On February 20 2008, 60 social service-providers from diverse fields, 16 participants/clients and 14 volunteers came together to discuss best practices for inclusive approaches to client services.  In particular, the forum was intended to bridge the work done by various service-providers for marginalized immigrants and refugees, including work done by drop-in’s,  shelters and other community mental health programs as well as settlement service agencies and agencies with other mandates.

The event was designed and held by the Advisory Committee of Access to Services for Socially Marginalized Immigrants and Refugees with the support of St. Christopher House. The “Access to Services for Socially Marginalized Immigrants and Refugees” initiative aims to address systemic issues effecting marginalized newcomers such as poverty, inequitable access to employment, homelessness, addictions, health, immigration status and legal issues.  The Advisory Committee of Access to Services for Socially Marginalized Immigrants and Refugees has over 85 agencies as members and has sub-groups that meet regularly with approximately 25 agencies each.

Socially marginalized immigrants and refugees have needs that are different from the generic needs of immigrants.  Throughout the forum there was a cross-cutting theme that in order to properly affect change, service-providers from various parts of the sector, as well as other sectors and other equity seeking groups as well as service users and participants need to work together.  By coming together, they will be better able to address poverty, racial discrimination, oppressive practices and other systemic barriers that affect service delivery for socially marginalized immigrants and refugees. 

Service delivery is affected by government policies and by funding practices. The forum participants noted the need to open a dialogue with different levels of government and different ministries/departments of government to better respond to the needs of socially marginalized immigrants and refugees.  

As a result of the accumulative work of the Advisory Committee of Access to Services for Socially Marginalized Immigrants and Refugees and St. Christopher House, the participants released the above recommendations document.