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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".
Impacts:
Last year, AMSSA impacted our communities through these educational initiatives:
- AMSSA and our BC Multicultural health Committee organized and delivered BC's fourth 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 the environment.
"...the average immigrant's health declines after years of living here, even though tier 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)
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AMSSA developed posters, bookmarks and a website as part of the ActNow initiative to promote better health outcomes for BC's senior and youth multicultural and newcomer communities. To encourage healthier lifestyles, AMSSA organized and delivered four launch events, bringing together seniors and youth from around the province
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AMSSA worked with community agencies to promote the Safe Harbour program, which builds understanding and support for diversity among businesses, social service providers, financial institutions in 24 communities. Safe Harbour orientations focus on awareness about the different ways people might experience discrimination and commits storefronts to serving all customers/clients equitably and to providing a temporary safe refuge if needed.
- AMSSA worked with 13 agencies to deliver the Youth Ambassador Diversity Program to engage youth in creating welcoming environments. Training and resources were provided for Youth Ambassador teams to facilitate workshops in local elementary schools and community settings. Youth and children were empowered to create safer, more respectful environments for all forms of diversity.
- AMSSa introduced 8,400 BC families and individuals to the range of spiritual diversity in BC communities through the distribution of its Multifaith Calendars: Communing Spirit to their homes and workplaces
- AMSSA developed Cultures West magazine editions that integrated information from the international, national, provincial and local levels about current issues in settlement and immigration and about Welcoming Communities.
AMSSA's leadership strengthened BC communities through:
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providing coordination and communication for 35 agencies that serve the needs of 38,000 immigrants arriving in BC each year, 80 agencies that promote anti-racism and multiculturalism in BC communities, and a wide range of service providers and government bodies promoting multicultural health access
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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. During this time, AMSSA launched Settlement Net, a new website for BCSAP immigrant settlement service staff to receive and share information and resources, ask questions of other BCSAP service staff, provide more effective inter-agencies client referrals, and build ongoing service relationships across organizations.
- playing a central role in the planning and organization of the 2007 BCSAP Conference: Redefining Immigrant Settlement in BC. which included workshops and panel discussions examining challenges and opportunities in BC's immigrant settlement sector, and the impact of its changing environment on policies, program design and service delivery.
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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