CIC - Ontario Region

Call for Proposals 2011-2012

For Initiatives that Support the Settlement ofNewcomers

Guide for Applicants

APPLICATION DEADLINE May 21st, 2010 at 15:00 h (EST)

Application form included. Attachmentsand program guidelines available at atwork.settlement.org

Table of Contents

Introduction...... 4

Part I: Overview of the Settlement Program...... 5

Settlement Program...... 5

Expected Results/Outcomes...... 5

  1. Orientation
  2. Language/Skills
  3. Labour Market Participation
  4. Welcoming Communities
  5. Policy and Program Development

Activity Streams...... 7

  1. Information and Orientation
  2. Language/Skills Development
  3. Labour Market Participation
  4. Community Connections
  5. Needs Assessment and Referrals
  6. Support Services

CIC Funding Priorities ...... 9

Part II: Eligibility Criteria...... 9

Eligible Applicants...... 9

Eligible Clients...... 10

Eligible Activities...... 10

Geographic Scope...... 11

Eligible Expenditures...... 11

What is not funded...... 12

Part III: How to prepare an application...... 13

Things to consider when developing a proposal...... 13

How to prepare a project proposal...... 13

  1. Application for Funding Form
  2. Executive Summary
  3. Applicant Profile
  4. Project Rationale
  5. Action Plan
  6. Budget
  7. WorkPlan/Logic Model
  8. Supporting Documents

How to complete the application for funding form...... 14

Work plan/logic model...... 22

Part IV: The CFP Process...... 22

Submit your application...... 22

Screening and Assessment Criteria...... 23

Get the results...... 23

Negotiate your Contribution Agreement...... 23

Part V: Contribution Agreement...... 24

Progress Report and Financial Records...... 24

Acknowledgment (Federal Identity Program)...... 25

Questions...... 27

Part VI: Application Form...... 28

Checklist...... 29

Appendix A - Budget Template
Appendix B - Other Funding Sources
Appendix C - Logic Model
Appendix D – Class schedule
Annex A - CIC - Ontario Region Priorities / Appendix E- ClassPlanner
Appendix F–Personnel Chart
Appendix G – Childminding Chart
Annex B–Glossary

Introduction

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), Ontario Region, invites non-governmental organizations, non-profit corporations, community groups, municipalities, businesses, educational institutions, umbrella organizations and individuals to submit proposals for funding which support the Department’s policies and programs for the settlement of newcomers to Canadathat can be initiated in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

This Guide for Applicants is designed to help applicants understand settlement programs and equip them to prepare a funding proposal under the Call for Proposal (CFP). Please be aware that thorough and complete information is essential for the assessment of proposals.

In addition to completing the general information/application form, your organization will also need to attach supporting documents. If you require help with the application process, please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada contact information as identified in the covering letter received with this guide.

When you have completed your application, you will need to send the entire application with required signatures, (as identified in your constitution and bylaws) and supportingdocuments. Two copies (1 paper and 1 electronic) of the completed application are required as follows:

1Paper copies – Paper copies of all documents must be mailed to the address identified in the covering letter.

2Electronic format - You can do this by sending in a CD or USB key with your application. Accepted formats .PDF or Word and Excel documents

Departmental support for an approved project will be in the form of a contribution agreement, the terms of which will be consistent with the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments.

The Department reserves the right to amend and interpret the criteria and practices described in this guide.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada thanks you for your interest in working with the Department to improve the integration outcomes of newcomers to Canada.

Part I: Settlement Program Overview

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (also referred to as the Department or CIC) derives its authority for the CIC Settlement Program from the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Under this authority, the Department funds programming and services to support the settlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers into Canadian society. The CIC Settlement program directly contributes to the following objective in IRPA (although other objectives are also supported):

3. (1) (e) to promote the successful integration of permanent residents into Canada, while recognizing that integration involves mutual obligations for new immigrants and Canadian society.

CIC Settlement Program:

The Department has developed a modernized approach to its Settlement Program, which enhances flexibility, coordination and responsiveness in programming to better meet the needs of newcomers. This modernized approach aims to strengthen accountability and improve desired outcomes.

This approach allows service providing organizations (SPOs) greater flexibility to design and deliver services that best meet the settlement needs of clients and support newcomer integration. It builds on previous settlement funding program streams LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada), ISAP (Immigrant Settlement Adaptation Program) and Host, combining their objectives under one program and expanding client eligibility.

The modernized approach articulates specific settlement program outcomes for newcomers and broad service delivery streams/themes to achieve those outcomes. All projects and /or services funded under this CFP must adhere to the terms and conditions for settlement programming and ultimately contribute to one or more of the CIC expected results/outcomes.

