building relationships with families and communities. · 2017-08-03 · building relationships with...

Building Relationships with Families and Communities.

A CLOSER LOOK AT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO EDUCATE A CHILDDr. Sentsetsa Pilane

Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters Society of Edmonton and Area November 30, 2016

Sentsetsa M. Pilane Ph D

What is a Partnership?Broad range of relationships and structures

Goal

Model

Partner

Expectation

Sentsetsa M. Pilane Ph D Adapted from FSG: The Promise of Partnerships – Multi-stakeholder partnership typology page 2

Address a defined Problem Address a Systemic ChallengeJo

int

Proj

ect Short-term, one

time collaborative effort among a small set of partners, often to develop or pilot an innovative product or approach

Join

t Pr

ogra

m Collaboration among a small set of partners to implement a program to address a specific aspect of a social problem

Stra

tegi

c Al

lianc

e Platform for ongoing collaboration around one or more related issues, aligning partners (typically >5) in support of a common agenda and joint investments

Colle

ctiv

e Im

pact Initiative based

on long term commitments to a common agenda by the group of cross-sector actors needed to realize systems-wide change around a social problem

Requires contributions from individual organizations to a joint effort – short term (< 10 years) and oriented around specific grants

May require changes to organizations’ core activities to align with the common agenda –medium to long-term >10 years and not defined by specific grants

The Issue: Challenging measures for challenging times

SocialChallenge:Howdowereachoutandsupporttheintegrationandre-buildingoflives?


Integration in Ecosystems

Building Networks

within systemsBuilding

Partnerships with Families

& communities

Families and

children

Parallel but not equal challengesChallenges faced by immigrant families

u Often language barrier

u Low income and decent living resources – lack of immediate employment

u Systems understanding

u Cross-cultural understanding

u Identity renegotiation

u Loss, isolation and associated consequences

Challenges faced by new home communitiesu Language and communication

u Limited resources

u Time lag in learning and responding to needs

u Cross-cultural learning and understanding

u Re-negotiating a different identity


Parallel and complementary assets and strengths

Assets and strengths within immigrant/refugee families

u Resilience

u Determination to overcome

u Embracing new home

u Family closeness

u Openness to new and diverse ideas

u Knowledge of their own culture

u Willingness to learn

Assets and strengths within welcoming communities

u Adaptable and open minded

u Nimble and willing to help

u Knowledge of systems

u Culturally diverse and resourceful

u Can leverage existing resources

u Connected to social and systems networks


Why Partnerships?

uCollaboration and working together to solve problems

uBridging the different experiencesuLeveraging resources and engaging broadly

uCreating new learning and experiences together

uDeveloping and offering voice to issues, innovation or product(s)


What kinds of solutions do the Partnerships offer?

u Settlement support: housing, connecting with essential living resources

u Orientations to new systems: schools, health systems, cultural and civic centers, language learning centers, employment centers

u Mentoring and mentoring partnership building:

u Academic, school and adult learning mentoring: Literacy, math, computers, conversation clubs and language learning, physical literacy and sports

u Relationship building and social networking: mental health, self-esteem & confidence

u Employment, entrepreneurship and job seeking transitions: self-sufficiency & dignity

u Organization to organization capacity building and coaching

u Day to day living and systems’ negotiation

u Safe communities’ building and civic engagement support


How can partnership be successful?

u Developing a shared vision

u Broad engagement and first voice

u Build on what works and innovate with new approaches

u Linking and leveraging resources

u Being flexible and adaptable

u Embrace uncertainty and creative tension

u Be results driven for success


What does it mean for children and youth?


