The Newcomer Youth Program is for youth ages 12 to 21 who are immigrants to Canada and are permanent residents or conventional refugees. The program provides free activities every month that include volunteer opportunities, sports events, workshops and trips around Toronto.
The Newcomer Program offers two types of service:
- Orientation
This program provides information on mental health services and social skills training to help newcomer youth and their families with the settlement process. The importance of positive mental health and mental health stigma are discussed and connected to the immigration experience. Information and strategies are explored through innovative and out of the box practices. The Orientation stream also provides training to service providers and/or youth in schools and other community agencies on various mental health topics.
- Welcoming Communities
This program provides newcomer youth and their families with the support, skills and training they need during the settlement process. Newcomer youth receive leadership and mentorship training. They also receive homework help and educational supports to ensure they do well in school and develop employment skills. Program workers focus on providing youth with information, skills and knowledge to help them adapt, settle, and integrate into Canadian life. Workshops on topics such as communication and social skills, cross-cultural and diversity skills, and navigation on public transit are provided. The Welcoming Communities program also provides training to service providers and/or youth in schools and other community agencies on various settlement topics.