Welcome Here Resource Kit

(forwarded by Gail Russel)

FRP Canada

The Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs (FRP Canada) is pleased to announce that it will soon be distributing a new kit of resources across the country. These materials have been developed with funding from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Over the past year, under the Welcome Here project, family resource programs and settlement agencies in communities across Canada have collaborated together to offer new and improved programs to newcomer families. The Welcome Here Resource Kit will share some of the lessons learned in these communities. The kit will also contain some useful tools for community programs including a multi-lingual welcome poster, multi-lingual parent resource sheets, ideas for preventing racism, a colourful brochure designed to invite newcomers to visit their local family resource centre, and links to other resources.

All materials will also be downloadable from the project website

2007 Saskatoon Community Plan on Homelessness and Housing

The 2007 Saskatoon Community Plan on Homelessness and Housing has recently been finalized and is now available for viewing on the City of Saskatoon's Affordable Housing webpage:
http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/city_planning/affordable_housing/index.asp

It is also posted on the main City Planning page in the "News" section. It will stay there for about a month: http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/city_planning/index.asp

CUISR Homeless Count for Saskatoon - Call for volunteers

(Posted on behalf of CUISR)

Dear community members,

As you know, housing and homelessness are becoming increasing concerns given the economic climate in Saskatoon.

The Community University Institute for Social Research (CUISR), funded by Service Canada, is planning a homeless count for Saskatoon, which will take place Thursday, May 22, 2008, in the evening. We are recruiting survey volunteers for this project. Time commitment will be a one day training on Saturday May 17 or Sunday May 18, plus between four and seven hours on May 22, depending on what you would like to be involved in. Surveying will involve working with a team of volunteers and conducting in person interviews in shelters or outside, in a designated area of Saskatoon.

The results of the survey will be used to inform community service providers, policy makers, and the general public with a clearer picture of what absolute homelessness looks like in Saskatoon. It will allow service providers to better tailor services to our local context.

If you are interested, please contact CUISR to get a volunteer form to fill out (contact info below).

(you have to be 18 to participate as a volunteer in this project)

Thanks!

Carmen Dyck
Strategic Research Consultant
CUISR

Nicola Chopin
MA candidate
University of Saskatchewan

Maria Basualdo, M.A.
Community-University Institute for Social Research
432-221 Cumberland Avenue
Saskatoon, SK S7N 1M3
Community Liaison Office
Ph. (306)966-2136
Fax (306)966-2122
e-mail: cuisr.liaison@usask.ca
Web site: http://www.usask.ca/cuisr/

Invitation to REYC Advisory Meeting

The Rural Early Years Coalition (REYC) is hosting a one-day gathering on April 1^st in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. We are looking for input from folks who are concerned with the health and happiness of children and families in the rural areas of the Saskatoon Health Region.

Location: Humboldt, SK
Date: April 1, 2008
Time: 10AM to 4PM

Lunch and refreshments will be served. The objectives of the day are to: network, seek input on the direction of REYC for the upcoming year and to introduce the Rural Asset Inventory Strategy. We will also be choosing a logo for REYC from entries submitted by Kindergarten students.

To attend this exciting event, please contact Sydney Bell via phone at: 655-5383 or via email at: sydney.bell@saskatoonhealthregion.ca.

What is KidsFirst Community Development All About?

Many people know about the one to one support provided to KidsFirst families through home visitors and access to counselling, but did you know we also have a Community Developer who works with communities in the rural areas of the Saskatoon Health Region to take action on issues affecting young children and their families?

The KidsFirst Saskatoon Community Developer is currently working with the Rural Early Year's Coalition (REYC), bringing together community members and service providers who are working with famililes with young children in the rural areas of the Saskatoon Health Region. REYC is very exciting to be developing a Rural Asset Inventory Strategy to partner with rural communities who are interested in looking at what is working well in thier communities and builidng on their strengths. For more information about REYC or the Rural Asset Inventory Strategy, please contact Sydney Bell (655-5383).

The KidsFirst Saskatoon Community Developer is also working with other groups such as the Saskatoon Anti-Poverty Coaltion, a group of concerned citizens dedicated to addressing the root causes and effects of poverty in our community.

Questions? Contact Sydney at sydney.bell@saskatoonhealthregion.ca or by phone at 655-5383.