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May 8th, 2008 - 12:11:52 |
Dan Trepanier
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF AGENCIES WORTH CHECKING OUT.
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The YMCA of Greater Toronto
WORKING WITH NEWCOMERS!
Over 40,000 newcomers participated in YMCA employment and community programs in 2005 with referrals from over 1000 agencies across the GTA.
More info at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/34790
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MCCT (Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto)... a Brief History
MCC Toronto is proud that we have assisted many other gay and lesbian groups in getting started. SOCIAL JUSTICE
Our congregation has been at the centre of many key struggles for equality including SAME SEX MARRIAGE RIGHTS
More info at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/7692
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Settlement.Org: Newcomers, info & resources to settle in Ontario, Canada.
Settlement.Org does this in three ways:
1.Good, accurate, reliable and timely content on the site.
2.Links to excellent sites with authoritative information and necessary content – a portal to excellent information on the web.
3.Linking newcomers offline to services in their local community.
THIS TIG GROUP FOCUS
--Become a Settlement.Org Partner
--Advertise Our Events
--There are many ways to get involved with Settlement.Org
More info here http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/35767
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S.O.Y EXPRESS - NEWCOMER & IMMIGRANT QUEER YOUTH PROJECT (Supporting Our Youth)
Express is a safe and supportive space where newcomers and/or immigrant queer youth find a place gather, share ideas, questions, and have fun!
Learn more at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/35819
Some of the youth participating in EXPRESS are refugee claimants on the basis of their sexual orientation. The project provides significant direct support to these youth in this process as well as the personal and emotional support they receive at the drop-in meetings. Since the launch of the project over 20 youth participants have gained their legal status in Canada with support from EXPRESS.
What is SOY?
Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an exciting, dynamic community development project designed to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgendered youth in Toronto through the active involvement of youth and adult communities.
We work to create healthy arts, culture and recreational spaces for young people; to provide supportive housing and employment opportunities; and to increase youth access to adult mentoring and support.
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The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
Advocate for the Immigrant-serving Sector and Expert on Immigrant and Refugee Issues.
OCASI acts as a collective voice for immigrant-serving agencies and to coordinate response to shared needs and concerns. OCASI is a registered charity governed by a volunteer board of directors. Its membership is comprised of more than 170 community-based organizations in the province of Ontario.
The Mission of OCASI is to achieve equality, access and full participation for immigrants and refugees in every aspect of Canadian life. As a council of autonomous community-based agencies which serve the immigrant communities of Ontario, OCASI asserts the right of all persons to participate fully and equitably in the social, cultural, political and economic life of Ontario.
To learn more go to http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/36003
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Lesbian & Gay Immigration Task Force (LEGT)
The LEGIT site provides helpful information on immigrating to Canada for same-sex couples. You will find information on immigrating to Canada for couples in which:
• one partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and the other partner is from another country
• neither partner is Canadian and both are planning to immigrate to Canada
This site also has basic information on applying as a refugee because of fear of persecution against you as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgendered, or HIV+ person.
More info here: http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/34789
May 8th, 2008 - 12:07:04 |
Dan Trepanier
THE INITIAL FOCUS: Meet and brainstorm with agencies in the Greater Toronto Area (Canada) to discover the positive impact/potential each of our agencies/groups has to offer in serving the LGBT Newcomer and Refugee Community.
DAN TREPANIER attended a number of meetings about a year ago. The challenge with these meetings is often to operationally the many great ideas and to find the resources to follow-through with plans. This is not meant as a criticism but rather an observation. There are a lot of passionate people in this field who have great ideas but need the funding to make them happen.
Over the past few years queer newcomer, immigrant and refugee youth issues have emerged as areas for research and service development within many community organizations that provide settlement, health, community development, counseling or other related services. Many of these issues have been addressed through initiatives that are very innovative in working with specific marginalized communities.
The many groups and individuals who are engaged in these issues through advocacy, service delivery, research and project planning, may benefit from being able to share information and nurture partnerships. The promotion of organizational programs and projects to community partners and allies will help to build a comprehensive service approach, enhance referrals and support queer newcomer, immigrant and refugee youth community development.
