Operational Bulletin 507 – March 15, 2013

Settlement Program Pending Replacement of Data Collection Tool (DCT) by iCARE/iCAMS

Summary

The data collection tool (DCT) is an Excel spreadsheet in use since 2010 to collect data on participants who were enrolled in language training projects similar to the Enhanced Language Training (ELT) initiative (discontinued in 2008). Service providers will continue to use the DCT for participants who are enrolled up until March 31, 2013, in an “ELT-like project”. It is anticipated that these projects will be complete by June meaning that the last DCTs will be completed and submitted in the summer of 2013.

Starting April 1, 2013, any participants in new ELT-like labour-market projects must be registered in the Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) for labour market information and the Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS) for language information. By December 2013 iCARE is expected to replace iCAMS.

Issue

The iCARE and iCAMS systems will be phased in to replace the DCT used for labour-market-oriented language training projects starting April 1, 2013.

Background

The ELT initiative ended with the introduction of the modernized Settlement Program in 2008. However, for purposes of data collection, a definition was devised for ELT-like projects. The DCT and accompanying client contact consent forms continue to be used for ELT-like projects which are projects that include:

1. at least 150 hours of language instruction that is oriented to the workplace;
2. 30 or more hours of preparation for employment; and
3. practical experience such as work placements, job-shadowing, or mentoring.

The DCT data are important components of the performance-measurement system for language-training projects that are oriented to the labour market. For the past three years, service provider organizations that offer ELT-like projects have completed the DCT for each participant in their projects. Data are first entered by service providers when participants enrol in an ELT-like project. The DCT includes data on the results of the language assessments and on the types of other workplace-oriented training participants receive. The DCT is completed once the participants have finished the third component, the practical work experience. The courses typically run four to five months.

The Research and Evaluation Branch of Citizenship and Immigration Canada is phasing in a replacement of iCAMS with iCARE beginning April 1, 2013. Service providers will continue to complete the DCT for any participants who are already enrolled in an ELT-like project prior to April 1. From April 1 all new participants in ELT-like projects will be entered into the iCARE and iCAMS systems. The iCAMS system collects data on language training, and the iCARE system will collect data on labour-market aspects of projects. By December iCARE will be modified to incorporate data currently collected in iCAMS.

1. Participants registered in ELT-like projects prior to April 1, 2013:

   Service providers will continue to use the DCT for participants who were enrolled prior to April 1 in an ELT-like project. It is anticipated that these projects will be complete by June meaning that the last DCTs will be completed and submitted in the summer of 2013.

2. Participants registered in ELT-like projects from April 1, 2013, onward:

   Service providers will enter data in iCARE and iCAMS for these participants.