February 2007
Cheers to the beginning of an exciting new year! Read about the many opportunities for AMSSA and its member agencies this year. This year, AMSSA also turns 30 years old! Look out for upcoming AMSSA events and take part in the celebration.
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AMSSA Celebrates 30 Years of LeadershipDid you know that AMSSA began 30 years ago in Vernon? Multicultural societies from the interior met to set up a provincial organization called Affiliation of Multicultural Societies (AMS) indicating a desire to have better communications, to have a common voice in dealing with governments and the public at large, and to hear from each other about ways and means of promoting multiculturalism in BC. Under the name of “Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC”, a reborn affiliation is formed at a meeting of representatives from various multicultural societies and immigrant service agencies around the province in 1983 with a membership of 12 multicultural societies and service agencies. Five years later, AMSSA’s membership has grown to 36 organizations and expanded in scope. AMSSA today consists of 80 societies providing multicultural education and immigrant services. Cultures West became the main vehicle for carrying out the information and networking functions of AMS in 1982. The next issue of Cultures West is a Special Edition on AMSSA’s 30th birthday with contributions from AMSSA agencies, AMSSA Board members and staff. Look for this in March 2007. Mark your datebook - AMSSA’s 30th Gala Celebration takes place on Thursday, September 27, 2007. Be prepared for an evening of delightful dining, dancing and a silent auction. There will also be regional AMSSA celebrations throughout the year. Keep your eyes open for details! |
Multifaith Calendars Still Available!
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Multicultural Health Fair Coming Soon! AMSSA welcomes two new staff members on the Multicultural Health Fair team: Priya Singh, MHF Volunteer Coordinator and Natasha Kwan, MHF Assistant. Their experience and energy are a great addition as we approach the March 3rd date! During the month of February, the health fair will be promoted with two new forms of transit advertising: - Bus sides: 20 display ads starting February 5th - Transit shelter posters: 10 faces starting February 12th We are looking for volunteers! To find out more and to download the volunteer application form, go to: http://www.amssa.org/healthfair2007/volunteers.htm. For more information, contact Priya Singh at volunteer@amssa.org. |
New Safe Harbour communities and potential Safe Harbour funding!The growing Safe Harbour Program is now at 21 communities province-wide! As of January 2007, The Centre in Davie Village, Vancouver, Burnaby Family Life in Burnaby, Kelowna Community Resources Society in Kelowna, Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria in Victoria, MOSAIC in New Westminster and MOSAIC in Commercial Drive, Vancouver have commit There is also an exciting opportunity for federal and provincial funding for the Program! The Settlement and Multiculturalism (SaM) Division met with AMSSA and Safe Harbour community organizers on January 10, to speak about this funding opportunity under the Welcoming Communities Initiative for newcomers. The Ministry encouraged the Safe Harbour organizers to form a collaborative consortium if they were interested in continuing to implement the Safe Harbour Program with the potential funding. AMSSA has developed a Business Plan and a Results-Based Management framework for the Safe Harbour Program for the next 2 and 1/4 years, based on the funding period the Ministry defined in the meeting. Next steps include AMSSA and Safe Harbour communities’ joint agreement of a Memorandum of Understanding. The Ministry will then post a Letter of Intent on the BC Bid website to fund AMSSA for the program. If there is no opposition to the bid, the Ministry will be able to provide the funding. Current supporters of the Safe Harbour Program are BC Gaming Commission, Telus and BC Hydro. For more information about the program, please visit: http://www.safeharbour.ca. |
Multicultural Health Resources Available Online!AMSSA has launched three web based resources to increase access to multicultural health publications, programs and service providers! These are part of the Promoting Healthy Living in BC’s Multicultural Communities Project, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada: The Multicultural Health Publication database (http://www.amssa.org/multiculturalhealthyliving/phase2/resources.cfm) contains hundreds of publications. Resource topics include studies on access to health services for health care consumers with limited English proficiency, best practices in service delivery, cultural competence, health conditions, language services, demographic information and patterns of service utilization among multi-ethnic populations. After visiting the database, please complete a short User Survey at: http://www.amssa.org/multiculturalhealthyliving/phase2/resources.cfm to provide your comments and suggestions. The BC Directory of Multicultural Health Expertise BC Multicultural Health Guides (Click bottom link on the website: http://www.amssa.org/multiculturalhealthyliving/phase2/updates.html) describe multicultural health services / programs and resources available in several BC communities. An introductory message explains how to use the guide in English, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese. These guides are updated on an ongoing basis. If you know a program or resource that should be included in the guides please contact us at: amssahealth@amssa.org. |
New Federal Funding!With the recent announcement of a roughly 50% increase in “per landing” federal settlement funding to BC over the next few years, the BC Settlement and Multiculturalism (SaM) Division met with other relevant BC ministries to consider how the new funding can meet changing and increasing immigrant settlement needs. The Division’s consultations are based in part on service priorities identified by AMSSA IICC member agencies in recent consultations.