In Toronto Canada The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and Supporting Our Youth (SOY) continue to invite representatives of Toronto based community organizations, service providers, and Advocates working with Queer Newcomer, Immigrant and Refugee Youth to a series of community consultation and information sharing session. The focus is to share thoughts, share information about programs, brainstorm and strategize on how to best benefit from each other’s work and experiences.
Toronto Lead: In Toronto, Canada: The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants AND Supporting Our Youth (SOY)
Learn more about OCASI at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/36003
Learn more about SOY at http://dantrepanier.tigblog.org/post/35819
FUTURE PLANS.
Keep watching as we form connections with lead agencies in Vancouver and Montreal, Canada.
Background:
There are thousands of les/gay/bi/trans (LGBT) people around the world who are experiencing daily persecution simply because of who they are. Helping some of these people come to, and settle within Canada will have an immeasurable impact on the quality of their lives. Canadians have a lot to offer the world.
We have become leaders in the field of respecting human rights, including full legal protection for sexual minorities.
Let's build an On-line Global Community: Be part of a dynamic web-based on-line global community of young people, to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action to improve their local and global GLBT Refugee and Newcomer community.
See a profile of our projects and contribute to our TIGblog
Be informed of our project as they develop
Objectives:
To discover the positive impact/potential each of our agencies/groups has to;
-better serve Newcomer and Refugee Communities dealing with LGBT issues.
-freely discuss the feasibility to form an alliance and build a process to increase connections between groups, share expertise and resources.
-continue understanding the issues and showcase our stories/work on-line
-create opportunities to develop new/innovative programs and services
Needs:
Join Here http://groups.takingitglobal.org/LGBTissues
The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and Supporting Our Youth (SOY)
did invite representatives of community organizations, service providers, and Advocates working with Queer Newcomer, Immigrant and Refugee Youth to a community consultation and information sharing session.
That was back in February 22nd at 2:00 p.m
Sherbourne Health Centre (Bloor street location), 365 Bloor Street East, Suite 301 at the Board Room.
If you want more follow-up information then please contact soynewcomer@sherbourne.on.ca or to Suhail at 416-324-5080
May 8th, 2008 - 11:53:18 |
Dan Trepanier
In March of 2006 Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC: Refugee Branch, Resettlement Division) was funding a service provider who will provide national guidance and innovative and creative training to new and existing private sponsorship groups on the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSR), through a variety of means including;
--workshops
--national and regional conferences and
--one-on-one support to the sponsoring groups.
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THE GROUPS WE WORK WITH NEVER SUBMITTED THIS PROPOSAL HOWEVER I DO SEE VALUE IN READING BELOW BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOME OF THAT CONTENT CAN BE ADAPTED TO A LGBT CONTEXT. FURTHERMORE CONNECTIONS SHOULD BE MADE WITH
The goal is to work with various contacts to find out which agency was successful in obtaining this contract and help move the LGBT program forward. This new program would be a valuable resource to the MCCT-LGBT Refugee Private Sponsorship Group
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Through close, unbiased collaboration with CIC national, regional and local staff as well as SPO's and other settlement partners, the main objectives of the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) are to:
• develop a training plan that is responsive to the needs of the LGBT sponsorship community and CIC.
• assist in building community capacity through promotion and recruitment activities, through assisting the LGBT sponsoring groups to develop their capacity and through developing partnerships with other stakeholders.
• provide LGBT sponsorship support by responding to information inquiries as well as being responsible for the printing, updating and distribution of relevant materials.
• ensure continuous quality improvement and quality assurance throughout the year.
The deadline for submission of the CIC service provider was December 31, 2005. This new service provider will work with ALL private sponsorships groups’ not just LGBT groups. However, MCCT is well positioned to collaborate with CIC to offer specialized supports to a LGBT ‘niche’
Background:
Appendix A: The CIC National Refugee Sponsorship Training PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
The PSR Program currently consists of 91 Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) and their Constituent Groups, which have binding agreements with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada to undertake sponsorships, as well as other sponsorship groups, outside of Quebec. The province of Quebec has its own private sponsorship program. These SAH’s vary widely in type and include among others, faith-based organizations, ethno-cultural groups and other humanitarian organizations.
Sponsorship groups commit to provide settlement assistance to refugees for up to one year from the date the refugee arrives in Canada or until the refugee becomes self-sufficient, whichever comes first. The assistance is both financial and emotional. In exceptional cases, the sponsorship period can be extended for up to 36 months with the private sponsorship group's agreement.
