FORTIFYING FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES
October 2011
ROLE OF SWIS IN SCHOOLS
Ministry Objectives:
 Help children adjust to school culture &
focus on learning
 School based settlement services
 Provide parents with information &
resources
 Partnership between Ministry of Jobs,
 Increase parents;
Tourism & Innovation & Ministry of
Education
 Understanding of Canadian culture &
schools
 Involvement in school & community
 Assess needs & barriers to successful
integration
 Increase access to programs & services
 Province wide since 2007
 Provide a bridge between home &
school as well as cultures
BASIC SWIS SERVICES
 Connect with new
immigrant families
 Provide Needs
Assessment:
 Physical
 Social
 Emotional
 Spiritual
Develop a Plan for
each member of
family
FAMILIES EXPERIENCE SETTLEMENT ISSUES
 Culture Shock
 Loss of Status
 job, identity, property, self-
esteem
 Loss of Cultural Values & Ethnic
Heritage
 Loss of Language Proficiency
 Absence of Extended Family
 Fragmentation from Family
 Isolation
 Dependency
 Inter-generational Stress
SUPPORTING FAMILIES
Provide Accurate & Timely Information
 Schools, culture, laws, rules, rights, resources, health care, housing,
shopping, cooking, legal aid, life skills, ELSA, daycare, employment
services, referrals to agencies and immigration services…….
Individualized Services
 Consider culture, stage of adaptation, family circumstances, personal and
family strengths - service individual needs of each family member…..
Group & Community Services
 Culture specific workshops, group coaching, social celebrations…..
KEY TO SUCCESS:
Emotional Connections/Attachments Based on:
 Unconditional acceptance
 Mutual respect/trust
 Positive regard
 Genuine care
 Support each individual and family unit with empathy and dignity
SERVICES PROVIDED 2010/2011
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
7304
3734
1681
1720
2759
2361
669
A DAY WITH A SWIS WORKER
MOVING FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE TO
SUPPORT FAMILIES
A DAY WITH SWIS…
Roya’s Journey
Becoming a SWIS worker
Common Barriers
Language
Prevents families from accessing basic needs,
resources
Housing
Limited income
Too few affordable units
Existing units present social problems for
newcomers
Health Care
Access to physicians in clients’ language very
limited
Food
Limited finances contributes to poor diet
Mental Health
 Increasing numbers of clients requiring
Mental Health services
 Very limited counselling services
Success Stories
A DAY WITH SWIS…
Lecia’s Journey
 Becoming a SWIS worker
“Jose’s” Story
Family background
 Searching for Support
Trauma Counselling required
Language, Cost, Distance
Barriers
Age Appropriate
Frequency of Service
Working with whole family
 Results
A DAY WITH SWIS…
Soheila’s Journey
Becoming a SWIS worker
“Rihana’s” Story
Family Background
Rihana’s challenges
Searching for Support –
Plan of Action
Coordinating Services
Family Education
Celebrating Success
Moving forward
Learning to cope with
new challenges
Towards independence
Services adapt to
changing needs
A DAY WITH SWIS…..
Stella’s Journey
Becoming a SWIS worker
Yin & Yang of working as SWIS
“Mei’s” story
Where to get help?
How to access MH service?
Unbalanced parenting roles
Lack of support from extended
families
“Farax’s” story
Teach basic life skills in the city
Match SWIS service to client’s
adaptation stages
Introduce to her own community
Connect beyond language barrier
QUESTIONS…