Does your sponsor group have a checklist of government supports available to those you sponsor? At a recent workshop, we learned from those who deliver such programs what they include and how to access them, as well as how important these supports are to our sponsor role and responsibilities. Check out the key learnings on the PRSN website under Resources — On-Demand Training and Practice Guidelines.
Sponsors have an onerously lengthy list of responsibilities for those they welcome. Sometimes they attempt to meet those needs unaware of both federal and provincial programs that will provide support. Sponsors wanted to know more about these programs, how they function, the benefits and eligibility requirements, and where and how to access such services.
Thanks to our presenters – May Amouri, RSTP, Ryan Mohammad and Lyndsay Carty, Ontario Works, along with Anya Sousa and Sally Sarieddine, Woodgreen Community Services who added to our tool kits.
Federal and provincial supports were outlined and included the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), Ontario Healthy Smiles and the Ontario Trillium Benefit.
One thinks of Ontario Works as a program that provides financial support. In fact, Ontario Works encompasses a much wider suite of services, including support in the areas of employment and health care. Workshop attendees were informed about the wide range of support programs offered, as well as how to access them.
The scope and mandate of settlement agencies was outlined informing us about the specific services they offer as a model of how these agencies can assist newcomers and collaborate with private sponsors. Sponsors left the workshop with many resources to add to their toolkit in order to meet the specific needs of newcomers they are helping to settle.