Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership Making Possibilities Happen

Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership Making Possibilities Happen.

Michelle Suchiu Community Connector Renee Marentette Project Assistant

What is a Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)? The mechanism through which Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) supports the development of communitybased partnerships and planning around the needs of newcomers. Our goal: Create a community where newcomers and citizens can achieve a higher quality of life and reach their full potential.

Who is on the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership? • Employers and Employment-related organizations (Chambers of Commerce, Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation and Workforce Windsor. Essex, Bonduelle, Highline Mushrooms, Great West Life, etc. ) • Community & Social Services (Organizations from Settlement, Language, Library. Child Care, Legal, Poverty, CAS & Food Security sectors ) • Education (English and French, elementary, secondary, post-secondary) • Government (Municipal, Regional, Provincial, Federal) • Healthcare • Public Safety • Housing • Ethno-Cultural groups

Who funds the work? • Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Who manages the work? • A council of key local community members • A small staff that coordinates and provides organizational support

Where we started. . .

October 2008 Assisted in developing a greater understanding of newcomer needs and Provided support to Established a program delivery services partnership council LIP initiated by the federal government Oversee the development: • Local settlement strategy • Targeted action plan • Agreement with City of Windsor (CDHS) • Collecting and reporting newcomer service delivery • Recommending improvements to program and service delivery • Conducting research and program assessments • Working with other service providers and funders • Building or enhancing the capacity of service providers to delivery services to newcomers

January 2009 April 2010 September 2010 First Windsor Essex Release of a Community Follow-up report submitted Local Immigration Plan to Promote the Moving Forward. . . Partnership Council Settlement and Meeting Integration of Immigrants • A governance model that in Windsor and Essex allowed transition from research advisory group to County a community planning body • Action plan • Strategic priorities

Strategic Priorities Strategic Priority #1 Strategic Priority #2 Strategic Priority #3 Ways to improve access to and coordination of immigrant integration services Ways to improve labour market outcomes for immigrants Ways to strengthen local awareness and capacity to integrate immigrants All work flows from these Priorities

Value of Local Immigration Partnership to the County of Essex • Enhances capacity to understand meet needs of newcomer residents Ø Regional Language Data – Emergency response • Work with stakeholders to find solutions to issues affecting newcomers Ø Newcomer Health Access Strategy – coordinated the development of a business case submitted to the Erie St. Clair LHIN • Is an asset to the region in the diversification of regional economy in and meeting labour market shortages Objective : Maximize quality of life to encourage permanent settlement by newcomers in Windsor Essex

Participant in Federal and Provincial Discussions Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership is: • An AMO representative on the Municipal Integration Committee, cochaired by Director General CIC and Deputy Ministry MCI • Invited to Ministerial round tables by CIC, MIC and CMHC to discuss needs of immigrants in Windsor Essex • An invitee at conferences such as Vision 2020 – National Settlement Conference and Pathways to Prosperity 2013 Annual Conference (Nov 2013) • In a position to assemble and bring back information which impacts regional service delivery (i. e. , changes to the Interim Federal Health Care and the upcoming changes to National Immigration selector and admission process)

Enhances Corporate Capacity to Understand Meet Needs of Newcomer Residents • Created the SPICE Committee where settlement service providers meet with Employment & Social Services to improve Ontario Works service delivery for newcomers • Work with partners in the delivery of Cultural Diversity Training to over 1, 000 nurses, social workers and University students • Participated in the Windsor Essex Housing & Homelessness Consultations • Contribute to planning bodies related to regional issues including Public Safety, Child, Youth and Family System Integration Committee Cont’d

Finds Solutions • Created the Global Talent Guide which demonstrates to employers the benefits of hiring newcomers • Worked in cooperation with Go For Health, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit and the University of Windsor to conduct a survey of over 500 immigrants to identify health lifestyle and barriers to access healthcare education and services. As a result of this work, a report was developed and identified by the LHIN as a strategic healthcare priority • Facilitated the launch of the Cultural Pass Program for new citizens to explore and enjoy cultural activities in Windsor Essex

Is An Asset • Conducted a survey among area Employers in collaboration with E & SS, Workforce Windsor. Essex & St. Clair College and hosted workshop: “Creating Workplace Success through Diversity” • Can assist in promoting Windsor Essex as region with a rich multiculturallandscape and workforce which has the capacity to engage global markets • Invited to participate in a symposium sponsored by University of Detroit Mercy School of Law: Global Michigan: Immigration and Economic Growth on the topic “Rolling out the Welcome Mat – a Canadian Approach”. Followed up with a meeting with Global Detroit/Global Michigan staff to discuss common issues including ways to maximize the skills and experiences of immigrants which benefit the whole region

For more information about the work of the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) please contact: Mary Ellen Bernard Manager, Social Policy and Planning / LIP Project Manager Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (519) 255 -5200 ext. 5270 mbernard@city. windsor. on. ca Funded by: