Pd From Outreach To Community Engagement C5

From Outreach to Community Engagement: Making Connections and Building Capacity Through Peer Leadership

Energizer

“ Only when action takes place in a community or organization- when projects are started, worked on and completed, you can truly say leadership has occurred. Leadership is a process that helps get things done” Chuck Bokor, Community Leadership Specialist

Introductions and Expectations

Our Objectives for Today…
Learn about the Peer Outreach Leader Model as a tool for capacity building, community engagement, and social change
Apply concepts through Peer Leader Storytelling
Brainstorm opportunities and challenges in our communities/agencies/organizations

Today’s Agenda 8:30-8:40 Welcome and Introductions 8:40-8:55 Icebreaker 8:55-9:15 Expectations and Objectives 9:15-9:40 Introduction to North York Community House and the Newcomer Connection Peer Leadership Program (DVD) 9:40-10:00 Program Model- A Tool for Capacity Building, Community Engagement and Social Change 10:00-10:30 Peer Leader Storytelling 10:30-10:40 Break 10:40-11:30 Group Discussions- Taking this Back to our Agencies

North York Community House
Our Mission:
“To assist newcomers settle, integrate and become vibrant members of our community; to help residents improve their economic conditions and to help build strong neighborhoods”

North York Community House (NYCH)
A multi-service agency established in 1991 with the support of the North York Inter-Agency and Community Council and St. Stephen’s community House
Programs delivered in over 50 different locations in Western North York and Rexdale
In 2008, NYCH delivered program’s and services to over 30,000 people

Shaping Social Change: A Community Development Strategy
Focus on integrating community development with service delivery
North York Community House community development strategy goal to engage staff and participants as constituents in
social change

North York Community House (NYCH)
Newcomer Support:
LINC Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada ,
Settlement Services and S.E.P.T Settlement and Education Partnership in Toronto
Youth Mobile Settlement Workers
The Host Program

Newcomer Connection Program The Newcomer Connection Program is a Leadership Capacity Development Program providing women the opportunity to learn new skills, gain experience and become involved in the community. Learning opportunities include training and practical experience in community outreach, leadership and community engagement, settlement and group facilitation within NYCH programs.

Making Connections
First piloted in 2001
Funded by the United Way of Greater Toronto’s Newcomer Grant Program
Goal for newcomer women who were already settled could reach out to isolated Newcomer Women
Peer Leaders “Cultural Ambassadors” in the community

Making Connections
High number of people from different language and cultural groups reached through the Peer Connection Program
Between 2002-2008 10,000 immigrant women were connected to community resources and services
Toronto community foundation recognized model as a “Vital Idea”
Winner of 2007 Great Grants award from the Ontario Trillium Foundation

Making Connections
Designed and developed by Settlement Workers (SEPT and In-House) Women’s Program Staff, Program Participants and Consultations with Diverse Community Residents
Peer Leaders have been most important in the program development by sharing experience and knowledge of community and effective outreach strategies

Newcomer Families at Risk
The Peer Outreach Leader approach is the most culturally-appropriate and effective way to connect to isolated, vulnerable, high risk individuals and families living in the community.

Development of the Model
In the process of reaching out successfully to newcomers, the peer leaders benefited from the capacity training component of the program
Over 70% of peer leaders, who were often internationally trained in social work or education found employment in social services/settlement sector
They increased their confidence, enhanced their transferable skills and gain “Canadian Experience”

Development of the Model
Three additional trainings have grown out of the peer leader training-
Facilitation
Settlement Support
Leadership and Community Engagement

Program Action What do we do?

Program Action Who do we reach?

Program Action What are the outcomes and impacts?