There presently exists an NGO-Government Committee on Private Sponsorship, with an associated Sub-Committee, which serve advisory roles in terms of strategic operation and management of the PSR program. These Committees are the principal fora for dialogue and response or follow-up on policy and operational issues relating to the PSR program. The NGO-Government Committee also serves in providing direction to the project as well as determining its future progress.
PROPOSAL MUST:
Demonstrate the applicant's particular expertise to conduct this type of project on a national basis.
Identify sub-contractors and partners. Their role must be clearly specified, and their qualifications demonstrated in the proposal.
Indicate the applicant's willingness to work cooperatively and in a spirit of collaboration and without bias with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and officials representing CIC, individual Sponsorship Agreement Holders and other sponsoring groups.
Provide details of past projects the applicant has completed on time and within budget, and include a sample of one product developed of a similar nature to this project.
Include two references from past projects, with contact information.
Include resumes and/or the organizational portfolio of the principal applicant, as well as all partners and sub-contractors.
Include a detailed budget for the project (including itemization of budget for wage costs, employee benefits, overhead, per diem rates, travel expenses, other itemized production costs, etc.).
Include a detailed workplan with milestones and timelines for achieving each, with a final deliverable date to the contractor on or before March 31, 2006.
Objectives:
The existing RSTP addresses the information and training needs of sponsoring groups and provides formal and informal opportunities for SAHs, sponsoring groups, settlement service providers and CIC staff to exchange information and work collaboratively to improve the PSR and Joint Assistance Sponsorship Program (JAS). It also produces and updates training materials i.e., training modules, handbooks, SAH manual, etc.; and resources i.e., information resource package, available settlement services, etc., for all types of refugee sponsorships
Milestones:
Deliverables:
• One national or four regional conferences
• Annual report to the Director of Resettlement on problems, successes and best practices
• Five annual information packages mailed to SAH's
• Regular group informational e-mails to SAHs
• Monthly reports on trends on information requests to CIC
• Between six and eight sponsorship workshops
• Facilitation of a focused refugee eligibility training in collaboration with CIC and UNHCR as required
• Updated handbooks (as required)
• Updated SAH Manual (as required)
• Updated SAH resource package (as required)
• Updated brochure 'Information for Sponsored Refugees' (as required)
Budget:
Constraints:
The proposed timeframe is April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007. All deliverables will have been completed by this date.
The service provider will be required to maintain accurate financial records and receipts for all expenses incurred in the course of this project. The service provider will be reimbursed by CIC for actual expenses incurred only, upon receipt of accurate Service Provider Report and Claim Forms, and will be subject to a monitoring of financial records relating to this project.
Needs:
Project: The MCCT (Metropolitan Community Church Toronto) Gay and Lesbian (LGBT) Refugee Private Sponsorship Group
Simply known as “The MCCT folks who sponsor a few GLBT refugees annually”
This Gay and Lesbian (LGBT) Refugee, Private Sponsorship Group (Toronto, Canada) acts as a sponsor FOR (a small number of) PERSONS WHO WANT TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION AND CLAIM REFUGEE STATUS IN CANADA BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
MCCT could benefit from this funding AND provide leadership to other LGBT SPONSORSHIP GROUPS.
Feb 7th, 2006 - 23:15:36 |
Dan Trepanier
Action Steps.
--Connect with 5 agencies in Toronto that work with LGBT Refugees and Newcomers
-- Interview five people and craft 'Personas' (yea its jargon....details coming) for our 'target audience
--Clarify the Mission and Objectives of our involvent within the TIG (TakingITGlobal) on-line community
-- The goal is to understand how we can help other Private Sponsorship organizations to sponsor LGBT individuals.
--Develop an outreach strategy to match LGBT'ers with potential sponsors.
--Obtain list of Private Sponsorship Agencies who are currently sponsoring LGBT'ers 
Feb 6th, 2006 - 21:42:51 |
Dan Trepanier
The initial goas was for Dan to work with a number of contacts to find out which agency was successful in obtaining this contract and help move LGBT issues forward. This new program would be a valuable resource to the MCCT-GLBT Refugee Private Sponsorship Group
Link: The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) 
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