Language & Skill Development
The Language/Skills Development Program was initiated in 1992 and provides language instruction and training to adult newcomers in English to facilitate their social, cultural and economic integration into the Canadian society. It offers a Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program from literacy level to level 6/7. Care for Newcomer Children (CNC), transportation assistance, field trips and information sessions are also offered as part of the language training program. These programs are offered at three strategic locations across Scarborough.
Other services are offered at these sites as well. In partnership with the TCDSB, ESL evening classes are offered at our Finch location. These classes serve beginners, intermediate and advanced students. We also provide language-specific parenting programs for the students after class hours in partnership with Toronto Public Health at the Finch Centre.
Settlement Services
Orientation & Information
Starting in 1993, SAFSS began to address the settlement needs of immigrant and convention refugees. This program provides settlement and integration services by providing the information and guidance they need to better understand life in Canada and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their settlement needs; provides referral assistance to acquire basic material needs and assist in finding employment that corresponds with their skills and education; and helps them to establish networks and contacts so that they are engaged and feel welcomed in their communities.
This program enables the newcomers to have timely, useful and accurate information that they need to make informed settlement decisions and helps newcomers understand life in Canada, including laws, rights, responsibilities and how to access community resources.
Needs Assessment
The intake department conducts a formal needs assessment across the wide range of settlement, integration, language, employment, housing, health, transport, credential assessment in consultation with the clients to develop a personalized settlement plan to determine the eligibility for services and assess newcomers’ needs, resources, strengths and barriers to services and assist newcomers to set goals, priorities and develop a realistic settlement plan. Assessments may be carried out several times depending on the phase of settlement. Initial assessments may focus on immediate settlement needs.
Our Settlement Plan Checklist ensures that every client has access to a wide range of services such as food, shelter, clothing, education, health, money and finances, transportation, connecting to the neighbourhood and community, physical and mental health, safety, employment opportunities and the language they need to succeed in Canada.
SAFSS has developed a referral protocol to provide referral services to IRCC funded and other community services to meet the newcomers’ needs in a holistic manner.
Based on the needs assessment, our Settlement Counsellors also provide seamless referral services for newcomers to resources in the community related to the client’s immediate settlement needs, such as health care, legal services, recreation, education, job-search services and employment-related services, language and skill development.
Newcomer Settlement Program
NSP provides similar services to the Orientation program but has more flexible client eligibility criteria. Services are available to permanent residents; Canadian citizens; convention refugees and refugee claimants; newcomers admitted under Opportunities Ontario: Provincial Nominee Program; foreign domestic workers admitted under the Live-In Caregiver Program; and Minister’s permit holders who have special permission to remain in Canada.
Women's Services
French Services
Services in French are available through our partners, OASIS Center des femmes and La Maison d’Hébergement pour femmes francophones.
If you wish to obtain services in French, please call the FEM’AIDE line at 1-877-336-2433.
Des services en français sont disponibles auprès de nos partenaires, OASIS Centre des femmes et La Maison d’Hébergement pour femmes francophones.
Si vous désirez obtenir des services en français, demandez-nous de vous référer à nos partenaires ou, appelez la ligne FEM’AIDE au 1-877-336-2433.
SAFSS opened its doors in 1990 to serve primarily the victims of domestic abuse. This program offers comprehensive services to the victims of domestic violence as per their needs. The program is geared towards serving the victims of abuse and their family members with a particular focus to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The program provides counselling, legal and housing assistance, and other assistances as required by the abused women and children and coordinate with the police, court and other service providers for victim’s case management. The program also intervenes with the crisis and refers the cases to appropriate authority and service providers for fulfilling the needs of the victims and deals with trauma, stress and depression to help the victim lead an independent positive life.
Isolation can increase the risk of domestic violence at home. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please watch this video from Canadian Women’s Foundation to learn how to signal for help.
Senior's Program
Supportive Counselling for Isolated Afghani Senior Women is intended to assist South Asians, particularly Afghani senior women in breaking down their isolation, facilitating access to facilities for improved well being and enhanced social networks.
The purpose of the project is to break social isolation thorough interaction and information sharing and helping them to respond to their concerns through developing life-skills/coping strategies. This also emphasizes to preventing senior abuse.
The project builds capacity amongst target group by providing and sharing information about available resources and how to access them for their benefits
Manual for Seniors’ Training and Empowerment Project (STEP)
Click on a button to view and download the Manual in your desired language.
Volunteer Development Program
The Volunteer Development Program is an effective training program to enhance the skills, knowledge and behaviour which is essential for job performance and is directed towards practical and experiential learning, tailored to the individual needs of the volunteer.
This program is designed to benefit the volunteers, the organization and the community. Under the guidance of our Volunteer Coordinator, the program includes tools to help the volunteers understand the tasks involved, skills required, other important details about the job and accomplishments to be achieved.
Investing in Neighbourhoods
The City of Toronto Employment and Social Services division has approved four positions such as (1) Fundraising Associate (2) Volunteer Development Associate (3) Employment Support Worker and (4) Receptionist/Intake Worker for consecutive two years under the IIN initiatives. This has helped the organization some additional hands to fundraise, recruit and train volunteers from diverse communities, conduct extensive outreach activities and manage the reception desk.
Men Make a Difference
SAFSS opens its doors to male perpetrators with the Perpetrator’s Training Program (PTP). The overall premise of the program for perpetrators is to reduce the incidence of repeat cases of violence against women through group intervention. Research shows that such programs had positive effects on the participants and those who completed the program were two-thirds less likely to physically assault their partners (Gondolf 2012).
Childcare Services
Early Childhood Educators work in a multicultural-based program, with a variety of play-based activities that support diversity, promote inclusion and holistic development of children. We collaborate with parents by providing opportunities for their active involvement in their children’s development and in the Centre’s program planning.
- INCLUSIVE PLAY-BASED LEARNING
- DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES
Creative, gross motor and cognitive learning experiences. - CIRCLE (STORY) TIME
Supports language development and socialization skills that is essential now and in the future (school setting). - HOME BASED LANGUAGE SUPPORT
Encourages the use of home language among children. - PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
Foster independence and build a foundation for lifelong learning. - HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS SNACKS PROVIDED
Follows the Canadian Food Guide in planning nutritious snacks.
Mental Health & Well-Being Support Program
SAFSS provides free mental health support and short term counselling to individuals experiencing challenging circumstances as part of migration, resettlement and settlement processes. We help to identify a variety of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, relationships, stress management, addiction and life adjustments by raising awareness of strategies, encouraging healthy lifestyles, well-being, resilience based recovery and making access to clients need based community referrals.
Service Eligibility:
Permanent residents, conventional refugees, and individuals with initial approval of permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Individuals aged 16+; Parent/guardian consent required for anyone 12 years of age and younger
Service For: Individual, Couples, Children, Youth, Family
Other Service Forms: Advocacy regarding Client Care, Workshops, Seminars, Presentations, Group Sessions, Team/ Staff Development