The Settlement Program - An outcome-based program

Expected Results:

  1. Orientation – Newcomers make informed decisions about their settlement and understand life in Canada. Activities to provide prospective immigrants and newcomers with access to accurate, timely and useful settlement-related information about Canada, for example, both directly, through in-person or on-line orientation activities, or indirectly, through advertising, websites, or some publications are expected.
  2. Language/Skills – Newcomers have language/skills needed to function in Canada. Settlement programming is used to achieve language and skills development outcomes by:

•Providing language training so that newcomers have the official language skills needed to function and contribute to Canadian society;

•Providing life-skills to high needs newcomers, including resettled refugees; and

•Providing training to enhance skills and knowledge of the Canadian work environment.

C. Labour Market Access – Newcomers obtain the required assistance to find employment commensurate with their skills and education. Examples of activities include bridging projects, job search help, skills training, provision of labour market information and workplace orientation, and other services that are intended to equip newcomers with the skills, information, and support they need for entry into the labour market. Ideally services are provided as part of a seamless continuum of supports for both newcomers and employers.

D. Welcoming Communities – Newcomers receive help to establish social and professional networks so they are engaged and feel welcomed in their communities. Activities focus on individual and community bridging, including: mentoring programs, supporting and encouraging volunteerism, fostering cultural awareness, anti-racism and welcoming communities and neighbourhood services.

E. Policy and Program Development - To ensure effective delivery and achieve comparable settlement outcomes across Canada. Through this expected result, policy standards, tools and guidelines can be developed. Additional examples under this stream include: curriculum and assessment tools and resources, professional development and promotion of the settlement sector.

For Canada to realize the economic, social and cultural benefits of immigration, newcomers must integrate successfully into Canadian society. The CIC Settlement Program plays a major role by assisting immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience, so that they can undertake their longer-term integration on a similar footing to other Canadians.

CIC settlement program services aim to provide newcomers with the information required to make informed decisions, language skills adequate to their settlement and integration goals, and the support they need to build networks within their new communities. CIC funds the delivery of settlement programming across the country, and provides support for initiatives that contribute to the strengthening of the settlement sector.

To maximize flexibility for SPOs to deliver services and programming that both meet the needs of clients and is aligned with the results above, a series of six broad service delivery themes has been developed. SPOs can identify their expected settlement program outcome and the mix of settlement services, under one or a combination of the delivery streams, that best suit community conditions.

The modernized approach recognizes that each of the expected outcomes can be achieved through a combination of activities from various streams/themes.

Settlement Program Delivery Streams

CIC funds settlement services that address settlement related needs falling under the following broad streams/themes:

  1. Information and Awareness Services: This theme provides newcomers with the information they need about Canada and the community in which they are settling, or intend to settle. It includes information provided via the web, orientation sessions overseas, and post-arrival information/orientation sessions or classes.
  1. Language Learning and Skills Development: Official language training is a key settlement service, for which there is an established infrastructure, with clear attainment benchmarks being used by trainers and assessors. Official language proficiency is key to success, not only in the labour market, but in navigating life outside of work. In addition to language, many newcomers also require development of other skills (for example, life skills for refugees from less developed countries). Through this theme, service providers can support newcomers in developing the requisite skills to contribute to Canada, economically, socially, and culturally.

Please note that an application under the Language and Skills development stream should follow the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) levels and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). For more information on these please go to the CIC website at:

  1. Employment-related Services: The majority of newcomers come to Canada intending to enter the labour market. The Labour Market Participation theme includes activities that support newcomers’ entry into the labour market. These activities can include, for example, job search skills, networking, internships, mentorships, or work placements.
  1. Community Connections:This theme recognizes settlement as a reciprocal process, with rights and responsibilities for both the newcomer and the receiving society. Through this theme, service providers can offer, for example, cultural awareness and anti-racism initiatives as well as matches with the newcomer and Canadian volunteers to assist in settlement.
  1. Needs Assessments and Referrals: Needs assessments are an increasingly important and ongoing part of settlement service delivery, and relate to the range of CIC-funded settlement services. This theme also covers the referral of newcomers to CIC-funded and community settlement services.
  1. Support Services: CIC provides funding for support services that act as “enablers”, allowing newcomers to participate fully in other settlement services (e.g. language training). This category includes, for example, ongoing childminding (an informal, unlicensed arrangement for the care and supervision, on a daily or regularly-recurring basis, of a child with a parent receiving ongoing CIC-funded settlement services at the same site), accommodation for clients with disabilities, and assistance with transportation to settlement programs. Support services also include short-term or “transitional” settlement-related services which can deal with immediate needs and crisis, enabling newcomers to participate in more intensive services. These include translation and interpretation services (for example, of documents from the country of origin), or to assist in arranging accommodation, and referrals to counselling.

Provision of settlement services in these streams will enable CIC to achieve its long-term results. On the whole, CIC’s settlement services contribute to the overall, long-term integration of newcomers to Canada. More specifically, they contribute to the following ultimate outcomes:

  • Newcomers find employment commensurate with their skills and experience.
  • Newcomers enjoy their rights and act on their responsibilities.
  • Canadians provide a welcoming community to facilitate the full participation of newcomers in Canadian society.
  • Newcomers contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of Canada.

