The Neighborhood Immigrant Settlement Worker (NISW) program has been in the Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) since 2012, and is supported through a funding agreement with Immigrants, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The NISW program helps permanent resident newcomer and refugee families throughout LRSD with their transition to life in Canada.
Pictured from left to right: Iftu Ibrahim, Marcel Lembissa, Yana Zheleva
One of the main functions of the NISW team is to meet with new permanent residents and, through a needs assessment process, collaborate to create a settlement plan to support their goals. The personal background and histories of clients are widely different and each one's experience on arrival is unique. The NISW team seeks to build trusting and respectful relationships with newcomer families and create programs based on their needs. The plan may include making referrals to appropriate agencies and community supports.
Newcomer permanent residents often seek support in:
- Gaining information on healthcare services
- Finding employment opportunities
- Preparing for the workforce
- Finding available and suitable housing
- Accessing education and job training
- Learning about community programs and services
Many of the NISW program's newcomer clients have limited or no access to social and professional networks. As a result, the program creates connections with community service providers and institutions that support newcomer families. The team works in close collaboration with local organizations, including EDGE Skills Centre, Accueil Francophone, Mount Carmel Clinic, and Frontier College, to better serve the needs of its clients. The NISW program offers its services in both English and French, as well as several other languages.
The team collaborates with LRSD school administrators and teachers to provide additional support with school registration, in-person school meetings and other resources that may be needed by newcomer families. It also offers youth programs that help children make new friends, improve their English language skills and learn about living in Canada.
COVID-19
Following all current public health guidelines, the NISW program has maintained its commitment to the community through a mix of remote and in-person services. Orientation, case management and support for permanent residents is now completed primarily by phone. Despite the challenges of navigating the pandemic, the team has been able to mobilize supports, make appropriate referrals to resources and liaise with service providers and government agencies.
Due to COVID-19 and the limitations on providing in-person services for families, the team has transitioned to an online service delivery model, providing virtual programs and support for clients. Working with clients in a virtual environment is a new endeavor for the team, but it has provided an opportunity to reach clients who don't usually attend in-person programs.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the NISW team have offered eight virtual programs and engaged clients from more than 15 nationalities. For many newcomers, the virtual programs offered are their primary form of socialization, communication and settlement in Canada.
