Capacity Building Through the COVID-19 Lens

Harnessing innovations and mobilizing best practices of the pandemic

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic created a significant shift in the newcomer-serving sector. Settlement and integration services were promptly shifted to virtual delivery methods in order to comply with public health regulations, drastically lowering in-person program delivery. The newcomer-serving sector faced a variety of challenges and barriers, but were able to implement innovative practices and leverage existing strengths within their organizations to adapt programs and services to meet the evolving needs of newcomers in this unique time.

AAISA is seeking to capture, engage with, and promote innovative practices and service delivery approaches that have been developed by newcomer-serving organizations at a provincial level. This project aims to build capacity, mobilize best practices, and strengthen the network of service providers in relation to responding to newcomer needs emerging from the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project is funded by the Government of Alberta through their Community Capacity Grant.

PARTICIPANTS

This project seeks to engage AAISA members through scheduled focus groups commencing in the fall of 2021.

Resources

A brief infographic depicting the COVID-19 context, project need, objectives and project process.

A document overviewing the project gap, objectives, purpose and process.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the two rounds of focus groups hosted in October 2021, and January 2022. This brief highlights the challenges and best practices that have arisen to facilitate virtual service delivery models, as well as identify the professional development needs of settlement service delivery providers needed to institutionalize emergent best practices into organizational capacity building in the sector.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the second language focus group hosted in January 2022. This brief highlights the key findings of the two rounds of focus groups, identifying best practices that have arisen to facilitate virtual service delivery models, as well as identify the professional development needs of language service delivery providers needed to institutionalize emergent best practices into organizational capacity building in the sector.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the second employment focus group hosted in January 2022. This brief highlights the key findings of the two rounds of focus groups, identifying best practices that have arisen to facilitate virtual service delivery models, as well as identify the professional development needs of employment service delivery providers needed to institutionalize emergent best practices into organizational capacity building in the sector.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the second community reception and integration focus group hosted in January 2022. This brief highlights the key findings of the two rounds of focus groups, identifying best practices that have arisen to facilitate virtual service delivery models, as well as identify the professional development needs of community reception and integration service delivery providers needed to institutionalize emergent best practices into organizational capacity building in the sector.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the first language focus group hosted in the fall of 2021. This brief also highlights points of further inquiry to guide the discussion for the second focus group, seeking to identify the desired implementation of past learnings into organizational capacity building and professional development resources for the sector.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the first employment focus group hosted in the fall of 2021. This brief also highlights points of further inquiry to guide the discussion for the second focus group, seeking to identify the desired implementation of past learnings into organizational capacity building and professional development resources for the sector.

A summary brief capturing the findings of the first community reception and integration focus group hosted in the fall of 2021. This brief also highlights points of further inquiry to guide the discussion for the second focus group, seeking to identify the desired implementation of past learnings into organizational capacity building and professional development resources for the sector.

A document overviewing the COVID-19 context, preliminary challenges and best practices, and sample focus group questions in relation to language services.

A brief infographic depicting the COVID-19 context, preliminary challenges and best practices, and sample focus group questions in relation to language services.

A document overviewing the COVID-19 context, preliminary challenges and best practices, and sample focus group questions in relation to employment services.

A brief infographic depicting the COVID-19 context, preliminary challenges and best practices, and sample focus group questions in relation to employment services.

A document overviewing the COVID-19 context, preliminary challenges and best practices, and sample focus group questions in relation to community reception and integration services.

A brief infographic depicting the COVID-19 context, preliminary challenges and best practices, and sample focus group questions in relation to community reception and integration services.

Member Resources

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