About Y Settlement Services

Programs

Our Settlement programs include LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada), RAP (Resettlement Assistance Program), designed for the settlement of government sponsored refugees, ISAP ( Immigrant Settlement & Adaptation Program), for landed immigrants, as well as the HOST Program which matches Newcomers with local members of the community. We also have a School Liaison Co-Ordinator. These programs are all funded through CIC.

Our LINC Program (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) includes Pre-LINC (Literacy), LINC 1, LINC 2, LINC 3, and our newest, a combined LINC 4/5. These programs employ five Instructors. A pilot project initiative (LINC Triage) was completed and is now part of our mainstream programming. This will enable us to better serve our Newcomer clients.

An outreach multi-level ESL class runs in St. George and is available to all landed immigrants in the region.

The Saint John YM-YWCA has a certified CLBA – CLBLA Assessor on-site. This will facilitate quicker entry into our LINC classes.

We run regularly scheduled Employment Language Training programs with students functioning with high-level English skills. The ELT program features employment training skills, computer training, and a work placement opportunity.

An ELT Employment Counsellor assists ELT students with their employment needs.

ISAP (Immigrant Settlement & Adaptation Program) assists landed immigrants with their settlement needs in the greater Saint John region. Counsellors help our clients with orientation to the community, referrals to other professional agencies (medical, legal, education, etc), and offer Interpretation services.

RAP (Resettlement Assistance Program) is a specialized settlement service aimed at selected Government Sponsored Refugees destined to Saint John. A Counsellor assists clients with their integration into the local community. Specialized enhanced Life Skills services are also offered.

HOST is a means by which volunteers are recruited from the community and matched with Newcomers to Canada. The HOST Co-Ordinator recruits, trains and monitors all matches. This person is also responsible for assisting clients with their immigration and sponsorship documents.

A School Liasion Co-Ordinator advocates for Newcomer students in our educational system and serves as a resource person to teachers and educators.

A Settlement Counsellor works with local churches to assist with the joint sponsorship of refugees.

We have recently developed a specialized Orientation package for Newcomers to the Saint John region.

A Director of Settlement Services manages these programs.

Additional Information

• In-House Practicums are conducted with students from the TESL Program at UNBSJ and from St Thomas University’s BSW Program
• The Saint John YMCA-YWCA is a member of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council
• The Saint John YMCA-YWCA is the only Saint John member of the Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (ARAISA). This is a four province umbrella organization that advocates on behalf of its members and clients
• To learn more, visit the Saint John YM/YWCA web site.