Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region is creating information resources in collaboration with its settlement sector partners in the project "Building Local Information Support to Ontario Newcomers". The first resource is the on-line Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory which will be accompanied by a sharable list of live links allowing easy access to the records updated on weekly basis. Read more about the resources created for settlement providers in the Region.

Resource #1: Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory

About the Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory

The Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory was developed by the Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region with input from a community advisory group made up of Waterloo Region settlement support service providers. The information is refreshed weekly from Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region’s database, which is maintained according established standards of practice. These standards of practice include daily scanning all print and electronic newspapers in the Region, ongoing data changes as new information is available and an annual formal update with each organization listed in the database.

Inclusion Policy

The Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory includes agencies, programs and services that support newcomers to Canada who are settling in Waterloo Region. The services and programs include those that, by common definition, address the settlement process directly or basic human needs that are at any stage of a newcomer’s settlement process.

Services included in the Directory:

• Must be available to the public either through self-referral or a defined referral process.
• Must be located in Waterloo Region.
• Should be perceived as permanent and ongoing; short term, time limited projects or temporary services are not included.
• Must have a publishable mailing address or telephone number.

Agencies included in the Directory must:

• Operate on a non-profit basis;
• Be a government agency;
• Be licensed or accredited by the government (e.g. nursing homes, group homes, nursery schools/child care centres, private schools);
• Be a private practice or business that provides goods and services that meet the above defined needs; OR
• Be a Waterloo Region Newcomer Information Support Project Advisory Group approved or identified agency.

Assuring Quality through Professional Data Management Practices

The Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory was developed by the Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region with input from a community advisory group made up of Waterloo Region settlement support service providers. This is a web based directory created using the Community Information On-Line Consortium Software structure that is tailored to meet the service needs identified through the advisory group process.

The Directory is refreshed weekly from the Waterloo Region Community Information Database which is maintained by staff at the Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region according established standards of practice consistent with InformOntario and the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS). Agency level data maintenance practice includes an annual formal update with each organization listed in the database and adding or changing data records as new information is available on an ongoing basis. Standard practice includes continual outreach and including daily scanning all print and electronic newspapers in Waterloo Region. Information changes are confirmed by the source agencies to ensure information is complete, accurate and up to date.

How to Use the Everfresh Direct Links to Newcomer Supports

This Everfresh Direct Links resource is a list of direct links that has been compiled as a part of the Waterloo Region Settlement Services Directory Project. The purpose of this resource is to provide service providers with an easy to use and accessible reference to assist them in supporting their clients and that agencies can use to create or supplement their own resources and lists. Using the links provided ensures that the links have the most current information available for anyone accessing them.

The service categories specified in this resource were identified through meetings with an advisory group of service providers that serve newcomer populations in the Waterloo Region. The list of results is organized by categories and is compiled from a community information database that is maintained by the Community Information Centre of Waterloo Region (CIC). CIC staff met extensively with advisory group members in order to create category definitions that captured the identified needs of immigrant populations supported by each area of service and to populate these categories with high-need resources for newcomer populations.

If you are interested and would like more information about the project, contact Trudy Beaulne at spckw@waterlooregion.org.