Searching for Refugees

Offers services to enable immigrants and refugees to integrate into Canadian society, including:

Orientation and Adaptation Services

• Offers needs assessment and information and referral to community and social services, support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• Provides help filling out government forms including housing and immigration sponsorship forms
• Offers workshops to reduce stress of adjusting to Canadian culture

Commissioner of Oaths

• Serves as a Commissioner of Oaths for verifying original documents

Translation and Interpretation Services

• Provides translation services (includes documents)

Supportive counselling

• Provides short-term counselling to clients who encounter difficulties in adjusting to life in Canada and assistance in overcoming these challenges

Job search preparation and training

• Provides assistance in developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment counselling

• Offers resume help, employment counselling, skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

NBDMC is a LGBTQ2S+ Positive Space

Offers settlement and community orientation services for immigrants and refugees, including:

Orientation and Adaptation Services

• Offers needs assessment and information and referral to community and social services, support with finding housing, child care, registering children in school and health care
• Provides help filling out government forms including housing and immigration sponsorship forms
• Offers workshops to reduce stress of adjusting to Canadian culture

Commissioner of Oaths

• Serves as a Commissioner of Oaths for verifying original documents

Translation and Interpretation Services

• Offers professionally trained interpreters with expertise in health, community and social services

Supportive counselling

• Provides short-term counselling to clients who encounter difficulties in adjusting to life in Canada and assistance in overcoming these challenges

Job search preparation and training

• Provides assistance in developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment counselling

• Offers resume help, employment counselling, skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

Provides newcomers with an array of settlement services which include:

• A comprehensive library of multilingual printed resources
• Information on housing, education, health care, employment and employment preparation skills
• Assistance in filling out government forms
• Referrals to community services
• A calendar of settlement events and workshop series
• Coffee Talk, an informal English conversation group

Coordinated Language Assessment and Referral Centre

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

Offers services to facilitate the settlement of Francophone newcomers to the Greater Sudbury area, including:

Orientation and Adaptation Services

• Offers needs assessment and information and referral to community and social services
• Offers support with finding housing and help with connecting to language classes (French as a Second Language or English as a Second Language)
• Provides help filling out government forms including housing and immigration sponsorship forms

Translation and interpretation services

• Offers professionally trained interpreters with expertise in health, community and social services
• Provides translation and revision

Supportive counselling

• Provides short-term counselling to clients who encounter difficulties in adjusting to life in Canada and assistance in overcoming these challenges

Job search centre

• Offers resource materials, job boards and labour market information

Job search preparation and training

• Provides assistance in developing strong job search strategies and workplace communication skills

Employment counselling

• Offers resume help, employment counselling, skills and career development and help in establishing social and professional networks

Provides a variety of programs and services to francophone newcomers, including:

• Settlement Services
• Support and Guidance Services
• Employment Preparation Services
• Social and Cultural Services
• Referral Services
• Community Development Services
• Free use of telephone
• Cross cultural education
• Advocacy services
• Leadership development services
• Job listings
• Labour market information
• Free use of telephone
• Translation / Interpretation
• Needs Assessments
• General information / Orientation
• Filling out government forms and applications

Offers services to enable immigrants and refugees to integrate into Canadian society including:

• Orientation programs
• Language and skills training to help facilitate employment
• Programs to welcome newcomers to the community
• Provides needs and eligibility assessments
• Pre- and post-arrival information and referral
• Job search and employment counselling
• Assistance to establish social and professional networks to promote community engagement
• Assistance to access a range of settlement services

A community partnership focused on the development of settlement strategies for newcomers. Activities include:

• bringing together and supporting service delivery to newcomers in Simcoe County
• promoting positive relationships, opportunity, and effective use of local resources.

Local Immigration Partnerships are designed to:

• Support better coordination in the planning and delivery of integration services to newcomers.
• Facilitate the development and application of a community-based settlement plan for newcomers.
• Strengthen the capacity of the community in supporting and welcoming newcomers by improving access to employment and social opportunities.
• Achieve better results due to increased economic, social, and community participation by newcomers.

