Meet the great people behind the great programs and services offered at Ometz! Our colleague Yael Soussana discusses Ometz Newcomer Services, and how our team offers a variety of activities and programs to help new immigrants find and develop the skills and network they need to succeed in Canada.

What is your work position and how long have you been working at Ometz?

In October 2016, I will be celebrating my 10th year at Ometz as a Settlement Counselor in Immigration Services. For the past year, I have been proud to serve as a Team Leader. I am also the founder and coordinator of the Ometz Young Adult Facebook Group, which encourages 20-40 year olds to meet other Jews in the community (both locals and newcomers), and to participate in social-recreational events.

What are your day-to-day activities?

In addition to providing supervisory support to the team, I manage a caseload of over 100 newcomer families during their first 3 years in Canada.

A typical day consists of meeting newcomers face to face and in groups. We listen to their concerns and answer their questions. We inform them and advocate on their behalf with health care providers, schools, government agencies and other community organizations.

What can newcomers expect from Ometz Newcomer Services?

Newcomers can expect support and guidance in order to facilitate their integration within the Jewish community and greater Quebec society. Our Settlement Counselors understand the diverse needs of each cultural group and offer specific and personalized services.

We help newcomers identify goals and develop a plan for their future. We provide guidance and support to each member in accessing public services, in choosing housing and schools, in understanding the cultural norms, and informing them on their rights and responsibilities. We refer them to other community groups and government agencies. We also provide programming for families and children.

It brings me enormous pleasure, satisfaction and pride when I hear the success stories from members who completed a professional training program, or who found employment, or whose children are doing well academically and socially and who become active members of the community. It is always gratifying to hear how their lives have changed, and how their counselor and Ometz played a part in their journey as they settle and integrate in a new country.

A unique aspect of our Immigration Services is that we accompany each member throughout their settlement and integration process; up to 5 years. As a matter of fact, we often receive feedback from newcomers about their attachment to us: we are like their second family!

How will Ometz Newcomer Services evolve in the future?

As newcomers’ needs evolve, we constantly strive to anticipate their needs and develop cutting edge methods of ensuring a successful settlement and integration. For example, our Welcome Program is reviewed and adapted on a regular basis to ensure that it meets the needs of more recent newcomers. In the near future, we will be putting more emphasis on measuring the impact of our work.

August 5th is the deadline for the Ometz Scholarship Program for Academic and Vocational Studies. This scholarship is an opportunity for our agency to recognize and support our newcomers in the pursuit of their goals and ambitions. One of our main objectives is to assist newcomers to become autonomous and engaged members of our community.

To find out more about Ometz Newcomer Services, click here.