Meeting the Distinctive Settlement Needs of Newcomer Children © Judith Colbert
A presentation by…
Judith A. Colbert, PhD
Based - Welcoming Newcomer Children: The Settlement of Young Immigrants and Refugees
www.welcomingchildren.ca
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E-Learning: A New Vehicle for Continuous Professional Learning about Newcomer
Issues
E-LEARNING
• Dominion Learning Institute • www.ecedu.ca • www.welcomingchildren.ca
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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY? WHAT CHALLENGES DO FAMILIES FACE? WHAT IS THEIR ROLE IN CULTURAL TRANSMISSION?
• Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies…. Butterflies are created through transformation… • Stephanie Pace Marshall
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Objectives
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• THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS • THE DISTINCTIVE NEEDS OF
NEWCOMER CHILDREN • NEEDS THAT BECOME
BARRIERS • READINESS
To explore …
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Settlement
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Settlement is Change
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CANADA - INDIVIDUAL UNHCR - TOGETHER
OPEN CULTURE Celebrations, Food, Songs, Language
HIDDEN CULTURE Conversation Patterns,
Communication Styles, Child Rearing, Grouping
CULTURE ICEBERG
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Dimensions of Culture
Settlement is Transition…
Phase III BEGINNING
Phase I CHANGE
Phase II NEUTRAL* Settlement & Language
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A Definition of Settlement
BEING SETTLED MEANS …
“… feeling welcome and having needs met in a new
environment, finding a balance between the old and
the new, and being able to participate comfortably with others in new social settings.”
• COLBERT, 2010
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Child Needs
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WHY ARE CHILD NEEDS BEING MISSED?
• Research Practices • Data from Age 15 / 1.5 Generation
• Ideas about Children - Rights • Rights are challenged. / Children are
considered property or an extension of parents.
• Belief that children “bounce back” • Children adapt easily and quickly.
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Needs Related BUT “Settlement belongs to the child.”
CHILD NEEDS
PROVIDER NEEDS
PARENT NEEDS
* RANGE OF CHILD NEEDS *
Settlement & Culture Disability or Condition Support, Understanding Info, Diagnosis
Range of Parent Needs
Aware of Differences Lack of Knowledge Cultural Understanding Fear, Concern
Range of Provider/Teacher Needs
Knowledge Lack of Knowledge
Experience Inexperience
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A Range of Needs – Low to High
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A Range of Child Needs…
SETTLEMENT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
AUTISM
In some cultures, eye contact avoided, feelings not openly expressed.
Less responsive emotionally, depressed, withdrawn and more detached from their feelings.
Child does not make eye contact
Does not socialize, interact, play – does not speak the language, has “silent periods” while learning language, is not familiar with objects or routines
Numbing and withdrawal – diminished interest or participation in activities (including regression and loss of skills such as toilet training)
Not interested in playing with other children Often begins to develop language then loses it, or does not acquire language at all
Needs/Barriers
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CHILD NEEDS IN FOUR AREAS … BARRIERS
Cultural Practices Families •Settlement & Child
Development •Conflicting Practices
•Lack of Parental Support •Family Settlement
Mental & Emotional Health
Coping & Social Awareness
•Attachment •Separation & Trauma •Special Health & Other
Needs •Early Intervention
•Learning to Cope •Communication •School Readiness
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SCHOOL READINESS ALL children need to be
ready for school but SOME do not seem ready. Later, drop-out rates are higher.
Settlement can make
a difference.
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ISSUE FOR ALL NEWCOMER CHILDREN
Readiness
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Readiness is Transition…
Phase III BEGINNING
Phase I CHANGE
Phase II NEUTRAL* Settlement &Language
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DOMAINS EDI AEDI
DIVERSE CONTROL LBOTE ENGLISH
SLL BI No E + E ONLY
1 Physical health and well-being
8.62 8.97 8.78 7.9 9.6 9.6
2 Social competence
7.96 8.48 8.35 6.9 9.2 9.2
3 Emotional maturity
7.84 8.18 8.03 7.3 8.7 8.7
4 Language and cognitive development
7.85 8.65 8.53 6.3 9.2 9.2
5 Communication skills and general knowledge
5.47 7.71 8.00 1.9 8.8 9.4
Sources: Janus et al., 2010; AEDI Report, 2010.
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Are Schools & Communities Ready? – Maybe Not.
In Early Childhood Education –
Top 10 Challenges from Mainstream Quality Benchmarks –
1. Ask child’s opinions. 2. Provide choices. 3. Adapt the environment. 4. Adapt the schedule. 5. Acknowledge feelings. 6. Encourage independence. 7. Value individual achievement. 8. Encourage interactions. 9. Stimulate communication. 10.Involve parents.
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Summary –
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Child Home /Family ECE, School, Agencies, Work
Broader Community
• Understand the SETTLEMENT process.
• Focus on the individual CHILD within the family.
• Prevent NEEDS from becoming BARRIERS.
• Support READINESS. NEEDS-CERIS-12/14 © J Colbert
Thank You …
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