ARCHIVED – Community connections

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• New for 2024 Call for proposals
• Description
• Expected outcomes
• Eligible activities
• Mode of delivery
• Eligible clients
• Eligible applicants for funding
• Organizational and community capacity
• How we assess applications for this service
• Reference for applicants

Description

Community Connections services build bridges between eligible clients, Indigenous Peoples, established immigrants and long-time Canadians to promote intercultural exchange and facilitate meaningful relationships. Volunteers from host communities are engaged in service delivery to encourage mutual understanding and build relationships amongst community members. Eligible clients participate in activities focused on navigating their new home, establishing local networks, developing soft skills and meeting life goals to support overall well-being.

Expected outcomes

IRCC expected immediate outcomes, as described in the (Re)Settlement Program Logic Model, are written to capture the overall results for all projects that deliver a particular set of activities.

There are 3 IRCC expected immediate outcomes related to Community Connections:

1. Clients improve connections to communities and social networks

If activities related to this outcome (e.g. Matching Activities, Group Activities, Well-Being Navigation Activities) are part of the proposal, clearly describe how it will specifically contribute to this outcome, for example by describing how client well-being will be improved through intercultural exchange, development of social networks and involvement of clients in their local community.

2. Clients improve official language skills or literacy skills

If informal language learning is part of the proposal, clearly describe how it will specifically contribute to this outcome, for example by describing how developing comfort communicating with peers and improving speaking or listening skills will enable clients to engage with others in conversations and contribute to client independence.

3. Settlement sector improves capacity to provide coordinated and effective settlement support to newcomers, including equity deserving groups

If improving the capacity to deliver community connections services is part of the proposal, clearly describe how it will specifically contribute to this outcome, for example by specifying how training and professional development, networking/knowledge transfer for staff, partnerships, or volunteer coordination will improve the delivery of Community Connections services.

Each eligible Community Connections activity is associated with one of the above IRCC expected immediate outcomes. When a Community Connections activity is selected in the application, the applicable IRCC expected immediate outcome will automatically populate in the application.

For more information on outcomes please refer to the Outcomes Guidance.

Eligible activities

Please note the list of examples provided is not exhaustive. These activities are designed to complement other systems and services. Applicants must indicate what already exists in their community and identify the gap(s) their proposal will address. Basic Information and Orientation should be provided to all clients on the broader services available in their community.

1. Matching activities

Description of activity

Activities focused on assisting eligible clients in creating social connections and increasing social support.

• Canada Connects: One to one and family matching links eligible clients with volunteers early in the settlement process to promote intercultural exchange and shared understanding. Eligible clients receive guidance to understand the social, cultural, economic, and political context of their new community and get engaged. Volunteers learn about newcomers’ background and life experiences (e.g. providing general orientation and support; developing soft skills for life in Canada; preparing and sharing food; attending or participating in events together). Note: Matching Activities through Canada Connects are encouraged for Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) clients and GAR families.
• Peer Support for Adults: One to one peer support happens between eligible adult clients who share a common experience and characteristics (e.g. age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.) which offers reciprocal connection; peer support groups are organized by a well-trained facilitator and bring together eligible adult clients with common experiences and characteristics (e.g. newcomer women, seniors, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, etc.).

2. Group activities

Description of activity

Group activities that bring together eligible clients to explore their local community, access resources and get engaged. This involves visiting important places, learning about ways of life, and participating in activities that include community members.

Activities include:

• Events (e.g. social/cultural gatherings; art exhibitions; storytelling; meet and greet; intergenerational activities; programming for men and boys).
• Field trips to visit local sites (e.g. guided tour of police services, museum, city hall, community health and resource centre; connecting cultures group outings).
• Health and mental health promotion (e.g. sports and recreation; community kitchen; hobby groups for women and girls; workshops on topics such as stress management and healthy communication).

3. Well-Being Navigation activities

Description of activity

• Well-Being Navigation Activities are being clearly defined in CFP 2024 (see Annex). These activities are intended to address the need for a specialized, dedicated function within Canada’s Settlement Program to navigate to resources and information on the Canadian health and mental health care system, with a priority placed on supporting eligible clients with complex or higher-needs cases. This is considered a Community Connections service as it builds on existing programming related to navigation and bridging with linkages to direct services and indirect services under Needs and Assets Assessment and Referral Services, Case Management, Support Services, Information and Orientation, and Local Immigration Partnerships.
• This is a layered support on top of Case Management or other existing service provider organization (SPO) supports, or both, specifically for clients with complex or higher than average health-related needs. These activities are to help mitigate pressures associated with supporting high-needs cases. Well-Being Navigation Activities will not include direct medical interventions and will not duplicate existing Case Management functions or activities. Activities will include: making connections to community supports, sharing information on available resources, and facilitating access to appropriate and timely health and mental health services.

