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About this site
This website was developed for health professionals and others who care for immigrant and refugee children, youth, and families. Throughout the site, you’ll find information and resources to enhance patient care. Launched in April 2013, Caring for Kids New to Canada began with a series of conversations and surveys to…
Advocacy for Immigrant and Refugee Health Needs
Advocacy by health professionals Advocacy – or action that supports or advances a person, group or issue – is a recognized role for paediatricians, family practitioners, nurses and other health care providers. Health care providers are respected voices within their communities and as such can be extremely impactful advocates. By…
Community Resources Serving Newcomer Families
In many communities, local agencies help immigrant and refugee families adapt to life in Canada. This list will help health professionals become familiar with services in their province/territory or region. Note that only resources with English websites are included here. For a list of French services, visit the French side…
Barriers and Facilitators to Health Care
Why is it important to know about barriers to health care? A barrier to health care is anything that restricts the use of health services by making it more difficult for some individuals to access, use or benefit from care.1 Families new to Canada encounter multiple barriers, which vary among…
Health Insurance
Health insurance for permanent residents Permanent residents can apply for provincial/territorial health insurance. They are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after arriving in Canada. Application forms are available online from each province or territory’s Ministry/Department) of Health: Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Northwest Territories…
An Overview of Immigrants and Refugees in Canada
Definitions: How Canada classifies immigrants and refugees The following definitions, summarized from Citizenship and Immigration Canada publications, provide an overview for health professionals and others working with immigrant and refugee families.3 Refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for official definitions and greater detail. Permanent residents Permanent residents have…
Medical Assessment
Most immigrant and refugee children new to Canada have not had a reliable, accurate or valid health assessment. It is vital to diagnose health conditions that could affect a child’s growth and development, including infectious diseases, chronic illnesses and psychosocial issues. Initial medical assessment The initial assessment of a young…
Adaptation and Acculturation
Newcomers and their migration story Newcomers to Canada are an extremely diverse group. Their migration stories (why and how they’ve come to Canada) are just one of many factors influencing health, while other social determinants, such as education, income, housing and food security each play a role. The social determinants…
Providing culturally safe care
Terminology Culture Culture is defined as “the thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups”. Culture is present in all patients and care providers, not just immigrant and refugee children, youth and families. Culture plays a role in the interactions among patients, their…
How Culture Influences Health
What is culture? Culture is the patterns of ideas, customs and behaviours shared by a particular people or society. These patterns identify members as part of a group and distinguish members from other groups. Culture may include all or a subset of the following characteristics:1,2 Given the number of possible…