non-profit organization

Settlement Program

SETTLEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW (2021-2023)

During 2021-2023, our settlement team transitioned to a virtual service model to support Afghan refugees who arrived in Canada after significant trauma. The pandemic complicated their situation by isolating them from needed services. Despite these challenges, we developed practices to serve our newcomer community, conducted an evaluation of our services, and incorporated the findings into our programming.

Our staff and volunteers-initiated programs to assist newcomers, seniors, and single parents. These included distributing welcome packages, providing food at CCO4WY’s Community Food Hut, conducting wellness calls for isolated seniors, and offering phone-based services such as needs assessments, access to government benefits, form filling assistance, translation, interpretation, and referrals.

We offered information and orientation sessions about the Canadian context and community connection group sessions via Zoom and other social media channels. Our staff served newcomers in a gender and culturally sensitive manner, offering multilingual settlement services. We exceeded our service targets in settling newly arrived refugees, contributing to their integration and participation in Canada.

As Canada continues to welcome refugees and the pandemic strains our systems, the demand for community settlement supports will increase. We are prepared to continue strengthening our services to help newcomers thrive in their new communities.