles for non-traditional stakeholders and community leaders at various stages of newcomers’ settlement and integration journey
Promote partnership tables at the local level with cross sector representation
Specific engagement with employers as both clients and connectors to services
Umbrella organizations and LIPs are well-placed to expand/build on their existing roles
Invest in CAPACITY BUILDING: research, knowledge sharing, communication and professional development

16. Theme 4: Non-Settlement Program Supports for Better Integration

17. Non-Settlement Program Supports for Better Integration: Major Themes
Promote welcoming communities and newcomers’ sense of belonging:
By targeting all Canadians
Consistent communication campaigns
Data-driven approach
Promote and reward cooperation among all actors involved in settlement and integration
High competition for funds in current system based on client counts disadvantages small centres in particular
IRCC to set clear national priorities with regional variations
More coordination of funding applications/timing of other government departments
Explore eligibility criteria
For example including international students, temporary foreign workers
Educate all Canadians on how one can contribute to welcoming communities
Consistent messaging on the importance of migration (particularly for small centres)
Work with the media to conduct anti-discrimination campaigns
Better, more robust data for all actors in settlement and integration
Need to conduct baseline measurements on welcoming community indicators
Promote cooperation and reward collaboration
Reduce competition between LIPs and SPOs
A better understanding is required of who all the players are and how they interconnect
Coordinate funding application efforts with other departments/other programs
Funding based on head counts puts smaller centres at a disadvantage
Clients need a feedback mechanism
Clear direction from IRCC and more consistency in application of priorities that would allow for some flexibility to reflect regional difference
Explore expanding eligibility to international students, TFWs

18. Non-Settlement Program Supports for Better Integration: Key Takeaways
Long-term integration requires cooperation among settlement/integration stakeholders and involvement of all Canadians as well as newcomers
More diversity/education/media campaigns reaching a wider audience with focus on small centres
Data-driven approach
Raises question of eligibility
Better direction and guidance from IRCC and closer cooperation with other OGDs

19. Next Steps Priority-Setting Continues: Consultations
Regional summits and consultations taking place in the late summer and fall
Online consultation taking place in fall
Analysis of Data
Client Outcomes Survey (preliminary results)
Environmental Scans
iCARE and regional gap analysis
Thank you to all who participate in this consultation. Your input is helping to shape the Settlement Program not only for this upcoming Call for Proposals, but for years to come.