With so many people fleeing their countries in the face of violence, aggression and conflict, the question of how to resettle people successfully in their new homelands has become more important than ever before. Researcher Julie Drolet has studied resilience in the face of disaster, as well as fostering welcoming communities that promote the economic, social and civic integration of migrants and minorities in Canada. Read on to learn more about strategies that contribute to the successful resettlement of refugees in a new country. To view a recording of the webinar, visit http://www.ucalgary.ca/explore/lessons-refugee-resettlement

1. Lessons in Refugee Resettlement
Julie Drolet
Associate Professor
Faculty of Social Work
January 17, 2017

2. Welcome
 Associate Professor of Social Work at the
University of Calgary
 PhD and MSW from McGill University; BSW
from University of Regina and BA from
University of Toronto
 Research focuses on international social
work including Canadian immigrant and
refugee settlement and disaster social work
and recovery
 Former UNFPA Program Officer in
Cameroon and UNHCR Intern in Malawi
 In 2016, awarded a Killam Emerging
Research Leader Award (SSHRC)
 Invited member of the Western Region
Research Advisory Committee
 Co-Investigator in Pathways to Prosperity
Research Partnership (www.p2pcanada.ca)
 Co-edited a new book “Canadian
Perspectives on Immigration in Small Cities”
published in 2016

3. Outline
 Key definitions
 Global and Canadian
context
 Resettlement
journey of refugees
and settlement
needs
 Situation of Syrian
refugees
 Welcoming
community, best
practices and
lessons learned

4. Who is a Refugee?
The 1951 Refugee
Convention states
that:
“a refugee is a
person who has
fled his/her country
because of a well-
founded fear of
persecution on one
of five grounds:
race, religion,
nationality,
membership of a
particular social
group or political
opinion” (UN,
1951).
(UNHCR/Ivor Prickett)

5. Global Refugee Crisis
According to UNHCR
we are witnessing the
highest levels of
displacement on
record (UNHCR, 2016)
UNHCR Global Trends
report finds 65.3
million people, or one
person in 113, were
displaced from their
homes by conflict and
persecution in 2015
(UNHCR, 2016)
The vast majority of the world’s refugees
– nine out of 10 – are hosted in the global
South. Half are children, and half come
from three war-torn countries – Syria,
Afghanistan and Somalia (UNHCR, 2016)
(UNHCR, Hollandse Hoogte/Warren Richardson)

6. Global Refugee Crisis
 Global context
• stats

7. Durable Solutions
 There are three durable solutions:
• Voluntary repatriation
• Refugee return in safety and dignity to their country of origin and re-avail themselves of
national protection
• Local integration
• Refugees integrate in the host country and avail themselves of the national protection of
the host government
• Resettlement
Resettlement definition:
“Resettlement involves the selection and transfer of refugees from a State in
which they have sought protection to a third State which has agreed to admit
them – as refugees – with permanent residence status. The status provided
ensures protection against refoulement and provides a resettled refugee and
his/her family or dependants with access to rights similar to those enjoyed by
nationals. Resettlement also carries with it the opportunity to eventually become
a naturalized citizen of the resettlement country” (UNHCR, 2011, p. 3).

8. Impact of Resettlement
 Over the past 60 years resettlement has provided
millions of people with protection and the
opportunity to build new lives for themselves and
their families
 Refugees have made important contributions to the
countries that received them
 Canada is an immigrant-receiving nation
 Communities must be prepared to welcome and
support resettled refugees

9. Context in Canada
 Population
• Aging population and
aging workforce;
320,932 newcomers
in 2016; total
population is
36,300,000
 Welcoming Country
• Canada is one of the
most welcoming
societies among
immigrant-receiving
countries
 Humanitarianism
• Canada’s history and
strong commitment
to humanitarian goals
by resettling refugees

10. Integration model
Director General, Integration-FCRO, IRCC, 2016

11. Resettlement
 The three refugee streams:
 Government Assisted Refugees (GARs)
• Supported by the federal government for one year
 Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs)
• Supported by private sponsors for one year
 Blended Visa Office-Referred Refugees (BVORs)
• Supported by federal government and private sponsors,
each covering costs for six months of the first year

