Building Capacity
Strengthening the Sector
SettleNet.org / Réseau-Etab.org
SettleNet.org/Réseau-Etab.org is the national bilingual online community of practice for the immigrant and refugee-serving sector. We enhanced the platform to improve the search function and to allow users to view and play content from social media sites.
Platform users were kept updated on new information and developments through monthly updates. We continued to expand the user community through social media promotion, presentations at sector conferences, and targeted information sessions for groups of users. Next year we will recruit Ambassadors to help reach more users and promote the platform.
| 1,260+ | 3,300+ | 21 | 3,700+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| new members | interactions | new groups | monthly update subscribers |
OCASI Conferences
Every other year OCASI holds a Professional Development (PD) Conference, primarily for frontline workers and a policy conference every other year primarily for Executive Directors. These events are member-agency centered.
In 2021, OCASI held a PD conference featuring keynote addresses by Senator Kim Pate and Dr. Ingrid Waldron, and concurrent breakout sessions on a range of sector priorities. For the second time, the Conference was held virtually due to public health COVID-19 restrictions.
Professional Education and Training
Affectionately referred to as PET, this initiative provides financial support to IRCC-funded organizations to pay for individual or group training for their staff. This year all group training sessions were delivered virtually. PET participants included staff in a variety of roles from frontline workers to senior managers. Organizations from across Ontario took advantage of this vital resource.
| +1,300 | 21+ | +60 |
|---|---|---|
| practitioners | organizations | training courses |
Online Learning
Training for Employment Support Services prepares learners to provide employment-related services, support and referrals for refugee, immigrant and migrant clients. Courses include critical analysis to understand employment-related issues and develop their capacity for client advocacy.
Serving Youth in Newcomer Communities course modules use an intersectional framework to prepare learners to identify systemic oppression, and apply the understanding in their work with migrant youth. This year we began preparations to develop new course content.
“Regardless of your profession, I believe this course will help all of us to understand newcomer youth and their family and for us to help them effectively”
| 184 |
|---|
| graduates |
SettlementAtWork.Org / SecteurEtablissement.Org
Positioned as the knowledge hub for the immigrant and refugee-serving sector in Ontario, we provide time-sensitive news and information to sector practitioners. Our resources are provided in English and French. Our websites feature Calls for Proposals from funders, research reports, operations manuals for government programs and services, current practices, guides, online training, sector events and professional opportunities.
Maximizing Governance
This City of Toronto funded partnership initiative provides governance training for board members and senior leaders of community-based non-profit agencies. Our popular coaching component allows organizations to receive training and guidance from an experienced coach to achieve specific goals. We also continued to provide webinars and learning sessions.
“Thank you for that terrific webinar yesterday. It was very well presented, and I learned many things I want to apply to our organization”
| 7 | 665 | 13 |
|---|---|---|
| interactive sessions | board members and senior leaders participated | webinars |
Allies in Refugee Integration / Allies Pour L’Integration Des Refugies
This partnership project supports service providers and sponsorship groups to coordinate their efforts in providing settlement and community services for sponsored refugees. This phase of the project concluded in November 2021. Our final report includes key highlights and data, project evaluation and recommendations to IRCC. We look forward to launching ARI 2.0 next year, featuring a deeper engagement with service providers, private refugee sponsors, formerly sponsored refugees and other stakeholders.
Journeys to Active Citizenship (JAC) / Chemins vers une citoyenneté active
This project develops civic engagement program models and curriculum tools for immigrant and refugee serving agencies. This year, three OCASI member agencies successfully piloted JAC activities. We supported the pilot by developing new curriculum activities and providing training for agency staff. We hosted a successful virtual roundtable event attended by more than 50 people. We also launched a new program website. JAC is a unique five-year partnership project between OCASI, North York Community House, and Democratic Engagement Exchange.
| 14 | 300 | 200+ |
|---|---|---|
| workshops | clients reached | new Twitter followers |