AMSSA and IICC member agencies will be involved in subsequent stages of consultation for service planning for various service groups (employment, youth, refugees, regional immigration). |
IICC Service Transition Moves ForwardIn an effort to extend our settlement sector communication and networking services to all BCSAP service positions as directed by the SaM Division, AMSSA held BCSAP settlement staff consultations last October. The consultations generated exciting ideas including a general webpage with important links and information for settlement workers, an online list of available resources and organizations in each region, regular face-to-face meetings and training to connect with other settlement workers, and a function to share settlement information with other workers within and between regions. Since then, AMSSA completed two consultations with the SaM Division regarding AMSSA’s development of expanded networking and information sharing services for the BC settlement sector. AMSSA compiled IICC agency staff ideas for review by SaM, and received generally positive support for a broad range of new services. AMSSA is now developing a new service framework for review and confirmation by the IICC Steering Committee, and subsequent negotiations with the Division. |
Foreign Credential Recognition Consultation and Minister Solberg's New PortfolioOn December 19, then-Minister of CIC Monte Solberg conducted a consultation in Vancouver to promote foreign credential recognition and improved employment access for newcomers. AMSSA, several large IICC member agencies and representatives of small businesses, post-secondary institutions, professional associations and trades sector councils attended. The consultation was dynamic, demonstrating an increasing convergence in priorities for community NGOs and private sector organizations regarding immigrant settlement and integration.
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Getting Ready for the BC Settlement ConferenceLast December, the BCSAP Joint Settlement Conference Committee that includes AMSSA-IICC and ELSA Net staff and members identified and hired an event planning company to support its work, and identified a likely date for late May 2007. The Committee released a Call for Proposals to all ELSA Net and IICC members so that BC frontline and management staff may propose to deliver workshops, panel presentations, or networking sessions with the theme of “Redefining Settlement in BC”. Initial information about the conference can be found at: https://www.venuewest.com/2007/isc/ |
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AMSSA Staff Changes |
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We’re only in the second month of the year. If you want to keep track of the rest of the year, order your multifaith calendars today! You can purchase by phone at 604-718-2780 or toll free 1-888-355-5560, or purchase online at: 
ted to implementing the anti-racism / multiculturalism program in their communities.
On behalf of the IICC, AMSSA met on January 16 with Tom Jensen, ADM, and Bill Walters, Director, of the BC Settlement and Adaptation Program (BCSAP) about the processes and outcomes of the inter-ministry planning process. In preparation, IICC members with AMSSA support developed Guiding Principles for BC’s use of the new settlement funding that was reviewed at the meeting. At the meeting, IICC members confirmed the high level of agreement on priorities for filling current service gaps, and for conducting consultations for the development of new service models. 
Early in January, Monte Solberg traded portfolios with Diane Finley, 
with Finley as the new CIC minister and Solberg taking over Human Resource and Social Development Canada. AMSSA and IICC member agencies had, in the last year, built a very positive relationship with Minister Solberg based on his demonstrated strong knowledge and interest in the portfolio. Read the press release for the cabinet shuffle at: 
