Searching for Refugees

Provides health services to vulnerable newcomers to the Kitchener-Waterloo region

Services designed to help immigrants settle in Canada

The Immigration Partnership helps facilitate successful settlement, integration and community involvement of immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region.

Provides information about school system for newcomer students whose first language is not English ~ language and math skills assessment

Welcome and support people in the community seeking refuge in Canada by:

• providing assistance with the refugee claim process
• accessing a network of settlement supports
• advocating for a fair and just environment for refugees in Canada

**This organization DOES NOT offer immigration or sponsorship support.

The primary focus of the school-based settlement service is to assist parents and their children with settlement needs through a systematic outreach to all new arrivals, needs assessment and action planning, orientation and information on school and community, referrals and assistance to access other community services.

• Clubs and after-school activities
• Connect to school staff
• Homework and academic supports
• Information and Mothers' groups
• Referrals to important community resources
• Rights and responsibilities
• School registration
• Youth-related issues

Provide settlement and employment services to assist immigrant and refugees

• Cultural Diversity Program
• Language Interpretation
• English Language Assessment and Referral Services
• Settlement Services
• Employment Resource Centre
• Language Interpretation
• English Language Assessment and Referral Centre

Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Centre

• Eligibility screening, language skills assessment and referral to government-funded English language programs including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), LINC Home Study, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, Enhanced Language Training (ELT), Occupation-Specific Language Training (OSLT), and Specialized Language Training (SLT)

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a global, non-profit organization that strives to share compassion for all by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice. In the Waterloo region, MCC walks toward reconciliation with Indigenous Neighbours, alongside newcomers building a new life in Canada through refugee sponsorship, and support those impacted by crime or facing the realities of poverty and homelessness.

The Mentorship Program brings internationally-trained professionals together with established professionals for a series of in-person and online meetings to discuss their profession and create an individualized career plan. Mentorship is a one-on-one match between newcomer participants (mentee) and program volunteers (mentors). These strategic mentoring matches allow newcomer mentees to learn about Canadian workplace culture, make critical networking connections, and learn how to increase their marketability by leveraging their skills and previous international experience. By the end of the mentoring journey, newcomer mentees have developed a more relevant and strategic career plan to continue their career in Canada with confidence.

Provides information and assistance in the following areas:

• Completing forms and documents
• Personal and family settlement process
• Immigration and legal issues
• Employment and education
• Interpretation and translation
• Canadian life and culture
• Information, advisement and support
• Access to programs and services

Core programs:

• Counseling services on a sliding scale
• Leadership programs for women
• Youth mental health programs
• Programs for refugees and newcomers such as English Conversation circles and Yoga classes twice a month
• Programs for kids such as Healing through Art and Healing through Music
  

Levant Canada is a non-profit organization that supports refugees fleeing crises and promotes newcomers' empowered integration into Canadian life. Levant privately sponsors refugees seeking safety in Canada. Through artistic, cultural, and athletic programming, facilitate newcomers' integration into Canadian life and encourage exchange between newcomers and established Canadians. Programs and events foster intercultural dialogue, create a sense of belonging in the community, and support newcomers' pride in their home cultures. Visit website or contact us to learn more about our programs and activities, including:

• Levant Soccer Club
• Steps Dance Club
• Community Dabke Group
• Refugee Sponsorship
• Levant's Annual Cultural Event
• And more

Settlement services support the settlement and integration of newcomers in the community, recognizing that successful integration is a two way process that requires adjustments for both newcomers and receiving communities. This can include assistance with forms, referrals, orientation, translation and interpretation. From something as simple as getting an Ontario drivers license to something as complex as how to sponsor family members to come in Canada, this service can help.

Offer a wide range of culturally and linguistically appropriate services to Canadian-born citizens, naturalized citizens, permanent residents, refugees, international students and temporary foreign workers to help them settle and integrate into the community.

Successful integration is a two way process that requires adjustments for both newcomers and the community; settlement workers work closely with other agencies, businesses and all levels of government to ensure this happens.

Assists clients with issues they are encountering in adapting to their new home and ensuring that agency services are accessible to them regardless of how long they have been in Canada. Offers settlement services in-house and throughout the community.

Many of the Settlement Counsellors work out of branches of both the Waterloo and Kitchener Public Libraries to better reach the community.

WMB Church comes alongside refugees in the community by providing housing and practical, financial and relational support through our partnership with Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support (MCRS) and a network of hosts and other volunteers.

Provides information and assistance in the following areas:

• Completing forms and documents
• Personal and family settlement process
• Immigration and legal issues
• Employment and education
• Interpretation and translation
• Canadian life and culture
• Information, advisement and support
• Access to programs and services

Provide settlement and employment services to assist immigrant and refugees

• Cultural Diversity Program
• Language Interpretation
• English Language Assessment and Referral Services
• Settlement Services
• Employment Resource Centre
• Language Interpretation
• English Language Assessment and Referral Centre

Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Centre

• Eligibility screening, language skills assessment and referral to government-funded English language programs including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), LINC Home Study, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, Enhanced Language Training (ELT), Occupation-Specific Language Training (OSLT), and Specialized Language Training (SLT)

The Mentorship Program brings internationally-trained professionals together with established professionals for a series of in-person and online meetings to discuss their profession and create an individualized career plan. Mentorship is a one-on-one match between newcomer participants (mentee) and program volunteers (mentors). These strategic mentoring matches allow newcomer mentees to learn about Canadian workplace culture, make critical networking connections, and learn how to increase their marketability by leveraging their skills and previous international experience. By the end of the mentoring journey, newcomer mentees have developed a more relevant and strategic career plan to continue their career in Canada with confidence.

Services designed to help immigrants settle in Canada

Services include:

• settlement counselling and orientation:
• information and referral
• assistance with government benefits application
• assessment of English language skills
• referral to English language instruction

Settlement Services -- services to enable immigrants and refugees to integrate into Canadian society including orientation programs, language and skills training to help facilitate employment, and programs to welcome newcomers to the community. Needs and eligibility assessments, post-arrival information and referral to job search and employment counselling, assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement, and assistance to access a range of settlement and community services.

Settlement Workers in Schools Program (SWIS) -- provides settlement support to newcomer families in schools during the school year (Sep-Jun). Settlement workers connect with newcomer students and families. One-on-one and group settings. Provide settlement-related information for successful integration * services are available to all UGDSB and WCDSB schools.

Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Services (CLARS) -- Eligibility screening, language skills assessment and referral to government-funded English language programs including Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), LINC Home Study, English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, Enhanced Language Training (ELT), Occupation-Specific Language Training (OSLT), and Specialized Language Training (SLT).

Translation and Interpretation Program Services (TIPS) -- services for individuals and organizations

Employment Counselling Services -- assistance with resumés and job search, employment training including Canadian workplace culture, computer skills, and worker health and safety information.

Programs and Groups:

• income tax clinics, income tax information sessions
• Orientation to Ontario Workshop
• English conversation circles
• one-on-one conversation practice
• Women's Group
• Seniors' groups

Information Sessions -- available monthly on a variety of topics, visit calendar for details.

Commissioner of Oaths

COVID-19 Update: HIV testing is not available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current COVID-19 precautions will remain in place until at least September 2021 for the safety of clients, staff, and the community.

Support Services: counselling for persons living with HIV/AIDS to assess needs and establish a continuum of support service.

Religious organization