Family Safety and Integration in Canada: A Community Based Approach and its Structural Preconditions
Absztrakt :
In the context of increasing numbers of migrants and refugees globally, their
successful integration is an important topic for politics and society. Canada
is often portrayed as a particularly immigrant-friendly country, not least
because of its official Multiculturalism. However, the Canadian migration
and integration system is quite distinct in its setup and structures, giving
local immigrant-serving organizations a particular framework to operate
in. One such initiative is the MRCSSI in London, Ontario. It provides
psychological support and networks for Arab Muslim newcomers in order
to foster integration and family safety through a culturally integrative
approach. Over the past years, the MRCSSI has been very successful in this
field, making it an interesting case to be studied as a model of best practice.
In order to understand its interrelation with the surrounding system, and
thus its adaptability into other contexts, the research question to be answered
in this paper is: “How is the MRCSSI in London, ON located in the Canadian
migration and integration system?”
This is getting answered through literature review, participation and
observation at the agency, and expert interviews. The results show that
the Canadian federal, provincial and local structures influence the work
of the MRCSSI in very particular ways, enabling them in many practical
aspects. However, concrete policies in this regard are rather rare and
small organizations like the MRCSSI also have to overcome a number of
challenges. The research and its outcomes are further contextualized through
the theoretical concepts of Multiculturalism, Social Justice, and integration
frameworks. In all, the aim of this paper is to look at the work of the MRCSSI
from a system and policy point of view. It may help care providers in other
countries to understand its setting and develop their own adaptions of
the MRCSSI’s approach.
