Infocentre

Information for managers of immigrant-serving organizations:

• What settlement programs does the federal government fund?
• How do I apply for funding from the federal government to provide settlement programs and services
• How can I keep up to date on CIC sponsored community events and programs?

What settlement programs does the federal government fund?

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)

This program provides basic training to adult immigrants in one of Canada's official languages. Every effort is made to ensure newcomers' ease of participation by offering LINC classes right in the communities on a full-time or part-time basis, daytime or evening, and by allowing up to three years to complete training. Child-minding services can be provided, and transportation costs covered, on an as-required basis.

The Canadian Language Benchmarks are a set of national standards or reference points for ESL programming used to describe a person's ability to use the English language to accomplish a set of tasks. Newcomers' language ability is assessed through the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment to determine their level of competency, so they can be referred to language training appropriate to their needs and abilities.

Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP)

There are two types of ISAP projects, described as Stream A and
Stream B. ISAP Stream A provides for the delivery of essential, direct services to newcomers, including:

• Reception: Immigrants are greeted upon arrival at the Port of Entry and provided with a "Welcome to Canada" kit, which includes valuable information to help newcomers begin to get settled.
• Referral: Newcomers are referred to various resources in the community that relate to economic, social, health, cultural, educational and recreational facilities in Canada. A worker from the SPO may accompany the client to the community resource, if necessary.
• Community Information/Orientation: Newcomers are assisted with such aspects of daily life as: public transportation; banking; daycare and babysitting; school registration; shopping for food and clothing; budgeting; nutrition and food preparation; household management; safety; housing (especially dealing with landlords and utility companies); etc. This includes an introduction to the local community to provide newcomers with a sense of belonging to the new community, and information concerning their rights and obligations.
• Interpretation and Translation: Interpreters are available to assist immigrants and refugees in their day-to-day activities and in accessing services prior to their becoming functional in English or French. Translation services are available for documents relating to employment, health, education and legal matters.
• Para-Professional Counselling: Non-therapeutic services (identifying needs, determining how to meet those needs, and helping the newcomer get help) are available to immigrants and refugees having difficulty adjusting to life in Canada.
• Employment-Related Services: These services include assistance in obtaining required certification of education and/or trade documents, and job finding clubs that hold sessions on intensive job search techniques, including résumé writing, interview skills, and use of the telephone.

Funding is also available through ISAP for pre-departure orientation session in some countries overseas. These sessions help to dispel unrealistic expectations some prospective newcomers may have about life in Canada, and prepare them for such aspects of Canadian life as climate, culture shock, employment, education, rights and responsibilities, housing, and cost of living.

ISAP Stream B proposals may be either regional or national. Regional proposals must support the particular region's priorities, and national proposals must involve more than one region. ISAP Stream B projects are sometimes referred to as providing indirect services, and must contribute to the improvement of the delivery of services. Some examples of acceptable ISAP Stream B projects are:

• conferences and seminars;
• publications and newsletters;
• audio-visuals;
• performing and visual arts activities;
• research; and
• training.

Host Program

The Host program funds the recruitment, training, matching, coordination and monitoring of volunteers (individuals or groups) who help newcomers adapt, settle and integrate into Canadian life.

Host is designed to help newcomers overcome the stress of moving to a new country by having a friend familiar with Canadian ways help them: learn about available services and how to use them; practise their language skills; develop contacts in their employment field; and participate in community activities. In return, Host volunteers acquire new friends, learn about other cultures and strengthen community life.

Note: Canadian citizens and refugee claimants are not eligible for any settlement services provided by the federal government.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Web site: http://www.cic.gc.ca

How do I apply for funding for the federal government to provide settlement programs and services?

Citizenship and Immigration funds eligible individuals, non-profit organizations, agencies serving immigrants, community groups, businesses, provincial and municipal governments, and educational institutions to provide settlement services to newcomers. Information and application forms for the three programs already discussed are available on the CIC web site.

How can I keep up to date on CIC sponsored community events and programs?

For information on community involvement, go to CIC’s Community Involvement web page.