4. Children and Youth-specific activities

Description of activity

• Activities that that are not delivered by a Settlement Workers In Schools – Travailleurs(euses) d’établissement dans les écoles (SWIS-TÉÉ worker), which help eligible clients (children and their parents/guardians) to develop the skills needed for successful integration and transitions to school (e.g. early years programming for pre-school aged children and mothers).
• Activities that are not delivered by a SWIS-TÉÉ worker, which assist eligible youth clients in forming new friendships, dealing with adjustment-related stress, succeeding in school, and preparing for post-secondary transitions (e.g. after-school activities such as homework clubs and sports clubs; art classes; spring and summer camps).
  • Peer Support for Youth: one to one peer support can include same age and cross age matches between eligible youth clients and older newcomer youth, Canadian and long-term residents; peer support groups are organized by a well-trained facilitator and bring together eligible youth clients, Canadian and long-term residents with common experiences. Peer Support for Youth can include elements of informal mentorship, life skills, leadership development, and social connection.

5. Indigenous-Newcomer Connections activities

Description of activity

• Activities that facilitate meaningful connections, build shared understanding and promote relationships between Indigenous Peoples, newcomer clients and Canadians (e.g. blanket exercise; elder teaching; land stewardship; nature interpretation; arts and crafts for Indigenous Peoples and newcomer clients).
• Programming can be designed for specific eligible client groups (e.g. sharing circles for Indigenous youth and newcomer youth).
• These activities should be developed and delivered in a remunerated partnership with Indigenous organizations or Peoples if led by a settlement sector organization, and in partnership with a settlement sector organization if led by an Indigenous organization.

6. Informal Language Learning activities

Description of activity

• Activities focused on improving English or French skills, or both, outside of a formal classroom setting or workplace (e.g. conversation circles; writing workshops; literacy groups; book clubs not led by a SWIS-TÉÉ worker).
  • Please note that if the group activities do not include language focus, they should not be included here.
• Informal language learning is not expected to incorporate national guidelines, standards or models in second language teaching (e.g. Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)) in contrast to formal language training, which provides English as a Second Language (ESL) training (e.g. Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)) or French as a Second Language (FSL) training (e.g. Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC)).
• Informal language learning does not follow structured curriculum such as the national LINC and CLIC curriculum guidelines or teach using the Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA) approach / Évaluation linguistique basée sur le portfolio (ELBP).
• In most cases, informal language learning is not intended to replace a LINC or CLIC class in which a learner receives structured ESL or FSL instruction. Informal language learning can be a supportive complement to formal language training.

7. Service Capacity Improvement

Description of activity

Service capacity improvement is an indirect service and may include the following:

• Training and professional development for staff related to the delivery of Community Connections services (e.g. facilitation skills, intercultural competence, trauma-informed training).
• Networking and knowledge transfer among Community Connections service provider staff.
• Partnerships between settlement SPOs and Indigenous-serving organizations in order to incorporate the expertise of Indigenous Peoples in the design of Indigenous-Newcomer Connections programming as well as to support the training of staff on Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous–related topics.
• Volunteer coordination is suggested for organizations working with volunteers. Depending on the scale of volunteer engagement, this may be an individual coordinator or team responsible for: developing systematic approaches; planning and executing outreach activities; recruiting and screening potential volunteers; providing orientation, resources and training for volunteers; supervising and supporting volunteers; providing feedback and volunteer recognition; and implementing other processes related to volunteer coordination.

Eligible Indirect Services with a national or sector scope

Please refer to the Indirect Services with a National or Sector Focus funding guidelines for more details on the following activities. If you wish to apply to the indirect services as well, you will need to submit a separate application.

• Coordination for Well-Being Navigation Activities under Community Connections. Activities include:
  • Oversight to ensure consistent implementation of the model;
  • Professional development for existing settlement workers;
  • Mechanisms for knowledge transfer of best practices and resources;
  • Virtual and in-person spaces for exchange among those performing the activities; and
  • Service mapping/registry for Community Connections Well-Being Navigation Activities.

