FIRST ACCREDITED SETTLEMENT WORKERS IN CANADA

In 1998 the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) recognised the need by those how work in the settlement sector in Canada to have specialized training to prepare them for their demanding work.   Since that time undertaken a comprehensive training program for settlement practitioners in the Province of Alberta.  At a special ceremony at the AAISA conference in Edmonton in September, the first Accredited Settlement Workers in Canada were recognized. 

Anna Steinberg of Jewish Family Services, Calgary was amongst those receiving Accreditation. 

“During my thirteen year tenure in the service to immigrants,” says Anna, “I felt that I had acquired the skills and knowledge that are foundational to my work in the settlement field.  The knowledge was facilitated through workshops, professional courses and hands on experience.  I demonstrated my knowledge in a case presentation of some eighty pages.  My professional development also included courses in working towards Certification of Career Counseling in order to facilitate and be informed about employment specific to immigrants.  Prior to co-ordinating the Resettlement program, I spent four years as a Vocational and Acculturation Counselor at Jewish Family Service Calgary.  I also took an Alberta College of Social Workers Ethics course…. (this) and twelve hours of workshops successfully completed the requirements for accreditation as a Level 2 – Practitioner as a Settlement worker in the Province of Alberta.

Anna at the recent Poverty Conference in Ottawa

For those of us who have had the privilege of meeting and working with Anna, we know that she goes “above and beyond” to help every newcomer feel an integral part of the Jewish community of Calgary.

  MAZAL TOV ANNA
 from everyone at JIAS Canada.