Envisioning the Future of the Immigrant-Serving Sector - focus group narrative report (2021)

"As part of the second phase of the ACS-WES project Envisioning the Future of the Immigrant-Serving Sector, four focus groups were conducted with experts in the settlement sector. Through our newcomer and service providing organization (SPO) surveys, we uncovered key challenges within the sector from the perspective of settlement agencies and their clients. The focus groups centered around finding solutions to these key challenges faced by clients and service providers, which have been exacerbated by the onset of COVID-19.

The topics of solution-focussed discussion included

1. Building Capacity in the Settlement Sector;
2. Knowledge Sharing,
3. Collaboration and Employment-related Partnerships;
4. Improving Attraction and Accessibility of Settlement Services; and,
5. Funding models for the Settlement Sector.

These focus groups will inform the next phase of our project, in which we will further explore solutions for the sector with a broader range of stakeholders by conducting key informant interviews...

The four focus groups were conducted between September 14-17 2021 and ranged in size from 6 to 10 participants. In total, 34 participants attended one of four 90 minute sessions. No attendees were permitted to participate in more than one focus group. Participants received a $50 honoraria for their engagement. The focus groups were conducted over Zoom with one of our project team members as a facilitator for each. All participants belonged to a newcomer settlement service providing organization in an array of professional capacities. Some participants were newcomers as well as settlement service workers. The participants were selected through a number of applicants due to their knowledge of and/or experience with the topics covered, as well as to maintain diversification of region, size, and longevity of organization.

Participants were regionally dispersed across Canada from settlement agencies located in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, and Québec. The size of participants’ settlement organizations ranged from 1-250+ employees. As an introduction, each participant was asked to introduce themselves, their organization and reason for joining the selected focus group."

[pdf-embedder url="https://km4s.ca/wp-content/uploads/ACS-Focus-Group-Narrative-Report-2021.pdf" title="ACS Focus Group Narrative Report (2021)"]