To support AMSSA members and settlement service providers with the Afghan Refugee Resettlement, AMSSA has curated the resource lists below. Click on the tabs to expand. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
#WelcomeAfghans: Key figures on Afghan refugees who have arrived in Canada
IRCC has published a page with key statistics on Afghan refugees who have arrived in Canada, ventilated between Government-assisted refugees (GARs) and Privately sponsored refugees (PSRs), along with an interactive map to visualize the destinations of refugees.
Two special immigration programs
IRCC has implemented two special immigration programs to welcome Afghan refugees to Canada that will resettle up to 40,000 individuals over the next two years:
- one program for Afghans who contributed to Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan;
- one additional program with longer term humanitarian scope for vulnerable groups including women leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, persecuted religious minorities, LGBTI individuals, and family members of previously resettled interpreters. This stream is open to Afghans who have fled to 3rd countries.
Special measures for Afghan applications
Due to the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, IRCC is actively exploring how to facilitate applications for Afghans in Canada and abroad, through priority processing and waived fees.
IRCC wizard to assess elegibility
IRCC has developed a wizard to help Afghans find out what special measures they may be eligible for.
How Canadians can help the Afghan Resettlement
If you wish to support the Afghan Resettlement, as a Canadian citizen you can offer donations, volunteer, or sponsor a refugee.
Canada's response to the situation in Afghanistan
Up-to-date official information can be found on IRCC’s dedicated page.
IRCC Afghanistan Public Policies
A list of IRCC public policies created to assist at-risk Afghans. The list of policies is also available in French here.
The objective of the Afghan Resettlement Programs is to ensure the safe, efficient, and respectful resettlement, settlement, and integration of arriving Afghan refugees through an effective collaborative approach to service delivery.
CCR Afghan Crisis Information Updates
The Canadian Council for Refugees has dedicated a page for updates on the Afghan Refugee Crisis.
In British Columbia, the following service provider organizations deliver resettlement assistance programs to refugees.
Immigrant Services Society (ISS) of BC
ISSofBC provides resettlement assistance programs to resettled refugees throughout BC.
Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA)
ICA of Greater Victoria provides resettlement assistance programs to resettled refugees on Vancouver Island.
KCR Community Resources provides resettlement assistance programs to resettled refugees in the interior region of BC.
Community Airport Newcomer’s Network (CANN)
Each year, CANN provides in-person reception services to approximately 2,500 government-assisted, privately sponsored and blended visa office-referred refugees arriving at the Vancouver International Airport. CANN facilitates orientation, information and referral service to refugee clients. The services for refugees at Port of Entry are specialized, focused on refugee client’s immediate and essential needs.
The BC Refugee Hub hosts an info page with updated information on Canada's Afghan Refugee Resettlement Program.
Refugee Sponsorship Training Program
If you are interested in sponsoring refugees, the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program RSTP provides training and support to Canadian refugee sponsorship groups, Sponsorship Agreement Holders and sponsored refugees.
MOSAIC is working alongside the Afghan and wider Canadian community to provide meaningful refugee resettlement and integration support.
BC4Afghans and the BC Refugee Hub have compiled a list of BC-specific community resources for Afghan newcomers which include Afghan affiliated community organizations, religious institutions, grocery stores and medical services. Many of the resources listed show languages available, along with contact information to make it easily accessible to newcomer Afghans resettling in the Metro Vancouver region.
Afghan Canadian Association of British Columbia
The Afghan Canadian Association of British Columbia is a non-profit organization serving members and the Afghan community living in British Columbia.
British Columbia's Young Afghan Association
British Columbia’s Young Afghans Association (BCYA) is a not-for-profit society dedicated to supporting Afghan students pursue their academic goals. We are committed to guiding young Afghans in reaching their goals, whether through mentoring, tutoring or various skill building academic workshops.
Afghan Canadian Islamic Community
Afghan Canadian Islamic Community (ACIC) is a non-profit charitable organization providing cultural, social and religious services. ACIC began its activities as a small community association in 1989 in response to the growing need of Afghan immigrants for a place where they can practice their religious traditions and celebrate cultural ceremonies.
QMUNITY is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. It provides a safer space for LGBTQ2 people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included.
Founded in 2000, Rainbow Refugee is a Vancouver based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression (SOGIE) or HIV status.
The following videos provide information in Dari and Pashto to resettle in a Francophone community:
The Government of British Columbia has created a $2-million fund to boost local services & supports for Afghan families resettling in BC. The Refugee Readiness Fund will ensure that BC communities are ready to welcome the thousands of families/individuals over the coming months and years. It will assist with enhancing and coordinating community-level supports, such as information and education, career guidance, trauma counselling and mental health supports.
Notice to Vendors (NTV22RRF02) Ministry of Municipal Affairs
The Province of British Columbia has released a notice with regard to the intention to issue a Call for Responses (CFR) in January to address community capacity to receive Afghan refugees.
Refugee Readiness Fund for the Afghan Refugees Provincial Consultation Meeting
On November 17, 2021, AMSSA facilitated an online Provincial Consultation meeting to support the B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs Immigration Policy and Integration Branch as they develop the approach for the Refugee Readiness Fund for the Afghan Refugees. The consultation was an opportunity to understand emerging issues and challenges in communities and gather feedback.
