Faith and Settlement Partnership: Setting Canada and Newcomers Up for Success

The purpose of this two-year (2016-2018) Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) funded project is to collaboratively study partnerships among faith-based and government-funded settlement organizations in Ontario, and to determine how these partnerships can better lead to positive settlement outcomes for newcomers, and ultimately benefit Canadian society.

This project is being led by the Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR). In addition to CCBR, there are 15 organizations, including MRCSSI, who are working collaboratively to carry out research (year 1) and knowledge mobilization (year 2) activities. These organizations are located mainly within the three main study sites of Toronto, Waterloo, and London, and include faith groups, settlement organizations, local immigration partnerships, and academic institutions.

Purpose and Objectives

1. To conduct a series of research projects that empirically explore ways in which faith-based and settlement organizations currently collaborate, and could better collaborate, to improve settlement outcomes of newcomers to the benefit of Canadian society (insight)
2. To pursue a series of knowledge mobilization activities that will inform effective faith/settlement partnerships within policy and practice (connection)
3. To develop a network of researchers (including students and emerging scholars) as well as faith and settlement leaders that will maximize their synergy in promoting and implementing effective faith/settlement partnerships (partnership development)