Please go to www.newyouth.ca for detailed information on the following:
Challenges and barriers that immigrant and refugee newcomer youth face
Newcomer Youth Settlement Guide for Service Providers
Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights
Developed by:
Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants(OCASI)
110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1A3
Tel.: 416‐322‐4950, Fax: 416‐322‐8084 E‐mail: youth‐[email protected]
Website: www.ocasi.org www.settlement.org/atwork
www.newyouth.ca
The project was made possible through funding provided by the
Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ontario Region.
Proposed Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights
During the Ontario Council (OCASI) Services for Youth in Newcomer Communities (SYNC) project research, which reviewed newcomer youth settlement challenges, newcomer youth argued that, for youth settlement services in Ontario to become more effective, a Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights must be created. It was suggested that:
The Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights must underline newcomer youth expectations of services, service standards offered to youth, and their current concerns with respect to gaps in services.
The Newcomer Bill of Rights must be extensively disseminated to organizations that provide services to newcomer youth in Ontario, including organizations that provide services primarily to established communities.
All organizations and individuals that serve immigrant and refugee youth must commit to principles outlined in the Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights. It must be the role of management to ensure that all staff, including all new frontline staff, are oriented to the principles in the Bill, and discuss implications for their work.
The Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights should be reviewed and reaffirmed by youth and by youth service providers on a regular basis.
It was the assertion of some immigrant and refugee youth that:
Service providers who receive funding for immigrant and refugee youth services should be required to pledge to commit to the proposed Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights.
Commitment to the Newcomer Youth Bill of Rights and to developing good practice with respect to youth programs identified during the OCASI SYNC project research should form part of the criteria for the selection of organizations to be funded for immigrant youth services.
The following are the issues, expectations and challenges that youth in the project outlined as most important for the overall improvement of immigrant and refugee youth services in Ontario:
NEWCOMER YOUTH NEWCOMER YOUTH BILL OF RIGHTSBILL OF RIGHTS
PROPOSED BY OCASI PROPOSED BY OCASI SYNC PROJECT SYNC PROJECT
RESEARCH RESEARCH PARTICIPANTSPARTICIPANTS
Safety
Youth have the right to safe learning and play conditions, and have the right to go about their life without experiencing violence.
Immigrant and refugee youth who seek sexual and health‐related resources have the right to have such resources provided in a confidential manner and without fear of judgment and/or discrimination.
Youth have the right to safe space for learning about and exploring their sexual health identities.
When seeking employment services, youth have the right to obtain meaningful and safe employment and the right to be paid fair wages.
All youth who seek services have a right to a safe and nurturing environment. The service provider must provide policies that reflect zero tolerance for bullying and these must be matched by policies and procedures to deal with bullies, including having all service providers and service recipients and their parents/guardians sign an anti‐bullying pledge.
Youth Ownership and Involvement in the Planning and Delivery process
Immigrant and refugee youth have the right to engage in Canadian society, not just as consumers, but as critical thinkers, active
participants, and advocates for the change that they would like to see in their society. Youth have the
right to take ownership and responsibility for their issues, and youth have the right to provide input into program planning and development, as they are experts in issues that affect their lives.
Entitlement to Minimum Standards of Efficiency and the Right to Question the Type or Quality of Service Offered
Immigrant and refugee youth have the right to dignity, the right to expect a minimum standard of service provision, and the right to develop and maintain a Bill of Rights to ensure this.
Youth have the right to speak up and to question services provided, and the right to access complaint mechanisms if their rights are violated or if they receive unsatisfactory service.
Respect for Diversity and the Provision of Service within an AntiRacism Antioppression Framework
Youth have the right to access services designed to assist young newcomers in settlement orientation and employment without any discrimination by reason of race, national origin, color, religion, or sexual orientation.
Youth who seek service have a right to obtain fully accessible service, irrespective of their economic circumstance, and despite their mental or physical ability.
Immigrant and refugee youth have the right to their own cultural identity and have the right to receive services in their languages. Every youth has the right to be treated in a sensitive manner as an individual whose personal circumstances are unique.
Youth have the right to services, including educational services, that are anti‐oppressive and that seek to re‐empower.
Youth have a right to be served by staff who are professional, well informed, and who show sensitivity to the diversity of youth being served.
Confidentiality
Immigrant and refugee youth who seek services have a right to confidentiality and a right to a ‘do not ask and do not tell policy’.
Youth have the right to express themselves and, in the same vein, they have the right to not have to say anything.
Youth 12 years and older should have a right to see a counsellor without parents’ consent or knowledge, if they so wish.
Youth have the right to all information related to them being kept private with minimum identifiers except for stated legal reasons.
Service Responsiveness and Evaluation
Youth have a right to expect a safe environment for them to evaluate the services they receive, using tools developed with their input and without being intimidated by staff or by peers.
Youth have the right to a responsive service, which takes into account youth suggestions and changing requirements.
Organizational and Staff Code of Conduct and Ethics
Each immigrant and refugee youth has a right to expect service providers to treat them with respect, arrive punctually at functions and to return calls promptly.
Youth have the right to be provided a service at an agreed upon time and to be given accurate and up‐to‐date referrals to other or additional services.
Immigrant and refugee youth have the right to expect the service organization to have a clear code of conduct that ensures that all staff know and respect the rights of clients, and youth have a right to expect that staff are continuously trained in the area of youth service programming and delivery.