CIC – Ontario Region Funding Priorities:

In addition to the identified outcomes, CIC is seeking proposals that address Ontario’s regional settlement funding priorities. Applicants should review the document Settlement Funding Priorities (Annex A). This document should be used as a guide to assist in funding proposal development.

Part II: ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants, often referred to as service providers, are:

  • Provincial, territorial or municipal governments
  • Non-profit organizations*: community groups, non-governmental organizations, umbrella organizations, and non-profit corporations.
  • Businesses
  • Educational institutions**(including school boards, districts and divisions)
  • Individuals

*Non-profit organizations should:

  • Be incorporated and governed by a democratically elected board or executive body composed of Canadian citizens or permanent residents

and

  • Have been in existence for at least two years.

**Educational institutions must be recognized and licensed to operate under provincial or territorial statute. They include:

  • Public community colleges;
  • Vocational schools;
  • Public degree-granting universities and colleges; and
  • School boards and their elementary and secondary institutions.

Eligible Clients

Eligible clients for the Settlement Program are limited to:

  • Permanent residents of Canada who have not become Canadian citizens;
  • Protected persons as defined in Section 95 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA);
  • Individuals who have been selected, in Canada or overseas, to become permanent residents pending completion of medical, security and criminal verification statutory requirements, and who have been informed, by a letter from CIC;
  • Convention refugees and protected persons overseas who have been selected for resettlement in Canada by Citizenship and immigration Canada;
  • Live-in Caregivers
  • Applicants overseas who have been informed, by a letter of confirmation from CIC, of the approval of their temporary work permit are eligible to receive services under the Canadian Orientation Abroad (COA) initiative,
  • Applicants in Canada and in possession of a temporary work permit issued under the Live-in Caregiver Program are eligible for all settlement services with the exception of language training.

Restrictions:

  • To access language training, an eligible client must first undergo a language assessment by a qualified assessor and be of legal school-leaving age within their applicable province or territory;
  • Temporary workers, including those nominated under Provincial Nominee Programs, are not eligible for services offered under the CIC Settlement Program except for those accepted under the Live-in Caregiver Program and those described in bullet 5 under Eligible Clients.

In addition, Canadian citizens and refugee claimants are not eligible for services offered under the CIC Settlement Program.

Eligible Activities

Eligible services are those that directly address settlement-related needs detailed under the broad delivery streams (See Program overview). Eligible services also include indirect services and initiatives that contribute to the strengthening of the settlement sector (e.g. professional development, research, conferences, etc).

Eligible services do not include services to the general public that normally fall within the mandate of other federal departments and provincial governments.

The project must align with at least one Settlement Program outcome (see page 5) and identify at least one of the settlement activity streams. If more than one outcome is addressed the applicant must identify which is the primary and secondary outcomes of the proposed activity.

Geographic Scope

A project can be regional or local in scope.

*A project is regional in scope if it includes participants from more than one Ontario municipality/region, or if it clearly demonstrates that proposed activities have regional relevance:i.e. apply to all of Ontario Region.

* A project is local in scope if all activities are delivered within one municipality/region: i.e. activities in Toronto, London, Peel/Halton, Sudbury or Hamilton.

Applicants must identify whether projects are regional or local in scope. If the project is local, the municipality of service must be clearly identified.

Eligible Expenditures

Contributions may be made toward project-related costs associated with the agreement as follows:

  • Salaries, wages and related benefits;
  • Assessment and training materials including textbooks and other instructional resources/materials;
  • Costs associated with meetings related to project activities;
  • Overhead costs including rental of space or equipment and costs associated with administration and audit;
  • Professional or consultancy fees for technical and legal advice, accounting and audit services;
  • Travel costs;
  • Purchase of materials and supplies, telephone, postage, printing and duplication;
  • Transportation and childminding costs for eligible clients and their eligible dependants requiring childminding services;
  • Necessary Capital Expenditures, preapproved by the Department, of up to 15% of the total value of the Contribution Agreement. Capital Expenditures cannot exceed 50% of the total contribution amount in any given year.
  • Arrangements and devices for eligible clients with disabilities of up to $10,000 per disabled client to a maximum of $100,000 per year per agreement;
  • Research, conferences, promotion/publicity and training;
  • Training and Professional Development;
  • Delivery assistance tools.

What is not Funded

CIC will not reimburse costs for the following:

  • Expenses related to rewards and recognition. It may, however, be permissible, with the approval of the Department, to use non-salary funds for small expenditures, such as plaques, particularly in relation to volunteer recognition;
  • No financial assistance (except transportation and childminding costs) will be paid to eligible clients.
  • Costs incurred abroad or involving activities outside Canada, including costs related to international travel.
  • Salaries, benefits and travel costs for elected principal officers such as directors, executive officers and members of managing committees; (these are not eligible for funding without explicit permission of CIC);
  • Activities that have already been undertaken or completed before an application is made or before an approved contribution agreement is in place; and,
  • Profit-making activities.

Part III: HOW TO PREPARE AN APPLICATION