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About AMSSA
AMSSA is an affiliation of Member Agencies providing immigrant settlement and multicultural services in communities throughout British Columbia.
Formed in 1977 as a collaboration of several multicultural societies, AMSSA was incorporated in 1983 with an initial membership of 12 Member Agencies. Today, AMSSA consists of 85 Member Agencies in over twenty-five communities throughout BC and continues to attract more Members.
We act as a centralized resource for our Members working in both large urban areas and smaller centres. Our educational initiatives provide business, government, and the general public with professional, accurate, and detailed information about current issues in multiculturalism, immigration, and human rights. AMSSA creates networking opportunities, disseminates information, provides professional development, and builds organizational capacities for our Members.
As we strive to work towards our vision through evolving and responsive programs and services to build healthy communities, Fundraising is an increasing goal of AMSSA. To learn more about the various ways you can contribute to the success of AMSSA please open the links at the bottom of this page.
AMSSA believes in a just and equitable society which values Canada's cultural diversity.
AMSSA provides leadership in advocacy and education in British Columbia for anti-racism, human rights, and social justice. AMSSA supports its members in serving immigrants, refugees and culturally diverse communities.
- equity
- diversity
- mutual respect
- inclusiveness
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- collaboration
- harmony
- honesty
- integrity
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AMSSA's work centers around three major committees, details and accomplishments of each can be found under the link "Programs/Committees":
- Collaborative Committee on Multiculturalism (CCM) has a mission to provide a supportive network and a collaborative voice on multiculturalism. Goals include: to work together to establish and communicate clear positions on key issues on multiculturalism; to increase the professionalism in the sector through education and professional development.
- Immigrant Integration Coordinating Committee (IICC) is committed to improving immigrant integration services, developing client-centred policy, facilitating effective consultation, conducting meaningful research related to the needs of the sector, and developing professional standards in service delivery.
- Multicultural Health Committee (MHC) was established in 1985 and
is an AMSSA program committee. Participants serving on the MHC come from a variety of
community settings and most are working directly in a health related field, or engaged in academic positions in health care, or are
working as diversity leaders in various health care settings. This unique
characteristic of the participants is a source of strength for AMSSA. It
is
also a potential resource that the government can use as an 'expert
reference group' for consultations. Over and above that, the MHC members
bring unprecedented commitment and dedication to the agenda of fostering a
culturally competent health service model that is accessible, that
respects
the background and traditions of a diverse population base, and that is
predicated on the principle of human dignity. The objective of the
Committee
are to promote culturally sensitive, equitable and appropriate health care
for all British Columbians', to encourage communication and cooperation on
multicultural health issues between government, health-care providers, and
the community and to promote the incorporation and implementation of
multicultural policy in health-care organizations
Based on a Membership Survey conducted in 2001, the significance of AMSSA's work was highlighted by Member agencies who stated that their ability to work effectively and appropriately would be significantly diminished without the communications, networking and united voice functions that AMSSA provides. There is "no equivalent forum for linking service providers, policy makers and clients in the settlement and multicultural fields... Without a centralized body, agencies would in fact suffer isolation, limited ability to lobby, limited access to such resources".
AMSSA's achievements for 2006-2007 include:-
AMSSA developed BC’s first on-line multicultural health directory –for individuals and organizations to list their skills and resources, and look for the expertise they need close-to-home. Currently, the directory has over 100 entries. AMSSA developed a Multicultural Programs and Resources Guide in 8 different languages for 25 communities that can be downloaded from the AMSSA website. A Multicultural Health Publication database with hundred of publications is also available online.
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AMSSA and our Multicultural Health Committee hosted the third annual Multicultural Health Fair,in March 2007 with 2000 people in attendance. It is the largest multicultural health fair in Canada.
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AMSSA continues to coordinate the Safe Harbour program, which promotes strong, healthy, and diverse communities. Safe Harbour locations announce to the community that they welcome diversity and that they serve as sanctuaries for people who experience discrimination or harassment. To date, over 200 businesses, government agencies, and organizations in BC participate in Safe Harbour
"I am amazed at the simplicity and power of the Safe Harbour Workshop.. . . I feel renewed hope with this community endeavour; that beyond the individual-centered goals, we also value a common purpose of helping each other. . ..”.
Kealey Pringle, Project Coordinator, Parent Support Services (Victoria)
- AMSSA staff continue to play a lead role on behalf of the Immigrant Integration Coordinating Committee (IICC) Member Agencies at the executive level in the strategic Development of the EASI initiative. EASI, the BC Employment Access for Skilled Immigrants Initiative, is a multi-stakeholder forum to promote integrated supports for skilled immigrants to access the labour market.
AMSSA impacted our communities through these educational initiatives:
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AMSSA and our BC Multicultural Health Committee organized and delivered BC’s third annual provincial Multicultural Health Fair. With an attendance of 2,000 visitors, the fair disseminated health information to many multi-ethnic communities taking into account all phases of life from children through to seniors and the linkages between poverty, health and environment.
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AMSSA supported agencies, businesses, and institutions in 21 BC communities provide Safe Harbour for their clients, customers, and employees of diverse backgrounds. The training focuses on awareness about the different ways people might experience discrimination and identifies simple steps that staff can take to support someone who needs a temporary refuge.
- AMSSA introduced 7,000 BC families and individuals to the range of spiritual diversity in BC communities through the distribution of its Multifaith Calendars: the Contemplative Circle to their homes and workplaces.
- AMSSA developed Cultures West magazine editions that integrated information from the international, national, provincial, and local levels about immigration in Canadian urban centres, based on the Metropolis Conference in Vancouver and about Celebrating AMSSA’s 30th Anniversary.
“. . . the average immigrant's health declines after years of living here, even though their health on arrival is generally better than the Canadian-born, according to numerous studies. . . To the rescue: the multicultural health fair.” The Globe and Mail (March 2, 2007)
AMSSA's leadership strengthened BC communities through:
- providing coordination and communication for 35 agencies that serve the needs of 45,000 immigrants arriving in BC each year, 40 agencies that promote anti-racism and multiculturalism in BC communities, and a wide range of service providers and government bodies promoting multicultural health access.
- supporting the capacities of community-based, not-for-profit service agencies to adapt during a time of major changes in governmental approaches to contracting human and social services.
- operating a referral line and website, providing resources and referral to community agencies, schools, businesses, government representatives and the general public regarding our mandated responsibilities. The AMSSA website, which provides timely and relevant information and downloadable documents, receives an average of 90,000 hits a month.
You and AMSSA: Individual Donation Form
Charitable Registration: AMSSA Community Education Society of BC
Funders & Donors
If you have further questions about our programs or services, or about donating to AMSSA, please Contact us Today!
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