Meeting the Distinctive Settlement Needs of Newcomer Children

Meeting the Distinctive Settlement Needs of Newcomer Children © Judith Colbert

A presentation by…

Judith A. Colbert, PhD

[email protected]

Based - Welcoming Newcomer Children: The Settlement of Young Immigrants and Refugees

www.welcomingchildren.ca

1 NEEDS-CERIS-12/14 © J Colbert

NEEDS-CERIS-12/14 © J Colbert 2

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NEEDS-CERIS-12/14 © J Colbert

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E-Learning: A New Vehicle for Continuous Professional Learning about Newcomer

Issues

E-LEARNING

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WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY? WHAT CHALLENGES DO FAMILIES FACE? WHAT IS THEIR ROLE IN CULTURAL TRANSMISSION?

• Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies…. Butterflies are created through transformation… • Stephanie Pace Marshall


Objectives

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• THE SETTLEMENT PROCESS • THE DISTINCTIVE NEEDS OF

NEWCOMER CHILDREN • NEEDS THAT BECOME

BARRIERS • READINESS

To explore …


Settlement


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Settlement is Change



CANADA - INDIVIDUAL UNHCR - TOGETHER

OPEN CULTURE Celebrations, Food, Songs, Language

HIDDEN CULTURE Conversation Patterns,

Communication Styles, Child Rearing, Grouping

CULTURE ICEBERG


Dimensions of Culture

Settlement is Transition…

Phase III BEGINNING

Phase I CHANGE

Phase II NEUTRAL* Settlement & Language


A Definition of Settlement

BEING SETTLED MEANS …

“… feeling welcome and having needs met in a new

environment, finding a balance between the old and

the new, and being able to participate comfortably with others in new social settings.”

• COLBERT, 2010


Child Needs


WHY ARE CHILD NEEDS BEING MISSED?

• Research Practices • Data from Age 15 / 1.5 Generation

• Ideas about Children - Rights • Rights are challenged. / Children are

considered property or an extension of parents.

• Belief that children “bounce back” • Children adapt easily and quickly.

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Needs Related BUT “Settlement belongs to the child.”

CHILD NEEDS

PROVIDER NEEDS

PARENT NEEDS

* RANGE OF CHILD NEEDS *

Settlement & Culture Disability or Condition Support, Understanding Info, Diagnosis

Range of Parent Needs

Aware of Differences Lack of Knowledge Cultural Understanding Fear, Concern

Range of Provider/Teacher Needs

Knowledge Lack of Knowledge

Experience Inexperience


A Range of Needs – Low to High


A Range of Child Needs…

SETTLEMENT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

AUTISM

In some cultures, eye contact avoided, feelings not openly expressed.

Less responsive emotionally, depressed, withdrawn and more detached from their feelings.

Child does not make eye contact

Does not socialize, interact, play – does not speak the language, has “silent periods” while learning language, is not familiar with objects or routines

Numbing and withdrawal – diminished interest or participation in activities (including regression and loss of skills such as toilet training)

Not interested in playing with other children Often begins to develop language then loses it, or does not acquire language at all

Needs/Barriers


CHILD NEEDS IN FOUR AREAS … BARRIERS

Cultural Practices Families •Settlement & Child

Development •Conflicting Practices

•Lack of Parental Support •Family Settlement

Mental & Emotional Health

Coping & Social Awareness

•Attachment •Separation & Trauma •Special Health & Other

Needs •Early Intervention

•Learning to Cope •Communication •School Readiness


SCHOOL READINESS ALL children need to be

ready for school but SOME do not seem ready. Later, drop-out rates are higher.

Settlement can make

a difference.


ISSUE FOR ALL NEWCOMER CHILDREN

Readiness


Readiness is Transition…

Phase III BEGINNING

Phase I CHANGE

Phase II NEUTRAL* Settlement &Language


DOMAINS EDI AEDI

DIVERSE CONTROL LBOTE ENGLISH

SLL BI No E + E ONLY

1 Physical health and well-being

8.62 8.97 8.78 7.9 9.6 9.6

2 Social competence

7.96 8.48 8.35 6.9 9.2 9.2

3 Emotional maturity

7.84 8.18 8.03 7.3 8.7 8.7

4 Language and cognitive development

7.85 8.65 8.53 6.3 9.2 9.2

5 Communication skills and general knowledge

5.47 7.71 8.00 1.9 8.8 9.4

Sources: Janus et al., 2010; AEDI Report, 2010.


Are Schools & Communities Ready? – Maybe Not.

In Early Childhood Education –

Top 10 Challenges from Mainstream Quality Benchmarks –

1. Ask child’s opinions. 2. Provide choices. 3. Adapt the environment. 4. Adapt the schedule. 5. Acknowledge feelings. 6. Encourage independence. 7. Value individual achievement. 8. Encourage interactions. 9. Stimulate communication. 10.Involve parents.


Summary –

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Child Home /Family ECE, School, Agencies, Work

Broader Community

• Understand the SETTLEMENT process.

• Focus on the individual CHILD within the family.

• Prevent NEEDS from becoming BARRIERS.

• Support READINESS. NEEDS-CERIS-12/14 © J Colbert

Thank You …
