Release of New Report On Inclusion of Immigrant Families: May 26, 2010

Release of New Report on Immigrant Families in Ottawa, May 26, 2010

Are you a member of the public, a community worker, policy maker or community activist who is interested in immigrant issues in Ottawa?

Please join us for the release of a new report by the Social Planning Council of Ottawa:  Immigrant Children, Youth and Families:  A Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges of Integration.

Wednesday May 26, 2010
5:30 – 6:15 p.m. 
Social Planning Council Annual General Meeting
6:15 – 7:00 p.m. 
Dinner and Displays of the work of Ethnocultural Organizations in Ottawa
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.        
Presentation and Discussion around key issues affecting immigrant families, children and youth

To register, for more information or for accommodations, please call or e-mail Helene by May 15 at 613-236-9300 ext. 300 office@spcottawa.on.ca.  Admission is free!  Donations are gratefully accepted.

The report focuses on immigrant and refugee children, youth and families. The aim is to increase understanding of the distinct challenges they face, and includes input from immigrant families in focus groups held by the Social Planning Council. The content is divided in three sections: a) conceptual framework, b) uniqueness of Francophone immigrant families and c) challenges of the integration process.  This report builds on our previous research, including Immigrants’ Economic Integration: Successes and Challenges, June 2009 which is available on our website at www.spcottawa.on.ca.  To order hard copies please contact the office at office@spcottawa.on.ca or call 613-236-9300 ext. 300.  We would appreciate a donation for a hard copy.

This report is part of a new three year project, called “Families in Community”, to enhance inclusion practice and policy related to supporting immigrant families and the small ethno-cultural groups which serve these families.  The objectives for the Families in Community project are to:
• Increase understanding of best practices for small ethno-cultural groups;
• Increase capacity of small ethno-cultural organizations through networking, capacity and skill building events;
• Improve supports to new immigrant families in Ottawa provided by small ethno-cultural organizations;
• Increase access by new immigrant families to existing mainstream family support services; and
• Document and disseminate learning from the project to diverse stakeholders.

Subsequent phases of the project will include an analysis of best/good practices for integrating immigrant families, the implementation of 8 pilot projects by ethnocultural organizations and the development of a resource kit.

The project, and this event, are made possible through the support of Human Resources Development Canada (Social Development Partnerships Program) and United Way / Centraide Ottawa.