Community Liaison Services
Strengthening Schools and Families
The Winnipeg School Division recognizes the challenges that not only immigrant and refugee students and their families may experience in attending school in a new country, but also for school staff in meeting the needs of students and families. The Division is able to provide supports through Community Liaison Services. This includes the services provided by the Community Liaison Officers and the Settlement Counsellors at Welcome Place.
For information regarding E.A.L. programs (English as an Additional Language, formerly known as E.S.L., English as a Second Language), please contact your child’s school.
What the Community Liaison Officer can do for STUDENTS:
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Assist with registration at the school
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Provide orientation to new school in student’s own language
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Provide referral to in-school supports: counselling, resource, tutoring, etc.
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Facilitate group discussions with students on common concerns
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Advocate on student’s behalf to the school
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Provide support for academic and/or family concerns
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Assist in conflict resolution
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Provide students with career information
What the Community Liaison Officer can do for PARENTS:
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Assist with registration at the school
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Visit parents in their home and speak with them in their own language
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Help them to understand their child’s progress and the school system
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Advocate on their behalf to the school
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Understand their concerns and cultural perspectives
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Organize presentations for parent groups
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Provide referrals to school and community resources
What the Community Liaison Officer can do for your SCHOOL:
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Support “at-risk” E.A.L. students (English as an Additional Language, formerly known as English as a Second Language)
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Advocate on school’s behalf to parents
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Assist with assessments, parent-teacher conferences and orientation of new immigrant and refugee families
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Recruit parent volunteers
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Assist in providing cultural presentations for parents, staff and students
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Make home visits
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Assist with counselling and mediation (interpreter services)
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Recruit tutors for students
Possible topics for presentation to parents and staff:
Community Liaison Officers
| Spanish |
Lucila Carrasco |
Tec Voc |
786-1401 |
| Portuguese |
Eulalia Bairos |
Hugh John |
786-5631 |
| Filipino |
Perla Javate |
Daniel McIntyre |
783-7131 |
| Chinese |
Binh Hui |
Sister MacNamara |
942-6965 |
| Vietnamese |
Nam Vu |
Daniel McIntyre |
783-7131 |
| Laotian |
Phommachanh Phrakonkham |
Daniel McIntyre |
783-7131 |
Settlement Counsellors
For the following *countries:
| Sudan |
Yugoslavia |
| Afghanistan |
**Colombia |
| Ethiopia |
Iran |
| Bosnia-Hercegovina |
Somalia |
| Iraq |
Sierra Leone |
*Services may be available for other countries (and languages) as assessed on an individual basis.
**For services in Spanish, contact Lucila Carrasco.
Please contact:
Carlos Vialard OR Marta Kalita
Managers, Settlement Services
Welcome Place
397 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB R3B 2K9
Telephone: 977-1000
Fax: 956-7548
Important: When making an initial referral or request for services, please speak with Carlos or Marta and they will assign a Settlement Counsellor.
