Always finding out about things at the last minute... Apparently, this survey may close tonight so here it is with some comments from me. Context? From IRCC's slide deck: "The purpose of this presentation is to solicit your early thoughts and co-generate ideas about how we can adapt the Settlement and Resettlement Programs to better suit the needs of clients over the next few years in a context of reduced funding and lower immigration levels."

Ouch.

Additional context from the deck embedded below:

• The Government’s focus on returning to more sustainable immigration levels, realigning Government
  spending with key priorities, combined with sunsetting funding for crisis responses, have meant that the
  Settlement Program is in a situation where it must adapt to declining funding levels.
• IRCC has begun reflecting on a transformation of the program that will adapt it to modern client
  expectations and better ensure longer-term sustainability in this environment of fiscal restraint.
• The need to adapt to these evolving circumstances also presents a real opportunity for program renewal
  and renewed collaboration toward the shared outcome of helping new immigrants thrive in Canada
• This deck will outline broad reflection themes, and deep-dive into specific areas where IRCC is seeking
  advice.

Here is the survey link. I've copied the survey text below. The survey appears to be IP restricted (I can't get back into it again), so you may not be able to submit multiple surveys from the same office internet connection, but I'm not completely sure (I was able to access it again on a data connection, suggesting the IP restriction). If that's true, that's some poor planning.

You'll want to review the slide deck before taking the survey. The survey itself has very little context in many cases and uses acronyms without explaining them, which some folks may not be familiar with (it took me a moment to realize that PT probably means Provinces Territories, but who knows...). I have issues with a bunch of the questions, expected literacy around cybersecurity terminology without providing notes/explainers, and the approach in general, but don't have time to discuss, I just want as many people to see the survey as possible at this point.

Here's the full text so you can review/prep yourself before diving in, if that helps:

Sector feedback on IRCC Consultations

To coordinate a sector response to the IRCC consultation that will guide upcoming program renewals, the NSIC, SIPPC, and SISDC are jointly conducting this survey to collect feedback from service providers across the country. The goal is to collect sector insights, guidance, and feedback in relation to the six proposed themes. The feedback gathered will help inform IRCC’s policy development, operational considerations, and provide recommendations to decision makers. The questions below are taken from IRCC’s Consultation Decks, with some being formatted for survey analysis.

As you respond to this survey, please note that IRCC has asked us to keep in mind:

• The context of fiscal restraint and reduced immigration levels that serve as the basis for current policy and programming considerations
• All analysis, evidence and policy decisions will be made through a GBA+/intersectional lens to understand and mitigate where possible impacts on vulnerable populations.

Please feel free to skip any questions that are not relevant to your work.

1. Region:

• BCY
• PNT
• ONT
• QC
• ATL

2. Type of Agency (select all that apply):

• Urban
• Itinerant/remote services outside of main location
• Small Centres/Rural

Theme 1: Renewed Digital Strategy

As clients increasingly access information online, what types of services programming could be delivered effectively digitally? Please rank the following from the most effective to the least:

List is IRCC's main service areas:

• RAP
• Language
• Employment
• NAARS
• SWIS/Youth
• Settlement
• Case Management
• Information and Orientation
• Community Connections

As clients increasingly access information online, which activities within service provision can support newcomers most effectively? Please rank the following from the most effective to the least:

• Information sharing
• Orientation
• Language literacy (Literacy+ CLB Stage 1)
• Language training (CLB Stage 2)
• Employment interviews
• Other

If "Other" was selected, please specify:

What data privacy and cybersecurity protocols/safeguards do you already have in place to ensure client data is safe? (Check all that apply)

• Antivirus software
• Firewalls
• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
• Data encryption
• Endpoint monitoring
• Penetration testing
• Data protection and privacy policy
• Cybersecurity policy
• Other (please specify)

What protocols/safeguards improvements are needed in your agency to enhance your data privacy and cybersecurity to ensure client data is safe in online service delivery? (Please select up to four responses)

• Antivirus software
• Firewalls
• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
• Data encryption
• Endpoint monitoring
• Penetration testing
• Data protection and privacy policy
• Cybersecurity policy
• Other (please specify)

What areas of data privacy and cybersecurity require further investment? (Rank in order of priority)

• Sector-specific privacy guidance
• Cybersecurity awareness training
• Templates (eg. policies, response plans)
• Technical help assessing third party vendors
• Funding for digital safety upgrades
• Strategy or innovation coaching
• Formal certifications
• Peer learning and knowledge exchanges
• Access to hardware
• Access to software
• Other

If "Other" was selected, please specify:

In which areas would investments in digital capacity tools best support your organization’s ability to align with the proposed digital strategy? Please select your top 3 answers.

• Funding for expertise in business applications
• Project management in implementing projects
• Instructional design - figuring out how to best organize content and the online sessions
• Funding for licenses for digital applications
• Programming cost eligibility for digital capacity tools
• Other (please specify)

Do you have any examples of specific digital tools that are working well?

Program Area

Can select drop-down from IRCC funding areas:

• RAP
• Language
• Employment
• NAARS
• SWIS/Youth
• Settlement
• Case Management
• Information and Orientation
• Community Connections

Tool and its advantages:

If there are more Programming Areas you would like to select, please select "Yes" and then proceed to the next page.

Theme 2: NAARS Transformation (Standardization and DNS)

Are there challenges within your community that a DNS model will help address?

Yes

No

If yes, please specify:

To what extent do you agree with the statement that a DNS model will reduce duplication of services in your settlement community?

• Not at all
• To a small extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a great extent
• To a very great extent

What impact do you think that the DNS model will have on accessibility of services?

