Community Settlement Services include our Settlement and Integration Services provided in:
- Community library branches
- Community schools by the Settlement Workers in School (SWIS)
- Community schools by NOW Program (a 3-day program)
- Community schools by Children and Youth Settlement Services (for school-aged immigrants and refugees)
- Our main office – client service centre.
Community Settlement Service carries our core values of service delivery. We make it easier for immigrants and refugees to access services and get information by bringing our services into their communities, where they live and work. Seeing the community as a whole picture, we also recognize that getting service from a service location in their community is beneficial for their integration into the community. Therefore, we work with a broad range of community service providers and partners, such as Edmonton Public Library (EPL), Edmonton Public Schools, and Edmonton Catholic Schools, to be more responsive to the needs of immigrants and refugees.
Who can access our Community Settlement Services?
We offer these services to landed immigrants (Permanent Residents) and refugees.
Where can you find our Community Settlement Services?
We support and assist new immigrant adults and children in dozens of community schools in Edmonton and more than 10 library branches. You can find out our service locations in two ways:
- Call our main office line 780-474-8445, or
- Click on the map below and contact EISA staff working in the community schools and libraries.
How much do you pay?
You do not pay any fees. Our service is free of charge.
What service do you get at our service locations?
Settlement and Integration Services at our main office – client service centre
You can get holistic support and assistance for your settlement journey in our office. We are ready to start the journey with you and assist you along this journey by:
- Assessing your needs and building a settlement plan with you
- Providing you with information and orientation workshops on various topics on education, employment, housing, health, social services, legal system, financial literacy, and more
- Referring you to available EISA services and/or specific services in the community based on your needs
- Connecting you to social activities and volunteer opportunities as individuals, and families
- Supporting you and your family in your overall well-being
- Providing support services to you and your family to make it easier for you to access translation.
Settlement services in libraries
The Library Settlement Program (LSP) is a partnership between Edmonton Immigrant Services Association (EISA), Edmonton Public Library (EPL), St. Albert Public Library, Strathcona County Library, and Fort Saskatchewan Library. The program offers a wide range of services and learning opportunities. Its main objective is to promote newcomers’ well-being as well as successful engagement in all aspects of Canadian life. We are committed to providing immigrants and refugee families with professional services that meet their individual and family needs.
How can the Library Settlement Program help you?
- Orientation (Learning about life in Canada and the new community)
- Information (Learning about resources for newcomers – individual and group information sessions)
- Information about housing
- Help with registration for language classes
- Information about careers and employment
- Information about education
- Connection with established immigrants and Canadians
- Supportive counselling
At what library locations can you get our settlement and integration services?
- Edmonton Public Library branches:
- Stanley Milner Library
- Abbottsfield
- Clareview
- Lois Hole
- Londonderry
- Mill Woods
- Whitemud Crossing
- Calder
- Castledowns
- Highlands
- Woodcroft
- St. Albert Public Library
- Strathcona County Library
- Fort Saskatchewan Library.
Settlement services provided by Settlement Workers in School (SWIS)
The Settlement Workers In-Schools (SWIS) program is a school-based settlement services designed to help newcomer students and families settle in their designated elementary through high school within their community.
Working with community schools, settlement service providers, and community organizations, EISA’s SWIS meet the settlement needs of immigrant and refugee families and foster the student’s academic achievement by sharing information, resources, and support services in the school and the community.
How can Settlement Workers in School (SWIS) help you?
- Assess the immigrant students’ and families’ needs, assets, and the barriers to their successful integration
- Assist in school registration and provide school orientation
- Provide information and guidance on the education system to students and parents
- Facilitate communication between parents and school personnel
- Provide practical, culturally sensitive guidance, referrals, and intervention
- Increase understanding of the rights and responsibilities of students and their families
- Refer students and their families to available programs and services in their community
- Increase parents’ involvement in the education of their children and increase the families’ participation in the community
- Promote respect for cultural diversity by providing newcomer orientation regarding settlement challenges
- Facilitate access to community resources and government services
- Provide settlement services in a culturally competent manner, in languages specific to the needs of each family.
Newcomer Orientation Week Program (NOW Program)
NOW is a three-day orientation event where new immigrant and refugee students are prepared for their first weeks in Canadian high schools. The program is offered annually by the Settlement Workers in School (SWIS) staff in August, a week before school officially starts.
Newcomer students are oriented to their new schools by student volunteers known as Peer Leaders who have experienced being newcomers themselves. Peer Leaders take part in three days of leadership training to prepare them for their new role the week prior to the NOW Program.
EISA launched the first NOW Program in August 2010 at Queen Elizabeth High School, and we have been increasing participating high schools since then.
The details of the NOW Program will be available later. We will design our programs based on public health advice and the protocols in the participating high schools.
Your school-aged children can also get support and assistance provided by our Children and Youth Settlement Services.