Mode of delivery

Funding applicants will also need to consider who the client audience will be for each of the project activities being proposed in their online application form (more than one audience may be selected per activity):

• For Direct Services: Group, Individual, or Family (or all)
• For Indirect Services: Individual Organizations; Local Non-Settlement Service Delivery Partner(s); Entire Sector, or Community or Service Area (or all)

In-Person Services are prioritized for Community Connections with the exception of Pre-arrival services, which are delivered remotely. Other formats may be used at the discretion of the service provider organization. Details are as follows:

1. Matching Activities:
   • Canada Connects activities may be delivered:
     • In-person
     • Remotely via email/text/phone
   • Peer Support (one on one and group) activities may be delivered:
     • In-person
     • Remote (online/digital) staff led
     • Remotely via email/text/phone
2. Group Activities may only be delivered in person
3. Well-Being Navigation Activities may be delivered:
   • In-person
   • Remote (online/digital) staff led
   • Remotely via email/text/phone
4. Children and Youth-Specific Activities may be delivered:
   • In-person
   • Remote (online/digital) staff led
   • Remotely via email/text/phone
5. Indigenous-Newcomer Connections Activities may be delivered:
   • In-person
   • Remote (online/digital) staff led
6. Informal Language Learning Activities may be delivered:
   • In-person
   • Remote (online/digital) staff led
7. Service Capacity Improvement may be delivered:
   • In-person
   • Remote (online/digital) staff led
   • Remote (online/digital) – self-directed
   • Remotely via email/text/phone

Eligible clients

As per section 3.7 of the Settlement Program Terms and Conditions, only the following persons are eligible to receive these settlement services:

• Permanent Residents of Canada.
• Protected Persons as defined in Section 95 of IRPA.
• Individuals who have been selected, inside or outside Canada, to become permanent residents (pending verifications) and who have been informed, by a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Convention refugees and protected persons outside Canada who have been selected for resettlement in Canada by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• Temporary foreign workers who hold or received approval of a work permit under section 112 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) or received initial approval for permanent residence under section 113 of the IRPR.
• Temporary residents (and their dependents) who have received confirmation of a complete Application for Permanent Residence under the Atlantic Immigration Program are deemed eligible to receive support services that enable clients to access services, needs and assets assessment and referrals, information and orientation and community connections program components [3.3 a), b), c) and f)].
• Temporary residents who have received confirmation of a complete Application for Permanent Residence under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (and their dependents) are deemed eligible to receive support services that enable clients to access services, needs and assets assessment and referrals, information and orientation, and community connections program components [3.3 a), b), c) and f)], as authorized by Ministerial Instructions [14.1 IRPA] for the duration of the pilot.

Notes

• Eligible persons include both the principal applicant and eligible dependents (spouse and children).

Eligible applicants for funding

Eligible applicants for funding for settlement services are:

• municipal governments;
• not for profit organizations including non-governmental organizations, non-profit corporations, community groups, umbrella organizations, regulatory bodies and apprenticeship authorities;
• businesses, including those that provide indirect services (e.g., employers hiring newcomers, private language schools, conference organizers, web or production firms for tool development); and
• educational institutions (including school boards, districts and divisions).

Organizational and community capacity

Applicants for funding who are engaging volunteers should have existing capacity (e.g. staff, processes, tools) or plans in place for volunteer coordination (i.e. recruitment, screening, training, support, etc.).

How we assess applications for this service

Mandatory and asset criteria

All applications

All applications will be assessed according to the CORE criteria

• Client-centered;
• Outcomes-driven;
• Responsive to needs; and
• Effective use of resources

Applications will also be assessed against Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) criteria.  More information about the CORE and EDI criteria.

Mandatory criteria

In addition to meeting the CORE and EDI criteria, applicants for the Community Connections service must:

• Demonstrate expertise in, or partnerships with organizations with expertise in supporting diverse populations, including newcomer women, seniors, youth, racialized newcomers, French-speaking newcomers, 2SLGBTQI+ newcomers, and newcomers with disabilities.
• Propose strategies to enhance collaboration and develop strong partnerships between community service providers, SWIS and TÉÉ providers, healthcare providers and the mental health sector; and engage to improve national coordination (for Well-Being Navigation Acitivities).

