Presenter: Amanda Koyama, Manager, Family and Children’s Services, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
Date: June 11th, 2019
Description
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) works at multiple levels of engagement seeking to directly impact newcomer families, while also working to create positive impact in the systems, services, and communities in which newcomer families interact. While we know that effective collaborations require investment and time, it has been our experience that foundational partnerships are necessary for both prevention and intervention – specifically for diverse families with intersecting identities.
This workshop shares the CCIS experience of working with newcomer families, including school age children affected by trauma (Syrian and Yazidi Refugees), and the multiple systems that were engaged to enhance the provision of services by other community resources outside of the traditional school setting. The workshop shares case studies and evidence based, practice informed, strategies towards promoting the healthy development of newcomer children while enhancing the capacity of systems to respond to the unique and diverse needs of newcomer families and children.
Presenter biography
Born and raised in Calgary, Amanda Koyama has spent the majority of her professional career in the non-profit sector, with a focus on access and engagement. Amanda and has a strong record in balancing stakeholder expectations, mobilizing resources and building effective teams. As an accomplished communicator, strategic thinker, and collaborative decision maker, Amanda is often solicited to provide Board and Committee leadership in varying community networks. Some of her engagements include: The Calgary Foundation, Calgary 2012, Slow Food Calgary, and Calgary Institute for the Humanities. Committed to enhancing cultural responsiveness in service delivery to newcomers, Amanda has worked with Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) in a number of different roles since 2004, and also offers her critical process design, demonstrated ability procuring contracts, and proposal development experience as a strategic consultant.