Inputs Outputs Outcomes Impact

PRO

GRA

M P

OSS

IBIL

ITIE

S 1. Youth Mentoring programs2. Conversation Circles3. Networking opportunitiesSports and physical activity4. Free Access for children

SCO

PE O

F PO

SSIB

ILIT

IES 1. Variety of need specific programs2. Number of schools served3. Number of staff and volunteers engaged4. Dosage of program5. Length of program

DES

IRED

OU

TCO

MES 1. Strong Inclusive

relations and networks2. Improved functional conversational English3. Improved Literacy4. Improved social integration5.Success in schools and increased graduation6. More Cultural mentors

SOCI

AL IM

PACT 1. Significant success

rates in school completing and higher education2. Work readiness and increased capacity building success3. Strong

community integration4. Strong sense of positive identity and belonging

A Solution1. Reachoutandconnectwithfamilies2. Learnabouttheculture(s),findculturalbrokers,andcontinuetoinformourselvestobridgetheculturalunderstandings

3. Createandoffersafewelcomingenvironments4. Reachouttoschools,principals,teachersandsupportstaff5. Reachouttootherstakeholdersandpotentialpartners6. Developcollaborativelydesigned,engagingsupportprogramsdrawingonthelearningsofimmigrants


Educational Learning optionsu After school home work help, recreation and sporting activities

u Safe spaces for children and youth after school care

u In-school settlement work: Newcomer Orientations

u In-school mentoring, Corporate mentoring

u Community based language learning classes

u Community based 1:1 relationship and life skills mentoring

u Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters: out of and in-school programs

u Summer, Spring and other Holiday Programs

u Community Winter Activity Programs

u Field trips and know-your environment excursions

u Alberta Mentoring Partnerships: Organizational/community capacity building


Edmonton OST organizations – open participationu Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters

u Catholic Social Services, John Humphrey Centre

u The Somali Canadian Cultural Society of Edmonton

u Africa Center, Brander Gardens Rocks, ASSIST, IFSSA and other community organizations

u Edmonton Public Library, YMCA, CCEP, Edmonton Immigration Services Association,Centre d’accueil et d’etablissment du nord de l’Alberta

u Edmonton Mennonite Center for Newcomers, Welcome Center for Newcomers

u Action for Healthy Communities, Multicultural Health Brokers, The Family Centre

u School Boards: Francophone, Catholic and Edmonton Public Schools,

u REACH Edmonton and City of Edmonton, Alberta Mentoring Partnerships (Province)

u FundersSentsetsa M. Pilane Ph D

How does the community contribute?u Building supportive partnerships: Program supports, funding

u Capacity building, staff and volunteer engagement

u Program development and service delivery

u After school, In-school, Summer and other holiday programs

u Fund and resource development

u Program Space Acquisition

u Advocacy, cultural and systems brokering

u Accessibility of city resources: Recreation centers, skating rinks, ski centers, parks, libraries, cultural centers, theaters, museums, health facilities

u Organization to organization mentorship


What community supports exist and what is possible?

u A variety of options based on need, partnership and funding

u The community is nimble enough that with funding availability they can collectively and or individually develop and provide support

u Responsive, proactive, inclusive non-intrusive welcoming opportunities

u A place and a community to belong to

u A chance to be a dignified responsible persons



EDMONTON OST

2012

Resourcesu Faster Alone, Further Together – An Out of School Time strategy for Immigrant

and Refugee Children and Youth in Edmonton, Feb 2010 p 20-21

u Making Out-of-School-Time Matter – Evidence for an Action Agenda, 2005. Rand Education and Rand labor and Population

u Students from Refugee Backgrounds – A Guide for Teachers and Schools, 2015. Ministry of Education BC

u Leave Them Wanting More!: Engaging Youth in Afterschool, May 2015. Harvard family Research Project

u Alberta Mentoring Partnerships Resources at albertamentors.ca

u FSG (2014), Reimagining Social Change – The Promise of Partnerships

u Conversations with other children and youth focused partners over the years

u Acumen, Building an Ecosystem of dignity

u https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA81Un_UMuk&t=1992s


building relationships with families and communities. · 2017-08-03 · building relationships with...

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