Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS)
| What is it? | Settlement workers are placed in select schools to support newcomer students and their families. |
| Area of focus | Settlement support for families and students |
| Agencies/ Providers |
CultureLink: Downtown and Etobicoke south North York Community House: Etobicoke and North York west Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office: Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, Danforth/Crescent Town Centre for Immigrant & Community Services: North York east Catholic Crosscultural Services: Scarborough Centre Francophone: French language schools |
| Description |
Several organizations in Toronto place settlement workers in selected schools and reception centres in Toronto. The program promotes family settlement and fosters student achievement by providing information and referral services to newly arrived families in schools and the community at large. Settlement workers make every reasonable effort to contact all potential clients regardless of their immigration status. The settlement needs of elementary-school-aged children are best met by providing outreach and services to their parents or guardians, while the settlement needs of youth are best met by providing outreach and services directly to them. The settlement workers provide information and referrals on a range of issues:
The NOW and WIN orientation programs for newcomer students and their families are also coordinated by the SWIS program agencies. |
| Communities Served |
All newcomers regardless of immigration status. Contact individual organizations, or see the web links below, for detailed information about the schools where settlement workers are placed. |
| Languages Served | Various languages are supported – contact the organization for more detailed information. |
| Websites |
North York Community House (includes a map of schools where the program is offered) Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office Catholic Crosscultural (includes a list of schools where the program is offered) |
| Contact Information |
CultureLink: 416-588-6288 North York Community House: 416-784-0920 Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office: 416-467-0126 CICS: 416-292-7510 ext. 301 Catholic Crosscultural Services: 416-757-7010 (or Coordinator Farhana Jogiat 647-296-6145) Centre Francophone: 416-203-1220 ext. 234 |
| Client Outreach and Support Tips | Contact the family’s local school to find out if the school has a settlement worker, and then connect with that person directly. Some schools have full-time settlement workers while others are part-time. |