YouthVantage Forum: Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders in Settlement Services

OCASI in partnership with CICS, CCR and Toronto East Quadrant LIP, is pleased to invite you to a Hybrid Forum that aims to provide a platform for settlement service agencies to come together, foster connections, and collaborate on addressing crucial issues supporting newcomer youth. Participants will explore key topics and challenges and opportunities related to newcomer youth settlement through engaging sessions, workshops, and discussions. By sharing insights, best practices, and innovative approaches, the forum aims to strengthen the collective capacity of agencies to support and empower newcomer youth in their integration journey effectively.

Specific Objectives:

1. Networking and Collaboration: Create opportunities for settlement service agencies to connect, collaborate, and share knowledge, fostering a collective effort toward addressing newcomer youth needs.
2. Capacity Building and Resource Awareness: Offer interactive workshops and training sessions to enhance service providers' skills and awareness of available resources, programs, and services for newcomer youth, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet diverse needs effectively.
3. Empowerment and Advocacy: Empower service providers with tools, knowledge, and culturally responsive strategies to create inclusive environments for newcomer youth while advocating for policies and practices that advance their well-being and successful community integration.

Here are the details about the sessions:

Session 1: Challenges and Opportunities in Youth Settlement Services

Speaker: Kevin Lee | Program Manager-Youth Services | CICS |

This session will provide insights into the current landscape of youth settlement services and inspire action. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced in the context of newcomer integration. They will be provided with practical strategies and resources to implement innovative approaches and address challenges in their respective programs. Additionally, this session will foster a sense of collective ownership and commitment to advancing youth settlement services through collaboration, mutual support, and shared learning.

Session 2: Mental Health Awareness and Support for Newcomer Youth

Speakers:

Tinman Cheung | Newcomer Youth Mental Health Worker | CICS |

Hannah Xu | Youth Program Worker and Coordinator | Hong Fook |

In this session, you will gain insights into the common mental health challenges faced by newcomer youth, including developmental needs, post-migration adjustments, family support effectiveness, and system navigation difficulties. You will explore unique stressors related to identity, learn about current programs, and acquire practical tools for leading activities and initiating conversations about cultural identity and anti-racism. Additionally, you will discover best practices for introducing mental health resources to parents and youth, reducing stigma around help-seeking behaviors, and facilitating meaningful conversations through psychoeducation and emotional coaching. The session will also cover Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and strategies for raising awareness and fostering open dialogue about mental health within the newcomer youth community.

Session 3: Panel Discussion - Best Practices in Engaging Newcomer Youth

Speakers:

Victor Zhang | Education and Training Specialist | The 519 |

Miajan Naqizadeh | Outreach Coordinator | Youth Assisting Youth |

Stefan JK Enrique | Youth and Access to Education | FCJ Refugee Center |

Arujuhna Rajadurai, MACP, RP | Strides Toronto | Manager, Community Outreach|

This session aims to enhance participants' understanding of best practices in engaging newcomer youth by building the capacity of settlement service providers to incorporate practical tools and practices. Through a panel of experts, successful strategies will be shared, and challenges in integrating newcomer youth support services into programs will be discussed. The session aims to foster collaboration, learning, and innovation in supporting newcomer youth effectively.

Session 4: Networking Activity

Speaker: Kevin Lee | Program Manager-Youth Services | CICS |

In this session, attendees will participate in an activity that encourages engagement and mutual learning. This activity will allow them to share experiences and insights in a dynamic and supportive environment. This activity will enhance their knowledge about other participating organizations and build a strong network of professionals committed to improving youth settlement services.

Session 5: Learning Together, Exchanging Successful Stories

Speakers:

Patti O’suillivan | Community & Partnership Developer | Connex Project & Sharing |

Tania Ruiz - Chapman | Bilingual Coordinator, Policy - Journeys to Active Citizenship | OCASI |

Paul Bishop | Project Manager - Journeys to Active Citizenship | NYCH |

For this session we invited several presenters to aacilitate the exchange of successful stories and project outcomes to inspire and inform participants.

Exciting Opportunity for Youth Service Providers

Join us for the YouthVantage Forum: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders in Settlement Services! This all-day event features interactive activities, networking opportunities, and five engaging sessions. Organizations are welcome to display their materials. To book a display space, please get in touch with Azreen Sikder at Azreens@wardenwoods.com.

ASL English/Interpreters Provided

L ight Breakfast, Lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

Please email Tarana Sultan at tsultan@ocasi.org if you have any questions.

OCASI is committed to supporting the settlement sector to create welcoming, positive and inclusive spaces. This course will allow settlement sector employees to acquire new skills and knowledge in service provision areas for immigrants and refugees within the settlement sector.