About PNT SWIS
The Settlement Workers In Schools [SWIS] is a school-based outreach program designed to help newcomer students and families settle in their elementary and high school of choice within their community of residence in Prairie and Northwest Territories. The Saskatchewan SWIS Coordinator works with communities, settlement service providers, community organizations towards facilitating the settlement process of newcomer families and to foster student academic achievement in relation to information and resources sharing as well as connection to support services in the school and the broader community.
Key Roles
Support successful school integration by assisting in school registration, school orientation, parent/teacher interviews and meetings, home visits and follow-up meetings.
Provide information and guidance on educational issues to students and parents.
Collaborate with the school counselors and the community to provide practical, culturally sensitive guidance, referrals and intervention during crisis situations.
Advocate for the rights and responsibilities of all students and their families.
Assess the needs of immigrant students and families in order to assist with their settlement
Refer students and their families to affordable programs and services in their community; programs such as; youth programs, health services, sports, summer programs, winter activities.
Encourage newcomer families to become involved in school events and community recreational activities.
Promote respect for cultural diversity by sharing information on multiculturalism with school personnel and the community regarding settlement challenges.
SWIS Coordination
The PNT SWIS Coordination is a partnership between SWIS service providers in the Prairies and Northwest Territories, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The PNT SWIS Coordinator is a support and outreach coordination program to assist and support SWIS programs in urban and rural PNT to settle newcomers and their families in their schools and communities. The PNT SWIS Coordinator works with communities and service providers in order to help provide useful services and resources in the school and the community. This resource acts to promote settlement and enhance refugee and immigrant student achievements. Access to schools and educational institutions are the very first services that newcomers will get. With the cooperation of the SWIS service providers, communities, and IRCC, the SWIS Coordinator works with all communities that have a SWIS program.
The objectives of the PNT SWIS program are to:
- Provide service providers with the services required to support the SWIS program
- Support partnership involvement in the SWIS program
- Build capacity within SWIS service providers thereby increasing the ability to provide appropriate and timely services to clients
- Increase community awareness and involvement in the integration process
- Facilitate capacity building and information sharing amongst SWIS service providers
- Communicate timely SWIS information
The SWIS Coordination program aims to provide assistance and support to SWIS programs across PNT, promote partnerships, increase community awareness and involvement in the integration process, and facilitate training and information sharing among SWIS service providers. The PNT SWIS Coordinator operates out of the Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA) office. Through the partnership, resources and services are developed and delivered to settlement organizations. Support includes province-wide coordination of needs assessment, resources, promotion, training, and information sharing. These resources assist communities and organizations to engage in settlement and integration, foster connections with newcomers and encourage the participation of refugees and immigrants in Prairie and Northwest Territories.
SWIS Coordination
As well as service standards, we at SWIS believe that values are fundamental principles that guide behavior and provide direction in making decisions. Adhering to common values ensures consistency and effectiveness despite the uniqueness of an individual client’s needs or circumstances.
The following values and guiding principles used the Settlement Counselors’ “Values and Guiding Principles of the Settlement Sector”, as a template that has been modified for the SWIS staff.
SWIS aim to provide services that are:
- Client Centered – The individual client’s unique background such as ethnicity, sex, language, migration experience and specific needs are taken into consideration in the provision of services within the mandate and the resources of the agency.
- Empowering – Services should foster client independence in the new school environment. The client is encouraged and supported to make choices and to take responsibility for their actions.
- Holistic – Service delivery recognizes the many dimensions of human need and aspiration. Community development, education, and advocacy are essential components for the success of the individual.
- Accessible – Services are available to clients who meet the eligibility criteria. They are also provided a safe environment along with translation and interpretation as required.
- Equitable and respectful – Services are provided in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of the clients without discrimination.
- Accountable – Information is gathered on an ongoing basis to provide appropriate services to clients; services are monitored and evaluated regularly to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
- Collaborate with Partnership – It is a partnership approach to recognize the important contribution our partners make. There is a need to foster and nurture partner relationships and to understand and adhere to each other’s organizational values.
The SWIS Professional Standards Guide builds upon these service standards and values by outlining the acceptable professional behaviour expected from SWIS staff working in the school environment.
The SWIS Coordination program aims to provide assistance and support to SWIS Anglophone programs across PNT . Central to the SWIS objective is the involvement of key stakeholders such as the local Board of Education and SWIS service providers in creating community awareness, training and information sharing and capacity building for newcomer families and immigrant students.
Our Objectives
- To provide service providers with the services required to support the SWIS program
- To support partnership involvement in the SWIS program
- To build capacity within SWIS service providers thereby increasing the ability to provide appropriate and timely services to clients
- To increase community awareness and involvement in the integration process
- To facilitate capacity building and information sharing amongst SWIS service providers in the province
- To communicate timely SWIS information The Coordination program aims to provide assistance and support to SWIS r programs across PNT
