Working with Refugees
Children and Youth
Sex education in Ontario
This information from the Government of Ontario outlines topics and concepts students learn in school, by grade level.
Questions to ask a child care provider
This tip sheet by the Government of Ontario is designed to help people find quality child care. It is available in different languages.
"New in Canada" Parenting Support Series
These brochures by CMAS cover dressing for winter, fire safety, home safety for children, SIDS, swimming safety and street safety. They are available in different languages.
Caring for Refugee Children
This resource from CMAS includes a guide and tip sheets for the Care for Newcomer Children program.
Financial Assistance
Q&A on Financial Support Guidelines for Privately Sponsored Refugees
Effective January 1, 2018, the IRCC expects all refugee sponsorship groups to provide PSRs and BVORs financial support that is, at a minimum, equal to local RAP rates. Consult this Q&A developed by the IRCC for more information.
Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Rates
The RSTP has produced an overview of all RAP rates by province according to size of family. Click on the link below to access this information.
ODSP Eligibility for Refugees in first 12 months
This Q&A Response Sheet by the Ontario Disability Support Program Branch provides information about a resettled refugee's eligibility for ODSP during and after their first 12 months in Canada.
New to Canada? Learn about taxes.
This series of videos by the Canada Revenue Agency shows newcomers how the Canadian tax system works and what Canada does with the taxes we pay.
Need welfare? How to apply to Ontario Works
This legal information from CLEO is available in English, French and Arabic.
Disability benefits in Ontario: Who can get them and how to apply
This legal information from CLEO is available in Arabic.
Newcomers to Canada and the Canadian Tax System
This information from the Canada Revenue Agency introduces the Canadian tax system and helps newcomers complete their first income tax and benefit return as a resident of Canada.
Financial assistance - Refugees
This information from the Government of Canada outlines the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) and Immigration Loans Program.
Can I Apply for OSAP as a Refugee?
This information is available on NewYouth.ca, a website by OCASI for newcomer youth in Ontario.
Are sponsored refugee families with children eligible for a child tax benefit when they arrive?
This information is available through the Government of Canada's immigration and citizenship Help Centre.
General
Accessing non-profit (social) housing
A listing of centres across Ontario that provide information about the non-profit, co-op and public housing in your area.
211 Ontario
This multilingual pamphlet includes information on 211 services in Ontario in Arabic and Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanji).
Services for newcomers to Ontario
This fact sheet by the Government of Ontario describes the programs and services available to help newcomers settle and begin a new life in the province. It is available in Arabic, Armenian and Kurdish (Sorani and Kurmanji).
Understanding One Year Window
This fact sheet by RSTP explains the "one-year window" provision allowing resettled refugees to identify family members abroad for resettlement. It is available in Arabic.
My First Days: A Guide to Your First Two Weeks in Ontario
This guide from Settlement.Org is available as a series of translated articles included under Resources in Arabic.
Employment Standards in Ontario
This poster by the Government of Ontario outlines minimum standards for most workplaces in Ontario.
Guide to Exchanging a Syrian Driver's License for an Ontario Driver's License
This guide by Ottawa Centre Refugee Action provides details to supplement general information available on DriveTest.ca.
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) resources in Arabic
Legal information is available in Arabic on children's aid, sponsoring family members, criminal charges, landlord and tenant issues, police powers and workers' rights. There are many more resources in English.
Refugee Research Hub
The Knowledge Sharing and Networking (KN) Hub on refugee research was created by Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services to facilitate collaboration and synergy between current research projects on refugees in Canada, particularly those focused on the Syrian refugee community.
After You Arrive
These answers to common settlement questions on Settlement.Org are targeted at PSRs and GARs.
Health
Evidence-Based Preventative Care Checklist For New Immigrants and Refugees
A preventative checklist for primary health care workers to use with newcomers and refugees to help integrate the Canadian Immigrant Health Guidelines into practice, available according to patient's country of origin.
