IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT & ADAPTATION PROGRAM

The ISAP Program assisted one hundred forty-seven (147) new clients during the ISAP year 2005-2006. These clients come from forty-four (44) countries. The countries of origin for these clients are Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burma, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, U.S.A. and Ukraine. The immigration categories are Assisted Relatives, Asylum Country (RA), Convention Refugees (CR), Family Class (FC), Humanitarian & Compassionate, Independent Class, Live-in Caregivers, Source Country (RS), and Intend to Land. According to our records, 80% of the newcomers are primary migrants and 20% are secondary migrants.

Settlement services were provided to five hundred and one (501)  previous and returning clients during this ISAP year from forty (40) different countries. The countries of origin are Afghanistan, Burma, Chechnya, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Trinidad, U.S. A., Ukraine and Vietnam. Two thousand and thirty (2,030) settlement and immigration services were provided to new, previous and returning clients in the areas of: immigration, reception, citizenship, ESL, OHIP registration, SIN application, job search and resumé writing, job bank, computer and internet skills, application for landing, independent class, family class sponsorship, foreign-trained professional information, passport renewal, internet access, income tax returns, pension, community resources, public library information, LINC and HOST referrals, general information, bank information, employment, employment counseling, translation and interpretation, referral, advocacy, needs assessment, information and orientation sessions.

Workshops and Information Sessions:

A total of 36 sessions of workshops or information/group sessions were conducted during the year, as follows:

• Six sessions of Driver’s preparation course which were conducted once a week  to prepare  new immigrants to write their beginner’s driver’s test.
• Two separate evenings of Income Tax Clinics coordinated by the Chartered Accountants Association of Ontario with volunteers from different accounting agencies in the city helped 127 low-income immigrants to file their income tax returns.
• Two sessions on Income Tax Information.
• Multiculturalism
• Presentation to parents on applying for different children’s services.
• Four sessions on Life Skills
• Fair Start Screening Information Session.
• Volunteering.
• Credit Counseling and Budgeting.
• Workshop on Effective Parenting, Child Safety and Household Hazards. coordinated by TBDHU spokesperson.
• P.R.O. Kids – Recreation Program Information session.
• Six sessions on Citizenship Preparation.
• Six sessions on Basic computer courses on Microsoft Word.

Professional Development

Settlement workers attended:

• Workshop on Advocacy for front line workers at Nishnawbe Mushkiki
• Legal Literary Workshops organized by Independent Living Resource Centre and METRAC
• Information and Referral Workshop

As part of our settlement services, ISAP workers compile information of interest to newcomers in a package format (community and recreation services and programs;  immigration matters; health and safety concerns, etc.). Newcomer Packages are regularly updated to ensure newcomers receive relevent and useful information. The packages are given to clients on their first visit to the agency as part of settlement services, and during the information sessions.