Asset criteria

Proposals demonstrating the following may be prioritized for funding. Applicants for this service should include a description of the following experience or capacity, as applicable:

• Partnerships with Indigenous organizations or Indigenous Peoples (e.g. Elder or Knowledge Keeper), or both, where possible to include their perspectives in the design and/or delivery of programming (for activities focused on Building and Strengthening Indigenous-Newcomer Connections).
• Demonstrate cross-sector partnerships, including with Indigenous Peoples (e.g. Elder or Knowledge Keeper), or both, and communities, organizations that provide a capacity-building and professional development role within the settlement sector (e.g. Umbrella Organizations), organizations with expertise working with specific populations (e.g. racialized populations) or on specific issues (e.g. advancing substantive gender equality and women’s empowerment).
• Co-design of programming through engagement, consultation, or co-creation with clients, or all three (i.e. newcomer youth are more likely to participate when organizations have involved them in the development/delivery of services).
• GBA Plus in the design, implementation and evaluation of the project(s). Please refer back to the overview of funding guidelines for more information on GBA Plus.

References for applicants

1. Volunteer Management Handbook

This handbook from Volunteer Canada provides a general overview of the volunteer management process with a focus on volunteers supporting newcomers. Please note that the links in the handbook are not currently available. https://volunteer.ca/vdemo/EngagingVolunteers_DOCS/VMH_Eng_2016_Print.pdf (PDF, 6.16 MB)

2. Other applicant resources

Annex: additional details on Well-Being Navigation Activities

Well-Being Navigation Activities Definition:

Well-Being Navigation Activities are being clearly defined in CFP 2024. These activities are intended to address the need for a specialized, dedicated function within Canada’s Settlement Program to navigate to resources and information on the Canadian health and mental health care systems, with a priority placed on complex or higher-needs cases. This is considered a Community Connections service as it builds on existing programming related to navigation and bridging with linkages to direct and indirect services under Needs and Assets Assessment and Referrals Services, Case Management, Support Services, Information and Orientation, and Local Immigration Partnerships.

For the purposes of this function, the term “health” encompasses physical health and mental health, noting that health and mental health care falls primarily under the jurisdictions of provincial and territorial governments.

• This is a layered support on top of Case Management or other existing SPO supports, or both, specifically for clients with complex or higher than average health-related needs.
• These activities are to help mitigate pressures associated with supporting high-needs cases. Well-Being Navigation Activities will not include direct medical interventions and will not duplicate existing Case Management functions or activities.
• Activities will include: making connections to community supports, sharing information on available resources, and facilitating access to appropriate and timely health and mental health services.

Applicants for funding should identify in their proposals how the following eligible activities will be delivered based on information outlined in the Annex (e.g. one staff member provides Well-Being Navigation Activities; multiple staff members deliver Well-Being Navigation Activities; etc.).

Eligible activities

• Providing information about the client’s provincial/territorial health services and about the Interim Federal Health Program, if relevant, as well as navigating to information on how to apply for provincial/territorial health coverage.
• Providing information on the roles of various health care providers.
• Referring and connecting to health, social, and settlement services.
• Connecting with care providers (e.g. facilitating referrals, preparing for appointments, etc.). Note: accompanying clients to appointments is offered through Case Management – it is not eligible under Well-Being Navigation Activities.
• Creating and maintaining networks that connect, and improve collaboration between settlement organizations to the health care sector, including through LIPs and RIFs tables.
• Engaging in community outreach and building connections with local hospitals, for example through targeted sessions within hospitals or by encouraging intercultural competencies among hospital staff.
• Coordinating with LIPs, RIFs and umbrella organizations on available services, especially for organizations serving Francophone newcomers.

As time/work load permits, additional activities could also include:

• Giving webinars to other local or regional SPOs on specific health/mental health issues.
• Providing group programming or workshops to a broader client base.

Client eligibility

The following client groups will be given priority for Well-Being Navigation Activities:

• Clients who haven been deemed eligible for Case Management but are on a wait list.
• Case Management clients who require additional support to address their needs related to health or mental health.
• Clients who are not eligible for Case Management but who are being supported within a SPO for health or mental health issues, and for which the SPO worker identifies the client’s needs as being beyond their capacity to support and requires assistance.

Notes

• This activity does not replace Case Management or other supports provided by SPO workers. It is a complement, not duplicate of other services. The activity is designed to fill gaps for complex needs.
• A professional health background (e.g. community health worker or social worker) or other expertise is suggested to ensure understanding and effective facilitation of access to health and mental health care in Canada.
• Completion of training relevant to health navigation is encouraged.

References for applicants

• Applicant resources