The Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance (CISSA-ACSEI) is a convening body of diverse national settlement sector voices that engages with government and other stakeholders on various aspects related to the settlement and integration of newcomers in Canada.
L’Alliance canadienne du secteur de l’établissement des immigrants (CISSA-ACSEI) est une organisation qui rassemble diverses voix nationales du secteur de l’établissement et qui s’engage auprès du gouvernement et d’autres intervenants sur divers aspects liés à l’établissement et à l’intégration des nouveaux arrivants au Canada.
Mission
CISSA-ACSEI is a national corporation whose purpose is to harness the expertise of the immigrant settlement sector and to act as the sector’s national voice to help build a Canadian society in which all immigrants and refugees are able to participate fully.
CISSA-ACSEI carries out its mission by:
- Undertaking special projects, research initiatives, government relations and advocacy
- Facilitating networking opportunities and sector coordination on various issues and/or initiatives that relating to the integration of newcomers in Canada
- Helping the immigrant settlement sector advance public policy, enhance programming and strengthen newcomer outcomes in Canada
History
CISSA-ACSEI was formed in March 2005 to represent the immigrant settlement sector in Canada and bring the sector’s expertise to bear on public policies and programs for enhancing the settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees. It was incorporated in April 2012 as a national body. The founding members of CISSA-ACSEI are AMSSA, AAISA, SAISIA, MANSO (formerly MIRSSA) and ARAISA. The Multicultural Centre of the Yukon, which represents the Yukon Territory, joined in October 2012.
Past initiatives have ranged from research papers highlighting the unique needs of immigrant and refugee children and youth and documenting promising and innovative practices within the settlement sector across Canada, to a study of procurement practices in the government and not-for-profit sectors.
Most recently, CISSA-ACSEI has focused on providing practical ways to enhance efficiencies within current federal government funding models and mechanisms that impact contracted service providers, as well as providing input and suggestions to create an immigrant settlement system for the future that reflects changing immigration and refugee resettlement policy, profile and needs in Canada and abroad.