Multicultural Association of Carleton County

…but you can call us MACC

You may ask yourself . . .

Where is Carleton County?

Woodstock

Hartland

Florenceville/Bristol

To Fredericton 100 kms

Carleton County

HISTORY OFMACC

It all started with a potato…

…from that potato a multinational company was formed – McCain Foods

Flash forward 50 years.

Responding to the growing need for high-skilled IT personnel, McCain Foods searched the WORLD to fill their employment needs.

Soon companies from all around Carleton County joined the search to

fill employment needs.

Now people from over 39 different countries make Carleton County home.

A ‘mini’ United Nations amongst the potato fields!

The region’s population growth is almost entirely due to the arrival of new immigrants

To embrace and celebrate this cultural diversity, the Multicultural Association of Carleton County (MACC) was

formed.

• 2001 Meetings held to identify the needs of the newcomer community and develop a mandate

• 2003 Inaugural Celebration • 2005 Citizenship Award• 2005 ESL classes start

• 2006 NBELT program started• 2007 NBELT expanded

• 2008 Settlement Services started• 2009 ESL services expand to second site – Woodstock

• 2009 Community Involvement Program (HOST)

OBJECTIVES

To facilitate contact and communication between persons of

different cultural backgrounds

Different CulturesAll Friends

To foster harmonious relationships among all cultural groups and individuals.

Ethno Cultural Nights

To raise public consciousness and acceptance of multiculturalism.

Information Sessions

To assist newcomers to become established in the community.

Life Skills Lessons

To act as an advocate on issues dealing with multiculturalism.

Community Support

But it was not all smooth sailing . . .

Services were suspended in the fall of 2006.

A new approach was needed.

Newcomer Services for Rural NB

Challenges

• Distance, our clientele are spread out over 3312 square kilometres.

• Accessibility - there are no public transit systems available.

• Small class sizes with a wide range of language levels.

• Clients who are isolated and not feeling connected to the community.

Challenges are meant to be overcome.

A New Vision

Client-Centred Approach

MACCPHILOSOPHY OF SERVICE

Client Centred Approach

Family Supports Employment Services

Social NetworkingHOST

Settlement ServicesISAP

ESL

Community Inclusion

Client

Clients choose the services they need when they need them.

CLIENTSSettlement

Program Coordinator ISAP

Community Involvement

Coordinator H

OST

Employment

Counsellor

NB Employment

Language Training

ESL

Administrative Coordinator

Program

Director

Board of Directors FundersOrganizational Structure

Services are driven by the needs of the clients.

FUNDERSCitizenship Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada

• John Barrett• Donna-Rae Gibbs

Population Growth Secretariat• Ashraf Ghanem, Director Settlement and Multiculturalism• Lisa Pardy, Program Counsultant, Settlement and Multiculturalism

Department of Post Secondary Training and Labour• Kelli Green, Consultant Employment Programs and Services• Diane Martin, Manager Employment Counselling Woodstock

New Brunswick Multicultural Council• Debra Wybou, Managing Director• Mary Lou Arsenault, NBELT Program Director

MACCSERVICES

Multiple Sites

Addresses transportation challenges

Settlement Services

Settlement Services• Facilitate the contact and communication between

persons of different cultural backgrounds.• Foster harmonious relationships among all cultural groups

and individuals.• Raise public consciousness and acceptance of

Multiculturalism.• Assist newcomers in adapting to their new community, to

acquire accommodations, educational services, health care.

• Act as an advocate on issues dealing with Multiculturalism.• Coordinate bridging sessions between newcomers and

services they require.

English Second Language Training

New Brunswick Employment Language Training - NBELT

• Focused on workplace language.• Part-time classes 16 – 20 hours per week.• Continuous Intake – Clients can start immediately and

stay as long as they need.• Available one-on-one instruction.• Multi-Level classes – One room school house.• Clients are sent out into the community on

assignments.• Internet based learning.• Onsite language instruction available in the workplace.

English Second Language Training

•ESL for survival, workplace, acclimatization, acculturation and social contexts.

•Focus on local language characteristics and colloquialisms – What is a “Dooryard”?

•Cultural bridging activities.•Workshops and field trips providing instruction and orientation on accessing community resources.

•Multilevel and one-on-one classes; scheduled and drop-in.

•Continuous enrolment.

Employment Counselling

Client-Centred Employment Services

• One on One sessions with Employment Counsellor.• Cover letter and resumes are customized for each client.• EC works closely with local companies to arrange for

work placements – voluntary and subsidized.• EC negotiates with employers to allow for ESL class

participation to continue.• Work Permit assistance.• Professional Portfolio Development - PLAR.• Arrange other employment training.

HOST Program

Community Integration• Building friendly relationships through our Host Volunteer

Program.• Partnering with service groups and recreation groups to

build community awareness and participation.• Provide newcomers the opportunity to be involved in the

community.• Creating a sense of belonging in the community.• Recruiting local individuals and families willing to offer

friendship to newcomers. • Facilitate communication between newcomers and the

community.Talk, smile, laugh! Opportunities abound in Carleton County!

RESULTS

January 2007

7 ClientsPart-time ESL classes

Part-time Employment Services

July 200716 Clients in Employment Language

Training

All 7 of original clients advanced 2 Canadian Language Benchmarks!

First 3 Clients found employment

March 200840 Clients being served in ELT

16 Clients obtain permanent full-time employment

Families began to engage MACC services

New in 2008ELT services offered in 2 locations:

Florenceville and Woodstock

On-line ESL training commenced

Settlement Services (ISAP/HOST) commence

Work Permit/LMO Assistance

2008/2009 FiscalNBELT• 38 clients in ELT classes• 45 clients served with employment services• 20 clients obtained FT Permanent Employment • 5 clients FT Seasonal employmentSettlement Services• 13 Information Sessions with 40 participants• 13 Community Events with 330 participants• 7 Socio/Cultural Events with 177 participants• Settlement Activities with 20 Families, 25 Partial services, 90

individuals• 5 Community Promo events with 60 participants• 33 New Permanent Residents received services

New in 2009ESL services expanded in Woodstock

Satellite office opened in downtown Woodstock

Full-time Community Integration Program (HOST)

ESL on-line services expanded

One-on-One ESL instruction program offered

On-site language instruction offered

Settlement activities expanded to include community pot-lucks, recreation events, social-cultural events

Program Director position approved

2009/2010 fiscalELT/ESL• 25 ESL students in Florenceville classroom• 34 ESL students in Woodstock classroom• 44 on-line students• 20 one-on-one students

Employment• 18 client employed Full-time• 5 Full-time Seasonal• 3 Part-time• 45 active clients in employment services

Community Integration• 9 clients connected with Friendship Matches• 4 clients connected in volunteer programs• 280 personal contacts made throughout the county• Partnering with community cultural and recreation

organizations

Settlement Services• 15 Information Sessions with 525 participants• 15 Community Events with 400 participants• 24 Socio/Cultural Events with 740 participants• Settlement Activities with 30 Families, 55 Partial

services, 305 individuals• 22 Community Promo events with 250 participants• 42 New Permanent Residents

Something to celebrate!

Future

• Mentorships – professional and entrepreneurial • Road Mapping of Social Services – e.g. accessing

mental health, financial aid, child protection services • Cultural sensitivity training – schools and workplaces• Building community involvement• Building community partnerships – local schools,

governments, social and service organizations• Potato fueled rocket ships

Thank-youMerci Beaucoup