Professional Development

2005 National Host Conference

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[ Section 3 ] Conference Workshops
Session 1

Workshop 1A - Building Partnerships to Promote the Host Program

Presenters:

Ansar Cheung, United Chinese Community Enrichment
Services Society (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.), British Columbia,
Augustus Cheung (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.), British Columbia

Workshop Summary:

• The workshop demonstrated how S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has adopted a community development approach to promoting the Host Program. Based on the experience of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in delivering the program, it is useful to market the program as diversely as possible in order to make the program known to the larger community.
• The presentation included how S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has worked collaboratively with various programs such as employment, family and youth and volunteer programs to promote the Host Program by presenting relevant workshops to their clients.
• Externally, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has adopted different promotional strategies to recruit Host volunteers and immigrant participants through writing articles and provide stories to various ethnic newspapers, building partnerships with community agencies and the private sector to reach out to the larger community.
• The workshop was an interactive forum for discussion on community partnership building and the effective use of community resources.

Background:

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is a non-profit social agency that was established in 1973. The primary objective is to help new immigrants to integrate and contribute fully into Canadian Society. S.U.C.C.E.S.S delivers its services through three divisions: 1) Social Services, 2) Training Institutions, and 3) Health Services. Together they provide a comprehensive range of programs, incorporating a Community Development approach with the inclusion of diverse marketing strategies. They have been effective in promoting the program throughout the community.

Discussion:

• Work collaboratively between programs to promote the Host Program for newcomers (i.e. New Immigrant Orientation sessions, and introduction of the Host Program and other settlement programs available to newcomers are promoted through a program similar to that of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada Program).
• Information about the Host Program is posted on the agency Website. This website attracts new immigrants who find out about the program and other community resources. The website also attracts long time residents who have been recruited as volunteers through this means.
• Community Partnership Building – a close working relationship is maintained with local volunteer agencies and community centres. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has developed partnerships with 20 social agencies, mental health agencies, churches and schools.
• Collaboration with community agencies, schools, and community centres to organize programs to meet newcomer needs.
• Participation in community events including local immigrant service committees.
• Employment related workshops are delivered together with employment services providers. This collaboration creates a linkage between community based programs and settlement services.
• The agency has written articles and provides promotional material and stories to various ethnic newspapers and media channels.

Challenges:

• Recruitment of Host volunteers
• Existing resources have made it difficult to provide relevant services for newcomers
• An increase in the number of skilled immigrants seeking employment

Recommendations and Responses:

Newcomers need to be matched with host volunteers with similar employment backgrounds. The volunteer Host is required to provide more than just general orientation to the newcomer about Canadian Culture. Information needs to include employment guidance, mentoring, career orientation.

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