12. Settlement Journey
 Before arriving in Canada
• Pre-arrival services delivered
in-person and online
information on living and
working in Canada
• Orientation Abroad classes
for refugees
(CIC, 2016)

13. Short-term
(Infographic, CIC, 2016)

14. Medium-term
(Infographic, CIC, 2016)

15.  Medium-term
• Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) support for ARs
• Service Provider Organizations (SPO) help newcomers
integrate by providing assistance with:
• needs assessment and referrals;
• information and orientation to help newcomers make informed
settlement decisions;
• language assessment and training to help adult newcomers
function in Canadian society and contribute to the economy;
• support for newcomers to find and retain employment, including
referrals to assess foreign credentials;
• building networks in communities; and
• helping refugees fill out forms for health insurance, social
insurance numbers, school registration and other necessities.

16. (Infographic, CIC, 2016)

17.  Long-term
• Because learning a new language, finding employment
and fully integrating into a new community takes time,
settlement support services are available as long as a
newcomer is a permanent resident.
• It is not expected that all refugees will be able to fully
support themselves after just one year in Canada.
• Refugees are also encouraged to access as many free
settlement support services as they need to help them
succeed in their settlement journey.

18. Settlement Needs
Resettled refugees
require support to
integrate into their
new communities
Photos (UNHCR) #WithRefugees

19. Settlement Needs
 Employment
 Language
 Social integration
 Places, communities and
housing
 Settlement sector
 Immigration policies and
processes
 Education
 Recreation
 Public transportation
 Spiritual and religious
organizations
 Women, children and
family
 Health and wellness
(UNHCR/Zsolt Balla) (UNHCR/Haidar Darwish)

20. Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP)
 Services are mainly for GARs
• Immediate and essential services include:
• reception at port-of-entry
• transport to temporary accommodation
• information and referrals to public services
• assistance in finding permanent housing
• life skills training
• financial information
• Income support
• One-time start up allowance to cover costs for furniture,
clothing, basis household supplies
• Monthly income support (food, shelter, other necessities) for
12 months (@ social assistance rates)

21. Settlement Program
 Settlement and integration services are available
free-of-charge to permanent residents, including
refugees:
• Information and orientation
• Literacy and language training
• Labour market access support (access to jobs)
• Community connections
• Support services

22. Syrian Refugees
 On November 24, 2015 the Government of Canada announced a five-
 phased plan to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada as quickly
 as possible. This goal was achieved on February 27, 2016 (Tunis, 2016).

23. Government Plan
(Tunis, 2016)

24. #WelcomeRefugees
(Tunis, 2016)

25. Destination by Province/Territory
(Tunis, 2016)

26. Welcoming Community
 Winston and Tina Bromley, along with Tanna and Joe Edwards, are part
of a group of volunteers that has helped the Eshadi family to resettle in
Peterborough, Canada. © UNHCR/Annie Sakkab/Leyland Cecco

27. Video Clip
 http://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2016/12/583c
49a74/canadian-community-helped-heal-wounds-
war.html

28. Best Practices
 Canada’s unique two-way model of integration
 Settlement program
 Whole-of-society approach to immigrant
integration
• Provinces and territories fund complementary
settlement services, in addition to education, health and
social services
• Municipalities provide community support services such
as housing and public transport
• Service providers deliver services in communities large
and small
• Local immigration partnerships (LIPs)

29. Report on Syrian Resettlement
 “Finding Refuge in Canada: A Syrian Resettlement
Story” – Report of the Standing Senate Committee
on Human Rights (December 2016)
• Delays, bureaucracy and unequal treatment
• Income support
• High cost of housing
• Immigration loans program
• Language training
• Employment
• Mental health and response to refugee trauma
• Violence against women
• Family reunification

