OCS Outcomes Report 2015-2016
priority population. We have managed to recruit and orientate an Arabic speaking volunteer to assist with the growing number of Syrian Families accessing HBP services.
First Steps First Steps provides a comprehensive range of integrated ECD focused services, including: early learning/literacy, outreach, screening, health, parenting, family support, and community connections. Desired Outcomes • minimize the impact of trauma and the refugee experience on the growth and development of very young refugee children and their caregivers • support the children’s health, wellbeing and early learning potential within a play based, language enriched, parent-child interactive setting • facilitate successful transition of the children into mainstream ECD services and kindergarten • build the capacity of the children’s caregivers within the Canadian context • enhance collaboration amongst settlement and ECD services • develop culturally competent services and practitioners within the ECD sector Service Highlights With the commitment of the federal government to bring 25,000 new Syrian refugees into Canada, along with maintaining their original commitment to other refugees, there were new funding opportunities for our program. Successful in acquiring two Syrian specific streams of funding from both the United Way and IRCC, we have increased the number of programming from February 2016 – to present. Our program has seen approximately 30-40 new Syrian families arrive and both the Syrian specific drop-ins are doing very well. • 19 children and their parents completed the Kindergarten Readiness program. • 49 clients attended a 3 night “camp” experience at Camp Alexandra in Crescent Beach. • 3 “Graduation” Ceremonies were held to honor and celebrate families being exited from the program to highlight the positive aspect of them being ready to leave our program and enter mainstream services. • 2 Resource Team trainings were delivered in November to help community partners understand the needs in working with refugee families in their practice. Quality Improvements Daily programming has continually adapted to meet the changing needs and interests of the clients. Additional programming included offering an attachment based Infant Massage program with Infant Development and providing some information to families through an external workshop around Earthquake safety following the earthquake this year. We also added 2 new drop-in programs for the influx Syrian families. In order to support the increased
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