Staff respond to the needs of newcomers
The Niagara Region is experiencing a transformation as new families arrive in Canada, seeking refuge and a brighter future. Many of these families come from conflict-affected areas, arriving with limited resources and facing significant challenges as they adapt to their new environment. Among them, a growing number of children and youth with diverse physical, developmental, and communicative needs are referred to Niagara Children's Centre for essential support services.
Recognizing the complexity of their journey, our dedicated team provided tailored supportive services and played a pivotal role in addressing the multifaceted needs of these newcomer families. From facilitating access to government programs like Interim Federal Health to conducting appointments at hotels where these families temporarily reside, we strived to ensure every child receives and continues to receive the care that they need.
A poignant example of our work is reflected in our support for a family with children attending a school in Niagara Falls. This family recently arrived from Brazil, and their son came to school wearing a shoe stuffed with towels and socks in place of a prosthetic.
Our Social Workers held meetings at the school, utilizing the Learning Resource Teacher and staff as interpreters. We connected the family with local charities, provided warm winter clothing, and offered toy gifts for the family's first Christmas in Canada.
Our team also advocated with Interim Federal Health to secure funding for the child's prosthetic. Thanks to these efforts, he now has a prosthetic and is receiving School-Based Rehabilitation Services from Niagara Children’s Centre staff.
“We are grateful for all the services they have provided, giving our son the support he needed to have a chance at a new life with his prosthetic,” his father shared.
Despite our efforts, challenges are inevitable including language barriers and transportation. These challenges prompted the translation of resources in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Kurdish, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
In addition, we addressed language barriers through interpreter services and translation apps, demonstrating our commitment to supporting all children and families who need our service.