mini-guide
Kaleidoscope Mini-Guide: Settlement and Employment Services
A number of community members and local agencies are working together to create a guide to services in the Bathurst-Finch neighbourhood. As we develop this resource, we will be publishing excerpts in Kaleidoscope. In this issue, we are focusing on settlement and employment services in the area. Please note: the guide is a work in progress, and is not comprehensive. This is our first set of listings, and it won’t be our last. We are looking for your input! If there are agencies, groups or programs you think we should add to our guide, please contact us at:
akatz@newheightshealth.org
Here are some agencies that provide employment and settlement services to residents of our neighbourhood Alternative Youth Centre for Employment (AYCE) – a division of Tropicana Community Services Main phone number: 416.491.7000 Website: www.ayce.on.ca Languages: See website for information about AYCE in different languages including Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili and Tamil. Costs: All services are free (some workshops have fees) AYCE programs Job Connect For unemployed youth who are not attending school 16-24 years of age, or up to 29 with a disability. Occasional exceptions are made to the eligibility criteria ie. newcomers. Training workshops and/or one-on-one preemployment counselling, and/or job placements. Support in the form of bus tokens, interview, clothing and other necessities required to find and sustain employment.
Summer Jobs Service For youth who are students returning to school in the fall. This program runs from April to the end of summer. Participants must be 15 - 24 years of age, or up to 29 with a disability. Additional supports AYCE provides other support for youth including, but not limited to help in accessing social assistance, housing, disability supports, educational programs, literacy programs and other training programs. Caregiver Connections, Education & Support Organization (CCESO) Main phone number: 416.656.5778 Email: caregiverconnections@gmail.com Costs: All services are free. Caregiver Connections provides counselling, education/information sessions, social networking and advocacy workshops for caregivers who may have problems or questions regarding: employers;
labour; ESA; the rights of caregivers; application for Open Permit and Permanent Residence; settlement issues and safety concerns in the workplace. Centennial Library Address: 578 Finch Ave. West Main phone number: 416.395.5490 Languages spoken by settlement worker: English, Hebrew, Romanian and Russian Costs: Services listed below are offered free. Settlement workers are available during regular library hours, except on Fridays (call for hours). Help with information about the school system, health care, settlement and employment services and more. Referrals to appropriate services. This is a walk-in service, no appointment is necessary. Various other free programs are offered for newcomers of all ages at the library. For program details call or visit: http://programs.to-
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rontopubliclibrary. ca/listings/current. html?branch=centennial CUIAS Immigrant Services (Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society) Main phone number: 416.767.4595 Website: www.cuias.org Languages: Workshops offered in English, Russian and Ukrainian. Youth workshops offered in French as well. Costs: Most programs are free. Call for details. CUIAS programs Settlement assistance Assistance with immediate needs and application for basic government services; immigration consultations and assistance; information and referral; employment search assistance; translation and interpretation services. English classes Free LINC program for Permanent Residents and Convention Refugees; seniors’ class; IELTS preparation classes; part-time conversation and writing
classes; free child minding and transportation assistance; access to computer lab and internet. Youth program Support group; workshops; homework club, sports club, French club, English speaking groups; social events. Griffin Centre Main phone number: 416.222.1153 Website: www.griffin-centre.org Languages: Programs in many languages. Call or visit website for details. Costs: Most programs are free. ReachOUT Newcomer Network Integrated settlement services to Permanent Residents between the ages of 13 to 24 who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or queer (LGBTQ). Humber Community Employment Services Main phone number: 416.631.7600 Website: www.look4work. humber.ca