Read the Summary Report from the consultation meeting by clicking here.
Mental Health Resources
Due to the hardships of their situations, Afghan refugees will reach Canada with a high level of trauma. AMSSA has compiled a list of resources around mental health and trauma that may support settlement workers in their efforts to resettle Afghan refugees.
Trauma-informed Services
This webinar addresses how we can support the more vulnerable newcomers to Canada through learning with healing centered engagement.
Training: Refugee Mental Health Front-line Workers
This course describes approaches and practical tools for assessing refugee trauma and addressing mental health needs. It also helps front-line workers recognize the signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma/burnout.
Webinar: Trauma Informed Practice: Supporting Clients Who Have Experienced Complex Trauma
This webinar explores the impact of trauma and identifies how immigrant serving agencies can offer services in a trauma-informed manner, set policies, and encourage interactions with clients that facilitate healing and growth.
This 2018 webinar helped educators and other practitioners in the settlement sector to understand how trauma affects learning and how trauma can be a common barrier for students in the classroom.
Self-Care for Frontline Workers
BCSIS Summit Recorded Session: No More Excuses Practical Tools for Self-Care
The background document for this session is available here.
The background document for this session is available here.
E-learning course: Self-care and a Healthy Workplace in the Settlement and Integration Sector
This interactive e-learning course looks at the impacts that stress and trauma in the workplace can have on frontline service providers and managers and provides activities/exercises that can be used to impact experienced stresses.
Info sheet: Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue
This info sheet looks at the impacts that trauma in the workplace can have on service providers. It offers tools and resources for burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue.
Substance Use
BCSIS Summit Recorded Session: Mental Health and Substance Use
The background document for this session is available here.
Migrant Worker Hub Resources
Some of the resources of the Migrant Worker Hub may be of interest to service providers supporting Afghan refugees, which is why they have been included on this list. Migrant workers, oftentimes working in rural or remote areas, are a vulnerable population susceptible to high levels of individual and family stressors. Many find themselves dealing with anxiety, depression, isolation, substance use, and domestic violence issues.
Video: Trauma-Informed Practice for Service Providers
Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences. Adverse situations can lead to accumulated trauma. These events can include abuse, exploitation, racist attacks, discrimination, accidents, witnessing violence and/or being disconnected from one’s community and culture.
Webinar: Strengthening Family Relationships for Migrant Workers
This webinar & handout examine various coping mechanisms, healthy preventive and protective measures to strengthen family relationships, along with promising practices for migrant worker programs and resources. The handout for this session is available here.
Webinar: Mental Health Care Tips and Resources to Support Migrant Workers
Being away from one's family and community can cause mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. There are strategies to protect mental health.
Webinar: Alcohol & Drug Use: Supporting Migrant Workers Who Are Facing Addiction
This webinar provides organizations, unions, employers and individuals in general, knowledge on how to identify and support individuals who may be facing an addiction.
This toolkit, designed by the Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project of the CAMH, provides a snapshot of essential information, tools, resources and examples of promising practices that can be integrated into the daily work of settlement, social, and health service providers across Canada, with the aim of building the capacity to better support the mental health unique needs of immigrants and refugees.
CAMH Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Course
The CAMH Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Course is a free, self directed training that offers information, tools and resources for service providers to provide mental health care and support to both immigrants and refugees arriving in Canada. It is designed to provide an interactive experience where you can consult with experts in the field, and connect with other service providers across Canada. The six-week online course consists of seven modules and takes approx. 20-25 hours to complete.
BC Refugee Hub Guide to Mental Health for Refugees and Refugee Claimants
This guide, curated by the BC Refugee Hub, includes definitions about mental health and trauma, and resources available to those working with refugees and refugee claimants, along with services and supports available for refugees and refugee claimants.
Spanning the spectrum of crisis support, suicide prevention, and postvention, the Crisis Centre of BC engages staff and volunteers in a variety of services and programs that educate, train, and support the strength and capacity of individuals and communities.
Anywhere in BC 1-800-SUICIDE: 1-800-784-2433
This webpage of the Province of BC compiles a list of services, programs and contacts for mental health and substance use support in BC.
Wellbeing.gov.bc.ca is a website developed by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to help people in BC connect with mental health and substance use information and resources.
Wellness Together Canada is a mental health and substance use website that supports people across Canada at no cost through immediate text support, information and videos on common mental health and substance use issues, wellness programs, community and peer support, and individual phone, video, and text counselling.
BounceBack is a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. It is delivered online or over the phone with a coach, and gives access to tools that support mental wellness. BounceBack is accessible through referral.
Vancouver Association for the Survivors of Torture (VAST)
VAST supports the mental health of refugees who arrive in BC with psychological trauma as a result of torture, political violence, and other forms of persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees (VICCIR)
VICCIR provides mental health counselling to immigrants and refugees living in Canada. They offer their services on a sliding fee scale, and for free when needed. They work with trained interpreters as required.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - BC Division
The CMHA helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians, and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. CMHA provides a wide range of innovative services and supports tailored to communities.
Banner photo: Morning in Kabul, Afghanistan by Mohammad Rahmani on Unsplash