Works to strengthen the role of local communities across the province in integrating and serving the newcomer population

• advocate for the newcomer voice and create partnerships that improve settlement outcomes for newcomers

Website provides information about:

• settlement services
• Canadian identification
• Canadian money and banking
• health care
• finding a job / starting a business
• Social Insurance Number
• housing
• food
• transportation
• school registration
• learning English
• utilities
• finding a family doctor
• children's immunizations
• Canadian tax information

This program extends the Welcome Centre settlement services to newcomer clients living in Simcoe County. Services provided in the Welcome Centre system are mirrored and supplied to outreach locations through mobile delivery.

Assists individuals in gathering information and resources and provides support in a welcoming and culturally sensitive manner.

Clients are encouraged to develop a one-to-one trusting relationship with staff, while accessing all the services they require to help integrate economically and socially into their local communities.

Also supports volunteer led English Conversation Circles, where participants practice English skills and meet other newcomers in their community (at certain locations).

Core immigrant services include:

• settlement services
• employment services
• accreditation and qualification information assistance
• English language skills
• other supports to connect newcomers with local services

Serves clients by individual appointments at various locations and can deliver to other areas in Simcoe County throughout the week based on request.

English language assessment done in partnership with Achēv Language Services.

All services are currently being provided virtually.

Accreditation Qualifications and Information Services -- information and help for international professionals to develop plans to obtain professional recognition * one-on-one confidential interviews, group information sessions, individualized action plan,
cross-cultural information, referral to interpretation services or document translation

Strategic Consulting Services -- identify service gaps within the community and develop program responses to fill needs

Newcomer Services -- settlement services provided through various Welcome Centre Immigrant Services offices (see separate entries)

Child care and Ontario EarlyON program (see separate entries)

COVID19 In-person and virtual services available; phone and virtual counselling to frontline health workers and their families, and others members of the public, in Ontario; also assists permanent residents, convention refugees, student visa and work permit holders with Employment Insurance (EI)and Canada Emergency Resource Benefit (CERB) applications

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Linguistically and culturally sensitive counselling and settlement services for individuals and families

Counselling and Psychotherapy
Individual, group, couple, marital and family counselling and mental health psychotherapy, for issues such as elder abuse, family violence, wife assault, male batterers, incest, sexual assault, offenders, bereavement, problem gambling, substance abuse; crisis intervention; referrals to community partners as necessary

• consultation for human service providers
• satellite offices (limited hours, by appointment only) in Toronto (602 Queen St W), Markham (5665 14th Ave), Mississauga (720 Burnhamthorpe Rd W, Unit 2), and Unionville (600 Village Pkwy)

Family programs, including parenting and family life education, and youth counselling and leadership development

Partner Assault Response (PAR)
12 week group education and counselling program on domestic violence and non-abusive ways of resolving conflict

• victims/partners of the offender provided with support including safety planning, referrals to community resources, and information on offender's progress
• group counselling in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese

Settlement Program
Orientation, needs and eligibility assessments, interpretation and translation; information and referral topics include immigration, issues of concern to refugees and foreign domestic workers, citizenship, social assistance benefits, legal aid, housing, child care, English classes, and education and employment training

• computer access
• job search and employment counselling
• assistance in accessing services

Housing and Transitional Support Program
Counselling, information and referrals, crisis intervention and case management for women who have experienced violence, and their children

• community services information on issues such as housing, legal, financial, health care, immigration, children's services
• settlement support including assistance setting up safety plan, ongoing counselling and support

Publishes online Camps Guide of accredited day and residential camps for children and youth, including camps for children with special needs and camps with subsidies

• online job board
• training events and conferences for camping professionals

To find camps or outdoor centres visit website for list of accredited programs, or to search online directory

Community Settlement Services

• one-on-one and group settlement services available to new permanent residents, convention refugees and refugee claimants
• information and referral
• orientation
• formerly Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program

English Language Support -- group conversation circles for newcomers

Community Building -- working with residents on local issues to improve social networks and economic security

Skills and Leadership

• training in leadership, group facilitation skills, peer leadership, and practicums in these areas, for adults
• Newcomer Youth Leadership Training
• employment readiness -- orientation to Canadian workplace culture, employment counselling and assessment, small business development support
• financial literacy workshops

COVID19 -- services provided by phone or online, as well as in-person services

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Information and training support services

