2017 Embracing Diversity Full Report

When asked about what type of community they envisioned, one service provider said:
“A warm and welcoming community that is sensitive
to the various cultures of newcomers.”
Service Provider
The service providers identified various impacts related to the services and supports they provide to
newcomers, including: finding employment, integration into the workforce, income stability, improved
language skills, and cultivating love for the community. They also noted increasing their organizational
understanding of culture and customs. This said, one service provider explained that they tend to be
reactive when it comes to the needs of newcomers and they would prefer to be proactive.
Several health needs were identified by the service providers as not being met, including
counselling for mental health, providing specialized care for physical needs (e.g. prosthetics),
and responding to dental and dietary needs. Importantly, participants emphasized the need for
these supports and services to be language-appropriate and provided by individuals who would
respect unique cultural needs. Educational needs were also identified as being key for newcomers,
including: educational assessments that take into consideration education received abroad, ESL
for specific age groups (i.e. youth and teens) and cultural sensitivity training for front-line service
providers, such as teachers.
Reflecting on the importance of collaboration in response to such needs, all of the service providers
agreed that working together is extremely important. At the same time, they acknowledged that
the combined efforts of service providers, employers, and community organizations needs to be
strengthened. It was again suggested that one organization take the lead while leveraging the
knowledge and capacity of community-based organizations working directly with newcomers.
Furthermore, they felt that this should be coupled with targeted action and supports for more
vulnerable groups, such as temporary foreign workers.
Employers
Four employers participated in a group interview as part of this research study. The employers
included a public service organization as well as businesses from two sectors, manufacturing and
construction. The stakeholders interviewed included owners and upper management and senior
human resource staff. The issue of helping newcomers in Perth and Huron find employment is
one that is critical for the area’s future success. As discovered in the focus groups with newcomers,
half were unemployed whereas only 16% of NONA survey participants were unemployed in 2015.
Therefore, the insights shared by regional employers have been valuable sources for understanding
this issue and coming up with possible solutions.
34 Service Providers and Supporting Organizations