The In-School Settlement Support Program helps immigrant students and their families with their settlement needs. The program connects newly arrived families to services and resources in the school and the community in order to promote settlement and foster student achievement.

Schools are one of the first places newcomers go for services in the community. In collaboration with the schools, school-based settlement practitioners systematically contact all newcomer families to orient and link them to available settlement services and resources.

The In-School Settlement Program is a partnership of Settlement Agencies and School Boards in Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie. ISSS Program services are offered by staff in a culturally competent manner, with languages specific to the needs of each family.

Services provided include:

• A systematic outreach to all newcomers
• A needs assessment to determine initial and ongoing needs
• Referral to available community services and resources based on assessed settlement needs.
• Timely, useful and accurate information needed to make settlement decisions.
• Orientation to school and community services and on various topics intended to facilitate newcomers’ settlement process.
• Solution focused counselling

In-School Settlement Support Locations:

• Queen Elizabeth School (EPSD)
• Dickinsfield School (EPSD)
• Balwin School (EPSD)
• Grace Martin School (EPSD)
• Mother Teresa Elementary School (CSB)
• St Catherine Elementary/Junior High School (CS)
• Dr. K. A. Clark Elementary School (Fort McMurray)
• St. Gabrielle Elementary School (Fort McMurray)
• Avondale Elementary School (GRANDE PRAIRIE)

Partnering Agencies: Edmonton Immigrant Services Association, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, Catholic Social Services (Edmonton), Multicultural Association (Fort McMurray), and Immigrant Settlement Services (Grande Prairie)

Partnering School Districts: Edmonton Public, Edmonton Catholic, Grande Prairie Public, Grande Prairie Catholic, Fort McMurray Catholic and Fort McMurray Public

For more information about the program, contact the program coordinator at 780-474-8445