CSIPS – Enhancing Communications with Immigrants – January 2016

Thanks for the opportunity to be part of your meeting.

In this presentation/discussion, we looked at:

How do immigrants access information?

• An overview of immigrants’ use of the internet – pre and post arrival
• Major trends – summary of TRIEC’s previous IGR research

How can we engage them better in current employment programs and in future program development?

• The importance of trust & credibility in information provision
• Look at information problems & overload from their perspective
• Go to the source, know your audience, importance of personalized information provision
• Some promising practices in the sector

Here are a number of resources from our session together, including slides, documents and links to additional reading and resources.

Presentation slides (for download and embedded for quick viewing) – CSIPS – Enhancing Communications with Immigrants (PDF)

Additional documents (all in PDF format):

• Case Study – From Phones to Facebook – How to Engage Youth on the Front Lines of Social Media
• Case Study – Using Technology to Help Voices Be Heard 2 – webinars
• Web_2 0_Planning_Worksheet – template (a series of worksheets based on some of the slides in the presentation, expanding on them and providing
• Technology as a tool to serve your clients – session worksheets
• Canadian Association of Social Workers – Social Media Use and Social Work Practice
• National Association of Social Workers – NASW – TechnologyStandards
• Unleashing Innovation Using Everyday Technology to Improve Nonprofit Services

Articles for further reading:

• Can you serve newcomers using technology? You should be already
• Many newcomers to Canada are digital first – the evidence
• A vision for online settlement services
• Marketing Personas: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Great examples of innovative agencies offering online and hybrid services across the country:

• ISANS
• CultureLink
• COSTI
• OCASI
• South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services
• CIIP
• NYCH
• CCS

Here are just a few of the larger English language online social networks where newcomers share information and orientation:

• Settlement.Org discussion area – 29,000 members
• CanadaVisa.com immigration forum – 419,000 members
• LoonLounge – 116,000 members
• CanadianDesi.com – 73,000 members
• RoadToCanada.com – 24,000 members
• Immigration.ca – 23,000 members

Online security and encryption:

• 4 Email Security Best Practices You Should Start Now (If You Haven’t Already)
• How Email Encryption Can Help Your Non-Profit
• Encrypt or Lose
• Sync.com – A secure, Canadian Dropbox alternative