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 Introductions8:40-8:55 Icebreaker8:55-9:15 Expectations and Objectives9:15-9:40 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 Change10:00-10:30 Peer Leader Storytelling10:30-10:40 Break10:40-11:30 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

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?

DVD

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:

1) 30hr training session that has been delivered in 3 modules over 6 days (2 days per module over 3 weeks).

2) 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 ResolutionModule 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