Settlement Worker In Schools (SWIS)

This program, in partnership with the Good Spirit School Division and the Christ the Teacher Catholic School Division, provides newcomer students and their families with services aimed at a smooth transition to the Canadian school system and their settlement in their new community.    

The program’s main objectives are: 

• Provide newcomer families with essential services required to support their immediate and on going needs such as transitioning into the Canadian school setting;  
• Support family involvement in the student’s school life;  
• Increase newcomer’s ability to access appropriate and timely community services and provide services and benefits in the newcomer’s first language or by arranging interpreters and translators;  
• Increase community awareness and involvement in the integration process by increasing cultural literacy through educating target groups such as school staff, students, and parents; 
• Foster positive attitudes and association with their new communities;  
• Strengthen immigrant’s ability to cope with the challenges of integration by providing timely supports;  
• Identify possible challenges in communication between school and parents and plan, implement and reinforce processes meet this challenge; and   
• Have SWIS workers who could provide support within the identified geographical area.  

What is a SWIS Worker?   

SWIS workers play an important role in engaging students, parents and school staff to the successful integration of the new members of the community.   

The roles of the SWIS worker are: 

• Establish and maintain contact with newcomer families for early determination of their needs and issues;  
• Provide the immediate supports required to meet the newcomer student’s transition into the Canadian school setting including orientation to school and community services;  
• Provide appropriate information and counseling, if required;  
• Encourage family involvement in the student’s school life; 
• Increase student’s ability to access appropriate and timely community services;  
• Provide service in the student’s first language or by arranging interpreters or translators; 
• Identify gaps in services for newcomer youth population in schools;  
• Facilitate connections or referrals for crisis intervention when appropriate;  
• Facilitate the understanding of cultural differences and commonalities for school staff when appropriate; and  
• Increase community awareness and involvement in the integration process, including the ethno-cultural association.  

Eligibility   

This service is available to permanent residents and refugees. 

Please visit our office at Unit H, 132 Broadway Street West, Yorkton or call 306-783-2777.