Calgary's CARE Strategy

Calgary’s CARE Strategy is a comprehensive framework that is the culmination of four (4) years of work, designed to address the challenges facing children and youth of immigrant families. The strategy which was formerly called the Strategy for Children and Youth of Immigrant Families (CYIF) was developed with inputs from a broad range of stakeholders. It has been based on four main assumptions, including the fact that while many descendants of immigrant families are succeeding, there are still many who continue to experience grave difficulties in adjusting to the realities of a new country. The most significant challenges for this group include academic and cultural well-being, socio-economic and psycho-social realities.

The vision of the CARE Strategy is “children and youth of immigrant families in Calgary will achieve equitable levels of academic, community involvement and vocational success comparable to the general population of children and youth.”

The Strategy was formulated in direct response to the six key recommendations highlighted in the 2004 publication, Conversations for Change: An Overview of Services for Immigrant Children and Youth. The main recommendation cited the need for the development of a comprehensive “strategy to attend to the priority areas and gaps that have been identified through the overview”. Today the Strategy is focused on four critical areas:

• All services affecting children & youth of immigrant families have core cultural competencies that improve accessibility and inclusiveness
• All services for children and youth of immigrant families are accessible, aligned and coordinated
• Institutions and organizations will continuously conduct, access and share quality, relevant and current research to inform their decisions regarding policies, practices and services for children and youth of immigrant families
• The continuous development of capacities to promote the education of children & youth of immigrant families

Calgary's CARE Strategy for Children and Youth of Immigrant Families is lead by two Co-Chairs and a CARE Strategy Manager. Currently, Patricia Bond and Harry Yee are the CARE Strategy Co-Chairs. For further information contact care@iscc-calgary.ca

Guiding Principles

We Believe...

• Children and youth of immigrant families, when given opportunities, will succeed in all facets of life
  
  
• Society, as a whole, will benefit from the well-being of children and youth of immigrant families
  
  
• Views of children and youth of immigrant families are important and their participation in decision making enhances programs and services
  
  
• Cultures and traditions of children and youth of immigrant families must be acknowledged, celebrated, and shared
  
  
• In equitable and accessible programs and services for children and youth of immigrant families
  
  
• A multi-sectoral collaborative approach is needed to cultivate the overall well-being and integration of children and youth of immigrant families
  
  
• Research and knowledge of best practices of services for children and youth of immigrant families must be generated and shared continuously
  
  
• Individuals, families, communities and governments share responsibility for the well-being of children and youth of immigrant families

Assumptions:

• Although many children of immigrant families are succeeding, there are children and youth of immigrant families who are not enjoying socio-economic, psycho-social, academic and cultural well-being in Calgary, even after more than five years of being in Canada.
  
  
• Our systems (education, health, social services and justice institutions and community organizations) are struggling to shift their perspectives from charity- to rights-based models of practice, and to understand and respond to the specific and varied needs of children and youth and their immigrant families.
  
  
• Our systems have an imperative to create equality, inclusion and full participation for all children and youth through policy change and system-wide and multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration, building on successful efforts across Canada.
  
  
• A comprehensive, coordinated continuum of service model that supports children, youth and their families from school to community situations will enhance their ability to achieve their full potential and contribute to the well-being of Canadian society.

  Governance

  The Immigrant Sector Council Calgary

  In May 2008, the decision was made to house the CARE Strategy with the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (ISCC). The ISCC is a collaborative and multi-sectoral forum that identifies and addresses critical and emerging immigrant issues within the Calgary immigrant serving sector. The Council is comprised of organizations representing settlement service providers, ethno-cultural and multicultural groups, funding bodies, and public sector organizations.

  The CARE Strategy Manager

  The CARE Strategy Manager has the delegated authority and responsibility to coordinate the implementation of the CARE Strategy for Children and Youth of Immigrant Families. The Manager who provides day to day oversight of the Strategy’s implementation manages issues relating to administration; budgeting and resource mobilization as well as continued advocacy and communication.
  

  The CARE Standing Committee

  Decisions are handled through the 16-member Standing Committee. The Committee is a Standing Committee of the ISCC and provides regular reports to the Council’s meetings. It has responsibility to contribute to the strategic implementation of the CARE Strategy towards the achievement of equitable levels of academic, community involvement and vocational success for children and youth of immigrant families, comparable to the general population of children and youth.

  The Committee has the delegated responsibility from the ISCC to:

  • Hold regular meetings as determined necessary by operations
  • Provide regular updates to the Council and the community at large
  • Oversee all aspects of the CARE Strategy’s operations
  • Make recommendations to Council
  • Act as an advisor to the CARE Manager
  • Support Participatory Learning Network opportunities

  Targets

  In the first year of operations, the Standing Committee in collaboration with the CARE Manager is responsible to develop:
  • A logic model for the Strategy and the CARE Committee
  • A communication plan
  • An operational work plan
  • An evaluation framework