The Peer Leadership Model and Community Development
Capacity Building
Acquisition of skills and knowledge
Mapping neighborhood assets
Linking to resources and networks
Individual and collective empowerment
Leadership and Learning- issue identification, critical thinking, visioning and action planning
Community Engagement
Listening to community members
Encouraging participation
Building social inclusion
Increasing awareness
Building Self-Reliance
Leadership and Action—Social Action
From immigrant “client” to constituents and change makers- within their communities and the broader society
Confident in their understanding of community development;
Apply learning's and address systemic issues/ advocacy
Increased control over quality of life

Leadership Training and Capacity Building
Community Outreach
Group Facilitation
Settlement Support
Leadership and Community Engagement

The Peer Leader Training Model
The training model is delivered in two phases:
30hr training session that has been delivered in 3 modules over 6 days (2 days per module over 3 weeks).
The practicum component of the training is accumulated over approximately 30 -40 hours of outreach practice in the community.

Eligibility Criteria
Ability to communicate in English and one of the languages spoken in the community catchment area
Commitment to improving quality of life in the community
Aware and sensitive to the needs and issues of newcomer women
Empathetic and aware of newcomer issues
Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Eligibility Criteria Continued
Experience working or volunteering with people in the community is an asset ( Preference will be given to those who have not accessed post-secondary education/related employment in Canada )
Have familiarity with community resources and services for newcomers
Are able to commit, attend and participate in the full program duration
Preference may be given to members of the community; either living or participating in the community through programs or volunteering.

Peer Leader: Phase One Training
The content training has been divided into 5 modules, with a sequence that allows for content to build on previous learning objectives. These modules have been delivered in 9 sessions by NYCH; however the delivery assembly can be adapted to the agency’s ability.

Phase One Training
Module 1: The Peer Leader Model
Module 2: Outreach Strategies and Communicating Effectively
Module 3: Community Resources and Provision of Appropriate Information and Referrals
Module 4: Family Violence Awareness
Module 5: Outreach/Organization Planning and Peer Leader Team Building

Phase Two Practicum
A Team Lead is a Pear Outreach Leader who has already completed the program previously and whom demonstrates:
Leadership qualities
Familiarity with the geographical areas being targeted
Familiarity with the cultural/language groups residing in the target area

Phase Two Practicum
Team Leaders approach Apartment Buildings in the Neighborhood to secure permissions to enter the buildings and conduct door knocking or group information sessions
Participants go out in teams

Group Facilitation Modules
Module One: Introduction to Group Facilitation
Module Two: Working in Groups: Facilitation Techniques and Group Process
Module Three: Group Development and Facilitative Leadership
Module Four : Steps to Conflict Resolution
Module Five : Organizing and Running a Group

Phase Two Practicum
Facilitation adaptations/opportunities-
Mutual Aid/Self-Reliance Groups
Learning Circles/Conversation Circles
Culturally-Specific and Multi-Cultural Support Groups
Community Kitchen Leadership

Settlement Support Training Modules
Module One : The Immigration Process
Module Two : Newcomer Needs and Barriers: Defining Settlement and Integration
Module Three : The Role of Settlement Workers and the Settlement Service Sector
Module Four : Charactaristics of Information and Referral
Module Five : Outreach and Communicating Effectively
Module Six : Advocacy and Community Development

Phase Two Practicum
Shadowing opportunities:
Settlement workers in the SEPT (Settlement and Education Partnership in the Schools) program
Community-based agency settlement case workers

Leadership and Community Engagement Training Modules
Module One: Reflections on Leadership and Community Engagement
Module Two: Leadership Self Assessment
Module Three: Shared Leadership
Module Four: Community Development: Assets Versus Needs
Module Five: Community Engagement Techniques

Leadership and Community Engagement Training Modules
Module Six: Working In Group and Facilitating Effective Group Meetings
Module Seven: Critical Thinking tools for social issue analysis
Module Eight: Introduction to Advocacy and Action Planning

Phase Two Practicum
Learning Circles, Conversation Circles, Advocacy Committees, Outreach

Peer Leader Storytelling Hui Geng

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Pd From Outreach To Community Engagement C5

by ocasiconference on Jan 12, 2010

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Pd From Outreach To Community Engagement C5 — Presentation Transcript