30. Recent lessons
 Recent lessons learned from the Syrian refugee initiative:
• Housing
• Availability of affordable and suitable housing especially for large family sizes
• Education
• Specialized guidance is needed in classroom services for children and youth in
the school system
• Income Assistance
• A significant number of GARs are expected to transition from RAP to provincial
social assistance
• Health and Mental Health
• Some refugees have complex health and mental health needs
• Employment
• Increased access to training and labour market integration supports
• Settlement Services
• Language training, child care supports and social inclusion opportunities
(Director General, Integration-FCRO, IRCC, 2016)

31. AAISA Report
 “Provincial Needs Assessment: Improving Refugee
Resettlement in Alberta”
• Findings show that positive refugee resettlement
experiences result from holistic programming that meets
clients’ needs
• Language
• Housing
• Health
• Social integration
• Employment
• Inventory of services in Alberta that strongly reflects the
basic needs of refugees
(AAISA, 2016)

32. Refugees in Alberta
(AAISA, 2016)

33. Urban/Rural Context

34. Services by Location
(AAISA, 2016, p. 40)
Rural areas include Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane,
Drumheller, Grand Prairie, High River, Vulcan, Cold
Lake and Okotoks (AAISA, 2016, p. 54)

35. Settlement Practitioners
 There is great appreciation for the work of
settlement practitioners and service providers
• Client-centred programming that responds to the needs
of refugees
• First-language services
• Culturally-sensitive and culturally-appropriate services
• Childcare
• Collaboration, communication and information sharing
• Welcoming community and community connections
including cultural brokers, events and wrap-around
services
(AAISA, 2016)

36. Alberta Syrian Refugee Resettlement Project
 This current study aims to better understand the
resettlement experiences of Syrian refugees in
Alberta from their perspectives
 Study commissioned by AAISA, and led by Habitus
Collective and Julie Drolet, with funding from IRCC
 Study includes GARs, PSRs and BVORs in Edmonton,
Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat

37. Alberta Syrian Refugee Resettlement Project
 Since November 4, 2016, Alberta has received
4,196 Syrian refugees
 Qualitative research using surveys and interviews
with Syrian refugees
 Results will be available in March 2017

38. Refugee Study - Dimensions
Language
Employment
Social
Connections

39. Strategies
 To ensure adequate support for all refugees by taking
into account demographic factors such as age, gender,
education, language, and other factors
 To advocate for adequate income support and financial
support to meet refugees’ resettlement needs
 To assist with finding adequate and affordable housing
 To volunteer and assist with refugees’ settlement and
long-term integration by becoming involved and/or
supporting language training; employment, training
and education; mental health and appropriate
responses to refugee trauma; and social connections

40. Strategies
 To support immigrant and refugee serving agencies
in local communities
 To assist with the development of culturally
appropriate interventions that address mental
health including ongoing trauma and post-
traumatic stress disorder
 To facilitate family reunification of resettled
refugees with members of their family still abroad
facing persecution

41. Summary
 Canada offers refugees a path to permanent
residence, citizenship and resettlement/settlement
services
 Settlement and integration take time, and require
support
 Alberta aims to be a welcoming and inclusive
province where refugees and their communities
thrive together

42. Thank You
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44. References
 AAISA. (2016). Provincial needs assessment: Improving refugee resettlement in
Alberta. Retrieved from http://aaisa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/AAISA-
Provincial-Needs-Assessment-Final-Report-October-2016.pdf
 Director General, Integration-FCRO, IRCC. (2016). Immigrant integration in
Canada: A whole-of-society approach to help newcomers succeed. Retrieved
from http://p2pcanada.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/12/Corinne-
Prince-ENG-p2p1026.pdf
 Tunis, D. (2016). Syrian refugee resettlement initiative. Retrieved from
http://p2pcanada.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/12/Deborah-Tunis-
p2p2016.pdf
 UNHCR. (2016). Figures at a glance. Retrieved from
http://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html
 UNHCR. (2011). UNHCR resettlement handbook. Retrieved from
www.refworld.org/docid/4ecb973c2.html