Moving to a new country can be both exciting and strenuous. SCFS understands the challenges involved in settling into a new country and has specifically designed our integration programs to facilitate and ease this transition for newcomers. Our team of diverse settlement counselors provides first-language settlement supports to immigrants and refugees in English, French, Somali, Arabic, and an ever-expanding number of other languages. We directly assist these clients in responding to complex concerns related to their migration and integration process. Our programs are additionally dually designed to both empower and support clients through capacity and skills-based training and workshops as well as through individualized one-one client appointments.
Who is Eligible?
Those who are eligible for Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program services are:
- Permanent residents of Canada
- Protected persons as defined in section 95 of the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act
- Individuals who have been selected inside or outside Canada, to become permanent residents (pending verifications) and who have been informed by a letter from Immigrants Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Convention refugees and protected persons outside Canada who have been selected for resettlement to Canada by IRCC
- Temporary foreign workers who hold or received approval of a work permit under section 112 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) Initial approval for permanent residence under section 113 of the IRPR
To participate in ISIP (Immigrant Settlement and Integration Program) services, you must have one of the following:
- A PR (Permanent Resident Card)
- A Permanent Resident confirmation letter from IRCC
- A work permit with the above specifications
- Canadian Citizens, visitors, students, working visa holders, and temporary foreign workers are not eligible.
What’s your first visit like?
On your first visit-in-person, we will:
- Welcome you and determine if the Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program is the best services option for you
- Register you with the Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program
- Talk to you about your settlement experiences and share with you how we can assist you
- Provide information on key settlement information for newly arrived immigrants
Work with you to determine your immediate, short term and long-term settlement and employment goals
- Review your English language learning needs and help you to sign up for English training programs such as LINC English learning programs for everyday use and for the workplace
- Introduce you to ways to connect with your community
What are the services that SCFS Settlement Program offers?
Information & Orientation:
SCFS is committed to supporting the successful integration of immigrants and refugees into Canada. As part of this commitment, SCFS has developed a comprehensive settlement service program that directly supports newcomers to address their immediate and essential integration needs. Our team of diverse and multilingual settlement counselors assists newcomer clients to navigate and familiarize themselves with core Canadian systems and cultures and addresses a wide range of settlement-related topics.
One on One Counselling:
Newcomers will obtain the required support and skill to find and apply for employment opportunities in general labor, construction industries, cleaning companies, local food stores, and placement agencies. This program particularly allows newcomer youth to settle in and successfully contribute to society socially, economically, and culturally. It will also give the newcomers an opportunity to become involved within the community and develop a sense of belonging.
Community Connection:
A community outreach program provides professional services, or services of specific expertise, to people who might not otherwise be able to access them. Services are provided where there is the greatest need.
In this instance, SCFS is facilitating settlement services at Alta Vista and Elmvale Public Library Services to newcomers currently coordinated by settlement workers. These services include the English Group, French Conversation Group, Homework Help Program for Newcomers, and Canadian Citizenship Study Program.
Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP):
Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), SCFS has been offering free tax preparation to low-income Newcomer families since 2011. In order to provide a valuable service to their community, we have a group of volunteers who are dedicated to completing this program. We prepared tax returns for 393 newcomer low-income clients free of charge during our 2020 Income Tax Clinic in March and April. Our sincere thanks are extended to all our wonderful volunteers. We couldn’t have done it without them.
Training Programs:
As a part of its training program, SCFS offers Life Skills, Language, Employment Training, Financial Literacy, Citizenship Class Prep as well as Foreign Credential Assessment.
Life Skills:
SCFS’s Life Skills Training empowers newcomers to understand, adjust and fully participate in their settlement process. You will learn by sharing your experiences and listening to the experiences of other newcomers (and learn from each other). The program organizes activities based on your interest and what you would like to know to help understand your community. Helps newcomers develop skills to understand and adjust to how things are done in their new country of Canada.
What does this program offer?
Empowers newcomers by understanding what is right for them.
Helps newcomers to understand the settlement process they will go through.
Helps newcomers to have good communication within their family, neighbours and with other people they may meet every day.
It helps develop their self-confidence in talking to people or speaking in a group.
Helps them identify their personal barriers which can get in the way of success.
It helps them change his/her way of doing tasks.
At the end of the training, you will improve your English skills.
Language:
SCFS offers English, French, Somali, Swahili, and Arabic to newcomers trying to learn a new language or better their home language. SCFS staff members will teach high intermediate to advanced language skills needed to access higher levels of education and employment, including advanced conversation skills, Canadian culture, writing, and grammar. You will become a confident speaker Enjoy more classroom interaction
Employment Training:
SCFS helps newcomers succeed in Canada. Within our Immigrant Settlement Services, we offer a program for newcomers that helps them build professional networks, find mentors, learn about the Canadian labour market, access real employment opportunities, and improve their job search skills. Through workshops, digital platforms, and specific programming, SCFS provides newcomers with access to learning content.
Financial Literacy:
As newcomers to Canada become more educated and skilled, it is taking them longer to reach employment and income levels comparable to those of Canadian-born individuals with similar skills and education. In part, this is due to barriers that prevent many newcomers from securing employment in their fields of expertise, resulting in their underemployment (where the skills required for the job are lower than those of the worker). The lack of recognition of foreign credentials and the preference given to Canadian work experience by many employers remain obstacles to newcomers’ financial stability and integration. Fortunately, SCFS comes in and fills all those gaps with its Financial Literacy program to help newcomers integrate into their new communities.
Foreign Credential Assessment:
To work in some Canadian jobs, newcomers must have their foreign licenses and certificates recognized. This is a foreign credential recognition service offered by SCFS. Whether federal, provincial, or territorial standards are met will be determined by an authorized individual. If you have studied abroad, mastered a foreign language, or have worked abroad, they will review your qualifications
Interpretation & Translation:
Translating and interpreting services are essential as newcomers adjust to life in Canada. The translating service offered by SCFS is vital to getting access to appointments, documents, schools, healthcare, events, activities, and educational credentials. Translation services include the translation of documents, such as:
Drivers’ licenses
- Educational certificates and transcripts
- Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates
- Important documents
- Some healthcare records and reports
Throughout the process, our staff members are friendly, professional, and always respectful of newcomers’ privacy. Reach out today and we will be happy to hear from you.
