1. 1 Joël Denis, Norah Lynn Paddock, Louise Saulnier, Leslie Wong

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3. 3  Mission:  facilitates the reception of newcomers to Canada; and  assists newcomers in realizing their full potential in Canadian society.  History:  Religious origins  1976: Catholic Immigration Services – Ottawa is set up.  1978-1981: Southeast Asian refugee crises, services number of staff expand.  1984: Agency is incorporated as an autonomous organization - The Catholic Immigration Centre.  Today, CIC continues to expand its programs and services to meet the needs of newcomers and the Ottawa community.

4. 4  Settlement Services:  Language  Maison Thérèse Dallaire (residential facility for newcomers with urgent needs )  Completing Documents  Education  Employment  Health  Housing  Immigration Issues  Money and Finances  Programs:  Host Program  International Medical Doctors  International Legal Professionals  Youth Centre  Pastoral Help  Community Projects

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6. 6  Client Profile:  Over 55% are Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs)  Slightly more women than men (51% versus 49%)  Majority are between 25 and 44 years of age, often with large families  Small, but growing, number of seniors  Primary Needs:  Language training  Housing support  Employment support Growing number of high needs clients (e.g. refugees – especially children – and women with small children)

7. 7 Over 55% are Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) Slightly more women than men (51% versus 49%) Majority are between 25 and 44 years of age, often with large families Small, but growing, number of seniors Language Training Employment Support Housing Support Primary NeedsClient Profile

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9. 9 Funding levels do not reflect growing demand for settlement services  Funding restrictions limit the types of services that can be provided  Reporting requirements are onerous

10. 10 Income and Social Status Social Support Networks Education and Literacy Employment and Working Conditions Social Environments Physical Environment s Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills Biology and Genetic Endowment Health Child Development Health Services Gender Culture Language Skills Migration History Immigration Status Health Status ????

11.  [NL: Proposed new slide] 11

12. 12 Social isolation and impact on health  CIC as a Social Support Network:  Services to expand individuals networks (e.g. language classes).  Knowledge sharing (e.g. Federal Skills Workers Program, federal credential recognition, and social assistance application process).  Helping themselves by helping others

13. 13  Obstacles:  Social Networks and vulnerable populations: A problem compounded  Hip bone connected to the knee bone?  Opportunities:  One part of a wider social support network: Summerset Community Health Center, Family Services Ottawa, Ottawa legal clinics  Promising results of host program

14. 14  1. Go right to the source – family reunification  2. Increased support for community based initiatives – e.g. neighborhood watch programs and food co-operatives  3. Increased support for social development activities, including intergenerational projects and cross-cultural gatherings.  4. Research recommendation: develop and test models to demonstrate a stronger link between social support networks and health benefits – e.g. gender analysis????

15. 15  [NL: Proposed new background slide for each social determinant of health – What does it mean? Why is it particularly relevant for newcomers?]

16. 16  Language is a key barrier to accessing basic support services (particularly for refugees)  Access to health services – especially mental health support - is significantly impacted by language ability  Privacy concerns (e.g. children as interpreters, volunteer interpreters part of small diaspora community)  Challenges with providing counselling through an interpreter  Language training is the most highly utilized service offered by CIC

17. 17  Limited availability of translation and interpretation services through CIC  Lack of multicultural/multilingual health service providers in Ottawa  Mainstream health service providers need to become more culturally-sensitive

18. 18  Increase government funding for translation/interpretation services through settlement service providers  Extend eligibility of government- funded language training to temporary residents  Develop guidelines and training to help mainstream service providers become culturally-sensitive

19.  The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (WHO, 1986) recognized shelter as a basic prerequisite for health.  CMHC uses “core need” to assess the housing situation based on: Affordability Suitability Adequacy  Health issues Unaffordable rent - food insecurity Overcrowding – mental health Mould – respiratory infections Premature death 19

20.  Obstacles Labour market barriers The Nature of Ottawa’s economy and labour market The demographic and family structure of immigrant communities Racialization of economic exclusion in Ottawa  Opportunities Replace the aging workforce Cultural and linguistic diversity Economic growth Address workforce gaps? 20

21.  One Percent Solution to end the housing crisis (TDRC, 1999)  National Housing Strategy – involving all three levels of governments Rental housing Ownership housing Social housing with mixed incomes Support for people with special needs (Layton, 2000)  Flexible capital grant program  Private rental program  Investment pools of money to create affordable housing  Provincial income supplement programs 21