• online applications and forms, serves Canada (except Quebec)

Limited in-person appointments are available in Keele and Finch offices. Also, services continue to be offered via phone, email and online


Settlement Services

• orientation to life in Ontario; information on immigration issues
• accessing government resources including social assistance, income security, child tax benefits
• assistance with search for housing and social housing
• emotional support

Helping Our Newcomers Prepare for Employment/Entrepreneurial Success (HOPES) Program: resettlement stress support, education, skills and experience support

LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada): provides basic English skills in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto --see separate entry

Language Instruction Giving Hope to Trauma Survivors (LIGHTS) Program: alternative language program that provides functional English as a second or additional language (ESL/EAL) instruction to vulnerable newcomers who experience emotional, cognitive, or academic barriers to learning in traditional English classes

Provides programs and services to Lao communities across Ontario

Services

• information and referral including employment
• settlement and counselling
• translation and interpretation
• documentation and form filling
• social and cultural events
• community radio program, sports activities
• advocacy, community development and volunteer recruitment
• annual music and cultural festival

Settlement Services

• orientation to life in Ontario; information on immigration issues
• accessing government resources including social assistance, income security, child tax benefits
• assistance with search for housing and social housing
• emotional support

Helping Our Newcomers Prepare for Employment/Entrepreneurial Success (HOPES) Program: resettlement stress support, education, skills and experience support

LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada): provides basic English skills in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto --see separate entry

Language Instruction Giving Hope to Trauma Survivors (LIGHTS) Program: alternative language program that provides functional English as a second or additional language (ESL/EAL) instruction to vulnerable newcomers who experience emotional, cognitive, or academic barriers to learning in traditional English classes

COVID19 -- full-time in-person services have resumed, Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm; call 416-533-8545 or email info@spanishservices.org; appointments only - no walk-ins


Settlement Program

• information, counselling and referral
• assistance with completing government and social services application forms
• ESL classes
• commissioner of oaths
• interpretation and translation services
• monthly settlement workshops

Violence Against Women (VAW) Program

• individual crisis counselling and group counselling by telephone or in person
• support groups for isolated women and their children
• information and orientation about legal rights
• assistance leaving the abusive home, finding transitional housing and applying for social assistance

Volunteer Program

Volunteer opportunities with ESL classes, food security assistance and interpretation and translation assistance

Seniors Program

• art-based workshops
• informational workshops

Legal Clinic, see separate record

HIV and AIDS Prevention Services, see separate record

Office open however safety measures remain

• information about emergency shelter social legal and health services
• information and referral on refugee claim process and settlement services
• work permits

COVID19 -- Follows all current public health restrictions


Provides support and expertise to groups involved in refugee sponsorship and resettlement

• refugee sponsorship training, toolkit and online resource centre
• public awareness of refugee needs

Represents the Anglican Diocese of Toronto and supports the Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada as a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)

Settlement Services

• orientation to life in Ontario; information on immigration issues
• accessing government resources including social assistance, income security, child tax benefits
• assistance with search for housing and social housing
• emotional support

Helping Our Newcomers Prepare for Employment/Entrepreneurial Success (HOPES) Program: resettlement stress support, education, skills and experience support

LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada): provides basic English skills in English, upon assessment by YMCA of Greater Toronto --see separate entry

Language Instruction Giving Hope to Trauma Survivors (LIGHTS) Program: alternative language program that provides functional English as a second or additional language (ESL/EAL) instruction to vulnerable newcomers who experience emotional, cognitive, or academic barriers to learning in traditional English classes

Carrefour des Immigrants FrancoQueer (CIF)

• settlement and integration services
• information, orientation and reference
• information and orientation workshops
• help with refugee application process and follow up
• discussion groups and peer support, including matching with someone already settled
• social integration activities to adapt to Canadian life
• psychosocial support and crisis counselling

Bilingual program that facilitates settlement of newcomers to Ontario

• provides newcomers with free online and in-person information/orientation about settling in Ontario, and connects them to community services
• informational workshops take place in-person at settlement agencies across the province and/or online via webinars.
• online resources also available for free 24/7 at the O2O website.

Coordinated by COSTI Immigrant Services and jointly funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Province of Ontario.