• Greatly improve
• Moderately improve
• No effect
• Moderately harm
• Greatly harm

How would you rate your community’s current capacity to deliver efficient and effective centralized NAARS services across all funded agencies and programming? (rate 1-5 with 5 being greatest)

From your perspective, what steps can agencies take to foster and support increased collaboration among SPOs and enhance trust to be able to effectively and efficiently deliver centralized NAARS services in your community?

From your perspective, what steps can IRCC take to foster and support increased collaboration among SPOs and to enhance trust to be able to effectively and efficiently delivery centralized NAARS services in your community?

Options given, with selection options - Yes, this should be a priority, or No, this doesn’t need to be a priority, then asked why, looks like this:

	Yes, this should be a priority	No, this doesn’t need to be a priority
Allow inter-agency collaboration as an activity and eligible cost.	Allow inter-agency collaboration as an activity and eligible cost. Yes, this should be a priority	Allow inter-agency collaboration as an activity and eligible cost. No, this doesn’t need to be a priority
Why?

• Allow inter-agency collaboration as an activity and eligible cost.
• Invest in collaborative/accessible software for client data.
• Allow for more flexibility regarding staff activities, or FTE assignments, including across multiple agencies.
• Prioritizing knowledge sharing between agencies and across regions.
• Transparency in sharing evaluations and findings of NAARS programming across the country.
• Other

If a common platform to manage referrals is implemented, what would be the most critical features for this platform to include? (Ranking in order of importance)

• Client data privacy features
• Access to and ability to update client notes within and between agencies
• Mobile platform access
• Outcome tracking/Settlement Plan
• Inter-agency referral/service coordination tool
• Resource directory
• Ability to update NAARS
• Compatibility with iCARE
• Compatibility with internal agency database for client tracking and reporting
• Other

If "Other was selected, please specify:

To help inform the future direction of NAARS, please share any other best practices your organizations use in assessing client needs when a formal NAARS assessment is not provided.

Theme 3: Revising the length of clients’ eligibility for settlement services

In your experience, what percentage of clients require significant settlement services three years after arrival in Canada?

• Less than 25%
• 25-50%
• 50-75%
• 75-100%

Of the following eligible client demographic categories, which groups in your experience access settlement related services for the longest periods? (Please rank)

• Primary applicants
• case management clients
• low literacy clients
• spouses of primary applicants
• women and gender diverse newcomers
• youth/students
• Temporary residents who have gained PR

Of the following eligible client demographic categories, which groups in your experience access settlement related services the longest time after becoming a Permanent Resident/landing in Canada (Please rank)

• Primary applicants
• case management clients
• low literacy clients
• spouses of primary applicants
• women and gender diverse newcomers
• youth/students
• Temporary residents who have gained PR

What tools and supports would you require to implement these changes effectively?

What can IRCC do to encourage newcomers who need settlement services to access them as early as possible after arriving in Canada?

• Better pre-arrival information on available local services
• Improved transparency of settlement service eligibility restrictions for newcomers
• Increased capacity to address program waitlists
• Other (please specify)

Theme 4: Supporting skills for economic success

How do you adapt your language programs in response to high turnover? What helps you offer courses that meet different learners' needs? How do you support a client’s transition to other language services in the community?

Each option is laid out below, select, N/A, My agency does not provide language programming

	Select	N/A	My agency does not provide language programming
High client turnover	High client turnover Select	High client turnover N/A	High client turnover My agency does not provide language programming
Adaptation and Benefit (max. 100 characters)

• High client turnover
• Meeting differing needs of clients
• Transition to other community language services

In your experience of providing Employment Related Services, which activities are best delivered in-person and where has online service delivery, (1 on 1 or group) proven beneficial in terms of meeting client needs?

Employment Readiness Supports	Employment Readiness Supports Best delivered in-person	Employment Readiness Supports Online services beneficial
Job Matching and Referral	Job Matching and Referral Best delivered in-person	Job Matching and Referral Online services beneficial
Workplace Orientation	Workplace Orientation Best delivered in-person	Workplace Orientation Online services beneficial
Licensing and Credential Support	Licensing and Credential Support Best delivered in-person	Licensing and Credential Support Online services beneficial
Mentorship or Networking Programs	Mentorship or Networking Programs Best delivered in-person	Mentorship or Networking Programs Online services beneficial
Language for Employment	Language for Employment Best delivered in-person	Language for Employment Online services beneficial

What are some best practices in coordinating employer engagement within your community? How do you work with IECs, LIPs or Umbrellas?

Open ended for each option - LIP, Umbrellas, IEC.

Theme 5: Continue to align RAP service delivery with Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) levels

What do you envision being important to bear in mind as we continue to seek to match RAP-SPO capacity with GAR arrivals? (select your top 3)

• Available affordable housing
• Community buy-in/receptive capacity
• Language waitlists
• Available schools and daycare
• Available health services (including mental health)
• Public Transit services
• Ethno-cultural compositions
• Cost of living
• Employment availability
• Other (please specify)

What considerations do you think will be important to make when analyzing the layout of the RAP-SPO network, and the costs and outcomes associated with the destining / reception of GARs?

Theme 6: Stronger collaboration with PTs to align co-planning and service delivery

What opportunities do you think exist for improving collaboration between IRCC and PTs? Some options could include enhanced joint planning and cooperation between IRCC and PTs, as well as alternative approaches to the funding and provision of services.

What potential challenges or opportunities do you see in strengthening the relationship among SPOs, PTs, and IRCC to provide settlement services to newcomers