Syrian Refugee Medical Clinic
The Syrian Refugee Medical Clinic has several locations across Markham and Toronto and specializes in responding to the needs of recently arrived Syrian newcomers. Language interpretation is provided.
Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules
A list of publicly funded vaccines and vaccine schedules as recommended by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
A Parent's Guide to Vaccination
This explanation of childhood vaccination from the Public Health Agency of Canada is available here.
Services covered by Healthy Smiles Ontario
This guide from the Government of Ontario outlines how to access free dental care for children 17 and under. Information on Healthy Smiles Ontario is also available in Arabic.
Health Care Coverage for Privately Sponsored Refugees in Ontario
This fact sheet by RSTP explains IFHP eligibility and coverage. It is also available in Arabic.
Health & Safety at Work
This poster by the Government of Ontario outlines workers' rights as well as employer and supervisor responsibilities. It is available in Arabic.
Refugees, Mental Health and Sponsorship
This video by RSTP presents some of the challenges of sponsoring refugees who experience mental health issues and helpful tips for supporting such refugees.
Interim Federal Health Program: Summary of Coverage
This information from the Government of Canada outlines IFHP coverage for resettled refugees and other groups.
Supporting the Mental Health of Refugees to Canada
This backgrounder on refugee mental health stems from a review of accumulated research by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Providers
This list by Medavie Blue Cross includes all providers of IFHP in Ontario.
Private Refugee Sponsorship Program
How PSR Applications Are Processed
Visit this IRCC webpage to find out the steps involved in processing a Private Refugee Sponsorship application, including when you can expect to hear back from IRCC, how processing times can be impacted, the size of the backlog of applications, etc.
Responsibilities of Sponsors & Availability of IRCC-funded Services
This document by the IRCC outlines the responsibilities of sponsorship groups and IRCC-funded settlement service providers with regards to services to be provided to privately sponsored refugees.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program – Information for Refugees
This document from the Government of Canada answers common questions about sponsorship and costs. It is available in Arabic.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees Toolkit
This resource from the Canadian Council for Refugees is geared toward groups applying to privately sponsor refugees, but it includes lots of information relevant to other groups.
Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program
This guide by the Government of Canada provides detailed information for private sponsors in Canada interested in sponsoring refugees from abroad.
A Settlement Counsellor's Guide to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program
This guide by RSTP explains the PSR program and advises settlement workers on their role in assisting PSRs.
Sponsorship Handbook
This handbook by Lifeline Syria provides step-by-step information on the one-year private sponsorship period.
Settlement Pathway for Privately Sponsored Refugees
This flow chart by WoodGreen Community Services shows common needs/activities for PSRs from arrival to year four.
Handbook for Sponsoring Groups
This handbook by RSTP provides detailed information on the private sponsorship process from start to finish.
Professional Development
Refugee Settlement Support Project Best Practices Webinar Series
Based on the findings and recommendations of the project's first phase, the second phase features a professional development webinar series for frontline workers serving refugee clients.
Violence Against Women E-Learning Project
This collaborative initiative from the Rexdale Women’s Centre, the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children and OCASI includes the Recognizing and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence Resource Guide for Refugee Resettlement Assistance Programs in Ontario [PDF].
SettlementAtWork Events
This page on SettlementAtWork.Org features training and other events of interest to settlement sector professionals.
Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) Training
Webinars and in-person workshops are available on a wide range of PSR topics.
OCASI Professional Education and Training (PET)
OCASI administers funds for in-house group training for settlement workers.
OCASI Learn At Work
OCASI offers free online self-directed or facilitated learning for settlement practitioners in Ontario.
CAMH Refugee Mental Health Project
CAMH offers a Community of Practice, resource toolkit, webinars, newsletter, networking events and online courses related to refugee mental health.
Refugee Mental Health: Promising Practices and Partnership Building Resources
This guide by CAMH is for people who work with refugees in Canada, particularly those who provide settlement, health and other social support services.
